Monday, January 23, 2017

Upsets brewing in Melbourne in both draws

The ATP and WTA tennis year has started with upsets in Melbourne, at the Australian Open. On the men's side, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray packed their bags before the 4th round started. Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep, and Agnieszka R. left Melbourne before the 4th round from the women's draw. There will be a new #1 ranking in the women's rankings, when the first grand slam tournament of the year concludes. Roger Federer has a good chance of reaching the semifinals, if he can defeat Mischa Zverev in the quarterfinals. Milos Raonic and Stanislas Wawrinka are the top 2 seeds in the quarterfinals. Rafael Nadal plays #3 seeded Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals. Raonic defeated Nadal earlier this month in the Brisbane International tournament. On the men's side, Roger Federer defeated Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori in strong fashion. Federer is the #17th seed, and he should move up in the rankings by reaching the semifinals. Serena Williams is the favorite on the women's side, after Angelique Kerber lost to Coco Vandeweghe in the 4th round. Serena could win her 23rd grand slam title, which would surpass Steffi Graf's grand slam record of 22 titles. Back to the men's draw, Djokovic was trying to win his 7th title in Melbourne. Yet, he lost to Denis Istomin from Uzbekistan in five grueling sets in the 2nd round. Finally, who can beat Serena on the women's side? The list is not a long one. On the men's side, let's hope Roger Federer does not face a strong Rafael Nadal in the sunday final. Roger would need to beat Zverev and Stan Wawrinka most likely, before reaching the final. Wawrinka plays Tsonga in the quarterfinals. Let's enjoy the quarterfinals and semifinals action, in the upcoming days before the finals on this weekend. See the image above for a jubilant Federer, after defeating Nishikori in five thrilling sets. Goodbye from Land Down Under.

Thursday, January 5, 2017

New jobs being created in the UK post Brexit; Hollande meets with Dimon

2017 has started globally, and the UK government is trying to create 400,000 jobs post Brexit. In France, Francois Hollande has met with Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase CEO; to discuss the luring of investment and personal bankers to Paris post Brexit. The EU countries need to create jobs, in order to keep their economies growing. Francois H. will not be running for a 2nd term as prime minister, when French elections happen in the spring of this year. This new year brings change in the US, and France also. The US will have a new president come into office on January 20, with the inauguration in Washington DC. Can Donald Trump help Theresa May, and Francois Hollande in strengthening economies in both regions with job creation as one way to ensure growth? Furthermore, the UK government is inclining that 400,000 jobs will be created in 2017. Yet, uncertainty is there for Great Britain as the EU has a shaky relationship with the British post Brexit. Businesses want to make the best of Brexit, by being committed to full employment. Firms should increase pay, in order to keep bankers and IT consultants employed in Great Britain. Business and consumer confidence needs to go higher somehow, and businesses need to create agile workplaces. Businesses need to work on increasing the value of employee engagement as well, for improving productivity and employee retention. In closing, UK companies should improve in employee retention and improving leadership skills in future employees. There is a broad talent pool in the UK, and the EU-UK relations will improve by end of 2017. Temporary and permanent full-time roles need to increase for companies, to lessen the unemployment rate. Improved performance can generate higher profits, and it can generate higher growth rate too. Theresa May will have to work with Donald Trump, Francois Hollande, and Angela Merkel to build a better global workplace for 2017. This goal may be the main one for 2017. See the image above of Francois Hollande, France PM; and Jamie Dimon. Their secret meeting happened a few days ago.