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☆ Carl Lewis calls proposed format change in long jump an April Fools’ joke
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A proposed format change could shake-up the long jump at major track and field competitions, but will the idea take flight? That’s the big question for those involved in athletics right now, notably nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis. The new format, which has been put forward by World Athletics chief executive Jon Ridgeon, could see athletes jump from a take-off zone, rather than a take-off board, essentially doing away with foul jumps. “The long jump is the most difficult event in track and field,” Lewis said in a separate post. Judges inspect the take-off board at the 2012 London Olympics.

Persons: Carl Lewis, Jon Ridgeon, ” Ridgeon, ”, Sawyers, Andrej Isakovic, we’ll, “ You’re, ” Lewis, Lewis, Jazmin Sawyers, Franck Fife, ” Sawyers, you’ve, Ivana Španović, Tim Hutchings, ” Hutchings, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, World Athletics, Getty, ’ ” CNN, Athletics Locations: Budapest, AFP, British, European, Serbian

☆ Arts Calendar: Happenings for the Week of January 14
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Wsj Arts In Review Staff | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A scene from ‘Hazbin Hotel’ Photo: Prime VideoFilm• “I.S.S.” (Jan. 19): After war breaks out on Earth, tensions are high among those onboard the International Space Station in Gabriela Cowperthwaite ’s sci-fi thriller starring Pilou Asbæk , Ariana DeBose , John Gallagher Jr. and Chris Messina . • “Which Brings Me to You” (Jan. 19): Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff , in this romcom from Peter Hutchings , play a pair who, after sparks fly when they meet at a wedding, decide to take things slow to see if there’s something deeper between them.

Persons: ”, Gabriela Cowperthwaite, Pilou Asbæk, Ariana DeBose, John Gallagher Jr, Chris Messina, •, Lucy Hale, Nat Wolff, Peter Hutchings Organizations: International Space Locations: Gabriela

☆ Virgin Atlantic plane will fly from London to New York with 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Experts say it’s not a fix
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —For the first time, a transatlantic flight operated by a commercial airline will be powered by 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) — a type of plane fuel that bears the promise of a much lower climate impact than traditional ones. The flight is the latest in a series of recent tests involving 100% SAF. Days earlier, business jet maker Gulfstream completed what it billed as the world’s first transatlantic flight using 100% SAF. Large twin-engine jets have performed flights using 100% SAF on both engines before, but these flights involved military aircraft. “One flight on 100% alternative fuel isn’t going to change the fact that 99.9% of aviation fuel is fossil fuel and there’s no great option for feedstock (raw materials) that can be scaled up sustainably,” she says.

Persons: Virgin Atlantic, Cat Hewitt, Hewitt, we’re, there’s, Giuseppe Cacace, Graham Hutchings, ”, “, ” Matteo Mirolo, ” Hewitt Organizations: CNN, Aviation Fuel, New York’s JFK, Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, Virgin, SAF, UK Civil Aviation Authority, Emirates, Airbus, Gulfstream, International Air Transport Association, Aviation Environment Federation, An, An Emirates Airbus, Getty, Royal Society, European Federation for Transport Locations: London Heathrow, New York’s, An Emirates, AFP

☆ New York City Marathon: ‘Super shoes’ have ‘blown distance running into a new stratosphere.’ Are they benefitting the sport?
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Michael Reaves/Getty ImagesThe two records in quick succession heightened the debate about how carbon-plated shoes – commonly referred to as “super shoes” – are rapidly changing the distance-running landscape. Today, they are worn by virtually all elite marathon runners, both for racing and for training, and by many casual runners, too. Tobias Schwartz/AFP/Getty ImagesThompson has other reservations about super shoes. “A lot of people say, well, people recover faster from training in the super shoes and therefore they can do more training, better training,” he added. “What I believe I’m seeing is that those who train all the time in super shoes will reduce their body’s ability to optimize biokinetic energy production.

Persons: Assefa, Bjørn Gulden, Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge, Michael Reaves, Peter Thompson, what’s, ” Thompson, … who’s, who’s, Thompson, hadn’t, I’ve, ”, Luciano Lima, “, ” Thomas Allen, Tobias Schwarz, Sifan Hassan, Chicago –, haven’t, ” Tim Hutchings, ” Hutchings, they’re, it’s, It’s, Jaroslav Svoboda, Hutchings, “ We’re, Eliud, Tobias Schwartz, “ I’m Organizations: CNN, Berlin Marathon, Adidas –, Chicago Marathon, Nike, Reebok, Adidas, Getty, Berlin, Runners, Manchester Metropolitan University, World Athletics, York City Marathon, Puma, Athletics Locations: Berlin, Chicago, Great Britain, Prague, York

☆ Desmond Tutu's modest car reminds South Africans of his values
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Archbishop Desmond Tutu laughs as crowds gather to celebrate his birthday by unveiling an arch in his honour outside St George's Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa, October 7, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCAPE TOWN, Oct 7 (Reuters) - South Africa's anti-apartheid hero Desmond Tutu could have chosen practically any car in the world when billionaire Warren Buffett offered to buy him a vehicle. The Desmond Tutu Intellectual Property Trust, which manages his legacy, has put the old car on show along with his books and possessions in honour of Tutu's 92nd birthday, which he would have celebrated on Saturday. The car, displayed in Cape Town, the city where the archbishop lived for most of his later life, became a symbol of Tutu's values. Desmond Mpilo Tutu, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his non-violent opposition to white minority rule, died in 2021.

Persons: Desmond Tutu, Mike Hutchings, Warren Buffett, Mercedes Benz, Tutu's, Mamphela Ramphele, Tutu, Ramphele, Nelson Mandela, Desmond Mpilo Tutu, Esa Alexander, Anait Miridzhanian, Andrew Heavens Organizations: REUTERS, Toyota Corolla, Trust, Reuters, Thomson Locations: St George's Cathedral, Cape Town , South Africa, Cape Town, Africa

☆ South African rand slightly firms as US dollar dips
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Oct 4 (Reuters) - The South African rand traded slightly higher on Wednesday following several days of weakness as the softening of the U.S. dollar supported risk sentiment. At 1619 GMT, the rand traded at 19.2800 against the dollar , about 0.3% stronger than its previous close. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker in afternoon deals, with the yield up 6.5 basis points to 11.085%. Reporting by Tannur Anders and Anait Miridzhanian; Editing by Alexander Winning and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Tannur Anders, Anait, Alexander Winning, Chris Reese Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S ., P, Africa PMI, Local, Woolworths, Africa's, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Stillwater, Johannesburg

☆ South African insurer Discovery resumes dividend on strong balance sheet
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Nqobile Dludla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of South Africa's Discovery group in seen on its headquarters in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, February 20, 2020. Discovery, which has a market share of 57.8% in the health insurance space, declared a final dividend of 110 South Africa cents per share. The company said organic cash generation was strong during the year after increased cash generation in its life insurance Discovery Life following high COVID-19 related claims in the prior period and the reduction in the cost of new initiatives. Discovery's headline earnings per share (HEPS) were 834.3 South African cents, up 5% from 792.4 cents a year earlier. Normalised HEPS, which Discovery considers a more accurate measure of its profit and which also excludes exceptional items, rose by 32%.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Adrian Gore, Gore, Nqobile, Mark Potter, Barbara Lewis Organizations: REUTERS, Bank, Discovery Ltd, Thomson Locations: Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Britain

The European Central Bank last week lifted rates to a record 4% and upgraded its inflation forecast for 2024, but the euro fell and has lost almost 2% against the dollar this month. Overall, Europe's central banks "would like to portray this idea of higher for longer (rates)," said Ed Hutchings, head of rates at Aviva Investors. The currency, which the central bank labeled "unjustifiably weak," barely caught a break and remains near a record low against the euro . He expected one the of big European central banks to be the first to cut rates. European central banks were "in a bind," Fiotakis added, as higher oil prices also threatened to push inflation higher.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Sterling, Kit Juckes, BoE, SocGen's Juckes, Ed Hutchings, Nathan Thooft, Bjoern, Fiotakis, Orla Garvey, Naomi Rovnick, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Sterling, LONDON, Bank of, Swiss, greenback, Societe Generale, European Central Bank, ECB, U.S . Federal Reserve, Fed, Aviva Investors, Investment Management, Reuters, DWS Group, Nomura, ING, Barclays, Federated, Thomson Locations: Swiss, Bank of England, Switzerland, Sweden, Europe, U.S, Western Europe, United States, Britain, Swedish, Japan, European

☆ South African rand firms after consumer confidence, current account data
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Sept 7 (Reuters) - The rand recovered some losses on Thursday after a consumer confidence index improved, although new data also showed that South Africa's current account deficit had widened. "Today's consumer confidence and current account figures beat estimates providing some encouragement in what has been a tough year for South Africa with the rand attempting to claw back some lost gains," said DailyFX analyst Warren Venketas. Central bank data earlier on Thursday showed South Africa's net foreign reserves fell to $55.444 billion by the end of August from $55.626 billion in July. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was stronger, with the yield down 2.5 basis points to 10.385%.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Warren Venketas, Tannur Anders, Nellie Peyton, Bhargav Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, Africa, Johannesburg

☆ For traders, September's ECB move is far from clear cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoData on Thursday showed euro zone inflation held at 5.3% in August rather than dropping. Overall money supply in the bloc contracted in July for the first time since 2010, demonstrating the extent to which ECB policy has tightened financial conditions. And even if investors are divided on September’s decision, the consensus is that the ECB will be done raising rates soon. Longer-term, markets expect the ECB to start cutting rates by the second quarter of 2024. (This story has been corrected to clarify that Aviva favours a small overweight in European bonds, not longer-dated euro zone bonds, in paragraph 19)

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Kai Pfaffenbach, Piet Christiansen, ’ indecisiveness, ” Christiansen, Isabel Schnabel, Robert Holzmann, ”, Mauro Valle, Valle, Edward Hutchings, Frederik Ducrozet, ” Aviva’s Hutchings, ” Pictet’s Ducrozet Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Central Bank, ECB, REUTERS, Danske Bank, Generali Investments, Treasury, Aviva Investors, Pictet Wealth Management, Aviva Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Austrian

☆ Analysis-For traders, September's ECB move is far from clear cut
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Yoruk Bahceli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach/File PhotoData on Thursday showed euro zone inflation held at 5.3% in August rather than dropping. Another inflation hawk, Austrian central bank chief Robert Holzmann, said the ECB could deliver “another hike or two”. Overall money supply in the bloc contracted in July for the first time since 2010, demonstrating the extent to which ECB policy has tightened financial conditions. And even if investors are divided on September’s decision, the consensus is that the ECB will be done raising rates soon. Longer-term, markets expect the ECB to start cutting rates by the second quarter of 2024.

Persons: Christine Lagarde, Kai Pfaffenbach, Piet Christiansen, ’ indecisiveness, ” Christiansen, Isabel Schnabel, Robert Holzmann, ”, Mauro Valle, Valle, Edward Hutchings, Frederik Ducrozet, Aviva’s Hutchinson, ” Pictet’s Ducrozet Organizations: Reuters, European Central Bank, Central Bank, ECB, REUTERS, Danske Bank, Generali Investments, Treasury, Aviva Investors, Pictet Wealth Management Locations: Frankfurt, Germany, Austrian

☆ South African rand pares losses after Powell speech
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 30, 2020. At 1528 GMT, the rand traded at 18.6550 against the dollar , about 0.9% stronger than its previous close, after gaining as much as 1% earlier in the day. The rand has had a turbulent week, contributing to its over 4% losses month-to-date. The risk-sensitive rand often takes cues from global factors like U.S. monetary policy in the absence of domestic economic data cues. South Africa's benchmark 2030 government bond was weaker, with the yield up 1 basis points at 10.210%.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Jerome Powell, Danny Greeff, Jackson, Greeff, Tannur Anders, Sonia Cheema, Devika Syamnath, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, U.S . Federal Reserve, Treasury, Analytics, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, United States, Johannesburg

☆ South African rand lifted by falling U.S. yields as BRICS summit kicks off
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

South African Rand coins are seen in this illustration picture taken October 28, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsJOHANNESBURG, Aug 22 (Reuters) - The South African rand gained on Tuesday as risk appetite returned to global markets due to falling U.S. Treasury yields, as the first day of the BRICS summit of emerging economies kicked off in Johannesburg. At 1605 GMT, the rand traded at 18.7900 against the dollar , about 0.9% stronger than its previous close. South Africa is hosting the leaders of Brazil, India and China for the Tuesday-to-Thursday summit, while Russian President Vladimir Putin will join virtually. The BRICS summit "is unlikely to provide the market with significant or sustainable momentum until the bloc adopts implementable policies," Greeff said.

Persons: Mike Hutchings, Danny Greeff, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Greeff, Tannur Anders, Bhargav Acharya, Mark Potter, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Treasury, Analytics, Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Thomson Locations: Rights JOHANNESBURG, Johannesburg, U.S, Africa, Brazil, India, China, South Africa, Ukraine

☆ South Africa's consumer goods firms warn of much higher prices as power cuts bite
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Nqobile Dludla | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A shopper looks for goods during an electricity load-shedding blackout in Johannesburg, South Africa, February 12, 2019. Food, consumer goods companies and retailers in South Africa are cranking up diesel generators and spending more on back up power supplies, adding to the pressure from soaring costs for raw materials, transportation and packaging. In an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the chief executives of member companies of the Consumer Goods Council of South Africa pleaded for urgent and decisive action from the government to solve the power crisis. Shoprite has said its additional spend on diesel to operate generators amounted to 560 million rand ($32 million) in the six months to Jan.1. Supermarket group Pick n Pay (PIKJ.J) spent 346 million rand in the 10 months to Dec. 25 to run generators, and is currently spending about 60 million rand per month.

LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - The Bank of England looks like it's being outed as the weakest link. The primary reason was that two of the nine-person MPC voted to end the Bank's rate rise campaign right away as the recession the Bank thinks is already underway will get entrenched next year. But with the median economist forecast for the Bank's terminal rate somewhere around 4.25%, markets still seem aggressively positioned for a hawkish surprise and the pound may be more vulnerable to that revision as the winter progresses. Significantly, the implied Fed terminal rate edged higher to 4.9% after its policy setpiece on Wednesday - even if is still below the 5.1% the Fed indicated. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsReuters GraphicsReuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsThe opinions expressed here are those of the author, a columnist for Reuters.

☆ VIEW Bank of England raises rates to 3.5%, says inflation has peaked
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The Bank of England on Thursday raised interest rates by a widely expected 50 basis points (bps) to 3.50%, in its ninth straight increase - and its eighth this year. UK rates began rising in December 2021, making the BoE the first of the world's major central banks to kick off a monetary policy-tightening cycle. MONEY MARKETS: Interest rate swaps showed investors expected rates to peak at 4.46% by next August, compared with an anticipated terminal rate of 4.53% just before the decision. Their own numbers have been pointing to a recession for a little while, and they've still materially hiked interest rates. EDWARD HUTCHINGS, HEAD OF RATES, AVIVA INVESTORS, LONDON:"The Bank of England duly delivered on financial markets expectations of a 0.50% hike.

Summary Hawkish central banks dampen hopes of peak ratesEuro zone bonds yields surgeHawkish message a reality check for markets -analystsLONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Forget a year-end rally in financial markets. The message from major central banks is loud and clear: the battle to tame inflation is far from over. Central banks in the United States, euro zone, Britain and Switzerland met on Wednesday and Thursday and all slowed the pace of aggressive rate moves. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said to expect more 50-basis-point rate increases for a period of time and that the ECB was not "pivoting" yet. Such sharp moves loosen the very financial conditions that central banks are trying to tighten in order to contain inflation.

☆ Vodacom gets fibre boost as regulator approves transfer of DFA licences
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-09 | by ( Andreas Rinke | Miranda Murray | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] A branch South African mobile communications provider Vodacom in Cape Town is shown in this picture taken November 10, 2015. REUTERS/Mike HutchingsJOHANNESBURG, Nov 9 (Reuters) - South Africa's Vodacom (VODJ.J) moved a step closer to a considerable expansion of its fibre footprint after the country's telecoms regulator approved the transfer of Dark Fibre Africa's licences to the mobile operator. If approved, Vodacom will also transfer its fibre assets to MAZIV. The deal gives South Africa's largest mobile operator exposure to the country's biggest open access fibre players. DFA is a leading provider of carrier-grade dark fibre - unused optical fibre - specialising in building, installing, and operating a national metro fibre network spanning 13,000 kilometres.

☆ EXCLUSIVE S.Africa's energy transition plan needs $46.5 bln, five times pledges - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Tim Cocks | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Giant wind turbines dot the landscape at the Darling Wind Power national demonstration project near Cape Town July 17, 2009. The project is the country's first independent wind power producer and currently has four turbines, with plans for another six. South Africa is also seeking to become a hub for so-called green hydrogen and electric vehicle manufacturing -- both of which could attract significant private sector investment. Coal makes up four-fifths of South Africa's power generation, so turning state utility Eskom to renewables is a priority for the government. Moving South Africa's economy into greener energy will require vast funds in the longer term, with some analysts estimating at least $250 billion over the next three decades.

☆ Monolitul metalic descoperit în deșertul din Utah a dispărut la fel de misterios cum a apărut
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-29 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +1 min

Misteriosul monolit argintiu descoperit în statul american Utah, a cărui origine nu a putut nimeni să o descopere, a dispărut cândva în jurul serii de vineri, a anunțat agenția locală pentru administrarea terenurilor, conform CNN. Agenția pentru administrarea terenurilor din Utah a anunțat, într-o postare pe Facebook, că misteriosul monolit a dispărut vineri noapte din zona în care fusese descoperit. „Am primit informații sigure că structura instalată ilegal, denumită «monolit», a dispărut de pe spațiul public. „Mi-a zis «întoarce, întoarce». L-am întrebat ce este și a răspuns că este ceva la sol și trebuie să mergem să vedem ce este”.

Persons: Bret Hutchings Organizations: CNN, Facebook, Aeriană Locations: american Utah, Utah

☆ Misterul din deșert: Un monolit, de trei metri înălțime, găsit din întâmplare într-o zonă pustie (VIDEO)
▼ + stars: | 2020-11-24 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +1 min

Un monolit a fost descoperit într-o zonă izolată a statului american Utah de câțiva funcționari publici care numărau oi sălbatice din elicopter, relatează CNN, citat de libertatea.ro. De altfel, strălucirea sa a fost cea care a atras atenția funcționarilor publici. „El a zis: Ooh, întoarce, întoarce! Cu toate acestea, Hutchings crede că, mai degrabă, monolitul misterios a fost plasat acolo de un artist. „Presupun că este vreun artist din valul nou, cineva care era un mare fan al filmului 2001: A Space Odyssey”, a spus Hutchings.

Persons: CNN, Bret Hutchings Organizations: CNN Locations: american Utah, Utah

Întoarce-te, întoarce-te! „Am glumit între noi că, dacă unul dintre noi dispare brusc, atunci celălalt fuge imediat pentru viața lui”, a spus Hutchings. Cea mai bună presupunere a pilotului cu privire la ceea ce ar putea fi a fost că a venit de la „vreun artist new wave sau cineva care era un mare fan al filmului din 1968”. Oricum, de pe orice planetă ar fi venit, e illegal să plasezi un asemenea obiect pe teren public, fără autorizație, conform Departamentului de Sănătate Publică din Utah, într-un comunicat. Astfel, o misiune de rutină pentru a supraveghea fauna locală deasupra zonei deșertice din Utah s-a transformat într-o scenă parcă desprinsă din filmele SF.

Persons: Andrew Adams, Bret, . Organizations: SF Locations: counting, Utah

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