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Events group Hyve to sell Ukrainian business in management buy-out

Events group Hyve to sell Ukrainian business in management buy-out

July 19 (Reuters) – British exhibitions group Hyve (HYVE.L) said on Tuesday it is selling its Ukrainian unit to a group led by Anatoly Sushon, the Ukrainian business’ managing director, as events in the country continue to be on hold following Russia’s invasion.

Hyve said it would receive up to 3 million pounds ($3.59 million) from the sale, which will be paid annually until September 2027 based on the Ukrainian operations’ profitability.

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Reporting by Muhammed Husain in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.V

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LME appoints Oliver Wyman to review events that led to nickel suspension

LME appoints Oliver Wyman to review events that led to nickel suspension

Traders work on the floor of the London Metal Exchange in London, Britain, September 27, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

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LONDON, June 23 (Reuters) – The London Metal Exchange said on Thursday it had appointed Oliver Wyman to carry out an independent review of events that led to the suspension of nickel trading in March.

The exchange suspended nickel trading on March 8 after prices spiked by more than 50% to hit $100,000 a tonne. Activity resumed on March 16 when the exchange launched daily price limits and the provision of OTC nickel trading data.

“The independent review will review the factors that contributed to market conditions… in the period leading up to, and including, 8 March 2022 and make recommendations to reduce the likelihood of similar events occurring,” the exchange said in a release.

The assessment will not cover the decision-making processes and governance arrangements at the LME and at its clearing house, LME Clear, it said.

Decision-making and governance will be a part of the regulatory reviews to be undertaken by the UK Financial Conduct Authority and the Bank of England.

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Reporting by Pratima Desai; editing by John Stonestreet and Barbara Lewis

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McIlroy unimpressed by lineup for inaugural LIV Golf event

McIlroy unimpressed by lineup for inaugural LIV Golf event

May 22, 2022; Tulsa, OK, USA; Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the seventh tee during the final round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at Southern Hills Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo

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June 1 (Reuters) – Rory McIlroy on Wednesday dismissed the field for the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series as “nothing to jump up and down about” and said players joining the Saudi-funded breakaway circuit need not face severe punishment.

There has been speculation that golfers who defect to the LIV Golf Series could face lifetime bans from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour but McIlroy feels such action would be too harsh.

“I certainly don’t think they should drop the hammer,” world number eight McIlroy told reporters ahead of the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio.

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“Look, they are well within their rights to enforce the rules and regulations that have been set. But … it’s going to end up being an argument about what those rules and regulations are.”

The June 9-11 LIV Golf event outside London is headlined by Dustin Johnson, who at world number 13 is the highest-ranked player in a field that currently includes 26 of the top 150 golfers in the world. read more

Among the other notable names competing are 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia, 2010 British Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and former U.S. Open champions Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer.

“I certainly don’t think the field is anything to jump up and down about,” said McIlroy.

McIlroy, who already expressed his allegiance to the PGA Tour, said he has some friends playing the LIV Golf event and when asked if they had any desire to keep competing on the PGA Tour the 33-year-old Northern Irishman paused before answering.

“Not really, I guess. You know, you have some guys in a position where they are literally not guaranteed a job next year,” said McIlroy.

“It’s hard to stay in the top-125 out here, especially when you’re a guy in your 40s and maybe you don’t hit the ball as far as you’re used to.”

All seven regular season LIV Golf events this year will have a $25 million purse where all players are paid out, including $4 million for the winner. The season-ending event will feature a $30 million purse.

According to McIlroy, that type of money proved too enticing to turn down for those in the latter stages of their careers.

“It’s a young man’s game nowadays,” said McIlroy.

“So someone that isn’t guaranteed their Tour card next year, another entity comes along and says, we’ll guarantee you this amount for three years, plus you’re playing for a ton more prize money, and you’re playing less events, you can spend more time with your family.

“I mean, whenever you sit down and look at some of those things, you know, it’s very appealing to some of those guys that are in that position.”

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Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto
Editing by Toby Davis

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Transgender women unable to compete in British Cycling events as policy suspended

Transgender women unable to compete in British Cycling events as policy suspended

Cyclists ride at sunrise in London, Britain, January 4, 2020. REUTERS/Toby Melville/File Photo

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April 8 (Reuters) – British Cycling suspended its Transgender and Non-binary Participation Policy with immediate effect on Friday, denying transgender women the chance to compete in domestic women’s races until the policy was reviewed.

British Cycling said it had taken the decision to suspend the policy due to differences between its own policy and that of the world governing body (UCI).

The move comes after transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was told by British Cycling that she was ineligible to compete in the women’s race at the National Omnium Championships.

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Bridges had been due to compete in her first women’s event in Derby but British Cycling said it had been informed by the UCI that she would not be eligible to participate under their current guidelines. read more

Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported that Bridges had been ruled not compliant by the UCI as she was still registered as a male cyclist and could not compete as a woman until her male UCI ID expires. Reuters has contacted the UCI for confirmation.

“It is currently possible for trans-female athletes to gain eligibility to race domestically while their cases remain pending with the UCI (or indeed in situations where they are deemed ineligible),” British Cycling said in a statement.

“(this allows riders to) accrue domestic ranking points which impact selection decisions for National Championship races, which is not only unprecedented … but is also unfair on all women riders and poses a challenge to the integrity of racing.

“As a result of this, on Wednesday the British Cycling Board of Directors voted in favour of an immediate suspension of the current policy, pending a full review, which will be initiated in the coming weeks.”

British Cycling added that it would include women and the transgender and non-binary communities in the review process.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said earlier this week that transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events. read more

“I don’t think biological males should be competing in female sporting events. Maybe that’s a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible,” Johnson said.

In November, the International Olympic Committee said no athlete should be excluded from competition on the grounds of a perceived unfair advantage due to their gender, but stopped short of issuing regulations that define eligibility criteria. read more

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Reporting by Aadi Nair and Rohith Nair in Bengaluru
Editing by Toby Davis

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Sports-Transgender women should not compete in female events – British PM

Sports-Transgender women should not compete in female events - British PM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson walks in Downing Street in London, Britain, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson

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LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) – Transgender women should not be competing in female sporting events, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told broadcasters on Wednesday.

Johnson was speaking as the country looked set to abandon plans to hold a flagship conference designed to promote LGBT+ rights around the world. read more

Charities and organisations are boycotting the event following a dispute over conversion therapy for transgender people.

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“I don’t think biological males should be competing in female sporting events. Maybe that’s a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible,” Johnson said.

“I also happen to think that women should have spaces — whether it’s in hospitals, prison or changing rooms — which are dedicated to women. That’s as far as my thinking has developed on this issue.

“If that puts me in conflict with some others, then we have got to work it all out. It doesn’t mean I’m not immensely sympathetic to people who want to change gender, to transition and it’s vital we give people the maximum love and support in making those decisions.”

Transgender rights has become a hot talking point as sports seek to balance inclusivity with ensuring there is no unfair advantage.

Transgender cyclist Emily Bridges was ruled out of Britain’s National Omnium Championships last weekend after the sport’s governing body, the UCI, ruled she was ineligible. read more

British Cycling had cleared Bridges to take part under their “Transgender and Non-Binary Participation policy”.

New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard became the first transgender athlete to compete at the Olympics Games in Tokyo last year.

University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas last month became the first transgender National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) champion in Division I history after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle. read more

Thomas competed on Pennsylvania’s men’s team for three years before transitioning and setting multiple programme records with the women’s team, but her eligibility has come under considerable scrutiny.

The latest International Olympic Committee (IOC) guidance, updated in November last year, is that no athlete should be excluded from competition on the grounds of a perceived unfair advantage due to gender. read more

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Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ed Osmond

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Top ballet performers ‘Dance for Ukraine’ in charity event

Top ballet performers 'Dance for Ukraine' in charity event

March 20 (Reuters) – Away from the fighting in Ukraine, Russian and Ukrainian ballet dancers rubbed shoulders in London on Saturday in a charity event that united some of the world’s leading dance performers for humanitarian relief in the war-torn eastern European nation.

About 20 dancers, with glistening bodies and graceful moves, received a thunderous applause from the packed auditorium at the London Coliseum theatre for the ‘Dance for Ukraine’ gala.

“We have so many loved ones back home. We couldn’t just sit idly at home and just watch news, we wanted to do something,” Ivan Putrov, who is from Ukraine and organised the event with Romanian Alina Cojocaru, told Reuters.

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Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, an attack Moscow calls a “special operation” to demilitarise its neighbour.

The U.N. human rights office has said at least 847 civilians had been killed and 1,399 wounded in Ukraine as of Friday. More than 3.3 million refugees have fled Ukraine through its western border, with around 2 million more displaced inside the country.

Some audience members were draped in the Ukrainian flag for the event, with dancers from many countries including Brazil, Italy and Britain providing glamour to the stage that was lit in shades of yellow and blue.

Katja Khaniukova from Ukraine and Natalia Osipova from Russia were among those who took part. There were also dancers from the United States, France, Japan and Argentina at the event, which the organisers said raised at least 140,000 pounds ($184,520.00) for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Ukraine appeal.

“So many of the artists contacted us wanting to join so it is inspiring how overwhelming the support is from the people, but we need more support in Ukraine, more support from different governments around the world,” said Putrov.

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Writing by Muralikumar Anantharaman; Editing by Shri Navaratnam

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