Transcript

Hello, and welcome to “Just a Moment News.” I’m your host, Erika, bringing you today’s news highlights on June 21, 2024. Let’s delve into the stories making headlines today.

First up, Anthropic has rolled out a new version of its AI language model, Claude 3.5 Sonnet. This upgrade extends the capabilities of the previous version, Claude 3, with enhancements in text generation, data analysis, and coding. Accessible via the Claude website and API, this model features a 200,000 token context window and introduces a new feature called “Artifacts,” allowing users to interact with work documents in a dedicated window. According to independent AI researcher Simon Willison, Claude 3.5 Sonnet offers faster speeds and lower costs compared to its competitors, including GPT-4 Turbo. Anthropic plans to continue expanding its AI offerings with more models in the 3.5 series later this year.

Moving on, the Johannesburg High Court has ruled in favor of Eskom in a significant legal battle, ordering the City of Johannesburg and City Power to pay one billion and seventy-three million Rand for an unpaid electricity account. This decision comes after Eskom sued the city and its electricity utility over an outstanding bill totaling three point four billion Rand. Despite City Power’s counterclaim of over-billing and a request for refunds, the court dismissed these claims and upheld Eskom’s demand for payment.

In sports, the Springboks are gearing up for their World Cup campaign against Wales at Twickenham. With a strong team led by Eben Etzebeth and new talents like Jordan Hendrikse and Edwill van der Merwe, the Springboks are expected to dominate, especially in the forwards. Despite Wales facing significant disruptions and injuries, the match promises to be a tough contest, with the Springboks favored to secure a convincing victory.

In other sports news, the ticketing system for the upcoming Rugby Championship Test between the Springboks and All Blacks has sparked controversy. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with Stormers Rugby’s new random ticket ballot process, preferring the traditional first-come, first-served method. The match, set to take place at DHL Stadium on September 7, has already sold out, highlighting the intense rivalry and excitement surrounding this event.

Meanwhile, Ticketmaster faced a major system crash during the presale for Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” tour, leaving many fans frustrated. The crash was reportedly caused by ticket brokers using advanced technology to flood Ticketmaster’s servers, complicating the ticket-buying process for genuine fans. This incident has raised concerns about the fairness and accessibility of online ticket sales.

In space news, Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft is experiencing difficulties returning to Earth after docking at the International Space Station. This setback is part of a series of challenges Boeing has faced with its space program, contrasting with SpaceX’s more successful partnerships with NASA. Boeing continues to work on resolving these issues, with the goal of restoring its reputation in both space and aviation sectors.

Lastly, Netflix’s new series “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders” has received mixed reviews. Critics argue that the series feels more like a polished commercial than an in-depth documentary, lacking substantial exploration of personal stories and institutional workings. While the series entertains, it falls short of the high standards set by Greg Whiteley’s previous sports documentaries.

That’s all for today’s news on “Just a Moment News.” I’m Erika, and I hope you found our discussions insightful. Join us again next time for more updates and in-depth coverage of the day’s events. Thank you for tuning in!

Keywords - moment, daily, news