August 2022 – Page 830 – Michmutters

Month: August 2022

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Sports

F2: Pourchaire revives title fight with Budapest Feature Race victory

GettyImages-1411970939.jpg

Theo Pourchaire has breathed life back into his fight to be crowned the 2022 Formula 2 Champion by claiming an impressive win in the Budapest Feature Race.

Tire degradation proved to be strain on the whole field, as neither compound seemed to last as long as the drivers needed it to, but the ART Grand Prix driver made his mediums survive to the finish.

Gambling on the overcut, Enzo Fittipaldi’s risk was rewarded with his second podium of the weekend, as pole-sitter Ayumu Iwasa went on the recovery to claim third after losing out off the line.

F2: Jack Doohan wins Budapest Sprint Race in style

Commanding all the attention in the final nine laps, Frederik Vesti was on fire as he used the alternative strategy to breeze his way up from P9 post-stop to P4 at the checkered flag, despite the Mercedes junior receiving a five-second time penalty early on.

Running the same strategy as the ART rookie, Juri Vips got the better of Hitech Grand Prix team mate Marcus Armstrong for fifth. The New Zealander had been in the fight for the win initially, with a blistering start promoting him to the lead before dropping off the leading pack after his pit stop.

Liam Lawson managed to cut ahead of Richard Verschoor for seventh. Fortunately for Championship leader Felipe Drugovich, he didn’t end the race empty-handed. The MP Motorsport man clung on to two points in ninth ahead of title rival Logan Sargeant. The Williams junior was one of the drivers to endure the painful opening laps on medium tires, with low temperatures and a lack of grip initially sending the American plummeting down the order.

READ MORE: Verstappen recovers from P10 to take Hungarian GP win as Mercedes secure double podium

With four rounds to go, the fight for the title is far from over. Pourchaire’s victory has reignited his campaign, slicing Drugovich’s advantage to 21 points heading into the summer break. Sargeant remains in P3, 40 points behind the Sauber junior, while Fittipaldi’s run of form promotes him up to fourth.

ART Grand Prix extend their hold on the Teams’ Championship on 250 points. Carlin move up into second by a single point, as MP Motorsport slump down to third on 206.

For more on F2, visit the official series website.

Formula 2 Highlights: 2022 Hungarian GP Feature Race

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Australia

RAC survey reveals Western Australia’s riskiest roads where motorists fear driving the most

RAC survey reveals Western Australia's riskiest roads where motorists fear driving the most

The risky WA roads motorists fear the most have been revealed, with Farrall Road in Midvale — the scene of a horrific accident where a 15-year-old boy was killed as he waited to cross the road with his friends — topping the list.

The road where Kayden McPhee was struck by a drunk driver in 2018 was identified as the city’s most dangerous by respondents to an RAC survey.

Kayden McPhee.
Camera IconKayden McPhee. Credit: Supplied by family/SUPPLIED
Your local paper, whenever you want it.

The 48-year-old driver Biju Paulose pleaded guilty to a string of charges, including unlawfully killing Kayden, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm under the influence of alcohol and failing to stop to render assistance.

Kayden was taken to hospital but died nine days later from head injuries after his family made the decision to switch off his life support. His 16-year-old friend of him suffered life-threatening injuries and a 12-year-old was lucky to escape unscathed.

Orton Road, Byford, the scene of another fatal smash in 2020, also made the list for its poor road surface quality and lack of traffic separation.

A 26-year-old man was killed when an Acco rubbish truck collided with the Holden Commodore sedan he was driving near the intersection of Orton and Hopkinson Roads.

Farral Road.
Camera IconFarral Road. Credit: Stewart Allen/RAC

At the time, it was the second crash at the same intersection in two weeks, with locals labeling it a “death trap” on social media.

The RAC survey received more than 10,000 nominations from residents identifying streets and intersections in desperate need of safety upgrades.

Mitchell Freeway.
Camera IconMitchell Freeway. Credit: Stewart Allen/RAC

RAC General Manager External Relations Will Golsby said the survey shone a spotlight on safety issues that were often overlooked.

“Driving or cycling to work shouldn’t be a stressful or dangerous experience, but unfortunately that’s the reality for many in Perth,” he said.

“This survey result shows there’s an urgent need for safety treatments across metropolitan Perth.

Neaves Road.
Camera IconNeaves Road. Credit: Stewart Allen/RAC

“There are some great opportunities for low-cost intersection upgrades and better walking and cycling paths.”

Other city roads to appear in the top 10 risky roads include Mitchell Freeway southbound in West Perth, the scene of a smash in December last year that killed one person, injured two others, and led to hours of gridlock.

Respondents also slammed the confusing layout of the Canning Highway interchange on Kwinana Freeway southbound.

The regional road considered WA’s riskiest was the stretch of South Western Highway between Bunbury and Walpole — also picked up in a previous survey — criticized for its narrowness, tight curves and blind crests and lack of overtaking opportunities.

The intersection of Marmion Avenue and Seacrest Drive in the beachside suburb of Sorrento topped the list of Perth’s riskiest road junctions, with residents calling for traffic lights or a roundabout.

Marmion Avenue and Seacrest Drive.
Camera IconMarmion Avenue and Seacrest Drive. Credit: Stewart Allen/RAC

An intersection in Albany, between Albany Highway and South Coast Highway was named worst in the regions.

Mr Golsby said the RAC would work with government and road safety agencies to find solutions to ultimately reduce the impact of road trauma.

“Someone is killed or seriously injured on our roads every five hours,” he said.

“That’s why the feedback from this campaign is so important – it will continue to amplify our calls for safer roads across Perth.”

Road Safety Commission figures show there have been 80 deaths on WA roads in the past 12 months.

WA’s top 10 risky roads

1. Farrall Road, Midvale

2. Mitchell Freeway (southbound), West Perth

3. Neaves Road, Banksia Grove to Bullsbrook

4. Orton Road, Casuarina to Byford

5. Kargotich Road, Oakford

6. Kwinana Freeway (southbound) Canning Hwy interchange

7. Thomas Road, Casuarina to Byford

8. Flynn Drive, Carramar, Neerabup

9. Mundizong Road, Baldivis to Mundizong

10. Walter Place, North Fremantle

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Categories
US

CT man arrested for driving over 160 mph on New Hampshire highway

CT man arrested for driving over 160 mph on New Hampshire highway

ASHLAND, NH (WTNH) – New Hampshire troopers arrested a Danbury man on Sunday after he drove over 160 miles per hour (mph) on a highway. The highway’s speed limit was only 70 mph.

Authorities said that just after 11 am, troopers patrolling I-93 North in Ashland spotted an orange car driving at nearly 161 mph. Due to incredibly high speeds, the patrol officer who spotted the car was unable to pursue it. Instead, officials said the officer placed a Be On the Lookout Order (BOLO).

Minutes later, troopers received multiple reports about sports cars driving erratically and at high speeds, with some reports including an orange sports car. According to these testimonies, the speed nearly caused a few crashes.

The Woodstock Police Department said it heard the BOLO report, and positioned officers on the highway to intercept the orange sports car. They eventually clocked the car going 130 mph.

Officers were able to stop the orange 2021 Chevrolet Corvette at exit 32, when it became stuck in traffic. They held the driver, Alejandro Zapata-Rebello, 30, of Danbury until state troopers could arrive.

Zapata-Rebello was charged with two charges of reckless driving, and one charge of disobeying an officer. Woodstock police said they also charged him with reckless driving.

Officials said Zapata-Rebello was released on a summons to appear in court on September 22.

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Categories
Sports

Bombshell claims made about cricketing great

Stuart MacGill has alleged he was held captive and demands were made for money. Picture: A Current Affair

A lawyer for two brothers accused of being hired “muscle” in the alleged kidnapping of Stuart MacGill has told a court that the cricketing great was a regular cocaine user and “actively” involved in a drug deal central to the case.

Richard and Frederick Schaaf are awaiting trial over the alleged abduction of Mr MacGill from outside his home on Sydney’s lower north shore last year.

The pair on Monday appeared before the Supreme Court in an effort to be danced while they fight the charges.

Their barrister attacked Mr MacGill’s credibility, arguing that he went willingly with a group of men to an abandoned house in southwestern Sydney and said there was no physical evidence that he had been brutally assaulted.

Stuart MacGill has alleged he was abducted from outside his Cremorne home. Picture: Adam Yip/Daily TelegraphSource: News Corp Australia

The pair have pleaded not guilty to charges of take/detain in company with attempt to obtain advantage, with the matter expected to go to trial mid next year.

They were arrested along with four other men, including Mr MacGill’s de facto brother-in-law Marino Sotiropoulos, after the former Test spinner alleged that he was taken to a Bringelly property.

He has claimed that he was threatened with a gun, assaulted and demands were made for money over a drug deal gone wrong.

The court was told on Monday that Mr MacGill allegedly introduced Mr Sotiropoulos – the brother of his partner Maria O’Meagher – to a cocaine dealer.

Mr Sotiropoulos has since been charged with a supply of a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and will stand trial alongside the Schaaf brothers.

Mr MacGill alleges that a group of men forced him into a car outside his home and confronted him after the drug deal ended in a “rip off”.

The two men watched from Bathurst Correctional Center on Monday as their barrister Avni Djemal argued they should be released on bail ahead of a trial next year.

Mr Djemal said there was evidence that Mr MacGill had willingly participated in a meeting at the Bringelly house and agreed to look at photos in a bid to identify the drug dealer.

Mr Djemal said Mr MacGill was released at Belmore and allowed to get into a cab.

Richard Schaaf has appeared before the Supreme Court in a bid to be released on bail. Pictures: Facebook.Source: Supplied
Frederick Schaaf has pleaded not guilty to allegedly kidnapping Stuart MacGill. Picture: SuppliedSource: Supplied

“The evidence implies Mr MacGill to a high level. I’m surprised he’s not charged with the actual drug transaction that he says, in his evidence, ‘I had nothing more to do with it, I just introduced the brother-in-law, Mr Sotiropoulos, to a person who I knew used to sell drugs’,” Mr Djemal said.

“The gentleman, now a registered source, he says that this gentleman, MacGill, was an avid user of cocaine and said to be on it all the time or drunk or desperate for money.”

Mr Djemal further told the court that Mr MacGill had an “active” role in negotiating the weight of the drugs involved in the deal to the point that the dealer had offered him a gift because he “put this deal together”.

The Bringelly property where Mr MacGill was allegedly held captive. Source: 7 NEWSSource: Supplied

He further said there was no evidence to support Mr MacGill’s assertions that he had been punched to the front and back of his head, knocked to the ground and suffered a concussion.

Mr Djemal said the only evidence of any injuries was Ms O’Meagher saying she felt a lump on Mr MacGill’s head.

“He doesn’t have one physical injury after those events,” Mr Djemal said.

“If the hits to the front of your face have produced no lumps and you say the onslaught was to the front, the side, knocked you to the ground, how could that be?

“How could his word be that there was a kidnapping? What if he went, saw photos and got brought back?”

Mr Djemal argued that Frederick Schaaf should be released so he could undergo dental treatment because he was at risk of losing his teeth.

The hearing before Justice Richard Button continues.

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Categories
US

Biden poised to deliver on decades-long Democratic promise

Biden poised to deliver on decades-long Democratic promise

Democrats have been campaigning for 30 years on promises they’d let Medicare directly negotiate the cost of prescription drugs — and after all that time, they might finally be about to achieve it.

Why it matters: The Senate’s reconciliation bill would only open up negotiations for a small number of drugs, but even that is a threshold Democrats have never before been able to cross. And it opens the door to more aggressive policies in the future.

Flash back: Then-president Bill Clinton proposed direct negotiations between drug companies and the federal government in 1993.

  • Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden — and even Donald Trump — each embraced the idea while in office or as candidates, only to be warned by arguments it would squelch new drug development or limit seniors’ choices.
  • Federal law has prohibited Medicare from directly negotiating how much it will pay for drugs since 2003.

“Finally eliminating the prohibition and empowering the secretary to negotiate is a historic precedent, and is something to protect and strengthen over time,” said Chris Jennings, a health policy advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama.

Yes but: The version of price negotiations contained in the Senate’s bill is much narrower than most of those ambitious campaign proposals.

  • “A baby step is the way I would describe this,” said Zeke Emanuel, a health policy advisor to former President Obama and chair of the department of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania.
  • “We’re talking about 10 drugs and moving up at the end of the decade to a whopping 20 drugs. And they can get insulin included, how many people are going to be affected unless it is, I think, a big question,” he said.

If negotiations make it into law now, however, future administrations and Congress could expand them and make more drugs subject to negotiations.

  • And despite the limitations built into the measure, the drug industry is still warning that it will have a disastrous impact.

The otherside: The drug industry and its allies have long argued that these sorts of policies — which they say are more like price controls than price negotiations — would weaken the incentives for smaller biotech firms to take the scientific risks required to develop new drugs.

  • The Congressional Budget Office estimated that under Democrats’ plan, the number of drugs introduced to the US market would fall by about 2 over the next decade, and by about 5 over the subsequent decade.

But the industry’s arguments aren’t resonating as much now, with prices still on the rise and the public gripped by broader inflationary fears. Polls show large majorities support giving the government the power to negotiate prices.

  • “In a moment where not just health care costs, but inflation, is the issue of the day, this policy resonates like never before.” Jennings said.

The bottom line: “We only pass things in a hurry when there’s a war, major economic upheaval, a once-in-a-century pandemic,” Emanuel said. “There’s only so long that when 90% of voters, Democrat and Republican, say we want price negotiation, that Congress can stand in the way… this shows you that at some point, that ends.”

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Categories
US

Hotter than Dubai: US cities at risk of Middle Eastern temperatures by 2100 | climate crisis

The climate crisis risks pushing many Americans into entirely new climatic realities, with a new analysis finding there are 16 US cities at risk of having summer temperatures on a par with locations in the Middle East by the end of the century.

Heatwaves have roiled huge swaths of the US this summer, placing nearly a third of the population under some sort of heat advisory and driving temperatures to as high as 115F (46C) in parts of the Great Plains. Hundreds of heat records have tumbled, from Boston, Massachusetts, which hit 100F (37C)to Portland, Oregon, which reached 102F (38.9C) on Tuesday.

But global heating may plunge many places in the US into the sort of heat extremes previously considered unthinkable, shifting their climates long-term into conditions now common in places far farther south, or even far overseas.

An analysis of temperature trends by Climate Central found that summer temperatures in 2100 for many cities will be more like conditions farther south, 437 miles to the south on average, with Washington DC having summers more like Austin, Texas’; Boston becoming more like Philadelphia; and Billings, Montana, resembling El Paso, Texas.

Map of four US cities, with lines connecting them to cities in the Middle East.

Some US cities could be shifted to the sort of climates now experienced by cities in other countries, such as Los Angeles becoming more like Tuxpan in Mexico. A select few may go on an epic climatic journey by the end of the century, with Austin’s summers becoming like present-day Dubai, Phoenix resembling Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas getting similar to Kuwait.

“The real risks will be in heatwaves that are now occasional extremes that will start lasting longer,” said Peter Girard, a spokesperson for Climate Central, a research organization made up of climate scientists and science communicators. “These sort of heatwaves will become normal and the dangers will be far more present. There will be people who have never needed air conditioning who will face this. It can quickly go from uncomfortable to dangerous.”

Researchers gathered temperature data from 1990 to 2020 to establish today’s “normal” temperature and looked at 20 different projections of temperatures this century under different climate change scenarios. They decided to compare the status quo to a scenario where planet-heating emissions are not radically reduced and the global average temperature rises by about 3.6C by the end of the century.

List of the 16 US cities and the cities in the Middle East whose summer temps they could be similar to in 2100.

The world has already heated up by about 1.2C from preindustrial times, a situation that has already helped spur the sort of fierce heatwaves and wildfires recently experienced in the US and Europe. “Extreme heat is a silent killer, yet it affects more Americans than any other weather emergency, particularly our nation’s most vulnerable,” said Gina McCarthy, the White House’s national climate adviser.

Many analysts expect that the temperature rise will be constrained to below 3.6C, due to the rising use of renewable energy, but Girard said even lower levels of warming will cause shifts in the climatic norms of US cities.

“No matter the scenario, this will be a near-term challenge pretty much everywhere,” he said. “Reducing emissions will slow the temperature rise and give governments and cities more time to take steps to keep people safe.”

Categories
Sports

Stuart MacGill had money problems, court told, as alleged kidnappers seek bail

Stuart MacGill had money problems, court told, as alleged kidnappers seek bail

“No medical evidence had confirmed his claim that he had lumps at the back of his head,” he said.

According to his police statement when the men let him go “the big fella” said he should wear sunglasses, in effect, to make out as if he was injured, Djemal submitted.

“If you’ve been punched, why the façade?”

MacGill, 51, told police he was forced into a car at Cremorne on Sydney’s north shore and taken to Bringelly, south of Sydney.

Three assailants then allegedly tried to extort money from MacGill before dropping him about 45 minutes’ away in Belmore about an hour later.

He could not identify the men who kidnapped him but said they spoke Tongan.

He waited for a week to report the incident to the police, saying he was so frightened by the experience and had been threatened with a gun.

The Crown on Monday submitted that Frederick Schaaf had two phones, one located inside the car allegedly used in the kidnapping.

But Djemal said his other covert Cipher phone was nowhere near the car, and argued his other overt phone was left inside the car while it was borrowed.

Djemal submitted the car was slow to cousin Elijah Schaaf who then used it for the kidnapping without Frederick’s knowledge, helped by Vaeluagaomatagy Felio.

Justice Richard Button has reserved his decision on the bail applications.

AAP

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Sports

Commonwealth Games 2022: Mum’s drunken celebration on Sunrise, Rugby Sevens, Australia, medal tally

Commonwealth Games 2022: Mum's drunken celebration on Sunrise, Rugby Sevens, Australia, medal tally

The party is going strong on both sides of the world after Australia’s Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens gold medal triumph.

Taking to the field just before 6am AEST, the Aussies were unstoppable, leading 22-0 before two late tries gave some respectability to the scoreline in the 22-12 result over Fiji.

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The Commonwealth gold is the final piece of Australia’s trophy cabinet as the side won the 2016 Olympic gold and are the current Rugby Sevens World Series champions.

And while our stars were living it up, those left back at home were also getting in on the celebrations — just ask Richelle Levi.

The mother of the Levi sisters Teagan, 18, and Maddison, 20, was ready for the win, showing up on Channel 7’s Sunriseafter enjoying the spoils of victory.

Asked if the party was going to go on all day, Richelle was clearly already enjoying herself.

“100 per cent, two bottles of champagne already done — woo!” she said.

Sunrise host Natalie Barr and David Koch were in hysterics over the cross to the Gold Coast.

At a bowls club on the Gold Coast, Richelle said: “This is their little club, they used to sit out on that balcony …”

Weatherman Sam Mac added: “…while you were drinking champagne?”

He added: “I feel like the Olympics was all about Dean Boxall (Ariarne Titmus’ coach) in terms of passionate supporter, well I see your Dean Boxall and I raise you Richelle.”

Back in the studio, Edwina Batholemew said: “Imagine winning a gold medal and waking up the next morning with messages, ‘your mum’s on TV, she’s had two bottles of champagne, and she’s a riot”.

However, it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise for the champion sisters who knew their mum was prepared for victory and was even more loose off camera.

“Mum had a bottle of champagne ready at 6 in the morning — she was ready to celebrate and I think she’ll be on it all day celebrating,” a jubilant Maddison Levi said after Australia’s historic maiden Sevens gold medal win over Fiji.

“I don’t know if I can say it on camera (what mum said) but they were definitely happy.

“There were tears of joy. It was a pretty emotional rollercoaster…. they’ve been with us through the highs and lows and to have two kids standing on that podium is pretty awesome.

“They definitely had tears. But lots of swearing, I can confirm.”

Fans may need to remember the Levi name as the duo are set for long careers in the sporting spotlight.

The Levi sisters have been pursued by rugby, AFLW and rugby league, such is their athletic prowess.

Maddison played eight games for the Gold Coast Suns in the AFLW, kicking three goals, before representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics. Teagan was drafted No. 6 by the Suns in the 2021 Draft before joining the Rugby Sevens tour.

But before the Games, Maddi revealed she would like to try everything.

“AFLW and NRLW is still there, which later down the track we’d love to give a go, but for now our heart is set on sevens,” Maddi told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“In sevens there is so much opportunity and it’s a growing sport. With the Olympics coming up and World Series [tournaments] every year, traveling the world with your best friend … there’s no other sport that compares to that.”

Teagan adds: “Mads has been my best friend since day one. I guess we do fight a little bit, but as we’ve grown older I wouldn’t change it for the world to finally play in an Aussie sevens team together. It’s a dream come true.”

The dream went next level this morning.

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Categories
Australia

Criminal prosecutor calls for overhaul of sex education

Criminal prosecutor calls for overhaul of sex education

“It’s very human to kind of want a concrete, tangible solution to something and be able to say, ‘here’s this step we’ve taken, it’s in the curriculum now,” Ms Marson said.

“But comprehensive relationships and sexuality education take so many different moving parts moving in unison to be delivered effectively. There’s no point producing curriculum if the teacher in front of the classroom doesn’t feel confident or isn’t trained to deliver that curriculum.

“It doesn’t work if it’s just a one-off lesson once a year, or if it gets crammed into something because the teaching staff isn’t competent or they don’t have enough time for it or they are concerned there might be backlash from parents.”

The author (her book on the topic, Legitimate Sexpectations is released this week) pointed to the Netherlands as the world leaders in what such education should include, saying it was incorporated into curriculum early and involved learning how to recognize certain feelings and how to respond to them.

This could include playing with different textures in kindergarten and verbalizing how they physically felt to touch, she said, noting that many negative sexual experiences arose when people felt unable to speak up about their feelings.

She also pointed to Germany as a world leader, with the government there setting up infrastructure within its health department to position relationships and sexual education as a wellbeing and public health issue.

Having subject matter experts teach aspects of the programs could also help improve effectiveness, she said, with some successful programs involving getting external providers to teach dedicated days of relationship education.

Ms Marson said pushback from parents was often a barrier to developing meaningful sex education programs, but that parents and carers needed to accept that they also had a responsibility for helping develop children’s understandings of consent.

“It’s a collective responsibility and we need to shift our perspective to see that young people are actually entitled to this [education].

“We recognize that they have a right to learn how to drive and swim and all these other skills that they need to live a safe and fulfilling life, but then we deny them this. So, we can debate how we go about fulfilling that right, but unless we do so we are just letting them down and I just can’t see how we can justify that.”

She added that curriculum commitments were still helpful to give schools “some kind of mandate”, noting the countries she visited with the most advanced sex education programs all had political mandates backing their development.

Categories
US

Man cuts woman with boxcutter in Midtown

Man cuts woman with boxcutter in Midtown

A woman was randomly slashed by a man with a boxcutter as she walked down a Midtown street Sunday, police said.

The 59-year-old victim was sliced ​​in the right hand by the man who crept up behind her on Seventh Avenue near West 42nd Street in an unprovoked attack around 10 am, according to cops.

Dramatic video shared by the NYPD shows the suspect a few steps behind the woman as she pulls a shopping trolley down the block.

He raises the blade in the air, with his arm outstretched towards the sky, before suddenly lunging at the woman and slashing the blade down on her right hand.

The man uttered no words before stabbing the woman’s hand, police said.

The woman was transported to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition.

The suspect, meanwhile, fled eastbound on East 42nd Street before cops arrived.

Asian woman slashed in Manhattan
The criminal shared no words before slashing the victim’s hand.
Paul Martinka
Asian woman slashed in Manhattan
The 59-year-old victim was sliced ​​in the right hand by the suspect.
Paul Martinka
Video shows the man raising a blade in the air and slashing the woman.
Video shows the man raising a blade in the air and slashing the woman.
DCPI

Police are asking anyone with information in regard to the incident to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

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