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Sports

Aussie Calab Law wins under-20s World Championship 200m bronze

Aussie Calab Law wins under-20s World Championship 200m bronze

Australia — we may just have found our next sprint superstar.

Aussie 200m star Calab Law claimed bronze at the under-20 World Athletics Championship in Cali Colombia, clocking a time of 20.48 in the final and landing on the podium.

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It was a hot final as Israel’s Blessing Akawasi Afrifah claimed gold ahead of Botswana’s Lesile Tebogo, who both recorded times of 19.96 seconds, making them the third fastest under-20 200m sprinters in history. Afrifah claimed the gold by 0.006 seconds in the photo finish time but both were awarded the championship record time.

The time was only 0.03 seconds slower than 200m world record holder Usain Bolt’s fastest under-20 time of 19.93 seconds and 18-year-old World Championship silver medalist Erriyon Knighton’s time of 19.49 seconds as the fastest under-20 200m time ever.

Tebogo had claimed the under-20 100m world record earlier in the meet, running 9.91 in the final to break his own record.

Although well outside the world record time, Law claimed the bronze, bouncing back from a slow star to land on the podium.

Law had set a personal best time of 20.42 in the semi-finals, the second fastest under-20 200m time in Australian history, behind only Aiden Murphy’s 20.41 set at the South Australian State Championships in February.

The 200m has traditionally not been a strong suit for Australia

Athletics historian David Tarbotton revealing it was just the fifth international 200m medal Australia had won, and second in the World U20s after Steve McBain’s bronze in 1986.

Murphy did make the semi-finals in Cali as well, but had the 11th fastest time and missed the final, despite coming into the event as a strong medal hope.

But Law brought home the bronze in a brilliant performance to solidify his reputation as one of Australia’s great sprinting prospects.

“I was so tempted to look over my shoulder because I didn’t really feel anybody up next to me. I knew the two boys were up in front, but I was not sure at all – I had to wait to see my name up there,” Law told Athletics Australia.

“The medal for me is like another step, it’s the next level. When I get into my Open season I will be better than ever.”

At just 18-years-old, Law is bound to get faster, which could be perfect timing for the Victorian Commonwealth Games in 2026.

A proud Indigenous man from the Wakka Wakka tribe in North Queensland, Law said he was inspired by those who came before him.

“My favorite sprinter ever is Cathy Freeman. She was the best – so smooth, so relaxed, so long. I always try to replicate the way that she runs but she is too perfect,” Law said.

“My aunty was an amazing sprinter, Aunty Karla, she coached me when I was 12. They are all indigenous Wakka Wakka, my tribe is from North Queensland and they would all be really happy – they were watching me on the big screen.”

Last month, Law raced at the World Championships, making the semi-finals but finishing as the 21st fastest.

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US

Russia ‘ready to discuss’ prisoner swap but will resist pressure to free Brittney Griner | Brittney Griner

Russia is ready to discuss a prisoner swap for imprisoned Americans, said foreign minister Sergei Lavrov, but added that the Kremlin would resist public pressure to free US basketball star Brittney Griner and others being held in Russian prisons.

Lavrov’s remarks came one day after Griner received a nine-year prison sentence on drug charges that were seen as a gambit to demand an exchange for high-profile Russians in prison in the US, including the arms trafficker Viktor Bout.

“We are ready to discuss the issue. [of a swap]but this should be done via the channel approved by the presidents, Putin and Biden,” Lavrov said during a press conference in Cambodia.

He referred to a backchannel that had been set up by Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, saying “no matter who says what in public, this channel remains relevant”.

That backchannel appeared to have been successful in arranging the release of Trevor Reed, an ex-marine who had been detained in Russia for more than two years before he was exchanged in April for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot who had been held for more than a decade on drug smuggling charges.

But Lavrov also warned that Russia would not respond to “megaphone diplomacy”, demanding that any negotiations be carried out discreetly.

“If this is another case of the Americans resorting to public diplomacy and loud statements on their pending steps, it’s their business or I would even say their problem, because the Americans often fail to honor the agreement on doing calm, professional work,” he said.

Griner and her legal team tried to steer clear of politics during her trial. “I know everybody keeps talking about ‘political pawn’ and ‘politics’, but I hope that is far from this courtroom,” Griner said in a closing statement on Thursday.

Lavrov said that he had not discussed the issue of a swap with the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who also attended the ASEAN conference in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on a potential swap for Bout, the arms trafficker. “These swaps will never happen if we start discussing any nuances of the exchange in the press,” he told reporters on Friday.

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Business

EXCLUSIVE | Shipbuilder Navantia to build 500MW hydrogen electrolyser plant with ‘world-renowned technologist’

EXCLUSIVE | Shipbuilder Navantia to build 500MW hydrogen electrolyser plant with 'world-renowned technologist'

Spanish shipbuilder Navantia is planning to begin production at a new 500MW electrolyser assembly line in northwest Spain by the “end of 2022 or beginning of 2023”, Recharge you have learned.

“The capacity for assembly of electrolysers in the short term is about 500MW/year and could be rapidly increased,” a Navantia spokeswoman tells Recharge.

The new facility — being built at its turbine factory in the northwestern Spanish city of Ferrol — will use stacks supplied by a third-party “electrolyser technologist” in the first phase, at least, she explains.

“We will establish collaboration with [this] world-renowned technologist, there are advanced conversations and the collaboration agreement is expected to be closed before [the] end of 2022. The type [of] model of collaboration — license agreement, joint venture or other alternative — will be defined by then.”

A trend seems to be emerging for electrolyser makers to form joint ventures or partnerships with third-party companies in order to build large new factories.

For instance, US company Plug Power is building a 2GW electrolyser factory in Queensland, Australia, in a 50-50 joint venture with green hydrogen pure-play company Fortescue Future Industrieswhich is owned by that country’s richest man, Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest.

Article continues below the warning

US-based Cummins has formed a joint venture with Chinese state-owned oil giant Sinopec to build a 1GW PEM electrolyser factory in southern China.

And Belgium’s John Cockerill is constructing a 2GW electrolyser plant in India in conjunction with local renewables developer Greenko.

As Plug Power CEO Andy Marsh recently told Recharge: “I think [a joint-venture approach] spreads risk, spreads reward, but it also opens up opportunities that I don’t think Plug would be able to capture on its own.”

The Navantia spokeswoman added that the company’s ambition was to produce both alkaline and PEM electrolysers.

“We will start production of electrolysers already tested and in commercial production by the technologist,” she said. “The ambition in the future is to participate in new developments and acquire the capacity to manufacture the whole electrolysers, including the stacks.”

Navantia’s intention to build an electrolyser production line was revealed with zero details last month, as part of a press release announcing an agreement between the shipbuilder and Spanish oil company Repsol to jointly explore “renewable hydrogen generation opportunities”.

“The ambition of Navantia [is] to become a relevant actor in the manufacturing of electrolysers… [in] answer to the demand of: a) the Spanish governments [sic] to develop the industry and local employment in the value chain of hydrogen production; and b) the main promoters, like Repsol, of hydrogen production plants, to ensure the… supply [of] electrolysers for their projects,” the spokeswoman explained.

Navantia also builds offshore wind turbine foundations and earlier this year it set up a new brand called Navantia Seanergies to push its non-shipbuilding activities.

According to shipbroker Clarksons, Navantia has not built a ship since 2019 and does not have any on order.

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Sports

Collingwood beat Melbourne by seven points in yet another thriller to make it 11 straight wins

Jamie Elliott celebrates a goal for Collingwood

Jamie Elliott has kicked four goals in his 150th game to help Collingwood upset Melbourne by seven points and stamp themselves as a genuine AFL premiership threat.

The lead swung on the last five goals of a pulsating contest at the MCG on Friday night before the Magpies prevailed 15.6 (96) to 13.11 (89) in front of 70,956 fans.

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It was Collingwood’s 10th win by a margin of less than two goals in a rolling first season under Craig McRae, lifting them into a second spot on the ladder.

But the fallout could hurt, with Will Hoskin-Elliott (hip flexor) substituted out, Nick Daicos (ribs) hurt and Mason Cox set to come under scrutiny for driving his knee up into Max Gawn’s stomach at a ruck contest.

Ash Johnson matched Elliott’s tally with four goals, Daicos (31 disposals) was brilliant at half-back, Jordan De Goey (24 touches, nine clearances) had an impact in the middle and hard-working forward Brody Mihocek (two goals) played a key role opposed to Steven May.

Clayton Oliver (42 disposals, 14 clearances) was best afield for Melbourne and Gawn (31, 10) was superb, while Ben Brown and Bayley Fritsch kicked two goals each.

But they couldn’t stop an irresistible second-half surge from Collingwood, who trailed by 23 points during the second quarter and kicked seven goals to three after the main break to overpower the reigning premiers.

The fuse was lit for a red-hot contest when Ed Langdon branded Collingwood “a bit of a one-trick pony” in a radio interview on Thursday.

The response was one of intent, with the Melbourne wingman crunched by Brayden Maynard in the opening exchanges and immediately set upon by three other Magpies.

Elliott marked his milestone with two first-quarter goals but it was the Demons who led by eight points after a fast-paced opening term.

Every Langdon touch was booed by the Magpie Army and Melbourne fans also found a villain to jeer when Cox thrust his knee into Gawn at a ball-up.

Melbourne dominated overall play in the second term thanks to their brilliant midfield – Christian Petracca (36 disposals) and Andrew Brayshaw (32) were prominent — and could easily have led by more than 17 points at half-time.

But Collingwood kept themselves in it with superior efficiency, crafting eight goals from just 18 forward entries to the Demons’ 10 from 41.

The Magpies evened up the midfield battle and attacked the contest with ferocity in the third quarter and cut the margin to seven points by the final change.

Daicos was crunched in a Fritsch tackle when he was called to play on after a mark but returned in pain after having his ribs checked.

The lead changed hands five times in an epic final quarter before Collingwood hit the front for the last time through Johnson, who converted a free kick after being pushed in the back by Harrison Petty.

ladder

AAP

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Australia

Only ‘ideology or fear’ would push a government to attack ABC, Anthony Albanese says | Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Only a government ruled by ideology or fear would attack the ABC, Anthony Albanese has said at the 90th birthday celebration of the public broadcaster in Sydney.

In a thinly veiled attack on the former Coalition government’s fraught relationship with the ABC, the prime minister on Friday evening said a strong independent broadcaster was vital to democracy and brought Australia together as a nation.

“The health of our democracy is underpinned by truth and by the strength of our cultural identity – how we see ourselves as a people and what unifies us in all the splendor of our diversity,” Albanese said.

“A government that chooses to attack a public broadcaster does so motivated by either ideology or fear – or a toxic cocktail of the two.

“No government should fear the ABC – unless it fears the truth. A government of integrity and transparency should welcome the accountability that a strong, properly resourced public broadcaster brings.”

An avowed fan of Triple J, Albanese praised many aspects of the ABC, from the credibility of its news and current programming affairs to its crucial role during the pandemic and the bushfires.

“There are people still alive right now because of the ABC,” he said.

He confirmed Labor would provide five-year funding terms, restore the $83.7m cut by the former government and review options for delivering greater financial sustainability to safeguard against political interference.

Albanese told guests in studio 22 at the ABC’s Ultimo headquarters that locally made children’s television such as Bluey was important for the development of cultural identity in young people who would otherwise face “a tide of imported programming”.

“Just as in drama, we need other voices and all the perspectives they bring, but not at the expense of our own,” he said.

Albanese, who was joined by the communications minister, Michelle Rowland, said the ABC helped to share Australia’s voice in the region.

“That was undervalued by the previous government, even trivialized,” he said, reiterating an election promise to increase funding for Australian content in the Indo-Pacific region.

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The ABC’s managing director, David Anderson, said the corporation could not be complacent about the future.

“We need to continue to evolve the ABC to respond to rapid technological change and the changing audience preferences and behaviors that come with it,” he said.

“The competition for audience attention is intense and the competitors are large, global and well-funded.”

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US

1 dead, 2 injured following shooting at Mirage on Las Vegas Strip

1 dead, 2 injured following shooting at Mirage on Las Vegas Strip

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a deadly shooting inside a room at the Mirage Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip late Thursday night.

Captain Dori Koren with the Homicide and Sex Crimes Bureau said one person has been pronounced dead inside the hotel room and two others are at a local hospital in critical condition as a result of the shooting.

“We can tell you at least preliminarily, that there was an altercation that happened in the room between four individuals we believe all known to each other. And during that altercation, the one individual shot the three other individuals,” Captain Koren said at an overnight briefing.

Multiple posts on Twitter indicated a heavy police presence inside the hotel. At one point people were saying police locked down the hotel completely.

As for the suspect, police say a manhunt is underway.

Koren said police are looking for a man who took off from the scene.

LVMPD posted to its Twitter just after 10 pm alerting the public of the shooting.

“These types of incidents these types of extreme violence that happen in our city we take very seriously, you’ve seen it with all the investigations we conduct, we’re fortunate to have the best homicide investigative unit in the country with the highest clearance rates for a reason so we’re confident we will solve this case,” Koren added.

On Friday morning, Koren tweeted that the suspect involved was “identified, located and arrested” within six hours of the shooting. Details on the suspect’s identity weren’t disclosed immediately.

FOX5 will provide additional information when it is made available.

Copyright 2022 KVVU. All rights reserved.

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Business

Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST axed in Australia

Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST axed in Australia

Just as fresh-faced updates to the Ford Focus ST and Ford Fiesta ST are rolling into local showrooms, the company has announced the shock departure of its two remaining hot hatches.

Paul Gover
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The future of hot hatches in Australia has been dealt another blow with the shock axing of two fan favorites — the Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST.

Both will be gone before the end of this year, a statement issued by Ford Australia this afternoon has confirmed.

It leaves the Ford Mustang as the sole remaining passenger car in the Ford Australia line-up — all other models are utes, SUVs, four-wheel drives or delivery vans.

The final shipment of Focus ST and ST X — only 40 cars in total — is on the way from Europe, with the Fiesta ST to continue for a little longer, though exact numbers are yet to be disclosed by Ford Australia.

Drive understands Ford Australia could be holding about 50 customer orders for the Fiesta ST – though a few more cars will be made available to customers who have yet to place an order.

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The departure of Ford’s hot hatches from Australian showrooms – both models are still on sale in Europe, where they are manufactured – is a reflection of slowing sales across the broader small-car segment.

Indeed, Drive understands Ford Australia was lucky to be able to retain the Fiesta ST and Focus ST variants amid the overall market decline in recent years for small cars and hot hatches.

This generation Ford Fiesta was scaled back to include only the ST variant since its local introduction in 2020, while the Ford Focus line-up in Australia was reduced to only the ST model at the start of 2022.

But now their days are numbered, as both models are no longer considered financially viable in Australia.

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Official confirmation of the “departure” of the hot hatches came today from Ford Australia, which said it “focuses on areas of growing customer demand” — including the Ranger Raptor and Ford Mustang.

“Both the Focus ST and Fiesta ST have been segment-defining hot hatches for Ford Australia and have put smiles on the faces of enthusiasts across the country,” Andrew Birkic, President and CEO of Ford Australia, said in a media statement.

“But with semi-conductor-related supply shortages and our focus on emerging areas of growth, we’ve made the difficult decision to call time on these iconic hot hatches in Australia.”

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Sales of the Focus ST and ST X have been falling steadily over the past 18 months, with 285 deliveries in 2021 but only 72 in the first half of this year.

In the same period, sales of the Fiesta ST — which outlasted a model cull to become the only surviving Fiesta model in Australia — have dropped from 342 to 71.

In contrast, sales of the baby Puma SUV crossover have held strong — 3,218 last year and 1,380 in the first half of this year.

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The prospects for potential buyers of the remaining inbound examples of the Ford Fiesta ST and Ford Focus ST are not good.

“The next Focus ST shipment is the very last one,” a Ford Australia spokesperson told Drive.

“We’ve secured some production of Fiesta ST through to the back end of the year, so we will be able to fulfill our existing customer orders. There might be limited extra availability.”

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The loss of the fast Fords means another thinning of the ranks of hot hatches in Australia.

In the city-sized compact class the only remaining runners are the Hyundai i20 N, Suzuki Swift Sport and Volkswagen Polo GTI.

Things are better in the small-car ranks, where the reducing roster still includes the Audi RS3, BMW M135i, Honda Civic Type-R, Mercedes-AMG A45, Renault Megane RS, and Volkswagen Golf GTI and R.

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There is little chance of future replacements for the small Ford ST siblings, with the Focus expected to die in 2025, although the name could continue on a future electric car.

Even so, Mr Birkic said Ford Australia is committed to the owners of Fiesta ST and Focus ST models, and is hinting about the coming next Mustang, due to be unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in September 2022.

“We look forward to sharing more about the next era of our performance vehicle line-up soon,” the Ford executive said in the media statement.

Paul Gover

Paul Gover has been a motoring journalist for more than 40 years, working on newspapers, magazines, websites, radio and television. A qualified general news journalist and sports reporter, his passion for motoring led him to Wheels, Motor, Car Australia, Which Car and Auto Action magazines. He is a champion racing driver as well as a World Car of the Year judge.

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Sports

casualty ward, injuries, Melbourne Storm, Jahrome Hughes, shoulder

Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes.

Sea Eagles playmaker Kieran Foran suffered a hamstring injury in his side’s clash against the Eels in a brutal blow to the club’s final chances.

The 32-year-old left the field with seven minutes remaining in the contest and was spotted by Fox League’s Greg Alexander.

“That is not a good picture, Kieren Foran sitting there with an ice pack on his hamstring,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.

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Manly coach Des Hasler conceded the veteran is unlikely to feature in Round 22.

“He has got a mild hamstring strain, so I don’t think he will make it next week,” Hasler said in the post-match press conference.

As it stands, the Sea Eagles sit four points outside the top eight and need all hands on deck if they want to make a late finals charge.

But now, Hasler will need to look elsewhere, potentially handing young gun Josh Schuster a chance to return at five-eighth.

Meanwhile, Fox League’s Lara Pitt confirmed Titans star Aaron Booth will be sidelined for an extended period after his knee dislocated.

X-rays revealed Booth suffered a small break in his leg, with scans tomorrow expected to show an ACL, MCL and PCL rupture.

MELBOURNE’S COSTLY BLOW

Melbourne’s injury crisis may have deepened with halfback Jahrome Hughes leaving the game against the Titans on Friday night with a shoulder complaint.

Hughes played out the first half but was assessed at half-time and Storm coach Craig Bellamy opted against using him in the second stanza.

“Jahrome Hughes will not be risked for the rest of this match, the Storm need to have his injured shoulder looked at,” Fox League sideline reporter Lara Pitt said.

“He’s with the physio in the sheds, the club telling me he simply had no strength in that shoulder, there were concerns he dislocated it in contact but it popped straight back in, so he’s going to have some scans tomorrow.”

Fox League caller Dan Ginnane said the injury could have huge implications on the finals.

“That is huge what happens there, they’ve got Penrith next week. Brisbane at Suncorp, the Roosters down here in Melbourne and then Parramatta,” Ginnane said.

“That is a brutal finish and top four is obviously no guarantee. It’s becoming a survival of the fittest this NRL (season).”

Read on for all the latest news in our NRL casualty ward.

INJURED IN ROUND 21

Jahrome Hughes (shoulder)

Aaron Booth (knee)

Kieren Foran (hamstring)

FULL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) – Round 21

Albert Kelly (foot) – Round 22

TC Robati (arm) – Round 22

Herbie Farnworth (biceps) – indefinite

raiders

Adam Elliott (hip) – Round 21

Jordan Rapana (suspended) – Round 21

Semi Valemei (knee) – Round 21

Trey Mooney (ankle) – Round 21

James Schiller (ankle) – Round 22

Harry Rushton (jaw) – Round 25

Jarrod Croker (shoulder) – season

Josh Hodgson (knee) – season

Harley Smith-Shields (knee) – season

BULLDOGS

Paul Alamoti (cheekbone) – Round 21

Ava Seumanufagai (calf) – Round 21

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ribs) – Round 21-22

Corey Allan (groin) – Round 22

Corey Waddell (suspension) – Round 25

Luke Thompson (concussion) – indefinite

Jack Hetherington (shoulder) – season

Billy Tsikrikas (knee) – season

SHARKS

Dale Finucane (suspension) – Round 22

Royce Hunt (shoulder) – indefinite

Jack Williams (shoulder) – season

Sione Katoa (pectoral) – season

TITANS

Joe Vuna (knee) – indefinite

Shallin Fuller (leg) – season

BE EAGLES

Sean Keppie (shoulder) – Round 21

Ben Trbojevic (head knock) – Round 21

Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) – finals/World Cup

Karl Lawton (knee) – season

STORM

Jahrome Hughes (shoulder) TBD

Jack Howarth (shoulder) – Round 21

Will Warbrick (quad) – Round 21

Tepai Moeroa (shoulder) – Round 22

Nick Meaney (shoulder) – Round 22

Trent Loiero (back) – indefinite

Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) – season

Reimis Smith (pectoral) – season

Christian Welch (Achilles) – season

George Jennings (knee) – season

KNIGHTS

Bradman Best (thumb) – Round 21

Kurt Mann (quad) – Round 22

Kalyn Ponga (concussion) – indefinite

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) – indefinite

Chris Vea’ila (leg) – indefinite

Bailey Hodgson (elbow) – season

Dylan Lucas (pectoral) – season

COWBOYS

Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – Round 23

Jordan McLean (hamstring) – Round 24

Mitch Dunn (knee) – season

Heilum Luki (knee) – season

EELS

Haze Dunster (knee) – season

Ray Stone (knee) – season

Mitch Moses (finger) – Finals

PANTHERS

Eddie Blacker (hamstring) – Round 21

Mitch Kenny (knee) – Round 21

Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) – Round 21

Kurt Falls (leg) – Round 21

Mavrik Geyer (thumb) – Round 21

Jarome Luai (knee) – Round 25-finals

Nathan Cleary (suspension) – Finals

RABBITOHS

Peter Mamouzelos (wrist) – Round 24

Hame Sele (hamstring) – Round 25

Michael Chee Kam (thumb) – Round 25

Campbell Graham (cheekbone) – indefinite

Jed Cartwright (hamstring) – indefinite

Liam Knight (knee) – season

Jacob Host (shoulder) – season

dragons

Cody Ramsey (knee) – Round 22

Jayden Sullivan (shoulder) – Round 23

Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) – Finals

Moses Suli (ankle) – Finals

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ROOSTERS

Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone) – Round 22

Lindsay Collins (concussion) – Round 24-25

Billy Smith (knee) – season

Sitili Tupouniua (knee) – season

WARRIORS

Bayley Sironen (eye socket) – Round 21

Aaron Pene (illness) – Round 21

Jack Murchie (staff) – Round 21

Jesse Arthars (quad) – Round 22

Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee) – Round 22-23

Ben Murdoch-Masila (elbow) – indefinite

Jazz Tevaga (shoulder) – season

TIGERS

Luke Garner (neck) – Round 21

Tommy Talau (knee) – Round 21

Stefano Utoikamanu (wrist) – Round 24

Luke Brooks (calf) – Round 24

Jackson Hastings (leg) – season

Alex Twal (concussion) – season

Shawn Blore (ACL) – season

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Categories
US

Lightning strikes near White House kills 2, injures 2 others

Lightning strikes near White House kills 2, injures 2 others

A couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, died after a lightning strike in Lafayette Square, the public park right next to the White House.

A couple from Janesville, Wisconsin, died after a lightning strike in Lafayette Square, the public park right next to the White House.

Two others were left with critical injuries Thursday night.

DC police tell WTOP the elderly couple died overnight.

The strike occurred as severe storms moved across the region bringing with them thunder, lightning and heavy rain.

“Upon arrival we found four patients,” said DC Fire and EMS spokesman Vito Maggiolo. “All four were suffering critical, life-threatening injuries. We were able to quickly treat and transport those four individuals to area hospitals.”

The two men and two women were found near a cluster of trees, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether they were hit directly by lightning or whether they were struck by a falling tree.

“I cannot describe the injuries,” Maggiolo said. “All we know for sure is that there was a lightning strike in their immediate vicinity, and all four were injured.”

Maggiolo stressed that their location was not safe during the severe weather.

“Anytime there’s lightning, you should go indoors or you should go to a safe place,” he said. “Trees of course are not safe places. So anybody who goes to seek shelter under a tree, that’s a very dangerous place to be.”

Officials with the US Secret Service and the US Park Police were nearby and were able to help, potentially saving their lives, Maggiolo said.

“I want to thank them because their agents and their officers witnessed this lightning strike and immediately began to render aid to the four victims,” Maggiolo said.

The incident was similar to one that happened a couple of years ago, when National Guard members were in DC due to protests in June of 2020.

Two members of the National Guard were injured when lightning struck in Lafayette Square, which is where they were stationed.

WTOP’s Mike Jakaitis contributed to this report.

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Sports

A-League: Danny Vukovic signs with Central Coast Mariners

A-League: Danny Vukovic signs with Central Coast Mariners

Veteran goalkeeper Danny Vukovic’s bid for regular first-team football to secure a spot in the Socceroos’ World Cup squad has brought him back to the A-League.

The 37-year-old gloveman has returned to the Central Coast Mariners, where he has spent five seasons from 2005 to 2010.

Vukovic has since spent time at four other A-League clubs – Wellington Phoenix, Perth Glory, Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC – and had spells in Turkey (Konyaspor), Japan (Vegalta Sendai), Belgium (Genk) and the Netherlands (NEC Nijmegen). ).

However, a lack of first-team football last season with NEC forced him to look elsewhere to help his chances of maintaining his spot in Australia’s World Cup squad.

Central Coast coach Nick Montgomery said Vukovic was a “massive signing” for the Mariners, who recently lost keeper Mark Birighitti to Scottish Premiership club Dundee United.

“He is a top class goalkeeper and a great person who will add so much value and experience to this young squad,” Montgomery said.

“He has played at the highest level in Europe, is a real family man and is well known in our community.

“To bring him home to play in Australia and hopefully help him make selection for the World Cup at the end of the year would be a special thing.”

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