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Sports

‘I wanted to dig a hole and jump in it’

'I wanted to dig a hole and jump in it'

“Are you going to have nightma…”

“Yup!”

The question wasn’t even fully formed and Meg Lanning had given her answer. No, she would not be sleeping well after dropping the catch that would have handed legspinner Alana King a hat-trick, just the second for her country in women’s T20Is.

In fairness, Lanning, the Australia captain, was as good-natured as anyone could possibly be about the situation, from burying her face in the Edgbaston turf right there at slip where if you gave her 99 similar chances she’d take them, to wincing in the background as reporters quizzed King a couple of meters away afterwards about the incident and then facing up to the same journalists, knowing full well what was coming.

“I’ll have nightmares,” Lanning said. “I wanted to dig a hole and jump in it as quick as I could. I tried my best and I dropped it.”

Softening the blow somewhat was the fact that Australia had one foot in the Commonwealth Games semi-finals with Barbados 53 for 8 at that point. Barbados managed just 64 before being bowled out. Then Australia, led by Lanning’s unbeaten 21-ball 36, overhauled the target with 71 balls to spare and sealed a place in the knockout stages with one group game to go.

Asked if her innings was a response to her faux pas in the field, Lanning said: “I wasn’t overly pleased, let’s put it that way. I was just disappointed for Kingy. She was bowling so well and to let her down like that was not ideal. But that’s cricket, I guess.

“I was just keen to contribute really. I was just pouncing on some loose balls when I got them and giving myself a chance and it felt like I was able to do that.”

Deandra Dottin conceded 25 runs off her first over, the last of the powerplay, all to Lanning and extras as Australia, via their captain, accelerated after a watchful start on a slow, hybrid pitch staging its sixth match in three days. From that point, Alyssa Healy joined the fray also, moving from four runs off 14 balls to 23 not out off 24 as Australia eased to victory.

For her part, King was understanding.

“That’s cricket, right? No one means to drop a ball or anything,” King said. “It’s just the way the game goes, but I’m just happy that I could contribute in any way I can.

“Every ball I bowl, I’m trying to get a wicket so that was no different but it caught the outside edge and yeah, that’s just cricket, I guess. But I’m just really happy with how I played today.

“I felt that there was definitely a bit more bite in the wicket today. It is the sixth game on it so it’s a bit tired, a bit slow, which works into our hands a little bit.”

King entered the attack in the eighth over after Lanning had won the toss and sent in Barbados, who lost captain Hayley Matthews early for what turned out to be their top score, on 18.

King struck with her second ball, brushing the outside of Dottin’s front pad in line with middle stump as she knelt down to tuck the ball to fine leg, having faced 22 balls for her eight runs.

After Tahlia McGrath claimed the first of her three wickets when she had Kycia Knight caught by Megan Schutt at deep backward square and Ashleigh Gardner bowled a tight spell, including a double-wicket maiden to remove Kyshona Knight and Trishnan Holder, King roared back into action .

At the end of her second over, King dismissed Aaliyah Alleyne playing across a ball that pegged back leg stump. Then, with the third ball of her third over, King pinned Shakera Selman lbw and then struck Shamilia Connell on the back leg next ball. What followed as Keila Elliott’s edge somehow popped out of Lanning’s hands at first slip was the stuff of bad dreams. Fortunately for Australia, it was all right on the night.

Valkerie Baynes is a general editor at ESPNcricinfo

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Categories
Australia

Residents of flood effected Goodna say the buy-back scheme is taking too long, Reconstruction Authority says they will not be rushed

Johann Koorts, whose house in Goodna was flooded, standing in front of his home

The owner of flood-ravaged properties south-west of Brisbane says he remains in an “awkward position” as he waits to hear whether his houses will be bought back by the government.

Flood-affected home owners in eastern parts of Goodna are being given “initial priority” for voluntary home buy-backs, with 31 owners having confirmed their interest so far.

More than five months after the February flood disaster, authorities say 4,259 people across the state have registered their interest to have their homes raised, rebuilt or voluntarily bought back under the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund.

It includes 443 home owners for voluntary buy-back, with 70 per cent of them living in Ipswich and Brisbane.

Eighteen home owners have been identified in the first tranche of the Brisbane buy-back scheme.

The state government said Goodna east has been given “initial priority” because of the extent of the disaster impact and flood risk, with valuations in Ipswich to start in mid-August.

Rubbish stacked on either side of Enid Street.
Enid Street in Goodna was devastated by flooding in February and March.(Supplied)

Resident Johann Koorts applied to be part of the buy-back scheme for the two homes he and his wife own on Enid Street today.

“We are not fixing it. We have no money to fix it,” he said.

“We could have started a month after the floods if we [had] confirmation from the government on what they were going to do.

“I’m not sure if I should be doing anything [to the house]because it is not used — the other people in the neighborhood advise, ‘You’re wasting your time and your money if you fix it’.

“It is a very awkward position to be in now.”

‘We are not going to rush’

Brendan Moon, the chief executive officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, said the buy-back scheme was a voluntary process and would take time.

“It relies on an independent valuation of the property to take place and that home owner agreeing to valuation of that property before they sell their house,” he said.

“This is a big decision for people so we are not going to rush this.”

Of the more than 8,000 properties impacted in the southern Queensland flooding, approximately two-thirds have either been repaired or works were underway, Mr Moon said.

Another 2,000 properties are still uninhabitable at this point in time.

“This will be a long road,” Mr Moon said.

Flooded buildings in a street in Goodna.
Queen Street in Goodna flooded severely in February.(ABC NewsAlice Pavlovic)

A key driver for work to begin was the progress of the home surveys, which tells authorities “where floodwaters have been and where they may go into the future”, he said.

“Right now we have over 3,000 underway surveys.

“This tells us the best option for those particular home owners … and will drive the outcome for those home owners.”

He said home owners should not wait for funds to be available to conduct repairs.

There are still about 600 home owners who were unsure of their next steps and “our approach now is very much supporting them getting them to the right decision.”

Asked about wider construction challenges and material shortages, Mr Moon said “these are considerations we’ve taken into account in the design of this program”.

“I think when we start to get an understanding of what the scope of works and costs associated with those works look like, I think we’ll be in a better position to make a call on those,” he said.

‘Gap’ in creek system knowledge

It comes as State Recovery Coordinator Major General Jake Ellwood delivered his report into the south-east Queensland floods detailing the recovery plan going forward.

Major General Jake Ellwood speaking at a press conference.
Major General Jake Ellwood says there was a “gap” in knowledge about south-east Queensland’s creek systems.(ABC News: Scott Kyle)

He said from visiting different communities it was clear to him “there was a feeling that there could have been more warning”.

“In some areas they felt there were gauges required, in other areas they felt the gauges might be older,” he said.

“The thing is, we have an opportunity now with technology to actually improve what we have so that we get a better picture.

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Categories
US

Putin dubs US as Russia’s main naval threat in new doctrine

Putin dubs US as Russia's main naval threat in new doctrine

Russian President Vladimir Putin identified the US as his nation’s greatest naval threat in a new military doctrine issued Sunday.

Speaking on his country’s Navy Day in St. Petersburg, Putin said Russia wants to fortify its influence on the seas and to become a “great maritime power.”

Earlier, Putin signed a 55-page naval doctrine outlining Russia’s designs.

The document pinpoints America as Russia’s primary naval rival due “the strategic policy of the USA to dominate the world’s oceans.”

He also asserted that looming NATO expansion poses another threat on the high seas.

Putin stated that Russia would deploy military force if diplomacy and economic tactics don’t prove effective in containing America’s might.

US officials have asserted that Putin and Russia are attempting to militarize international waters as it seeks to bolster its military standing.

The doctrine stressed the importance of the Arctic Ocean and said Russia will seek to deepen its position in the Black and Azov seas.

Vladimir Putin signed a 55-page naval doctrine outlining Russia's designs.
Putin signed a 55-page naval doctrine outlining Russia’s designs.
© Mikhail Klimentyev/TASS via ZUMA Press

“Guided by this doctrine, the Russian Federation will firmly and resolutely defend its national interests in the world’s oceans, and having sufficient maritime power will guarantee their security and protection,” the document said.

Putin noted that Russia expects imminent delivery of new hypersonic missiles that travel at nine times the speed of sound.

He did not touch on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine in his comments.

With Post wires

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Categories
Business

Cadillac Lyriq: review, pricing, specifications

Cadillac Lyriq: review, pricing, specifications

This is the car that will spearhead a new assault on world markets for the famed Cadillac brand.

The Lyriq electric SUV will form the foundation for a Cadillac return to Europe and other markets – potentially including Australia.

A mid-sized SUV similar in size to BMW’s X3 and Audi’s Q5, the Lyriq’s a handsome looking thing in the metal. It has a long bonnet, muscular haunches and daring detail work on the headlamps, grill and tail lamps.

The door handles fold flush with the door panels – much like Tesla’s Model Y – and the cabin is dominated by a huge curved digital screen that houses a driver display and center touchscreen.

Bright chrome highlights lift the cabin and there’s an abundance of storage space, thanks to the fact that there’s no transmission tunnel running through the center of the vehicle.

Second-row passengers will find more leg and knee room than they would in a mid-size German luxury SUV, while the read load area is a decent size.

It’s on the road that the Lyriq impresses, though.

A 250kW rear-mounted electric motor moves things along swiftly and silently, although there’s not the brutal launch off the line that you’d feel in a Tesla Model Y.

Once you’re on the move, though, there’s an impressive surge at most speeds when you floor the throttle.

The venue for our brief test drive was GM’s huge Milford Proving Ground outside of Detroit and we put the Lyriq through its paces on a variety of surfaces designed to replicate public roads. That included large bumps and dips, a simulated rail crossing and some sweeping, high-speed corners.

The Cadillac impressed with its composure, setting well after larger bumps and sitting flat through corners, even when confronted with broken, corrugated bitumen.

Precise steering and reassuring grip add to the driving enjoyment, although you can feel its considerable weight shift when it is asked to change direction in a hurry.

Cadillac claims the Lyriq is good for a range of 500km, although that may come down once the more realistic WLTP standard for range is applied.

In the US, the Lyriq starts from $62,990 in rear-drive form. A dual-motor version will launch early next year with roughly 370kW of power for just $2000 extra.

GM won’t confirm whether the Lyriq will be available in right-hand-drive but it would appear likely, as it seems the most logical fit for a Cadillac rebirth in European and international markets.

The president of GM International, Shilpin Amin, says designing vehicles for either left or right-hand drive is “much more simple” on an electric vehicle platform.

“Because of how efficient it is to build it upfront with left and right-hand-drive markets in mind no longer do you need the volumes to justify it. You can actually do it pretty efficiently at all volumes for markets around the world,” he says.

That is encouraging news for Aussie Cadillac fans.

Christian Soemmer, managing director of GM strategic markets, alliances and distributors, says the brand has “ambitious goals” in overseas markets, including Australia.

“We want to grow our international scale. Australia and New Zealand is an absolute key pillar of that region. We are always looking into more opportunities,” he says.

Cadillac will lead GM’s transformation to a leading EV maker, taking the fight to Tesla.

It will not launch any new petrol vehicles after 2026 and will become EV-only by 2030.

Cadillac interior design manager Tristan Murphy said the shift in focus to electric cars gave the design department an opportunity to reimagine the once-storied brand.

“I think it was a good opportunity for us to take a step back and say OK as we move forward into the future what do we want Cadillac to be? It was a chance to reinvent it,” he says

The design team was also mindful of its duty to honor the heritage of the badge.

“I don’t want to say it’s retro by any means but there are some retro cues because there are some things in our history that we want to hold on to. There are these little winks and nods at our history because that is something that an EV Start-up company doesn’t have,” he says.

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Categories
Entertainment

interview with director Andrew Traucki about shark films

interview with director Andrew Traucki about shark films

But at the same time there is more awareness of the need to conserve species, there is a surprising surge in the number of killer shark films.

There are likely to be almost as many this year as there are shark fatalities around the world.

According to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, the global average is five “unprovoked” deaths a year – those not initiated by human actions – though it was up to nine last year.

Elevated genre shark film: The Reef: Stalked.

Elevated genre shark film: The Reef: Stalked.Credit:Thrills & Spills

Two new British films have been released in the past seven months: Shark Bait (shark hunts young revellers on a drifting jetski) and Beneath the Surface (traumatized woman grapples with the shark attack that killed her father and sister).

There are another three from the US: bullshark (shark kills swimmers in a Texas lake), The Requin (couple have to survive sharks when their holiday villa is swept into the sea) and Sharkula (tourist community is threatened by a vampire shark).

As those plot summaries suggest, they are from a schlocky subgenre of the “killer creature” film that is characterized by photogenic casts, ominous music, cheesy taglines like “terror has teeth” and jump scares.

Allegory about domestic violence in the guise of a shark film: The Reef: Stalked.

Allegory about domestic violence in the guise of a shark film: The Reef: Stalked.Credit:Thrills & Spills

Traucki says they reflect the lucrative worldwide market for B-grade shark films like 2013’s sharknado, which has inspired five sequels, two spin-offs, two documentaries, a mockumentary and a video game. Call it the “sharknado effect”.

“There’s definitely a group of people who’ll watch anything shark,” he says. “There’s another group who like shark terror-horror films.

“And there are people like me who like films that are very suspenseful and, whether they’ve got a shark or a serial killer is by the by. What they are is a great suspense film.”

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Traucki aimed higher with his new film.

In the same way that horror film get-out was about racism and The Babadook was about depression, he calls The Reef: Stalked an “elevated genre” film about domestic violence.

Two of the women kayaking are traumatized by their sister being killed by her partner.

“I didn’t really want to do another shark film that was just going to be a shark film,” Traucki says. “I wanted to expand my horizons.”

While traditional shark films tend to attract men aged 18 to 25, he hopes The Reef: Stalked finds a young female audience and becomes a conversation starter for people who would not normally watch a drama or documentary about domestic violence.

But it’s a fine line given the shark in his film is still a relentless killer.

So, even given his higher intentions, isn’t he still contributing to the fear of sharks?

“People have come to me with shark films forever since The Reef and I’ve said no to all of them because they’re all just ‘shark kills people, body count, blah, blah, blah’,” he says.

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“But with this one because I’m a surfer and I know that surfers call sharks ‘the man in the gray suit’ and I’d seen a great play called lethal indifference about domestic violence, I put those two together and that was enough to tempt me back into writing a script.

“One level it’s got this shark thriller engine but on another level it’s all about bonding and grief and domestic abuse.”

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

Email the writer at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @gmaddox.

Categories
Sports

Commonwealth Games Day 4: Latest news, schedule, results from Birmingham

Gold Coast Bulletin

Australian cycling star Matthew Glaetzer was robbed of a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in a decision labeled a “travesty”.

Glaetzer, who was made to sweat for over an hour while officials reviewed footage, had his bronze medal taken off him in a decision widely condemned by the cycling community.

The lengthy review deemed Glaetzer impeded Scotland’s Jack Carlin during the bronze medal sprint, a ruling which was slammed by Aussie cycling royalty Kathy Bates.

Bates, commenting for Channel 7, called the officials’ decision “a poor interpretation”.

“I don’t agree,” Bates said. “If they are going to be that picky they need every camera angle and they sure need a super zoom.

“I’m having nothing of it. The any time limit contact is when Jack Carlin swung back up the track and even touched Matt Glaetzer. If anyone got impeded it was Matt Glaetzer. But the judges, you have to respect their decision. I’m not sure I respect this one to be honest.

“I want to because I think rules are rules but I think this is a pretty crappy decision. I’m devastated for Matt Glaetzer. I don’t see how the Australians will accept this and don’t feel robbed. This is an absolute travesty in my mind. I don’t even think Jack Carlin will be pleased at that turnaround. You want to win fair and square, and that is the most ridiculous relegation I have ever seen.

“I’m very devastated for Matt Glaetzer. And I think it is a poor interpretation.”

Footage showed a distraught Glaetzer when the verdict was announced, while teammate Matthew Richardson celebrated his gold medal.

“You can see it in his face. This decision has just broken him, it is not fair in my estimation,” Bates said.

“He doesn’t have a right of appeal. It is probably why the decision has been taken so long because they were deliberating it, and certainly Australians were arguing as hard as they could and fighting the case for Matt Glaetzer.

“This is just absolute heartbreak for him. The look on his face from him, guys, there have been a lot of tears tonight at the velodrome for happy reasons and now sad ones.

“I won’t give my opinion. But I think what everyone in Australia is thinking right now and I think the same as that man on our screens. We are absolutely devastated having the bronze medal taken from him after the superhuman efforts of the last couple of days. Totally devastated.”

6:03PM FIVE ATHS STARS TO WATCH

Athletics starts at the Commonwealth Games today. Here is who to keep an eye out for—including an Aussie star.

WOMEN Kelsey-Lee Barber (AUS) – Javelin
The 30-year-old seemed set fair to finally land a Commonwealth Games gold — having taken bronze and silver in the last two editions — after she retained her world title.

The Olympic bronze medalist, though, contracted Covid-19 shortly after her world triumph but the team insisted she would make it to Birmingham.

Barber can take heart that her compatriot Jessica Stenson finally won the marathon title on Saturday despite having Covid less than a month before the Games

Keely Hodgkinson (ENG) – 800m

The 20-year-old should be the hottest of favorites to be crowned Commonwealth Games champion. She took silver in last year’s Olympics behind Athing Mu and then lost out by the barst of margins (0.08sec) to the American in the world final.

That defeat left her bristling.

“I’m definitely a little bit annoyed,” she said. “I have a lot of respect for her but I’m obviously gutted. I came here to win the gold and it didn’t happen.” After her silver de ella in Tokyo, Hodgkinson, who has put studying for a criminology degree on hold, was rewarded by a sponsor with a spin in an Aston Martin.

She felt that her Eugene performance did not merit a repeat but gold in Birmingham should be good enough for a second outing.

MEN Ferdinand Omanyala (KEN) – 100m

The African 100 meter champion could gain compensation at the Games after his world title challenge was shattered by only obtaining a visa to enter the United States at the last minute.

The 26-year-old bowed out in the semi-finals but said he had no regrets and was looking forward to competing in Birmingham.

“The challenge of life is intended to make you better, not bitter,” he tweeted. “Persistence and resilience only come from having been given the chance to work through difficult problems. No matter how much falls on us, we keep moving.”

Jake Wightman (SCO) — 1500m One of the surprises of the world championships when he took gold in a race being commented on in the stadium by his father and coach Geoff.

The 28-year-old became Britain’s first 1500m world champion since Steve Cram in 1983 and is keen to use it as a springboard for Commonwealth gold and then the European 800m crown in Munich later this month.

“It’s crazy. The time frame between coming back from the worlds and then going into the Commonwealths,” he said.

“It’ll be tough to kind of get myself back up, which is why I need to let myself chill out for a few days to get ready for the tough rounds again and get back into that championship environment.”

Emmanuel Korir (KEN) – 400m

The 27-year-old is the undoubted king of the 800m having added world gold to his Olympic crown.

Eyebrows may be raised as to why he would not attempt to make it a triple of 800m titles in Birmingham.

However, he is extremely confident in his abilities at 400m. He said after the world final that he knew he would win as with a slow first lap he was the best 400m runner in the field.

A further aid to his hopes is he is pretty fresh having only started his season at the end of June.

MUM’S BOOZY 6AM CELEBRATION

On the Gold Coast, in the early hours of Monday morning, a bottle of champagne was popped and passed around – punctuated by some swear words – to signify the arrival of a new sporting superpower.

As sisters Maddison and Teagan Levi stepped forward to accept their Commonwealth Gold, mum Richelle was uncorking the bubbly and getting ready for a big day of celebrating.

Her daughters had helped Australia to an upset semi-final win over New Zealand, and then a trouncing of Fiji in the final to secure gold.

It was a revival of the team’s 2016 Olympic triumph and ushered in a new era of Sevens superstars.

But before all of that? There was a euphoric celebration in the southern hemisphere that may not only have woken up a decent chunk of Queensland’s east coast, but also would’ve made mother Mary blush.

“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.”

Maddison might have undersold the party going back home.

Richelle told Channel 7 later in the morning she was already two bottles of champagne down before 9am.

“Two bottles of champagne already done,” she said.

She was joined by at least one supporter wearing pajamas for a live cross on Channel 7 as the party raged into the morning.

Maddison and sister Teagan are the new face of women’s rugby in Australia, following the path trodden by teammates Charlotte Caslick and Sharni Williams, and earlier Ellia Green and Emilee Cherry.

Powerful, pacey, skilful. There’s a reason they’re among the most in-demand female athletes in the country – with AFLW and NRLW clubs lining up to steal them from rugby union.

“We got to stand next to each other, so it was pretty sentimental. We’ve achieved a Commonwealth Games medal, not many people can do that in their lives let alone have their sister side-by-side,” Maddison said.

But judging by smiles that lit up Coventry Arena stadium on Sunday night, the Levi clan is comfortable in rugby union right now.

“When I first started I aspired to be like Charlotte Caslick and the likes of Ellia Green and now that I’m in this role I’d love to inspire the younger generation because I think it’s such a great sport,” Maddison explained.

“The opportunities you get you can’t get with most sports. And to have younger girls look up to me and hopefully one day be standing side-by-side with girls you call your sister and be celebrating this moment is pretty monumental.”

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Categories
Australia

Market pain ahead as Tasmania fights losing battle on blueberry rust

Market pain ahead as Tasmania fights losing battle on blueberry rust

Biosecurity Tasmania officials have given up trying to contain the plant fungus blueberry rust — saying “the benefits of containment no longer outweigh the burdens.”

The fungus which first arrived on the island state in 2014 can cause extensive defoliation on blueberry plants and sometimes plant deaths.

Biosecurity Tasmania said it was proving impossible to stop the spread of the fungus, which travels via airborne spores, contaminated clothing or equipment.

“The containment approach that we’ve been undertaking for the past few years clearly isn’t working anymore,” said chief plant protection officer Andrew Bishop.

“It’s worked very well for the first few years, and it was always intended to try and slow the spread to enable producers to adjust to management, but last season we saw a larger number of infections incurring.”

A blueberry plant affected by blueberry rust
Blueberry rust was first detected in Tasmania in 2014.(Department of Primary Industries Victoria)

Organic farmers expecting price drop

Tasmania’s organic blueberry growers are devastated.

They will now be locked out of their lucrative South Australian market which requires produce to be from rust-free plants.

Organic blueberry farmer Kent Mainwaring is one of those that will lose a market that gave them a premium price.

“It would make our operation here marginal we do rely on getting the peak in the market, if we lost our organic status that would put us on the other side of the ledger,” Mr Mainwaring said.

Tasmanian blueberry grower Kent Mainwaring
Kent Mainwaring says he will lose a lucrative market in South Australia.(ABC News: Tim Morgan)

It will also see organic blueberries hit other markets, alongside the conventionally farmed products.

“The South Australian market has traditionally been a very strong market for us … any increase in supply to the markets in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane will decrease prices I believe,” Mr Mainwaring said.

The price drop could be dramatic depending on how many surplus blueberries those markets can absorb.

“We can always hope the consumption of blueberries will increase year on year as it’s been doing,” Mr Mainwaring said.

‘They’ve fought hard’

Blueburries on a tree
Researchers are investigating sprays for organic blueberries but a product is still some time away. (ABC News: Clint Jasper)

Fruit Growers Tasmania’s chief executive officer Peter Cornish said those farms infected with blueberry rust were under strict conditions that were affecting their business and it was time to admit defeat.

“All credit to Biosecurity Tasmania and our growers, they’ve fought hard, they’ve fought hard in this battle to try and stop the spread of it,” he said.

“This last year we’ve had very conductive [conditions] for the spread of blueberry rust.”

Since arriving eight years ago, hundreds of plants have been destroyed and tens of thousands of dollars spent as part of an eradication plan, Biosecurity Tasmania.

It was declared a success by mid June 2016 but a second outbreak was detected just a couple of months later and a containment approach was taken instead.

The Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture has been researching and evaluating sprays for use by organic growers.

While that research is coming to an end and has promising results, it’s expected to take some time before a product is ready for market.

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Categories
US

Sixth Street Bridge shut down again as disruptive activities continue

Sixth Street Bridge shut down again as disruptive activities continue

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The Sixth Street Bridge was briefly shut down again on Sunday as city officials continue to struggle with dangerous and disruptive behavior on the new span.

Since the $588 million bridge opened weeks ago, it has been plagued by activity such as street racing, people climbing the arches – even a barber giving a haircut in the middle of lanes.

The Los Angeles Police Department has had to shut down the bridge several times to discourage such activities.

On Sunday, at one point dozens of bicyclists were seen grouping together and blocking off lanes. Some vehicles were parked blocking traffic.

“Look at the traffic – people are literally parked out here on the side where people shouldn’t be parked, to unload their vehicles,” said Jessie Esparza of La Habra.

As a result LAPD cruisers once again lined up side-by-side to shut down the lanes on Sunday. After the bridge was cleared, it was reopened later Sunday afternoon.

RELATED: City working to fix problems at new Sixth Street Bridge

In the meantime, the city is also working on additional measures to reduce dangerous and illegal behavior.

The LAPD says it has issued more than 57 citations and imposed more than six vehicles over the last week alone.

The city has also approved more than $700,000 for graffiti removal and additional safety measures.

And the City Council is considering a plan to ask city departments for proposals to install more cameras and traffic mitigation measures and long-term efforts to keep traffic on the bridge moving freely without disruption.

Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Categories
Business

Pizza Hut is giving away 35,000 pizzas for free | here’s how to get one

Faced with the constant news that everything continues to get more expensive – except for avocadosapparently – Pizza Hut has shared some news sure to make pizza fans, and their wallets, rejoice.

In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Hawaiian Pizza, the fast-food giant is giving away a massive 35,000 pizzas for free throughout the month of August.

Australian Pizza Hut stores sell over 1.8 million Hawaiian Pizzas each year, but don’t fret if you’re not a fan of the number one “most influential pizza of all time”, according to Time mmagazine in 2014.

READMORE: Tins of SPAM are being locked up in some stores: ‘Never seen this’

Pizza Hut Celebrates 60 Years of Hawaiian Pizza
Pizza Hut is celebrating 60 years of the Hawaiian pizza. (Supplied)

Even Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has publicly declared his love for pineapple on pizza, but if you prefer another flavour, your freebie can be whatever you like.

“We’re so excited to be joining in on the celebrations and helping Aussies celebrate an amazing 60 years of the Hawaiian pizza,” Pizza Hut Australia’s CEO, Phil Reed, said.

“We thought what better way to celebrate this momentous milestone than to hold an epic free pizza giveaway during the whole month of August and National Hawaiian Pizza Day to help Aussies share the good times and spread the Hawaiian pizza love.”

Pizza Hut will be giving away 1,000 free pizzas for every day of August, plus a massive 5,000 free pizzas on International Hawaiian Pizza Day itself on August 20

READMORE: Mum’s incredible coke bottle cake hack stumps children

Pizza Hut Celebrates 60 Years of Hawaiian Pizza
They are giving away 1,000 free pizzas every day in August. (Supplied)

READMORE: McDonald’s UK raises the price of their cheeseburger

So how can you get your hands on a free pizza?

To join in all the fun and shoot your shot at winning a free pizza, simply head to pizzahut.com.au where the first 1000 people to enter by 4pm AEST can claim a free pizza voucher – make sure to get in quick, as it’s first in best dressed.

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The surprising connection between an Italian waterfront mansion and The Little Mermaid

You could have your own happily ever after with this fairytale home.

The sea-facing villa located on the site that reportedly inspired Danish writer Christian Andersen’s 1837 novel, Little Mermaidyou have gone on the market.

Located on the Sestri Levante peninsula between Portofino and the Cinque Terre, and listed by Lionard Luxury Real Estate, the palatial nine-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion is dream-like with its own staircase that leads to a private beach.

Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
This villa located on the Sestri Levante peninsula between Portofino and the Cinque Terre is on the market. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)

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Andersen stayed for a lengthy amount of time on the Sestri Levante peninsula in 1833 and published Little Mermaid in 1837. It’s believed the location inspired the fairytale.

The first film adaptation was brought to life by Walt Disney Pictures in 1989.

Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
The mansion is situated on the site that reportedly inspired Danish writer Christian Andersen’s 1837 novel, The Little Mermaid. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)
Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
Interiors take on a clean and minimalist aesthetic with geometric lines. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)

Architect Luigi Carlo Daneri designed the stunning villa between 1938 and 1940 and has since been renovated to capture the original aesthetic.

Standout features for the three-storey home include an outdoor swimming pool with breathtaking ocean views, a picturesque sun terrace, a staircase in the main foyer and a mosaic glass wall at the entrance.

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Interiors take on a clean and minimalist aesthetic with geometric lines, while vibrant blue pops of color add an extra dimension.

Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
A standout feature is a staircase surrounded by lush greenery that leads to a private beach. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)
Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
Pops of vibrant blue add an extra dimension to the aesthetic. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)
Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
The master suite leads out to a balcony with undisturbed views of the ocean. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)

Those with a desire for privacy will no doubt love the mansion’s clifftop location and proximity to 2.3 hectares of parkland.

The villa is also architecturally recognised, having been awarded the title of National Monument of Modern Architecture by the Italian Ministry of Culture.

They describe the villa as “an essential testimony to Italian architecture of the twentieth century”.

Waterfront mansion on the site that inspired The Little Mermaid goes on the market
A mosaic glass wall at the entrance is another wow factor. (Lionard Luxury Real Estate)