UKRAINE CONFLICT: 8/1/2022

    

The latest in the ongoing Ukraine conflict:

• Russia says US, NATO "main threats" to national security
• War in Ukraine: Latest developments

COVID-19 SITUATION: 8/1/2022

                                                               

The latest in the ongoing COVID-19 situation:

• PH adds another 4,000 Covid-19 cases
• Slow start expected as New Zealand fully reopens borders
• New Zealand logs 5,312 new Covid-19 community cases as border fully opens
• Biden again tests positive for Covid but "continues to feel well": doctor
• "Very high" COVID-19 positivity rate in 5 Visayas provinces - OCTA
• Macau to reopen city as no COVID-19 infections detected for 9 days

Let's Do The News! (August 1, 2022)

    

                                                 

Your daily round-up of today's news:

- The Department of Foreign Affairs joined the Filipino nation in mourning the death of former president Fidel V. Ramos.

- Philippine Senators honor the late former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos.

- The PH Department of Justice has confirmed the filing of criminal cases in the trial court against the Ateneo shooter.

- Suspected monkeypox cases told to seek immediate medical attention.

- Philippine Vice-President Sara Duterte kicked off this year's Brigada Eskwela.

- New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said that her country's firm and consistent in its commitment to the one-China policy.

- The Myanmar junta has extended the country's state of emergency for six more months.

- The death toll from the Kentucky flood hits 28.

- New York City declares monkeypox a public health emergency.

- US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirms her Asia-Pacific tour but remains silent on Taiwan.

- England wins the Women's Euro 2022 title against Germany with a score of 2-1.

- NBA legend Bill Russell passed away at the age of 88.

TTFN.

2022 NASCAR Cup Series - Verizon 200

The Brickyard roars back to life as IndyCar and NASCAR collide in one summer spectacle fans will never forget. Let's focus on the NASCAR side of the Brickyard action known as the Verizon 200.

As the green flag waved, the NASCAR action in the IMS has begun. The first stage saw Chase Briscoe survive through the disaster-packed opening stage to nail his stage win in the Brickyard. The same goes for the second stage as while some drivers are struggling to get through the corners of the Brickyard, Christian Bell nailed his stage win in the Brickyard. As the climax approaches, signs of the overtime came into fruition when the #5 and the #42 got involved in a messy impact while the #20 car got its tire blown, and a disastrous turn 1 mishap triggered the overtime.

Screengrab from NASCAR

After a chaotic action in the Brickyard, Tyler Reddick wins the Verizon 200 of the NASCAR Cup Series!

The next race is at Michigan International Speedway for the FireKeepers Casino 400 this August 7.

NTT IndyCar Series 2022 - Gallagher Grand Prix

The Brickyard roars back to life as IndyCar and NASCAR collide in one summer spectacle fans will never forget. Let's focus on the IndyCar side of the Brickyard action known as the Gallagher Grand Prix.

The Gallagher Grand Prix kicked off with Alexander Rossi leading the grid via pole to the starting line and Pato O Ward became the first to surrender following a power failure. As the race restarts on Lap 5, Felix Rosenqvist leads while Alexander Rossi hunts him. As Colton Herta leads in Lap 14, Rosenqvist and Scott McLaughlin are fending each other off. In Lap 35, Simon Pagenaud surrenders due to low fuel, then in Lap 42, big trouble for Colton Herta following bodywork damage. As the climax nears, the drama unfolds for the drivers.

Screengrab from IndyCar

In the end, Alexander Rossi ended his three-year drought to win the Gallagher Grand Prix of the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series. Rookie driver Christian Lundgard tasted his first podium finish in 2nd place while Will Power finished in third place.

The next race of the 2022 NTT IndyCar Series will be at Nashville for the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix this August 7.

F1 2022: Aramco Magyar Nagydij

The Hungaroring is the next stop for the F1 22 season with the Aramco Magyar Nagydij as Max Verstappen continues to fill his victory-laden resume with another intense race.

The race kicked off with Alex Albon sustaining damage after contact in the opening few corners, triggering a yellow flag in the process. As the race restarts on Lap 4, Max Verstappen's charging to the top has begun while George Russell keeps his cool while in the lead. Come Lap 25, Danny Ricciardo's getting serious as he slips through the two Alpine drivers for 10th place while Charles Leclerc's hunting down Russell. In Lap 35, Yuki Tsunoda spins while coming out of the chicane but he's returned to the fight. 

Halfway through the race, Leclerc is leading until he went to the pits on Lap 40 and returned to the race to have some unfinished business against Verstappen. Despite getting spun in a middle of a fight against Leclerc, Verstappen's coming back for more. In Lap 48, Ricciardo was slapped with a five-second penalty following his clash with Lance Stroll. 

20 laps remaining, Lewis Hamilton leads but has to pit again before the finish. As Max Verstappen regains the lead on Lap 56, the race couldn't get even more thrilling until a yellow flag was triggered with just two laps to go when Valtteri Bottas experienced a power failure on his car.

Screengrab from Formula 1

Starting 10th, spun in a middle of a race against Leclerc, Max Verstappen wins the Hungarian Grand Prix of the F1 22 season, beating the two Mercedes drivers in the top spot.

After Hungary, Verstappen leads with 258 points while Charles Leclerc's in 2nd with 178 points and Sergio Perez is in 3rd with 173 points.

The next race of the F1 22 season will be at Spa-Francorchamps for the Rolex Belgian Grand Prix this August 28th.

ABB FIA Formula E S8 - London ePrix

London is the penultimate stop for the eighth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and the drivers are going all-out to find out who has the fighting chance in the endgame.

Screengrab from Formula E

The first race saw an impressive race start for the drivers, followed by Edoardo Mortara's damage, a collision between the two DS TECHEETAH drivers, and a clash for the podium between Nick Cassidy and Nyck De Vries, which caused the latter to be slapped with a penalty following his blocking attempt against Cassidy.

As Jake Dennis won race 1 on his home turf, the final race saw some intense racing action from start to finish. In the end, Lucas di Grassi is named the winner while Dennis finished 2nd and De Vries finished 3rd.

After London, Stoffel Vandoorne remains in the lead with 185 points while Mitch Evans is 36 points behind Vandoorne, and Edoardo Mortara's in 3rd with 144 points.

Who will win the championship? Find out as the ABB FIA Formula E Season 8 ends in Seoul this August 13-14. Don't miss it!