News
Motorist Claims Potholes Caused Three Tyre Blowouts in Seven Days
A resident of County Down has expressed frustration and anxiety following an incident in which he damaged three tyres while driving on a particular road.
The jarring impact of a car hitting a pothole is a familiar experience for many drivers, often followed by a sense of trepidation as they assess potential damage.
This shared experience is marked by a common sequence of events: the initial shock, followed by a series of nervous checks to determine if any harm has been done to the vehicle.
John Smyth has firsthand knowledge of the potential consequences of such encounters, having experienced significant damage to his vehicle.
In a span of just one week in December, Smyth suffered two separate incidents of tyre damage due to potholes, resulting in costly repairs.
The financial burden and emotional toll of these events have left Smyth feeling a mix of frustration and anxiety about driving.
"Currently, I don't feel secure on the roads," he stated, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Smyth described the impact of hitting a pothole as "quite severe," underscoring the need for caution.
Unfortunately, Smyth's situation is not an isolated incident, as many drivers can attest to similar experiences.
Conversations with drivers often reveal stories of damage or near-misses caused by potholes, suggesting a widespread problem.
According to Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins, approximately 49,000 road defects were reported in Northern Ireland over the past three months.
In response, Minister Kimmins has instructed department officials to maximize their workforce capacity to address the issue as efficiently as possible.
Recently, her department allocated nearly £8m to combat the problem, signaling a commitment to finding a solution.
However, with some mechanics reporting up to 10 cases of pothole-related damage daily, the scale of the problem raises concerns about its potential magnitude.
Smyth, a resident of Mayobridge, now exercises extreme caution while driving, constantly vigilant for potholes, a task made more challenging by inclement weather.
He advises others who have suffered similar damage to document the pothole and the resulting damage, and to provide detailed information about the location of the incident.
Smyth expressed disappointment with the department's handling of the issue, feeling that not enough is being done to address it.
He criticized the repair work as superficial, likening it to a temporary fix that ultimately proves ineffective.
"The repairs are not done properly; it's just a quick fix that doesn't last," he explained.
Smyth noted that this approach leads to a cycle of repeated damage and repair, with the problem persisting over time.
As a taxpayer and road user, Smyth expressed outrage at the system's failure to adequately maintain the roads.
The issue of potholes is not limited to specific routes, such as those around the Mourne Mountains, but is a more widespread problem.
Wilson Beggs, a resident of Ballyclare, described the condition of the Ballycorr Road as barely passable, with numerous potholes posing a hazard to drivers.
Beggs stated that the road's condition has deteriorated significantly since he moved to the area.
"The potholes are so numerous that drivers are forced to swerve to avoid them, potentially putting oncoming traffic at risk," he observed.
Beggs noted that recent attempts to fill potholes have been short-lived, with the repairs failing to withstand the test of time.
"The current approach is akin to applying a band-aid to a more profound problem, wasting resources in the process," he said.
Beggs highlighted a specific section of the road where the gullies are now higher than the road surface, leading to flooding during heavy rainfall.
Despite reporting this issue to the department over a year ago, no action has been taken, leaving Beggs feeling ignored.
"Residents are fed up with the situation and feel neglected," he stated.
According to the RAC, the UK is home to over one million potholes, indicating that this is a national issue.
Local data from 2024 reveals that Northern Ireland recorded around 120,000 road defects and potholes between January and November of that year.
A dedicated website allows road users to report defects, which requires providing detailed information.
The AA recommends that drivers and cyclists avoid potholes whenever possible, and when unavoidable, reduce speed and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, while keeping both hands on the wheel for maximum control.
Entertainment And Arts
Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign
The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.
A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.
Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.
A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.
The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.
It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.
Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.
Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.
At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.
In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.
Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.
He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.
The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.
The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.
News
Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance
Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.
In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.
The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.
Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.
Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.
The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.
A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.
After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.
With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.
The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.
Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.
Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.
In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.
A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.
Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.
However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.
A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.
Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.
There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.
For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.
A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.
News
FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008
As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.
This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.
Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.
However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.
Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?
For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.
We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.
Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?
Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?
Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.
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