Around 71 percent of internal migrant workers in Bangladesh migrate due to livelihood challenges or a lack of job opportunities, while 69 percent are driven by lower wages, according to a new survey revealed yesterday. The survey, which covered 2,505 individuals across 10 districts (five source and five destination), was conducted by People's Courage International and the Association for Community Development (ACD). The findings were presented at a panel discussion, titled "Coping with Climate: How Extreme Weather is Already Impacting Internal Migrants", held at a private hotel in Dhaka. Anika Azhar, representing People's Courage International and Sharmin Sabrina of ACD shared the study's results. According to the research, 48 percent of internal migrants prioritise better healthcare when choosing a destination, with 85 percent seeking higher wages. The study also found that migration driven by debt repayment exacerbates migrants' financial challenges. Climate change impacts 55 percent of migrants from source districts, with 13 percent of those at their destination also affected. To cope with extreme weather, over 30 percent of migrants from source areas are using their savings. The study said that migration between districts is increasing due to rising temperatures, floods, and heavy rainfall. Moreover, 80 percent of migrants at their destination face wage loss, with 41 percent experiencing wage cuts and 20 percent losing their jobs entirely. In response to these challenges, the study calls for the identification of vulnerable communities and the creation of targeted action plans, including social protection programmes to mitigate the effects of extreme weather. Experts at the event emphasised the need for further academic and practical dialogue on the intersection of climate change and migration. They called for more collaboration among experts to address the growing challenges posed by climate-related migration and urged proactive measures to support affected communities. Subrata Paul, Project Coordinator of ACD; Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan from Rajshahi University; Md Anwar Hossain of the NGO Affairs Bureau, and representatives from Winrock International, IOM, and the Ministry of Social Welfare were also present among others.BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- A commercial Chinese satellite company has conducted an ultra-high-speed, high-resolution satellite-ground remote sensing image laser transmission test using an independently developed, vehicle-mounted laser communication ground station and the laser terminal aboard one of its Jilin-1 satellites. The 100-Gbps (gigabits per second) image transmission test was a success, said Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co., Ltd. To complete the test, a research team from the company comprehensively updated the vehicle-mounted ground station and overcame a series of technical difficulties. They also established a coherent, ultra-long distance, high sensitivity laser communication link between Earth and space. Ultra-high-resolution remote sensing satellites can generate data volumes several times greater than other remote sensing satellites, with image data generation rates reaching tens of gigabits per second, according to the company. This breakthrough will significantly improve data transmission efficiency, providing solid technical support for the rapid transmission of massive remote sensing images. Such rapid transmission capabilities will better serve such fields as disaster monitoring, smart cities, environmental protection and emergency response, and will provide strong technical support for broader remote sensing data applications. Chang Guang launched its first group of commercial Jilin-1 satellites in October 2015. Its Jilin-1 constellation is now operating with more than 110 satellites and is capable of observing any point on the globe approximately 40 times a day.Intech Investment Management LLC Reduces Stock Position in Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:JAZZ)Kinkead Dent and diverse ground game powers UT Martin past New Hampshire, 41-10 in FCS 1st round
Conor McGregor is owning up to his past mistakes after his civil case ... sharing his remorse for cheating on his longtime partner, Dee Devlin -- but reaffirming his actions six years ago were entirely consensual. The UFC superstar released yet another statement on the results of the month-long case ... this time, he admitted he's far from perfect and never should have entertained Nikita Ni Lamhain 's "outreaches" following a 2018 Christmas party. "I should have shut the party down," McGregor said. "I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me." The 36-year-old also stated once again he will appeal the decision ... but will also look to move past the whole situation. "I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side." McGregor and Devlin got engaged back in 2020 ... and started dating long before he became one of the biggest names in combat sports. Devlin showed support for McGregor throughout the trial ... standing by his side through it all. Ni Lamhain was awarded around $250k in damages after a jury found him liable for assault. McGregor is now turning his focus back to his day job ... saying he will return to training as "the fight game awaits!"or signup to continue reading Not having a clear footpath for scooters and wheelchairs is discrimination. Once it is brought to the council attention in writing it should be actioned. They are on our back to keep the lawns but they can't cut theirs till it is to late. And if we don't cut our lawns we get fined It's not all bad. I just drove past the art gallery and the grass there looks a million bucks ... I mean $54 million bucks. I wondered what was going on. Entering town from the south you wonder if the council stopped cutting grass all together. There's plenty of contractors out there that if given a chance could get all of it under control. Yeah the council owned land next door to me in White Hills has grass as high as the fence and it's now dried out. Same story from council as the others have got. Bet if I owned the land I would have already got a fine. I have been on the phone to the council, every week, for the last few weeks - the grass out my way is dangerously long, and clearly a fire hazard. Was due to be completed in October, now, almost the end on November. Not good enough. It is appalling that council is once again failing in their responsibilities. The footpath from the Howard Street lights in Epsom to Bunnings the grass is nearly as high as me and also other footpaths in the area. It is a dangerous fire hazard and snake hazard and a dreadful look for travellers entering our town. Once again council is letting down the rate payers. Central Victorian Bat Alliance (CVBA) is a Bendigo-based volunteer community group supporting and advocating for all bats particularly the Grey-headed Flying-fox in Rosalind Park. for seeking community feedback on the new Management Plan for Rosalind Park and outlining their obligations to protect the park's camp of Grey-headed Flying-fox under Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, State Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and Wildlife Act 1975 under which Victorian wildlife is protected. Our volunteer group regularly undertakes engagement activities around Rosalind Park and we welcome this opportunity to increase place activation of the park precinct to incorporate it into part of the existing tourism structure of the area. CVBA members regularly see flying-fox admirers and tourists in the parkland enjoying the species roosting. Habitat loss has driven bats to take up residence in urban environments and the currently small numbers of bats we have in the park-precinct contributes greatly to our ecosystem biodiversity. The city correctly states it has no authority to remove or relocate the Grey-headed Flying-fox due to their protected and vulnerable status and are obliged to ensure service delivery principles are considered to ensure positive outcomes for bats and wildlife and their habitat. People who wish to frame the bats as being troublesome or not welcome are clearly unawares of the benefits they provide to our surrounding forest health as our only long-distance flying pollinator and a key-stone species. Anyone familiar with poker machines knows that a win is celebrated with flashing lights and loud, jangly music. But did you know this happens when a payout is less than the bet? It's called a 'loss disguised as a win' and is a tactic to keep people gambling even though they're losing. It's one of many 'tricks' built into gambling products that create a sense of excitement and reward while the odds are stacked against you. Led by the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission (VGCCC), the theme of this year's Gambling Harm Awareness Week (18-24 Nov.) is . We're encouraging Victorians to learn about the design and tactics behind high-harm gambling activities like casino table games, poker machines, and sports and race betting. The aim is to help the community understand the risks so that they can take steps to protect themselves, like setting and sticking to time and money limits. Likewise, we're reminding industry of its legal and social obligations to minimise the risk of harm to customers. Gambling providers have a responsibility for customer wellbeing and the VGCCC is serious about ensuring they honour it. More information about Gambling Harm Awareness Week and community resources are available . Click for more letters. 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Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!Matt Duchene and Jamie Benn each had a goal and two assists to lead six players with multi-point nights and Jake Oettinger made 24 saves to lift the visiting Dallas Stars to a 5-1 rout of the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. Dallas scored the final five goals of the game to keep Chicago reeling. The Blackhawks have lost four straight and six of nine. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. As property values continue to outpace inflation, property taxes are taking a bigger bite out of homeowners’ wallets. A new analysis from Construction Coverage breaks down property tax rates by state, county, and city to reveal where homeowners have the greatest burden. Click for more. Where Are U.S. Property Taxes Highest and Lowest? A State, County, and City Analysis
We tested £5 perfume dupes from Aldi, Lidl & Zara to see how they match up to Burberry’s £135 buy & Dior’s £115 scentA judge on Monday rejected a request to block a San Jose State women’s volleyball team member from playing in a conference tournament on grounds that she is transgender. Monday’s ruling by U.S. Magistrate Judge S. Kato Crews in Denver will allow the player, who has played all season, to continue competing in the Mountain West Conference women’s championship scheduled for later this week in Las Vegas. The ruling comes after a lawsuit was filed by nine current players who are suing the Mountain West Conference to challenge the league’s policies for allowing transgender players to participate. The players argued that letting her compete was a safety risk and unfair. While some media have reported those and other details, neither San Jose State nor the forfeiting teams have confirmed the school has a trans women’s volleyball player. The Associated Press is withholding the player’s name because she has not publicly commented on her gender identity. School officials also have declined an interview request with the player. Judge Crews referred to the athlete as an “alleged transgender” player in his ruling and noted that no defendant disputed that San Jose State rosters a transgender woman volleyball player. He said the players who filed the complaint could have sought relief much earlier, noting that the individual universities had acknowledged that not playing their games against San Jose State this season would result in a forfeit in league standings. He also said injunctions are meant to preserve the status quo. The conference policy regarding forfeiting for refusing to play against a team with a transgender player had been in effect since 2022 and the San Jose State player has been on the roster since 2022 – making that the status quo. The player competed at the college level three previous seasons, including two for San Jose State, drawing little attention. This season’s awareness of her identity led to an uproar among some players, pundits, parents and politicians in a political campaign year. The tournament starts Wednesday and continues Friday and Saturday. San Jose State is seeded second. The judge's order maintains the seedings and pairings for the tournament. Several teams refused to play against San Jose State during the season, earning losses in the official standings. Boise State and Wyoming each had two forfeits while Utah State and Nevada both had one. Southern Utah, a member of the Western Athletic Conference, was first to cancel against San Jose State this year. Nevada’s players stated they “refuse to participate in any match that advances injustice against female athletes,” without providing further details. Crews served as a magistrate judge in Colorado’s U.S. District Court for more than five years before President Joe Biden appointed him to serve as a federal judge in January of this year. Gruver reported from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Hanson from Helena, Montana.
Maura Higgins ‘punished’ by I’m A Celebrity bosses with ‘birthday from hell’ in camp
The Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a “clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war” and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Mr Putin said in a televised address. “One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead.” He added: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.” But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders – his “dear partners” – not to be cowed by Mr Putin’s actions otherwise there will be “endless Russian strikes” and “not just against Ukraine”. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a... — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 “A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable,” the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. “This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. “Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. “Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine.” The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres.” Defence Secretary John Healey said it was “yet another example of Putin’s recklessness”. He said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future.” The missile’s range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been “preparing for months” to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow. “It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin,” Mr Healey told MPs. I had a meeting with the UK delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin_ . We discussed defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Particular... pic.twitter.com/EcjqfTuR49 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 The head of the UK’s armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: “We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. “Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s current military needs and the continued support from our partners.”At CNBC TV18's Indian Business Leader Awards (IBLA) 2024, veteran market investor Ramesh Damani shared an optimistic outlook on Indian markets, predicting that the ongoing correction is nearing its end and new highs are within reach. Share Market View All Nifty Gainers View All Company Value Change %Change “If you look at the quality of the advance and the new highs made, it suggests the post-March correction is just a temporary blip. The market is roaring back with breadth and quality. I feel we’ll test the old highs, maybe as soon as the New Year,” Damani remarked at the 20th edition of IBLA. He attributed the market correction to transient consumer slowdowns and seasonal trends but highlighted improved growth prospects as key drivers of recovery. "The market clearly felt the need for a correction of 10%. But now, we’re looking at better days ahead,” he said. Damani reiterated his long-standing investment philosophy, urging investors to stay the course. “The bet in India is always to remain invested through volatility. When I started, the index was below 1,000; today, it's close to 80,000. The best approach is to remain invested in high-quality Indian businesses,” he stated. Damani identified multiple sectors driving the recovery, including pharmaceuticals, technology, and cement. “The number of stocks making lifetime highs is no coincidence. When 10, 20, or 30 stocks in your portfolio hit all-time highs, it signals a much broader current in the market.” Addressing the buzz around cryptocurrency, Damani dismissed Bitcoin as speculative. “I belong to the Warren Buffett camp that believes Bitcoin has no real value. It’s purely a speculative vehicle. I would avoid it,” he said, adding that while the new generation may favour it, he remains unconvinced. Looking ahead, Damani expressed caution over potential global uncertainties. “On January 20, when Trump takes over, the world could see shifts in terms of tariffs, protectionism, and globalisation. The world may change in ways we don’t fully understand.” Concluding on a bullish note, Damani described Indian markets as offering a "virtual buffet" of investment opportunities. “From pharma to tech, Indian stocks present an extraordinary range of choices. It’s a great time to stay invested,” he affirmed.
DURHAM, N.H. (AP) — Kinkead Dent threw for 246 yards and ran for another 56 yards and a touchdown as UT Martin rolled to a 41-10 win over New Hampshire in an FCS first-round game on Saturday. The Skyhawks (9-4) advance to face unbeaten and top-seeded Montana State (12-0) in the second round. UT Martin's rushing game amassed 236 yards on 52 carries and five different backs reached the end zone. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks limited New Hampshire to 124 yards of total offense and held the Wildcats' run game to just 53 yards on 16 carries. Rashad Raymond scored from 4-yards out midway through the first quarter to put UT Martin on the board first and All-Big South/OVC first-team running back Patrick Smith added a 3-yard scoring run in the second to take a 17-7 lead. Dent capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive by nosing in from the 2 and Jaren Van Winkle kicked field goals from 30- and 36-yards to make it 24-7 at intermission. Trevonte Rucker scored from the 4 to start the fourth quarter and Glover Cook III punched in from the 1 to complete the scoring. Dent Completed 17 of 26 passes without an interception. Rucker caught nine passes for 98 yards and DeVonte Tanksley caught four for 81, including a 56-yard reception. Smith carried 15 times for 71 yards. Glover had 12 carries for 56. Seth Morgan was held to 14 of 35 passing with an interception for New Hampshire (8-5). Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Melbourne cafe supremo Rashid Alshakshir is, in many ways, the epitome of a small business success story. The one-time aspiring journalist and student filmmaker pivoted several years ago into marketing and hospitality and is now the co-owner of the newly opened, trendy Tickled Pink cafe in Canngu, in Bali, building upon the brand’s outlets in Thornbury, Elwood and Richmond. More recently, Alshakshir has been involved in a far more lucrative business, earning $35 million in 18 months providing investment “leads” to property developer and fund manager Paul Chiodo. Rashid Alshakshir (left) and Paul Chiodo and the branding for the Tickled Pink cafes. Credit: Monique Westerman Until June, Chiodo had overseen the massive $480 million Shield Master Fund managed investment scheme and the Keystone Asset Management investment house, as well as a development pipeline of exclusive, five-star resorts worth $1 billion in places such as Port Douglas, Fiji and Venice. Alshakshir’s side hustle with Chiodo appears to have been stymied by an investigation by the corporate watchdog into the affairs of Chiodo and the investments of the Shield Master Fund, which is now frozen, trapping the life savings of 6000 Australians. Part of the regulator’s probe includes reviewing the relationship between Chiodo and the cafe owner and the other 16 or so lead generators who were paid $65 million in total – or 13 per cent of the money raised from investors – for marketing services. Advertisement An investigation by this masthead in early August revealed concerns at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) that a large proportion of the Shield Master Fund’s money had been improperly directed to another fund that then solely provided loans and mortgages to Chiodo’s property development business. ASIC alleges these investments may have been out of step with the fund’s stated investment intentions given it appears investors had believed they were investing in shares in listed companies and in a diversified portfolio of property developments and secured loans. This masthead also uncovered that several of the Chiodo developments invested in by the fund were for ambitious five-star hotel projects that had no planning approval and faced lengthy delays compared to the completion times touted in promotional material. This included $140 million of investor money being advanced to a property development in Port Douglas, which had no planning approval. It has since emerged that the fund, via its Quantum PE sub-fund, had invested in the Tickled Pink cafe business – which is owned by the man who was generating leads for new investors into the Chiodo investment empire. Chiodo has long described ASIC’s probe as unfair and “precipitous”, noting it had a disastrous impact on investors in the fund despite his efforts to work constructively with ASIC and receivers to his business. ASIC has made no formal charges against Chiodo and there is a chance the corporate watchdog’s investigation may result with no action being taken against the once highly flying property developer and fund manager who tried in vain to rescue the Shield Master Fund from entering administration before liquidators were appointed. Advertisement There is also no suggestion that Alshakshir, who runs Bespoke Marketing, the business headquartered in Sydney Road, Coburg, as well as the cafes, has any involvement in the Shield Master Fund or Chiodo’s development business. The payments to Alshakshir’s business are, however, of interest to ASIC and to liquidators from Deloitte, Jason Tracy and Luci Palaghia, who are reviewing whether they can claw back the payments for the investors in the fund. The interior of the Tickled Pink cafe in Elwood before its closure in November. Credit: Instagram ASIC highlighted the relationship between one of Chiodo’s entities and Alshakshir’s business NOHAP in court documents filed by the regulator when obtaining freezing orders over Chiodo’s assets this year. “ASIC suspects that Keystone has been paying commissions to lead generators engaged to assist Keystone in promoting investments in the SMF [Shield Master Fund]. ASIC is particularly concerned with certain payments made to NOHAP,” the regulator said in the documents. Commission payments to financial advisers for product recommendations are banned in Australia under laws put in place to stamp out conflicted remuneration. However, payments for marketing services are permitted. There is also no suggestion that Keystone paid any commissions to financial advisers. ASIC acknowledged in its court documents that Keystone and related group CF Capital maintained a policy that explicitly stated that neither ever paid commissions for financial advice in explaining the relationship between Alshakshir and Chiodo. Advertisement “The agreement [between NOHAP and Chiodo Corporation Operations] variously provided that NOHAP would provide Chiodo Operations with services variously involving the identification and encouragement of ‘potential clients’ (expressly not involving the provision of advice),” ASIC said in its court filing. “NOHAP was to be paid significant fees and commissions as to any resulting person who invested in any financial product promoted, offered or managed by Chiodo Operations or a related entity of Chiodo Operations (including any fund).” An artist’s impression of the Fiji resort being planned by Chiodo Corporation. Credit: Instagram Chiodo, when approached by this masthead for comment, said the payments were entirely above board and common in the industry. “Every fund undertakes marketing including the industry super funds via media, sporting sponsorships, radio and social media. There is nothing unusual about funds paying for marketing to gain more investors. The benefits to members are obvious as validated by large funds also using these forms of marketing strategies,” he said. Chiodo said that successful marketing resulted in leads for the business, and called it “marketing 101”. “The leads came from marketing consultants, which was approved expenditure by Keystone. Chiodo Corporation acted on instructions by Keystone to enter into contracts and to make marketing payments under the direction of Keystone,” he said. Advertisement “Keystone engaged specialised marketing consultants under a fee-for-service arrangement that exists in this marketplace [which] provides these services a wide range of fund managers including the large industry funds.” Chiodo added that Alshakshir’s business was used by other leading fund managers for marketing to generate leads on prospective clients, and that doing so was common in the industry. Keystone’s other marketing activities also included paying $700,000 in corporate event appearance fees to big-name NBA players Allen Iverson and Josh Giddey, and boxers Tyson Fury and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Rashid Alshakshir’s Bespoke Marketing business in Sydney Road, Coburg. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui It’s not clear if Alshakshir was involved in those corporate events. But he does have a strong marketing background and an interest in marketing for financial services, which appears to have blossomed in the past two years. This includes three websites focused on helping Australians better plan for their retirement, according to company documents and searches of website ownership databases. Two of the websites – Superfinder.au an Australianlostsuper.com.au – help Australians find and consolidate their lost superannuation. Another, mysmsfaustralia.com.au, educates people about the benefits of self-managed superannuation. Advertisement The websites, which listed a business email address associated with Alshakshir, were all closed on December 18, following an inquiry from this masthead to Alshakshir to that email address the previous day. Alshakshir did not respond to the inquiry. There is no suggestion the sites were tied to Chiodo’s business or were conducting any work that was not in line with the law, just that they show Alshakshir’s burgeoning interest in marketing services that help Australians save for their retirement. Before being shuttered, all the sites made it clear there is no provision of financial advice, which requires a licence. Instead, the two lost super sites offered a call line and the self-managed superannuation business said it was only “Connecting you with licensed financial planners and advisers for super and other personal investment advice”. The Australian Lost Super website before it was closed following an inquiry from his masthead on December 17. The website closure isn’t the only part of Alshakshir’s business that is in wind-down mode. In November, he and his business partners hung up closed signs at the Tickled Pink cafe outlets in Thornbury, Elwood and Richmond. The cafe in Canngu is also in hiatus, according to a post on its Instagram page which reads: “We are temporarily closed. And working on something exciting. Stay tuned.” Asked about the Tickled Pink business, including the closure of the Melbourne venues, Chiodo said: “Tickled Pink had three thriving businesses in Melbourne and their international strategy in Bali made for it to be a good investment. Tickled Pink upon completing the Bali restaurant fitout delivered a $15 million valuation. “I understand that that Bali business is still thriving, and they are about to complete the fitout of their second restaurant in Bali, which will only improve the valuation.” Hopefully for investors, that valuation uplift proves true. Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter .Dodgers Star $71 Million Outfielder Projected To Cut Ties With Los Angeles For Twins
TORONTO — Ontario has passed a divisive piece of legislation that will prevent municipalities from adding certain new bike lanes and remove bike lanes on three main Toronto roads. The fast-tracked bill requires municipalities to ask the province for permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a lane of vehicle traffic. It goes one step further and removes sections of Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue bike lanes and restores them as lanes for vehicle traffic. Premier Doug Ford has complained about some bike lanes creating gridlock, in particular a stretch of Bloor Street West that is about a 10-minute drive from his home in Toronto's west end. Amendments that the government added last week include indemnity clauses, such as prohibiting lawsuits as a direct or indirect result of actions taken to remove bike lanes. NDP Leader Marit Stiles says she believes the immunity clauses were thrown into the legislation after the government heard from members of the public who said that people will be killed and injured as a result of removing protected bike lanes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 25, 2024. Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
SMM, December 30: Silicon Metal Prices Last week, silicon metal prices remained weak and stable. As of last Friday, above-standard #553 silicon metal in east China was priced at 11,300-11,400 yuan/mt. The Si2502 silicon futures contract hit a new low, reaching 11,105 yuan/mt. The silicon metal market sentiment towards the future remains pessimistic. Production In December, silicon metal supply and demand continued to show weakness on both ends, with silicon metal production further declining compared to November. Inventory Social Inventory: According to SMM statistics, as of December 27, the national social inventory of silicon metal totaled 538,000 mt, up 6,000 mt WoW. Among this, general social warehouses held 155,000 mt, up 3,000 mt WoW, while social delivery warehouses (including unregistered warehouse warrants and spot cargo) held 383,000 mt, also up 3,000 mt WoW. Polysilicon Prices By the weekend, the mainstream price of N-type polysilicon was 39-42 yuan/kg, while the mainstream price of dense polysilicon was 35-36 yuan/kg. Downstream stockpiling for the Chinese New Year was mostly completed, with limited market transactions, keeping polysilicon prices temporarily stable. Production This week, polysilicon production returned to stability, with production at several top-tier enterprises already at a minimum. Polysilicon production in January is expected to increase slightly, mainly due to ramping up production at some new facilities. Inventory Due to concentrated order signing for pre-Chinese New Year stockpiling in mid-December, polysilicon inventory saw a significant decline. Modules Prices In the current module market, the mainstream transaction price for N-type 182mm modules was 0.65-0.7 yuan/W, while for N-type 210mm modules, it was 0.65-0.72 yuan/W. Spot prices remained stagnant, with a significant gap between actual execution prices and bid prices. Production As demand entered the off-season, some enterprises planned to lower their operating rates, producing based on demand to reduce inventory. Production is expected to continue declining in January. Inventory Inventory saw a slight destocking, with the overall destocking pace slowing. The overall inventory level remains at 1-1.5 months. High-Purity Quartz Sand Prices Domestic high-purity quartz sand prices remained stable. Currently, the price for inner-layer sand is 60,000-75,000 yuan/mt, mid-layer sand is 30,000-40,000 yuan/mt, and outer-layer sand is 19,000-25,000 yuan/mt. Over the weekend, there was no market news, with quotations maintained and no orders signed. Production Operating rates at domestic top-tier enterprises slightly declined, and newly commissioned enterprises this year also reduced their operating loads, leading to decreased supply. Inventory Recently, quartz sand inventory has been building up further, but the buildup of inner-layer sand inventory was limited, with most of the inventory consisting of outer-layer sand. PV Glass Prices 3.2mm Single-Layer Coating: The quoted price for 3.2mm single-layer coated PV glass was 19.5-20.5 yuan/m2, remaining stable. 3.2mm Double-Layer Coating: The quoted price for 3.2mm double-layer coated PV glass was 20.5-21.5 yuan/m2, remaining stable. 2.0mm Single-Layer Coating: The quoted price for 2.0mm single-layer coated PV glass was 11.5-12.5 yuan/m2, remaining stable. 2.0mm Double-Layer Coating: The quoted price for 2.0mm double-layer coated PV glass was 12.5-13.5 yuan/m2, remaining stable. Production In December, domestic PV glass production slightly exceeded the production schedule, mainly because some kilns originally scheduled for cold repair had not yet started the process. However, subsequent cold repairs are still expected, with production anticipated to weaken further. Inventory In December, domestic glass inventory slightly increased compared to the end of November. The reduction in supply fell short of expectations, while module production schedules also saw declining demand.NCSOFT has been recognized for its outstanding performance in global ESG evaluations, achieving the highest rating in the domestic gaming industry for four consecutive years. In the ‘Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) 2024 ESG’ assessment, NCSOFT was the only domestic gaming company to receive an AA rating. After earning an A rating in 2021, the company has maintained its AA rating for three consecutive years starting in 2022, showcasing its industry-leading status. MSCI has been conducting global ESG assessments since 1999, analyzing key issues related to environmental, social, and governance factors among publicly listed companies worldwide and assigning ratings on a seven-point scale. NCSOFT demonstrated excellent performance in areas such as data protection and risk management, transparent environmental information disclosure, and systematic grievance handling processes. Notably, the company was rated in the top 5% of the industry in information security and privacy protection. Additionally, NCSOFT is the only domestic gaming company to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) Asia Pacific index for two consecutive years. Since being the first domestic gaming company to be listed in the DJSI Asia Pacific index in 2023, it has continued to receive recognition for its strong ESG management performance. The DJSI is a global sustainability evaluation index published by S&P Global, one of the world's largest financial information providers, which assesses companies’ ESG performance and awards this index to the top 20% among the highest 600 companies in the Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, in August, NCSOFT obtained an overall A rating from the Korea Corporate Governance Service (KCGS) ESG assessment for four consecutive years, earning the highest evaluation among domestic gaming companies. “This recognition reflects NCSoft's commitment to sustainable management and its achievements," said Kim Hyun-joo, head of NCSOFT's ESG Management Department. "We plan to continuously identify and actively implement ESG management initiatives that enhance our industry competitiveness in the future.”
Special Counsel Jack Smith on Monday moved to dismiss the federal cases against US President-elect Donald Trump -- including one for election subversion -- citing an official policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Trump, 78, was accused of conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election he lost to Joe Biden and mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House, but neither case ever came to trial. Smith, in a filing with the district judge in Washington presiding over the election case, said it should be dropped in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy of not indicting or prosecuting a sitting president. He cited the same reasoning in withdrawing his appeal of a ruling by a district judge, a Trump appointee, who dismissed the classified documents case earlier this year. Smith asked District Judge Tanya Chutkan to dismiss the election interference case "without prejudice" -- leaving open the possibility it could be revived after Trump leaves office four years from now. The special counsel paused the election interference case this month after Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris in the November 5 presidential election. "The Government's position on the merits of the defendant's prosecution has not changed," Smith said in the filing with Chutkan. "But the circumstances have." "It has long been the position of the Department of Justice that the United States Constitution forbids the federal indictment and subsequent criminal prosecution of a sitting President," Smith said. "As a result this prosecution must be dismissed before the defendant is inaugurated." In a separate filing, Smith said he was withdrawing his appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case against Trump but pursuing the case against his two co-defendants, Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira. - 'Empty and lawless' - Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said the cases were "empty and lawless, and should never have been brought." "Over $100 Million Dollars of Taxpayer Dollars has been wasted in the Democrat Party's fight against their Political Opponent, ME," he said. "Nothing like this has ever happened in our Country before." Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021 by a mob of the then-president's supporters. Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election. The former and incoming president also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Judge Juan Merchan has postponed sentencing while he considers a request from Trump's lawyers that the conviction be thrown out in light of the Supreme Court ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from prosecution. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 election results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office. cl/bgs
Lockheed Martin Elects John C. Aquilino to Board of Directors
XRP Climbs to $1.90 While 1Fuel Revolutionizes Cross-Chain Trading for Early Investors3 things you can do before the end of the year to level up your careerShimla, Nov 23 (PTI) Higher reaches of Kullu and Lahaul and Spiti districts in Himachal Pradesh received intermittent snowfall on Saturday, breaking eight weeks of dry spell and intensifying the cold wave conditions in the adjoining areas. Snowfall in Solang, Mari, Gulaba and Rohtang in Kullu districts and Lahaul and Spiti’s Koksar and Sissu brought cheers to farmers, horticulturists and hoteliers as the dry spell had affected the winter crops and hit the tourism industry. Sharing videos of fresh snowfall at Atal Tunnel and other areas, the Lahaul and Spiti police have advised the commuters to avoid unnecessary journeys and to stay cautious while driving in snow. They have also advised commuters to stock their vehicles with necessary items like woollen clothes, food, water and first aid kits and keep emergency numbers with them. After snowfall in higher hills, Manali recorded a maximum temperature at 13.4 degree Celsius, a drop of 2.5 degrees in the past 24 hours. Tabo in tribal Lahaul and Spiti was coldest at night, recording a minimum temperature at minus 8.3 degree Celsius. The post monsoon rain deficit from October 1 to November 23 stayed at 98 per cent as the region received 0.7 mm average rains compared to normal rainfall of 38.4 mm. Bilaspur, Chamba, Hamirpur, Kullu, Sirmaur and Solan districts received 100 per cent deficit rains while the shortfall was 99 per cent in Lahaul and Spiti, Kinnaur and Shimla districts and 96 and 90 percent in Kangra and Mandi districts. The local MeT station has predicted dry weather in lower, mid and higher hills from November 24 to 29 and occurrence of thick fog in the reservoir area of Bhakra in Bilaspur and Balh valley in Mandi during morning hours on November 26 and 27. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
Annie Kilner heads out for Christmas party after being spotted with wedding ring still onChandauli: A bizarre incident unfolded in Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli where a groom abandoned his wedding over an alleged delay in serving food, leaving the bride and her family stranded at the venue, only to tie the knot with his cousin later that day, police said. The bride and her family then approached the police, demanding justice, and also claimed that they had given Rs 1.5 lakh to the groom’s family hours before the ceremony was to take place. Speaking to the media, the bride said her marriage was arranged with Mehtab seven months ago. On December 22, as the wedding procession arrived at her house in Hamidpur village, Mehtab and his relatives were extended a warm welcome by her family. “I was ready since morning. The groom and his family arrived, ate and then abused and assaulted my parents before leaving the spot. I later approached the police for justice,” she said. The bride said that as the wedding guests sat down to eat, there was a slight delay in serving food to Mehtab. He got angry after his friends teased and poked fun at him and he and his family then allegedly abused the bride’s family and relatives, leading to an argument. The village elders tried to intervene to resolve the issue but Mehtab refused to tie the knot and returned to his house. As the bride’s family grappled with the shock, Mehtab married one of his cousins later the same day. On learning about Mehtab’s wedding, the bride and her parents visited the police post in Industrial Nagar on December 23 to file a complaint. Alleging inaction, they later escalated the issue to the Superintendent of Police (SP) Aditya Laghe. In the complaint, the woman’s mother said the family had suffered a loss of Rs 7 lakh because they had paid for all the arrangements and catered to around 200 guests from the groom’s side. An amount of Rs 1.5 lakh was also handed over to the man’s family hours before the wedding, she said in the complaint. Sources said SP Laghe summoned both parties, who agreed to resolve the matter amicably. “A written agreement was signed by both parties that an amount of Rs 1.61 lakh would be given to the woman’s family,” Circle Officer Rajesh Rai said.
A defiant Lewis Hamilton said he was convinced he “still had it”, adding his pace at the age of 39 was not even “a question in his mind” after qualifying sixth on the grid for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix. was beaten by Mercedes team-mate George Russell for a 23rd time in 29 qualifying sessions this season ahead of Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix – an astonishing statistic for a driver who, until partnering Russell, had never previously been out-qualified by his team-mate over their time together. But afterwards the -bound driver rowed back on gloomy comments made the previous evening, when, after qualifying seventh for the sprint race in Lusail, he said he was “definitely not fast anymore”. Despite trailing Russell by 0.436sec in qualifying for Sunday’s main race – an even wider margin than it had been on Friday – Hamilton struck a more bullish note, suggesting the major issue was with his car rather than his driving. “I mean I’m slow, about half a second off my team-mate in the same car,” Hamilton said when asked what exactly he had meant on Friday. “It’s been like that all year. [But] I know I’ve still got it. Just the car won’t go faster. But I definitely know I’ve got it, so it’s not a question in my mind.” "Super dangerous by Verstappen" 📻 George Russell was NOT happy with Max Verstappen 😮 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) The seven-time world champion – the all-time record holder for pole positions in , with 104 – has been a mass of contradictions in recent weeks. In Brazil earlier this month, Hamilton told his pitwall that he might have raced for the last time for Mercedes, later . At the next race in Las Vegas Hamilton claimed he was “in the best place I’ve been all year mentally”. He showed it in the race, too, surging from 10th on the grid to second behind Russell. It remains to be seen how he fares in Qatar but the gaps between the leading cars are miniscule. Red Bull’s newly crowned four-time world champion took a surprise pole position for Sunday’s race, his first since pole Austria five months ago, just ahead of Russell. It was a stunning result mainly because the Dutch driver had only been able to finish eighth in the sprint race earlier on Saturday when edged towards their first constructors’ title since 1998 with a one-two, Lando Norris pulling over on the final straight to gift Oscar Piastri victory, where the Australian pulled over to help Norris’s drivers’ championship attempt. Verstappen was more surprised than anyone about his pole position for the main race. “Let’s f------ go,” he shouted after crossing the line. “What a turnaround.” “Yabba dabba doo, Max,” replied his team principal, Christian Horner. “That was a first official pole since Austria. That was a mighty lap.” Horner later said the team had “thrown the kitchen sink” at Verstappen’s car, “changing everything we could change”. It worked, Verstappen edging Russell by 0.055sec. However, the Dutchman was called to the stewards for potentially “driving unnecessarily slowly” and impeding Russell in Q3. Russell called the incident “super dangerous”. Norris was third quickest, another two tenths behind Russell. But he will be happy that he and Piastri were both quicker than the Ferraris as McLaren try to wrap up the team’s ninth constructors’ title. Their one-two finish in the sprint race gave McLaren a 30-point lead over Ferrari in the standings. The Woking team need a 45-point lead by the end of this weekend to secure the title, otherwise it will roll on to the final weekend in Abu Dhabi. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz will start either side of Hamilton in fifth and seventh place respectively. Meanwhile, Britain’s was crowned champion in the second season of – the all-female support series run by Formula 1 – after finishing second behind Mercedes’s Doriane Pin in the first race of the Qatar weekend. It was Pulling’s eighth win in 11 F1 Academy races this year. There are still three races remaining this season, with another on Sunday, and two more next weekend in Abu Dhabi. The Alpine driver, 21, secured a fully funded seat in GB3 next year with Rodin Motorsport. “It’s been a tougher season than most people think,” said an emotional Pulling afterwards. “I’ve struggled financially in the past, so to get the prize for next year so early makes me so happy and so proud. I can’t thank the people who have supported me enough – Alpine, Rodin, my family, all the sacrifices my dad made.” She added: “It’s such a weight off my shoulders. I think I go into every winter wondering what I’m going to do next year. I’m going to go into [next season] as hungry as I have this year and make the most of this opportunity. I will leave no stone unturned.” 07:33 PM GMT FIA summon Verstappen to the stewards The driver and team representative are required to report to the Stewards at 23.15, in relation to the incident below: - Max Verstappen Alleged breach of Article 33.4 of the FIA Formula One Sproting Regulations - Driving unnecessarily slowly at 21.58. 07:24 PM GMT Horner on the Russell/Verstappen “I think this is on an out lap where they are all warming tyres up. They are all jockeying for position there. So it wasn’t a timed lap.” Anthony Davidson on Sky suggests that Verstappen should escape punishment. The thing in his favour - heavily - is that it was not on a timed lap. 07:22 PM GMT Christian Horner speaks “We pretty much threw the kitchen sink at it, everything we could change we did change. He was able to really nail it. We really struggled yesterday... those corners [1, 2 and 10] really came alive for us. It’s very windy, the conditions are significantly different - it’s so much cooler. We made some changes to Checo’s car... that gave us a little bit of information and were able to add to that and [make changes] going into quali.” 07:16 PM GMT Not that it is a surprise any more... But that is the 23rd time that Lewis Hamilton has qualified behind George Russell in 2024. Sixth is not a disaster by any means and he was ahead of Perez and Sainz. But again distant from his team-mate. 07:10 PM GMT Verstappen reacts to his first pole since the Austrian GP in June “Yeah, crazy. Honestly I didn’t expect that but well done to the team to give me a car that feels a bit more connect. It felt a lot better out there in qualifying for me. We did change a bit on the car but I never thought it would make such a swing in performance. I hope it lasts tomorrow in the race. It felt stable in one lap... it’s good to be on pole, the first one in quite a while.” 07:09 PM GMT Russell on that Verstappen incident “I ended up going through the gravel, all through the floor. I hope it didn’t damage it. Maybe that’s a reason why we didn’t improve but it was a bit of a hairy one two corners before we started the lap.” You can watch that below: "Super dangerous by Verstappen" 📻 George Russell was NOT happy with Max Verstappen 😮 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) So it was as they were starting their hot laps. Hmmm. Not as egregious as if it was on a hot lap but the fact that it was at the end of the lap might be a penalty, but I don’t know for sure. 07:05 PM GMT Verstappen has been noted for going slowly in Q3 And he will be investigated after the session for that. I think that will be a threr-place grid penalty. Either way he should be cheered by a turnaround. Pole positions have not been plentiful for him in the last six months. Pole position #41 for 💪 — Formula 1 (@F1) 07:03 PM GMT Q3 - Classification VER RUS +0.055 NOR +0.252 PIA +0.309 LEC +0.332 HAM +0.491 SAI +0.521 ALO +0.731 PER +0.905 MAG +0.980 07:03 PM GMT MAX VERSTAPPEN TAKES POLE FOR THE QATAR GRAND PRIX Russell does not have the lap time to improve and has to settle for the front row. Hamilton only sixth. Replays show that Russell was baulked by a Red Bull on a hot lap, presumably not their final laps though because they were not on track together. If that was a previous hot lap then Verstappen is in danger and will almost certainly take a penalty. Russell thought it was Verstappen, but was it Perez? 07:01 PM GMT Q3 - Piastri into third What has norris got on his lap? Only third, ahead of Piastri but behind Verstappen and Russell... 07:01 PM GMT Q3 - Not a great first sector from Sainz Leclerc half a tenth down on Russell too. That’s more like it. Sainz 0.307sec off after two sectors so might struggle to improve here. Russell posts the fastest first sector all and Verstappen beats it by half a tenth. Sainz stays fifth... Leclerc stays third... 06:59 PM GMT Q3 - Final runs under way Who has this? I don’t know. Russell has looked strong all session. Pressure on McLaren and in particular Norris, though. 06:58 PM GMT Q3 - Norris is out there again He is a tenth down in the first sector and then backs off. Is he going to go again? He does not have a lap time on the board yet and is putting himself under pressure here. McLaren were 1-2 in the sprint, remember, qualifying first and third. Yet they are currently sixth and ninth... ouch. It’s a recharge/prep lap for Norris before he gets one more go at a hot lap. 06:56 PM GMT Q3 - Verstappen just falls short! He is second behind Russell, 0.045sec off the Mercedes driver. 06:55 PM GMT Q3 - Verstappen with the fastest first sector time He is 0.006sec slower than Russell after two sectors. Whatever they have done to the Red Bull between the sprint and now has worked wonders. 06:54 PM GMT Q3 - Russell fastest in sector one Norris has not be able to match it, in fact a long way off. Not sure that this will be worth finishing this lap for him. Indeed he comes into the pits. Let’s see what Russell does. Fastest! 0.310sec faser than Leclerc. Piastri goes fourth in the McLaren, Hamilton beats him to go third and ahead of Sainz but 0.436sec off his team-mate. No lap from Verstappen yet. Norris nearly lost the rear end of his car at turn five after runnign wide, hence his abortint the lap. He dipped his right wheels into the gravel strip on exit. I’m glad it’s there. 06:52 PM GMT Q3 - A good couple of sectors for Leclerc He crosses the line with a 1:20.885, still a couple of tenths off Verstappen’s best from Q2. Sainz a couple of tenths off that and Perez eight-tenths off it. Everyone else has done an extra preparation lap. 06:51 PM GMT Q3 - Piastri backs off when it looked like he was starting a hot lap That means Russell goes ahead of him but I think Russell too is doing another prep lap. 06:49 PM GMT Q3 begins! 12 minutes to go. Verstappen appears to be in the pole position battle with Russell and Norris here. Ferrari not looking too sharp, I’m afraid. Back out we go. Let's see what we can do. 💪 🇶🇦 — McLaren (@McLarenF1) 06:45 PM GMT Alonso very happy to get into Q3 “Yes, yes, yes, yes,” he says on the radio. It has been a difficult year for him, really, just because the Aston Martin has been a poor car, especially compared to last year’s car. 06:43 PM GMT Q2 - Top 10 VER NOR +0.296 LEC +0.313 RUS +0.382 HAM +0.408 PIA +0.434 SAI +0.512 ALO +0.521 MAG +0.700 PER +0.738 Gasly eliminated by just 0.013sec. 06:42 PM GMT Q2 ends - Verstappen goes fastest at the very end 0.296sec faster than Norris, who did not set a lap time at the end. Gasly, Zhou, Bottas, Tsunoda and Stroll out. Gasly not happy with that. Sauber should be delighted. 11th and 12th. 06:41 PM GMT Q2 - Zhou with a good first sector time Would be surprised if he can make it into Q3 but that would be quite something. Norris out there so thinks his time is good enough, which it surely is. Zhou is half a second up on where he needs to be to make it through to Q3 as it stands... Magnussen improves to sixth... Hamilton into 10th. Zhou just misses out on the top 10. 11th. Stroll does not improve from 14th. Bottas goes 12th, behind Zhou. Hamilton could be eliminated here but let’s see what Alonso can do. He moves into the top 10. Hamilton needs to find something and he does! Into fifth. He’s through. 06:38 PM GMT Q2 - Three minutes remain Russell is not out there, nor is Piastri or Perez. It doesn’t seem like the track is ramping up enormously. Norris has just moved fastest with Verstappen within a tenth. 06:36 PM GMT Q2 - Russell moves fastest But only just, 0.001sec faster than Verstappen. Sainz is only eighth and Hamilton stays ninth... he is in danger, you’d think. Bottas, Zhou, Tsunoda and the two Aston Martins in the elimination zone. 06:33 PM GMT Q2 - Order after the first runs VER RUS +0.076 PIA +0.268 NOR +0.281 PER +0.340 GAS +0.352 LEC +0.361 SAI +0.418 HAM +0.509 MAG +0.689 BOT +0.798 ZHO +0.799 TSU +0.834 STR +1.055 ALO (NO TIME) 06:32 PM GMT Q2 - Alonso makes a mess of his lap He is 0.751sec down and goes over track limits so decides to back out of the lap and goes into the pits. Aston Martin team-mate Lance Stroll goes into 13th only. Gasly into the top six, continuing his fine qualifying showing. Was third last week in Vegas. 06:30 PM GMT Q2 - The Red Bull is looking a bit sharper here Verstappen goes fastest of all by 0.076sec and Perez moves fourth, ahead of both Ferraris. A good turnaround it seems from the Milton Keynes-based team. 06:29 PM GMT Q2 - Russell crosses the line It’s a 1:21.161 which is faster than he went in Q1. Sainz cannot beat that and neither can Piastri, 0.342 and 0.192sec behind him respectively. Hamilton crosses the line more than four tenths down and fifth and last of those who have completed a lap so far. 06:28 PM GMT Q2 - Two Saubers in this session That is surely the first time that has happened this year? Either way a strong showing. They are pointless throughout 2024 and would probably need a few retirements at least for that awful run to end this weekend. But you never know. 06:27 PM GMT Q2 begins! 15 drivers, five to be eliminated at the end of it. 06:25 PM GMT Liam Lawson annoyed “Alonso purposely slowed up through nine and 10 when he aborted his lap. That just sucks man,” he says. “That was Stroll,” he is told. 06:21 PM GMT Q1 - Top 15 RUS LEC +0.037 SAI +0.206 NOR +0.337 VER +0.338 ALO +0.367 HAM +0.396 PER +0.434 PIA +0.580 GAS +0.602 MAG +0.650 BOT +0.686 STR +0.770 ZHO +0.862 TSU +1.123 06:20 PM GMT Q1 ends - Drivers eliminated ALB, LAW, HUL, COL, OCO. 06:20 PM GMT Q1 - Colapinto stays 19th Albon does improve to 15th but I am not sure that will be enough. Ocon stays 20th. Leclerc moves fastest by 0.057sec from Russell. Perez in 13th but moves into the top eight here and will be through to Q2. Lawson and Tsunoda trying to get out of Q1. Can they? Lawson no. Tsunoda yes... for now. He is into 15th. Russell goes faster still. Hulkenberg not troubling the top 15 with his latest lap. 06:18 PM GMT Q1 - Final runs under way It is has been a bit of a struggle for Williams so far with Albon in 18th and Colapinto 19th. Norris has his lap time deleted and moves back down to third. Russell improved his best lap time to a 1:21.335 to stay top. 06:16 PM GMT Q1 - Russell with the fastest first sector HUL, ALB, ZHO, COL and OCO make up the bottom five at risk of being eliminated. Verstappen improves to fourth, Zhou improves to 11th and team-mate Bottas does not improve and stays 14th. 06:15 PM GMT Q1 - Top 10 and gaps RUS SAI +0.049 NOR +0.059 ALO +0.089 LEC +0.111 HAM +0.118 VER +0.194 PIA +0.302 GAS +0.416 STR +0.492 06:14 PM GMT Q1 - Russell on the radio “I’ll give Lewis a tow into turn one,” he says. Does he need it? Well, Hamilton is in ninth at the moment 0.701sec off Russell’s leading time. Hulkenberg improves but only to 15th and then he is knocked down into the drop zone almost immediately as Magnussen moves to 12th in the other Haas. 06:12 PM GMT Q1 - No problems for Ocon’s team-mate Gasly though Sweeeeeeeeettttttt lap Pierre 😎 He's P5... just 0.4s off the fastest 💪 Let's keep this up 💨 — BWT Alpine Formula One Team (@AlpineF1Team) He is looking in fine form over one lap as has been the case for a little while now. 06:11 PM GMT Q1 - Seven minutes remain Ocon crosses the line but stays in final place. Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Zhou, Colapinto and Ocon make up the bottom five. 06:10 PM GMT Q1 - Russell leads Norris Alonso up there in third, Verstappen then Gasly, Stroll, Sainz, Piastri, Hamilton and Perez make up the top 10. 06:08 PM GMT Q1 - Verstappen leads Norris as it stands Hamilton moves into fourth but Russell has posted the fastest first two sectors and then goes to the top of the timesheets by 0.194sec. I think Russell has that Mercedes hooked up this weekend, he is currently seven-tenths faster than his team-mate... 06:06 PM GMT Q1 - What can Sainz do? His sector times were OK but he comes into the pits. Leclerc stays out there and goes second fastest, but behind Stroll. Perez in fourth. Verstappen flying with two purple sectors so far this lap. 06:04 PM GMT Q1 - Every driver on track now as they begin their first push laps Magnussen is the first man to cross the line and he does so with a 1:23.505. Bottas beats that, Zhou doesn’t but then Magnussen has his lap time deleted for a track limits infringement. 06:01 PM GMT Q1 begins! The session gets under way under lights in Lusail. Let's do this... it's time for qualifying! 🚦 — Formula 1 (@F1) 06:00 PM GMT George Russell at the end of the pit lane already This will be a frantic qualifying session and hopefully a fun one. 05:59 PM GMT We are nearly ready to start Three sessions, of 18, 15 and 12 minutes. The first two have five drivers eliminated whilst the final sets the top 10 for the Qatar Grand Prix tomorrow. 05:53 PM GMT Conditions update QUALIFYING: It's 15 mins to Q1, with air temp 19C and the track 22.1C. The northwest wind has continued to decrease through the evening, with gusts in the last hour now only to 12mph. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0%. — Ian Fergusson (@fergieweather) 05:48 PM GMT What McLaren need to do to win the constructors’ title this weekend In short score at least 15 more points than Ferrari in the race tomorrow. Here’s a list of McLaren’s titles: 1974, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998 1974, 1976, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1998, 1999, 2008 It has also been a superb recovery after some dark days around seven or eight years ago. Here are all of their results since 2015, when they switched from Mercedes to Honda power. 2015: 9th, 27pts 2016: 6th, 76pts 2017: 9th, 30pts 2018: 6th, 62pts 2019: 4th, 145pts 2020: 3rd, 202pts 2021: 4th, 275pts 2022: 5th, 159pts 2023: 4th, 302pts 2024*: 1st, 623pts 05:33 PM GMT Drivers’ points scored in the last 10 rounds This does not include this sprint race. Close. Four drivers within one win of one another. Let’s hope we start next season with a similar level of competition. 05:28 PM GMT Just a point for Verstappen in the sprint "It's very bad this weekend so far" 💬 Max Verstappen doesn't think the car has enough pace to keep up with the frontrunners this weekend 👇 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) He finished lower than where he started... at least he has the championship wrapped up. Not that he will be happy with how his car is going. 05:18 PM GMT Some news from F2 Oliver Bearman, Ferrari academy driver with a confirmed seat at Haas next year, has just won his third F2 race of the season. That winning feeling! 🙌 It's a third victory of the season for Ollie Bearman 🥇 — Formula 2 (@Formula2) 05:16 PM GMT Watch: The moment Piastri took victory in the sprint race The moment Lando gave Oscar his sprint win back 🤝 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) 05:10 PM GMT Current team head-to-head qualifying records Not sure what is more notable, Sergio Perez’s record or Lewis Hamilton’s? 05:03 PM GMT The season cannot end soon enough for LH "I'm looking forward to the winter break" ❄ Lewis Hamilton reflects on his comments from yesterday 🤔 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) 04:57 PM GMT Sprint report: Norris hands Piastri victory at the line A “sketchy” move by Lando Norris, pulling over on the final straight to gift team-mate Oscar Piastri victory in the Qatar sprint race, ultimately ended happily for McLaren as they secured a one-two to close in on their first constructors’ title since 1998. Norris’ gesture – payback for Piastri’s assistance in Sao Paulo where the Australian pulled over to help Norris’ drivers’ championship attempt – was actually forbidden by McLaren, who felt the gap from Piastri to George Russell behind him in third, at just 0.3sec, was too tight to risk. But Norris disregarded the instruction from his team as he felt it was “the right thing to do.” “It was probably a bit sketchy,” he said, smiling. “The team told me not to do it but I felt I could. I’ve been wanting to do it since Brazil.” Norris had already helped Piastri stay in P2 by dropping back during the 19-lap race to give him a DRS slipstream. Russell was third, with Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz fourth and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton just losing out in a tense battle with future Ferrari team-mate Charles Leclerc for fifth. McLaren now lead Ferrari by 30 points in the constructors’ championship heading into Sunday’s race. They need a lead of 45 points by the end of the Qatar weekend to wrap up the constructors’ title this week, otherwise it will roll on to the final race in Abu Dhabi next week. 03:09 PM GMT We will be back for the main race qualifying That begins at 6pm so we will be here from around 5pm so just under two hours. Some work to do for a few teams, especially Red Bull. 03:05 PM GMT Verstappen unhappy with his car balance “I just tried to stay out of trouble. I was just sliding everywhere, having a lot of weird moments and weird snaps. No balance on entry, no balance mid corner. I could not even catch Nico [Hulkenberg] really. That says enough for us, it’s really bad.” 03:04 PM GMT McLaren obviously not too bothered that Norris moved over Even if they did not want it to happen at the time. 1-2 in the ! Classy move from Lando to return the favour and give Oscar the Sprint win! 👏 Excellent teamwork throughout to hold off Russell too. We're showing great pace ahead of Quali. Let's keep it up! 👊 — Zak Brown (@ZBrownCEO) 02:55 PM GMT Norris made that decision to let Piastri through on his own, then Throughout the whole race Norris backed up to let his team-mate have DRS to defend from Russell. Team principal Andrea Stella speaks about the situation to Sky Sports F1. “When it comes to the swap at the end, Lando was very willing to return to the favour that Oscar did to him in Brazil. We actually wanted to release the pressure off Lando, but saying that we are happy to finish in this order but Lando managed to find the opportunity to return the favour. “We were nervous on the pit wall because Russell was very close. The drivers when in the car judge a situation more precisely than us on the pit wall. That’s cohesion, that’s unity to be honest I am very proud of Lando and Oscar.” 02:50 PM GMT Updated constructor standings McLaren take another step to the constructors’ title. They now need to increase their lead over Ferrari by 15 points tomorrow to secure the constructors’ title this weekend. A 1-2 tomorrow would confirm that, whatever Ferrari does. Obviously there are many other permutations but it is looking good so far for them. 02:45 PM GMT Updated driver standings 02:43 PM GMT This was great to watch from Hamilton and Leclerc Wheel to wheel stuff between these two future teammates 😅🤏 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) 02:41 PM GMT Race winner Oscar Piastri “It was about defence for the whole race to be honest. Just didn’t quite have the pace, I killed the front early on. I was struggling a bit for the rest of the sprint. Some good teamwork... nice to have a McLaren 1-2.” 02:40 PM GMT Norris speaks after his second place “We scored 1-2, that is what we were aiming for today. The pace was good. I think I could have pushed a bit more than what I was doing. We did our job and that’s the main thing. It was probably a bit closer than I thought but I planned to do it since Brazil. The team told me not to do it but I thought I could get away with it and we did. I’m not here to win sprint races, I’m here to win races and the championship, though that’s not gone to plan.” 02:38 PM GMT George Russell reacts after a frustrating third place “It got pretty close in turn one a couple of times. It was so frustrating every lap, Lando backing up every lap to give Oscar the DRS. I understand why they did that.. but it’s pretty infuriating. It would have been good to go head to head with Lando just to see what the true pace would have been.” 02:34 PM GMT Qatar GP sprint - Top eight PIA NOR RUS SAI LEC HAM HUL VER All three drivers within half a second. 02:33 PM GMT OSCAR PIASTRI WINS THE 2024 QATAR GRAND PRIX SPRINT It looks like Norris is going to take the chequered flag first but he moves aside at the line to let his team-mate win! The moment Lando gave Oscar his sprint win back 🤝 — Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) Remember, Piastri let Norris win the sprint in Brazil to help Briton’s drivers’ title attempt. Either way it’s maximum points for McLaren and nine for Ferrari so they move to 30 points ahead of Ferrari. Good work. 02:31 PM GMT FINAL LAP Norris leads Piastri, Russell and Sainz. Russell tries to dive up the inside but cannot make the move stick and that will probably be that, barring a Piastri mistake... Norris looks likely to take an easy win... 02:30 PM GMT Lap 18 of 19 - Russell thinks about a move But he was too far behind to really make any meaningful overtaking manoeuvre. Norris now leads Piastri by 1.5sec. Is he just trying to focus on his own race now? 02:28 PM GMT Lap 17 of 19 - McLaren holding on here Well, Piastri is anyway... just about. The gaps have stretched out a bit at among the leaders. Will that be enough to save Piastri? 02:27 PM GMT Lap 16 of 19 - Norris leads Piastri, Russell, Sainz and Leclerc Verstappen is not really making any inroads into Nico Hulkenberg in seventh. Sainz is joining the fight in the top four, so this could get interesting. 02:25 PM GMT Lap 15 of 19 - Norris has hung back a bit Again to try and give Piastri DRS to aid him in his fight with Russell for second. This is only a sprint race, yes, but the points are valuable to McLaren. “I’m starting to struggle with the front, so do I save him or?” Yes, help him he says. Verstappen remains eighth. Perez pits for a new front wing from 19th... not because he’s broken his original one but just to see how it performs, I guess. 02:24 PM GMT Lap 14 of 19 - Russell close to Piastri now Russell tries a move up the inside of turn one but Piastri blocks him. A late move across to the inside from the McLaren. Dodgy move? Piastri has now dropped back to 1.7sec behind Norris. “F--- me mate, that was late!” Russell says. “Twice now!” On replay I think it was probably OK. 02:23 PM GMT Lap 13 of 19 - Leclerc and Hamilton touch They go side-by-side throughout turns one, two three and four! A bit of rubbing! Well done both men. Hamilton comes back but cannot make a move stick. Leclerc had DRS and went up the inside with a late braking move, Hamilton was able to hang it around the outside for a looong time but not long enough. LAP 13/19 Charles Leclerc pulls off a stunning move on future team mate Lewis Hamilton 😱 Nothing between them, and Leclerc takes P5! — Formula 1 (@F1) 02:21 PM GMT Lap 12 of 19 - Leclerc chasing down Hamilton 0.5sec in it at the moment and the Ferrari looks the quicker car. Team-mates next year. Verstappen in eighth but isn’t making a great impression into Hulkenberg. 02:20 PM GMT Lap 11 of 19 - Norris leads Piastri by 0.6sec The top few are very close but there have been few signs of any challenges in the last few laps. 02:18 PM GMT Lap 10 of 19 - Top eight and gaps NOR PIA +0.6 RUS +1.2 SAI +1.9 HAM +3.0 LEC +3.9 HUL +7.2 VER +9.0 02:17 PM GMT Lap 9 of 19 - Russell has a look Not as big a move as the one a couple of laps ago but not far off. Verstappen now the fastest man on track as he chases down Hulkenberg. 02:16 PM GMT Lap 8 of 19 - Verstappen no longer in ninth He dives up the inside of Gasly at turn one to move into eighth. Norris is indeed trying to help out Piastri, his team-mate, behind by giving him use of DRS. Is it a dangerous game? Slightly. Piastri under pressure again as they enter the final straight and Russell sets the fastest lap of the race. 02:14 PM GMT Lap 7 of 19 - Verstappen still in ninth The lead three cars are very close as the end the lap... 02:14 PM GMT Lap 6 of 19 - Norris leads Piastri by 0.7sec Leclerc has become a bit detached from the lead group, he is 1.8sec behind Hamilton but has just set the fastest lap. 02:12 PM GMT Lap 5 of 19 - Sainz now within DRS range of Russell ahead Norris’s lead now down to one second. I think he might be trying to give him some help with DRS. Russell is kind of closing on them both now, though. 2.8sec separates the top five drivers. 02:11 PM GMT Lap 4 of 19 - Russell dives down the inside! With DRS he goes up the inside of turn one but Piastri says “no mate” and goes around the outside on the exit of the corner to keep the place. Russell later complains that Piastri turned into him but I would certainly need another look. Verstappen still down in ninth, so has not made any further progress. “Oversteer is an understatment,” he said during the first lap. 02:08 PM GMT Lap 3 of 19 - Russell gets close But not quite close enough to try a move at turn one on Piastri. If he can stay close then next lap could be an option. Piastri not quite within DRS range of team-mate and leader Norris. Here’s the top 10: NOR PIA RUS SAI HAM LEC HUL GAS VER ALO 02:07 PM GMT Lap 2 of 19 - Norris leads Piastri by 1.1sec Liam Lawson had an awful start, down to 17th... Russell is within DRS range of Piastri and it will be soon that DRS will be available. Russell uses DRS on the pit straight to close up at turn one... 02:06 PM GMT THE 2024 QATAR GRAND PRIX SPRINT IS GO! It’s a good start for Norris who leads Russell into the first corner and Piastri comes through to make it a McLaren 1-2! Piastri runs off track at turn six slightly which allows Russell to close up and gives Norris a 1.2sec lead after half a lap. Verstappen has dropped back to ninth from sixth. Not sure what happened to him there. Norris, Piastri, Russell, Sainz, Hamilton, Leclerc, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Verstappen and Alonso make the top 10. 02:02 PM GMT The formation lap is go Russell gets away ahead of Norris but then Norris goes around the outside as he is let through again. Norris has had a few dodgy starts this season, can he make a good one today? 01:54 PM GMT We are nearly ready to get going in Qatar Lance locked in. — Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) Predictions? I think a Norris-led McLaren one-two. Russell third, Leclerc fourth, Verstappen fifth. 01:47 PM GMT Conditions in Qatar SPRINT: With 15 mins to the start, air temp is 21.4C & the track 26.4C. Wind from the NW; during the past hour, gusts to 27mph but these are now gradually decreasing through the evening. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0%. — Ian Fergusson (@fergieweather) A little gusty out there at the moment. 01:44 PM GMT Qatar GP sprint race: starting grid 1. NOR 2. RUS 3. PIA 4. SAI 5. LEC 6. VER 7. HAM 8. GAS 9. HUL 10. LAW 11. ALO 12. ALB 13. BOT 14. STR 15. MAG 16. TSU 17. OCO 18. ZHO PER, COL 01:39 PM GMT How the 2025 grid looks Still one slot at RB to fill, though arguably there is one to fill at Red Bull too... 01:27 PM GMT A reminder of the constructors’ standings 01:25 PM GMT News: Perez and Colapinto to start from pit lane in sprint Both drivers have made changes to their suspension under parc ferme regulations, so will start from the pit lane. Not much to lose and it will give the teams some data for qualifying later today and the main race tomorrow. 01:12 PM GMT Positions and times after sprint qualifying Lando Norris (Gbr) McLaren 1min 21.012secs George Russell (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:21.075 Oscar Piastri (Aus) McLaren 1:21.171 Carlos Sainz Jr (Spa) Ferrari 1:21.281 Charles Leclerc (Mon) Ferrari 1:21.308 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:21.315 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:21.474 Pierre Gasly (Fra) Alpine 1:21.978 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Haas F1 1:22.088 Liam Lawson (Nzl) RB 1:22.577 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Aston Martin 1:22.433 Alexander Albon (Tha) Williams 1:22.526 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Kick Sauber 1:22.538 Lance Stroll (Can) Aston Martin 1:22.599 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:22.738 Sergio Perez (Mex) Red Bull 1:22.718 Yuki Tsunoda (Jpn) RB 1:22.722 Esteban Ocon (Fra) Alpine 1:22.906 Guanyu Zhou (Chn) Kick Sauber 1:22.948 Franco Colapinto (Arg) Williams 1:23.423 01:05 PM GMT Hamilton: ‘I’m just slow’ It was another poor qualifying session for Lewis Hamilton yesterday and there have been plenty of them in 2024. He now trails team-mate George Russell 22-6 in a combination of sprint and main qualifying sessions this season. This is what he had to say after ending up in seventh, five places and nearly four-tenths behind his team-mate. “I’m definitely not fast any more. Same as every other qualifying, not that great, I’m just slow and same every weekend. So yeah, car felt relatively decent. No, no issues, and not really much more to say.” 12:59 PM GMT Good afternoon Welcome to our Saturday coverage for the Qatar Grand Prix, which is the sixth and final of the sprint weekends in 2024. So far we have had one practice session and sprint qualifying, with McLaren’s Lando Norris coming out on top in the latter with a lap that was less than a tenth of a second faster than the lead Mercedes of George Russell, who put in another strong showing. For a while it looked as if the Ferraris would be able to compete for pole, confounding their pre-weekend expectations. Yet Sainz and Leclerc ended around two and three tenths of a second away from Norris’s ultimate pace in fourth and fifth. The second McLaren of Oscar Piastri was a tenth and a half away from his team-mate’s time, which will boost his team’s hopes of winning the constructors’ championship. Norris can no longer take the drivers’ championship (something that had been on the cards for a little while) but it would be McLaren’s first constructors’ title since 1998 and their first F1 title of any kind since 2008. They currently lead Ferrari by 24 points and extending that looks on the cards, though far from certain, this weekend going on current performance. They can secure that title this weekend, but would need to leave the weekend with a 45-point advantage over Ferrari. It is throwing it forward significantly, of course, but if they were to finish the sprint where they start and repeat the same in the main race, then McLaren would leave Lusail with the championship, scoring 54 points to Ferrari’s 31, increasing their advantage by either 22, 23 or 24 points depending on where the fastest lap goes. So it is certainly doable. Red Bull, who are mathematically still in the constructors’ title fight had another off session, with Max Verstappen in sixth and Sergio Perez way down in 16th. You really struggle to see how the Mexican will be able to line up with Red Bull at the start of next year given his performances have shown zero uptick. Anyway, the sprint race itself starts at 2pm with qualifying for the main race at 6pm GMT. We will be here for all of the build-up, live updates and reaction from both.