Audi adds to racing plans
The pocket rocket TTRS will be the first junior family member to join the Bathurst-winning R8 LMS in Audi's customer racing programme.
The turbocharged, five-cylinder, all-wheel drive coupe is in the middle of an intensive development programme with Audi's quattro division to give its burgeoning racing division a cheaper, less-daunting entry car.
And the TTRS may just be the start of something bigger, with sources claiming quattro is also planning RS3 and RS5 racing models and may even add an A1-based racer.
After proving its reliability at the Nürburgring 24-hour races in 2009 and 2010 and proving its speed with a 1-2 finish at this year's Bathurst 12-hour enduro, the R8 LMS has now found 35 customers from as far afield as China and Brazil.
However, the quattro GmbH customer racing head, Romolo Liebchen, admitted there had been demand for a racing Audi that was cheaper than the R8 LMS, which sells in Germany for upwards of €260,000 (Dh1.4 million).
He said: "We will be expanding the classes and types of races Audi customer race cars can enter and that will start with the TTRS next year."
Skoda unveils grandiose roadster concept car with five seats
Skoda, the car maker that once provoked sniggering in the west, has showcased its most outrageous car to date - the vRS 2000.
The new vehicle is basically a Fabia with no roof and, surprisingly, the Czech car maker has kept the four-door layout of the Fabia intact, making it a seriously practical car while still designed for speed.
The vRS 2000 was unveiled at the Worthersee festival in Austria recently - an event for all Volkswagen Group vehicles - but Skoda provided very little in the way of details as it insists the roadster is solely for a design study.
What is evident, however, is that the windscreen has been cut in half and angled for a superior view and sporty feel. It also features racing seats and flashes of a striking neon green colour throughout.
The vRS 2000 is still very much a concept car and, because of the pricey production costs, might never see the light of day, though many at the event believed it could pave the way for an innovative Fabia in the future.
Also on show at the festival was a 500hp Audi A1 clubsport quattro and a 35th Anniversary Golf GTI with a more moderate 232hp.
Rapide works comes home
Aston Martin confirmed that the production of its Rapide four-door model will move to the company's Gaydon headquarters in Warwickshire, UK, in the second half of next year.
Currently, the Rapide is built at the Magna Styr plant in Austria. Pre-production at the privately owned plant started in late 2009, before the car reached full production in 2010.
Aston Martin's chief executive, Ulrich Bez, said: "In 2008, we had facility restrictions at Gaydon that indicated that production of Rapide at Gaydon would likely compromise production of our other cars. We were not prepared to do this.
"Now, three years on, things are very different - Gaydon is more established, more flexible and more efficient. While our overall volume has not changed significantly, we now produce a far richer model mix - eight model lines (plus five variants) compared to three model lines (plus two variants) in 2008 - so Rapide production is now possible."
The company is refurbishing its Gaydon facilities for Rapide production to start.
The Rapide started as a concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2006 and public reaction was so positive that the company put it into production.
Riviera Adventure to do parade lap around Monaco GP circuit
Next weekend marks the start of this year's Riviera Adventure, a five-day, 2,400km driving event that takes in some stunning scenery in France, Switzerland and Italy.
Starting out in Folkstone, England, drivers will cross the English Channel before venturing south through France, into Switzerland, Italy and then taking in Monte Carlo and Lake Varese.
The event is open to all drivers, though about 60 per cent of participants are couples.
The trip takes in the N85 road in France, which is said to be the finest driving road in Europe, as well as stays at five-star hotels.
Participants will drive along the Côte d'Azur and on to Monte Carlo, where a parade lap around the Monaco GP circuit will take place.
The adventure costs £1,900 (Dh11,500) per car based on two drivers sharing accommodation.
If you're interested in participating in the event, which runs from this Friday to the following Tuesday, visit www.circuit-days.co.uk.
UAE solar-powered car revealed on World Environment Day
A UAE-made solar-powered car was revealed to mark World Environment Day last Sunday.
Designed by the Lootah Technical Centre in Dubai and unveiled at an event last Sunday, the car weighs 170kg and can travel at a speed of 45kph.
Denis Lefrancois, of Sustainable Media Group, a joint venture of Globe Events and Lootah International, said: "We want to generate excitement about solar cars. This is a zero-footprint, zero-emissions car that can sustain itself with no battery. We wanted to build a car like this to show how it works but we could open it up to universities to come with ideas to improve it."
Experts believe electric cars are the future because biofuel solutions are no longer viable as the cost of food prices spike globally.
The UAE-made solar car will be on show at the EPIC Dubai Sustainable Living Expo, which will take place from June 22 to 25 in Dubai Mall. Also on show will be environmentally friendly products and solutions.
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Results
United States beat UAE by three wickets
United States beat Scotland by 35 runs
UAE v Scotland – no result
United States beat UAE by 98 runs
Scotland beat United States by four wickets
Fixtures
Sunday, 10am, ICC Academy, Dubai - UAE v Scotland
Admission is free
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Election pledges on migration
CDU: "Now is the time to control the German borders and enforce strict border rejections"
SPD: "Border closures and blanket rejections at internal borders contradict the spirit of a common area of freedom"
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Company%20profile
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UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
Libya's Gold
UN Panel of Experts found regime secretly sold a fifth of the country's gold reserves.
The panel’s 2017 report followed a trail to West Africa where large sums of cash and gold were hidden by Abdullah Al Senussi, Qaddafi’s former intelligence chief, in 2011.
Cases filled with cash that was said to amount to $560m in 100 dollar notes, that was kept by a group of Libyans in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
A second stash was said to have been held in Accra, Ghana, inside boxes at the local offices of an international human rights organisation based in France.
WHAT%20IS%20'JUICE%20JACKING'%3F
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
RIDE%20ON
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Super Rugby play-offs
Quarter-finals
- Hurricanes 35, ACT 16
- Crusaders 17, Highlanders 0
- Lions 23, Sharks 21
- Chiefs 17, Stormers 11
Semi-finals
Saturday, July 29
- Crusaders v Chiefs, 12.35pm (UAE)
- Lions v Hurricanes, 4.30pm
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: seven-speed dual clutch automatic
Power: 169bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh54,500
On sale: now
