And then there was one. One of the most nail-biting Formula One seasons in recent memory reaches a climax today with the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The inaugural Saudi Arabian Grand Prix witnessed an incredible night of drama and chaos as Lewis Hamilton triumphed over title rival Max Verstappen at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
The Mercedes driver's victory means he is now level on points with Verstappen going into the season finale in the UAE.
Where and when is the final race?
The Abu Dhabi GP takes place at Yas Marina Circuit on Sunday, December 12.
Current standings
In the drivers' championship, Verstappen and Hamilton are level on 369.5 points each. In the constructors' standings, Hamilton's Mercedes team are on 587.5 points with Verstappen's Red Bull on 559.5.
There are a maximum 26 points up for grabs in Abu Dhabi — 25 for a race victory and one for the fastest lap around the remodelled Yas Marina track.
The simple equation is that whoever finishes higher will win the title.
Verstappen leads Hamilton 9-8 on wins for the season, however — meaning that the 24-year-old Dutchman will be champion if neither he nor Hamilton scores another point.
Schedule
Thursday, December 9
F1 Team track walks: 9am-11.30am; F1 press conference: 2.30pm-6pm
Friday, December 10
F4 UAE Practice: 10.35am-11.05am; F4 UAE Qualifying 3.55pm-4.15pm
F2 Practice: 11.35am-12.20pm; F2 qualifying: 6.30pm-7pm
F1 Practice 1: 1.30pm-2.30pm; F1 Practice 2: 5pm-6pm
Saturday, December 11
F4 UAE First race: 11am-11.30am
F2 First race: 12.20pm-1.10pm
F1 Practice 3: 2pm-3pm; F1 Qualifying: 5pm-6pm; F1 press conference: 6pm-7pm
Sunday, December 12
F4 UAE second race: 11.40am-12.10pm
F2 Third race: 1pm-2.05pm
F1 Fastest Lap & Pit Stop of the Year Award 3pm-3.05pm
F1 End-of-year F1 drivers' photograph 3.05pm-3.10pm
F1 Drivers' parade 3.20pm-3.50pm
F1 Starting grid presentation 3.25pm-3.55pm
F1 National anthem 4.44pm
F1 Grand Prix 5pm-7pm
(Timetable is subject to amendments)
Safety measures
Covid-19 precautions remain in place with temperature checking, venue sanitisation and social distancing. Masks are to be worn at all times and spectators will need to show a Green Pass through Al Hosn app and a negative PCR test within 96-hours to enter the venue.
Track changes
The capital's 5.554-kilometre circuit on Yas Island has undergone extensive changes since last year's race designed to increase the average speed and the opportunities for drivers to overtake.
Tickets
Grandstand starting Dh660 Hospitality starting Dh1,250
More information is available at www.yasmarinacircuit.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%20BaaS%20ecosystem
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T20 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Qualifier A, Muscat
(All matches to be streamed live on icc.tv)
Fixtures
Friday, February 18: 10am Oman v Nepal, Canada v Philippines; 2pm Ireland v UAE, Germany v Bahrain
Saturday, February 19: 10am Oman v Canada, Nepal v Philippines; 2pm UAE v Germany, Ireland v Bahrain
Monday, February 21: 10am Ireland v Germany, UAE v Bahrain; 2pm Nepal v Canada, Oman v Philippines
Tuesday, February 22: 2pm Semi-finals
Thursday, February 24: 2pm Final
UAE squad:Ahmed Raza(captain), Muhammad Waseem, Chirag Suri, Vriitya Aravind, Rohan Mustafa, Kashif Daud, Zahoor Khan, Alishan Sharafu, Raja Akifullah, Karthik Meiyappan, Junaid Siddique, Basil Hameed, Zafar Farid, Mohammed Boota, Mohammed Usman, Rahul Bhatia
'The%20Alchemist's%20Euphoria'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EArtist%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Kasabian%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ELabel%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EColumbia%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Results:
6.30pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Walking Thunder, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap (rated 72-87) Dh 165,000 1,600m.
Winner: Syncopation, George Buckell, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Maiden Dh 165,000 1,400m.
Winner: Big Brown Bear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.15pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,200m.
Winner: Stunned, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Handicap (85-105) Dh 210,000 2,000m.
Winner: New Trails, Connor Beasley, Ahmad bin Harmash.
9.25pm: Handicap (75-95) Dh 190,000 1,600m.
Winner: Pillar Of Society, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
HIV on the rise in the region
A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.
New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.
Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.
Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.
Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
