Andrew Benson, F1 Correspondent in Singapore and Andy Gray, BBC Sport NI Journalist
Alex Dunne, a competitor in Ireland, has left McLaren’s driver development program and is closing in on a deal with Red Bull.
The 19-year-old Formula 2 driver made his Formula 1 debut in Austria in June, finishing fourth in first practice, 0.069 seconds behind championship leader Oscar Piastri.
Although McLaren valued Dunne highly as a potential future F1 driver, neither party was able to agree on his future.
He is close to signing a contract with Red Bull to work on the driver development program.
Alpine and Dunne had been in discussions about a potential F1 move, but insiders claim that negotiations have ended.
He would continue to play for a second season in Formula 1 with the possibility of joining their second team, the Racing Bulls, in 2027, if the Red Bull deal is made.
Dunne posted an “eye” emoji on social media saying he was “very excited for what’s to come.”
He said, “From today, I’ve mutually agreed to end my involvement with the McLaren driver development program.”
I’d like to thank every McLaren employee who has helped me grow and improve as a driver. Having my first race car and two FP1 sessions are things I’ll always cherish dearly, and I wish them all the best of luck in the near future. Papaya family, I’m grateful.
Dunne became the first Irish driver to compete in a weekend of Formula One in 22 years by winning the Austrian Grand Prix.
Dunne, who became the team’s development driver in May 2024, also participated in the first practice at the Italian Grand Prix in September.
It has been a pleasure to work with Alex over the past year and to help him develop as a driver, McLaren said in a statement.
We wish Alex the best of luck in the direction of his career.
In his first F2 season, Dunne won two feature races in Bahrain and Imola, but he has since lost out on the title due to a number of technical collisions and infringements.
Dunne left McLaren for what reason?
PA Media
Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri will remain in their F1 team for the foreseeable future, which was a problem with McLaren wanting to keep hold of Dunne after this season.
Before signing an extended “long-term” contract with the team in March, Piastri, who was in charge of the world championship with seven races to go before this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, was already signed to McLaren.
And they announced that Norris would remain with the team until at least the end of 2026 when he signed a new deal with McLaren last year. Beyond that, they have no intention of excluding the Briton.
Therefore, it was unlikely that Dunne would ever join McLaren in formula one.
Additionally, McLaren are world champions, making it unusual for teams with championships and races to employ rookie drivers.
34 students were ordered to move to the UK on September 17 to begin their education in Gaza. Many of them had submitted their visa applications before I did mine. I still felt peace and joy when I learned their exit. Finally, they were secure and on their way to new beginnings. I maintained my upbeat spirits, anticipating the start of my turn. However, I was shocked to find that there were 17 more names on the list, but mine wasn’t one of them when the next evacuation list arrived on September 29.
This mystery is also affecting me, too. I am aware of at least eight other students in Gaza who have been accepted into prestigious universities for higher education in the UK, but they haven’t been listed as eligible for evacuation despite meeting the requirements set forth by the UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) for the visas they have received.
Our fully funded scholarships at renowned UK universities are now in danger due to unreliable and inconsistent delays in the evacuation process and not because our institutions failed to represent us. On September 29, my University of Birmingham program officially began. My place has already been fully secured thanks to a Sanctuary Scholarship, which covers tuition, living expenses, and other expenses. I’m still a prisoner of war in Gaza and await confirmation that it never arrives.
I reacted with cheer when the first cohort left. I urged myself and the other students who had been mysteriously excluded from the evacuation list to be wary of comparison and desperation. The turn would be for everyone. After months of waiting, applications, interviews, and almost constant fear, the evacuation process finally arrived. Then, with only 17 names on the list, the next list arrived. None of the early applicants who were still waiting, in my opinion, were on it. Students who had submitted their visa applications weeks after we were contacted were also contacted. Some had already applied days before they were evacuated.
In case the government’s email arrives, I check my phone every day and night and sleep with it on my pillow. My university, my MP, and my lawyer have assured me that I am indeed eligible because I meet all the requirements, have filled out all the forms, and passed all the hurdles. The Foreign, Commonwealth, Development Office (FCDO) and the Home Office have received the same documents more than once. My accommodation has been reserved and I’m waiting for my arrival. My funding is guaranteed. No unresolved questions or missing paperwork are present. I wait, though.
There might be additional evacuation waves. However, there will undoubtedly be fewer names on each new list. There is no longer a long wait between me and my fellow students. The chance of our futures and scholarships disappearing increases with each passing day.
How the names are being included has been revealed in this ordeal, which is deeply troubling. Why did applicants come in later than we did prioritized? Why are some applications processed so quickly that some people’s names are listed on an evacuation list a few days after submitting the forms? Why do other applications, like mine, seem to have been forgotten? Why am I uninformed despite meeting every prerequisite?
Nobody can respond to these inquiries, not even the MPs, MPs, or even the attorneys who are the best at explaining the procedures. I’m left to wonder if I’m being put further back in the queue each time because the procedure is opaque. Every student who is still waiting to see their names on that crucial list is in my greatest fear, and that the same pattern will continue to be present: every new wave will prioritize new applicants while we are indefinitely delayed. Without explanation or accountability, we are relegated to a process we are unable to comprehend or challenge.
The psychological strain of this limbo is difficult to quantify. The same routine is followed every morning: check the inbox, check the email, and check the phone. Nothing . While I wait in the dark and put my dreams on hold, friends from abroad update me about lectures beginning. In case someone finally remembers me while I sleep, the phone beside me ends the night in the same manner. Here, there are a lot of disappointment, disappointment, and despair in the air. Every delay is a step closer to losing my place and the opportunity to continue my education abroad, far from the war, than just a lost day. The only way out of this difficult reality and the only way to rebuild ourselves and repair the broken parts of ourselves is for many of us, not just a delay, but a slow erasure of our future.
The University of Birmingham has remained committed to me and repeatedly contacted relevant authorities in my name. However, there is only so much that the university can do. The consequences will be devastating if I can’t leave right away. These awards are perpetual. Missing the academic year’s start could mean completely losing the funding. My place will be given away if I don’t arrive on time because my housing has already been secured and paid for. These are competitively priced degrees offered by renowned universities. I competed with international competitors for this position for years while being under siege and bombardment. It would be devastating to lose it right now as a result of bureaucratic silence. I received the Sanctuary Scholarship, along with other initiatives like it, to demonstrate my solidarity and demonstrate that those living in conflict can get a lifeline through education.
I don’t request any special treatment. Simply put, I request that my visa be processed. I’ve submitted every document and requested item. The criteria used to determine who gets evacuated are opaque, which is what I lack. Why are some students in the queue advanced while others are ignored despite having the same circumstances? Without any solutions, I feel sluggish and worn out. And I worry that my future will be wiped out if I don’t take action right away.
The end of the world has already arrived. I was informed in my most recent correspondence with the university that if I don’t arrive by the 17th of this month, I’ll lose the place I’ve worked so hard for and, along with it, the future I’ve fought for through war, loss, and sacrifice. I ask those with the power to act, in the face of all the threats, to refrain from silently destroying our futures.
A Forever War is a potent investigation into the Gaza war, which raises questions about Israel’s response to the Hamas-led bombings of October 2023.
Around the UN, where many states continued to refer to Israel’s occupation of Gaza as “genocide,” recently a global outcry was heard. Israel has largely ignored international opinion, even American pressure.
This movie examines what Australian journalist John Lyons describes as “one of the most brutal wars of modern times,” with a ceasefire now on the table just days before the second anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Lyons questions Israeli officials’ motivations and questions whether there was no other way to kill more than 66, 000 Palestinians, including over 20 000 children. Israel’s actions are seen as self-defense, according to a current cabinet member, a former foreign minister, and former prime minister Ehud Barak.
The Palestinian perspective is defended by Abdaljawad Omar of Birzeit University, Yehuda Shaul of Breaking the Silence, and Amira Hass of Haaretz.
More than 100 years after German colonial powers robbed them, a Tanzanian family tries to reclaim the remains of their ancestors.
John Mbano, an attorney, has a mission. In 1906, Songea Mbano, a leader of the Ngoni people in southern Tanzania, was executed by the German colonial army. His head was then transported to Germany for racist scientific analysis.
This trauma has remained a constant throughout generations of the family. In search of their ancestor’s skull, John and his wife Cesilia, a history teacher, hope to have it buried with dignity in their native country of Berlin.
Ella Toone, Millie Turner, Phallon Tullis-Joyce, and Gabby George, among other Manchester United players, confess their feelings for their teammates in Confession Cam.
Russo, McCabe, and Kelly from Arsenal discuss football knicks.
Barry Andrews, the European Union’s chief observer and a member of the European Parliament, paid Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Chairman, an official visit.  ,  ,
Following the last general election, the follow-up mission will be able to provide updates on how well their recommendations have been implemented.
23 recommendations, with eight specifically directed to INEC, were made by the Mission in July 2023, while the rest were directed at the Executive and the National Assembly.
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The final report on the 25 February and 18 March 2023 federal and state elections was released by the European Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) on June 27.
The Chief Observer, Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament, stated that “Nigerians demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the democratic process in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.” However, the election exposed persistent systemic flaws and calls for more legal and operational reforms to improve accountability, inclusion, and transparency.
The EU EOM made its findings and recommendations following a three-month observation across Nigeria, revealing that inaccuracies in the electoral administration hampered the running of fair and impartial elections and hampered INEC’s trust.
According to Barry Andrews, the Mission is particularly concerned about the priority recommendations for reform in six areas.
The six top recommendations address the need to address: (1) clarify the law; (2) set up a public scrutiny selection process for INEC members; (3) ensure real-time publication and access to election results; (3) increase media protection; address (5) discrimination against women in political life; and (6) impunity regarding electoral crimes.
According to Chief Observer Barry Andrews, political will is necessary to improve Nigerian democracy. It is still important to engage in comprehensive discussion among all parties involved in electoral reform. In implementing these recommendations, the European Union is prepared to support Nigerian stakeholders.
The EU EOM claimed to have completed its work between January 11 and April 11th, 2023, at INEC’s invitation. The EU EOM gathered with a delegation from the European Parliament to observe the presidential and legislative elections.
110 observers from 25 EU member states, as well as Norway, Switzerland, and Canada, were accreditated by the mission.
The Mission made the following 23 recommendations:
1. By removing errors and ambiguities from electoral law and regulations to prevent potential conflicting interpretations, and ensuring that the revision processes are inclusive, protect the interests of voters through certainty of law for all stages and aspects of electoral processes.
2. Implement timely, inclusive consultation to ensure institutional accountability. publication and dissemination of all election-related laws, regulations, and guidelines, and enactment of consolidated official legislation that is available in hard copy and online through the INEC website.
3. Establish a robust operational framework to ensure electoral administration’s independence, integrity, and effectiveness through a transparent and open-door selection process for REC candidates based on rigorous evaluation criteria for merit, qualifications, and verified non-partisanship.
4. Improve the capacity of the electoral staff by updating the electoral staff’s procedures and providing training for the election supervisors, collation officers, and ad-hoc polling staff, focusing on the use of technology, counting, and completing polling unit results and collation forms.
5. By requiring in law the timely release of test and audit results, along with protocols, guidelines, implementation methodology, procurement, and functionality details, to ensure transparency and permit public scrutiny of election technology,
6. Protect the right to free speech and the integrity of elections. by creating a results processing system that is robust, transparent, and quickly vérifiable a clear system of regulations. These include uploading polling unit results directly from the polling unit, and in real time, at each level of collation results. to be published in a database format that is both easily accessible and scrappable, and all forms to be uploaded in real time.
7. Give citizens the opportunity to register during the previous registration period if they are 18 years old before the elections.
8. Establish a trustworthy foundation for an accurate and inclusive voter register by conducting an immediate external independent audit, including in person, to establish a reliable foundation. data quality assessment, sample analysis, and biometric data quality assessment. The . implementation of a clear protocol and guidelines for the process to be followed The register should be kept up and held accountable in the public.
9. By limiting charging, remove unreasonable limitations on the right to stand. of excessive fees when a candidate is asked to run in party primary elections.
10. By creating a robust and effective campaign organization, enforce INEC’s campaign regulations. monitoring and a sanctioning system to stop state-level authorities from obstructing and interfering with their use of incumbency.
11. By establishing strict accounting standards, reporting, and public disclosure requirements for political parties, candidates, and third parties, the campaign finance industry is required to operate pre-agreed dedicated bank accounts for donations, revenues, and spending, with strong sanctions for noncompliance.
12. By creating a comprehensive operational framework that is supported by the tools and resources to prompt investigation and prosecution of all forms of attacks against media practitioners, ensure adequate protection of the right to freedom of expression.
13. Protect the National Broadcasting Commission’s legal and practical independence by upholding its right to freedom of expression and transparency. This could be accomplished by introducing a cross-party approval mechanism, industry professionals’ participation, and/or establishing strict institutional standards for transparency and accountability. This could also be accomplished by introducing an open, inclusive, and competitive system.
14. Transforming the NTA and FRCN into reputable public service broadcasters will help protect pluralism and freedom of expression. This includes provisions for editorial independence, financial autonomy, clear separation from any government institution, and a transparent and competitive management selection process with cross-party review and/or industry professionals’ participation.
15. Amendment overly restrictive legislative provisions that limit this right in the media and online, including the ambiguous definitions of “cyberstalking” in the 2015 Cybercrimes Act and of “classified matters” in the Official Secrets Act, to keep things up with international and regional standards for freedom of expression.
16. To identify, assess, and reduce harmful content while protecting freedom of expression, promote the independent formation of voters’ opinions and reduce manipulative interference through legislative or regulatory measures developed in an inclusive process involving all key stakeholders, including civil society experts.
17. Take urgent and robust affirmative steps to ensure meaningful representation of women through special measures in accordance with the Beijing Declaration. principles and the National Gender Policy to increase women’s representation in elected office and as candidates, which are further supported by cross-sectoral, increased, and sustained capacity building and awareness of discrimination.
18. Ensure that people with disabilities and the vulnerable have a legitimate opportunity to cast ballots in all election categories, including those who have disabilities and are vulnerable, through a conducive voting environment that allows for independent voting and respect for voter privacy, as well as having sufficient assistive devices.
19. Improve voter access to the right to vote in internally displaced voters by establishing a precise, timely operation plan that includes detailed data on important voter data, specified temporary special measures, polling location, and security. arrangements, targeted voter education, and early postelection evaluation publication.
20. By ensuring electoral authorities’ public accountability, law gives reporters and observers full access to all election-related stages. electoral data, supported by prompt, transparent accreditation procedures, and targeted sanctions for obstructing, intimidating, or using violence.
21. By modifying legal procedures, providing additional resources for adjudication, and consistently and concisely detailing and publishing decisions in a timely manner, including online, to improve voter and candidate certainty, by completing pre-election disputes well in advance of election day, and by advancing election day.
22. By effective interagency coordination that is governed by strict non-partisanship, the use of best resources, effective investigation and sanctioning, and regular public access to consolidated information on outcomes, it can be reduced.
