Charles Leclerc set the fastest time in first practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, 0.659 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. Antonelli can secure his first Formula 1 world title on Sunday with a ninth-place finish, although the result he needs depends on whether George Russell or Lewis Hamilton wins.
Key Facts
Frederik Vesti, driving George Russell’s Mercedes, recorded the third-fastest time.
Lewis Hamilton was fourth, followed by Red Bull’s Ayumu Iwasa, who was driving in place of Max Verstappen.
Ten teams used the session for mandatory rookie running; Ferrari was the only team with both race drivers in their cars.
Oscar Piastri, Oliver Bearman and Arvid Lindblad completed the top 10.
Audi rookie Freddie Slater completed 14 laps after reliability problems and set the 19th-fastest time.
Colton Herta was 22nd; Cadillac said he had likely completed enough mileage to earn the 40 superlicence points required to race in Formula 1.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Kimi Antonelli, a 20-year-old Mercedes driver, is close to becoming Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion. He received an F1 licence before he was legally allowed to drive on public roads.
Key Facts
Antonelli is 20 years old.
He drives for Mercedes in Formula One.
He had an F1 licence before he could legally drive on the road.
He is on the brink of becoming Formula One’s youngest-ever world champion.
Al Jazeera’s Basel Ghazoghli reports on Antonelli’s rise.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The 2026 Breeders’ Cup meeting opened at Keeneland in Kentucky with a card focused on two-year-old horses and $7 million in prize money. Joseph O’Brien’s Folsom Blues was the market leader for the Juvenile Turf, while European-trained horses were favourites in all three turf races.
Key Facts
The first race, the Juvenile Turf Sprint, was scheduled for 18:55 local time.
Billy Loughnane was reported as a late replacement for Flavien Prat on Libertango because Loughnane could not make the required weight.
Libertango opened as the on-course betting favourite for the Juvenile Turf Sprint at 2-1.
Folsom Blues, trained by Joseph O’Brien, was the market leader for the Juvenile Turf.
Aidan O’Brien’s Sun Goddess was favoured for the Juvenile Fillies’ Turf.
The Juvenile race had six entries, and USS Valor was absent as its owner aimed to focus on next year’s Kentucky Derby.
Bob Baffert’s Hughes was expected to be a strong favourite in the Juvenile, while his unbeaten Miss Monica was fancied for the Juvenile Fillies.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said Lamine Yamal handled finishing third in the Ballon d’Or vote well and remained focused in training. Barcelona, who lead La Liga by two points, aim to respond to consecutive defeats when they host Alaves.
Key Facts
Harry Kane won the Ballon d’Or, with Kylian Mbappe second and Yamal third.
Flick said Kane deserved the award and that Yamal was capable of winning it.
Yamal is 19 and won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain, according to the article.
Barcelona lost 4-2 away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.
Barcelona then lost 2-1 at home to Real Madrid in La Liga.
Barcelona are scheduled to host Alaves on Saturday.
Barcelona have a two-point lead at the top of La Liga ahead of a meeting with Atletico Madrid.
Flick said Barcelona must accept their defeats and learn from them.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
South Africa set Australia a target of 288 on day four of the third Test in Cape Town, after centuries from Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder helped lift the hosts to 387 all out. Australia face a difficult chase as the pitch turns more, but history includes a successful 331-run chase at Newlands by Australia in 2002.
Key Facts
South Africa scored 329 in their first innings and 387 in their second; Australia made 429 in their first innings.
Ryan Rickelton scored 101 and Wiaan Mulder made 115 for South Africa.
Australia need 288 runs to win on day five.
CricViz’s WinViz model gave South Africa a 54% chance of victory.
Australia’s successful chase of 331 at Newlands in 2002 is the ground’s highest fourth-innings chase.
The pitch turned more sharply in the final session, and its PitchViz difficulty rating rose to 6.6, the highest of the Test.
Whoever wins the Test will finish the series at the top of the International Cricket Council’s Test rankings.
Australia opener Travis Head previously scored 123 from 83 balls in a successful 205-run fourth-innings chase against England.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Chelsea are due to host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, October 31, in a Premier League match. The article says United manager Michael Carrick remains in charge despite poor results and reports uncertainty over whether captain Bruno Fernandes will return to the lineup; Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has said teenager Estevao will play this season.
Key Facts
The match is scheduled for 12:30 GMT at Stamford Bridge in London.
The article says United are one point above the relegation zone and have gone eight games without a win in all competitions.
United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth before the Chelsea match.
Carrick said Fernandes remains captain and that they had held talks after Fernandes was dropped for the Bournemouth game.
The article says Fernandes had criticized United’s tactics after a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.
Chelsea lost to Liverpool on penalties in the League Cup after a 1-1 draw.
Estevao, a 19-year-old Brazil midfielder, has played 47 minutes in the Premier League this season, according to the article.
Alonso said Estevao will feature for Chelsea this season.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Manchester United are considering Eddie Howe as a possible successor to manager Michael Carrick if Carrick cannot improve the team’s results. Howe’s record at Bournemouth and Newcastle is seen as a strength, but questions include his lack of experience at a traditional top-six club, mixed reactions to his possible appointment and the cost of hiring him.
Key Facts
Howe has been out of work since leaving Newcastle United in the summer.
At Bournemouth, Howe took charge while the club faced relegation from League Two and led it to the Premier League in 2015.
Howe established Bournemouth as a Premier League club before leaving in 2020.
At Newcastle, Howe led the team from relegation trouble to two Champions League qualifications and an EFL Cup win in 2025.
Some Manchester United supporters and former players have criticized or withheld support for the idea of appointing Howe, while others have backed him.
United’s executives would first need to decide whether Carrick stays; the article says Saturday’s match against Chelsea could affect that decision.
Newcastle and Howe agreed to a compensation structure for a future move, which reportedly began at £6 million and decreases over time.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta defended his stern response after 16-year-old Max Dowman was sent off in Arsenal’s League Cup loss to fourth-tier Fleetwood. Arteta said he must be direct with Dowman while protecting and supporting him, and described the sending-off as disappointing after what he called reckless tackles against the teenager.
Key Facts
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Fleetwood in normal time before losing 5-3 on penalties in the League Cup fourth round.
Dowman was sent off five minutes before the end of normal time for aiming a kick toward Harrison Neal.
Arsenal’s appeal against Dowman’s red card and punishment failed.
Dowman began an immediate three-game ban for violent conduct.
Arteta said he expects Dowman to earn his place like every other player.
Arteta said Dowman had also been sent off while playing for England Under-19s that month.
Arteta said he had no personal issues with Dowman and was disappointed by the decision.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England coach John Mitchell has left Ellie Kildunne out of the starting lineup for Friday’s match against the USA, with Emma Sing selected at full-back. Mitchell said Kildunne is going through a difficult period and needs greater consistency, while stressing that she remains valuable to the team.
Key Facts
Kildunne has made 33 appearances for England since the start of 2024, including 29 at full-back.
England’s 41-Test unbeaten run ended with a loss to Canada in Toronto.
Kildunne was targeted by Canada in matches in Exeter and Toronto, where she had limited room to run and lost possession.
She averaged 4.2 defenders beaten per game in 2026, down from six in 2024, according to the article.
In the Exeter draw with Canada, Kildunne made 17 carries for 47 metres.
Emma Sing will start at full-back against the USA after recovering from a period of intermittent play due to injury.
Mitchell said Sing and Kildunne offer different styles and that Sing has earned an opportunity.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said he will hold 16-year-old Max Dowman to the same standards as other first-team players after Dowman was sent off against Fleetwood Town. Arteta said he had warned Dowman about handling provocation, and that the two spoke afterward with no issues between them.
Key Facts
Dowman was sent off in the 85th minute of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup match against Fleetwood Town, which Arsenal lost in a penalty shoot-out.
The dismissal followed Dowman’s reaction to a heavy challenge by Fleetwood player Harrison Neal.
Dowman will serve a three-match ban.
Arsenal appealed the red card, but the Football Association upheld it.
Arteta said he spoke with Dowman on Thursday and described their relationship as having no issues.
Arteta said Dowman must meet the same standards as other first-team players and earn the right to play.
Dowman was also sent off while playing for England’s under-19 team earlier this month.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Climber Alex Honnold took his 75-year-old mother on a climbing outing for her birthday. Honnold is known for free solo climbs, which he does without a rope, including climbs at El Capitan and Taipei 101.
Key Facts
Alex Honnold is a climber known for free soloing.
Free solo climbing means climbing without a rope.
Honnold took his mother on a birthday climbing outing.
His mother is 75 years old.
Honnold has free soloed El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.
Honnold has climbed Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
England’s men beat Papua New Guinea 34-12 but did not win by enough to avoid likely elimination from the Rugby League World Cup; their exit would be confirmed if Tonga did not beat Samoa by more than 46 points. England’s women lost 24-6 to Samoa and missed the semi-finals, while the men’s campaign was affected by a late coaching appointment, limited preparation and difficult travel.
Key Facts
England’s men needed a larger winning margin against Papua New Guinea to stay in contention and won 34-12.
The men’s elimination would be confirmed unless Tonga beat Samoa by more than 46 points.
England’s women lost 24-6 to Samoa in a match that decided semi-final qualification.
If both teams are eliminated, neither England’s men nor women will reach the last four for the first time in World Cup history.
Brian McDermott became England men’s head coach in April, about six months before the tournament, and had no mid-season international to prepare the team.
England planned four on-field training sessions in Australia but completed only two in full after UK-based players endured a 48-hour journey to Perth.
England lost its opening match to Tonga 30-12, leaving little margin for error in the tournament format.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The 2026 World Series drew an estimated average of 11.82 million viewers, below the averages for the 2024 and 2025 series. The article links the lower audience to the smaller markets and payrolls of the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, and compares baseball’s ratings with larger audiences for other sports.
Key Facts
The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games to win their first World Series title.
The series ran from October 23 to 28, according to the article.
The World Series averaged an estimated 11.82 million viewers across Fox; final Nielsen ratings were still pending.
Game 3 drew the series’ lowest audience, with 8.33 million viewers, while the deciding Game 5 drew 14.22 million.
The 2025 World Series averaged 15.49 million viewers, and the 2024 series averaged 15.1 million.
The article lists Milwaukee’s payroll at $146 million and Tampa Bay’s at $95 million, ranking them 19th and 28th in MLB, respectively.
The article reports that the 2026 NBA Finals averaged 20.58 million viewers and that the Super Bowl drew an estimated 125.6 million.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Bangladesh finished the third day of the first Test in Mirpur at 79-6 in their second innings, leading West Indies by 106 runs. West Indies captain Roston Chase took three wickets as his side put Bangladesh under pressure after being bowled out for 245 in reply to Bangladesh’s first-innings 272.
Key Facts
Chase took 3-25 in Bangladesh’s second innings.
Jomel Warrican took 2-19 in the second innings after claiming 5-53 in Bangladesh’s first innings.
Bangladesh were 79-6 at stumps, with Jaker Ali and Nayeem Hasan both batting on 18.
West Indies conceded a 27-run first-innings lead.
Nayeem Hasan took 4-33 as West Indies were dismissed for 245.
Tagenarine Chanderpaul scored 56 from 184 balls for West Indies.
Bangladesh’s Jaker Ali entered the match as a concussion substitute for Mominul Haque.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Actor Colin Egglesfield, a three-time cancer survivor, plans to run the New York City Marathon on Sunday. He says he is running to advocate for a special cause, though the article text does not identify it.
Key Facts
Colin Egglesfield is an actor.
Egglesfield has survived cancer three times.
He plans to run the New York City Marathon.
The marathon is scheduled for Sunday, according to the article.
Egglesfield plans to use the run to advocate for a special cause.
The article text does not name the cause.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Everton left Jack Grealish out of its Carabao Cup squad against Newcastle after he missed training on Monday, describing the absence as a breach of club discipline. Grealish has spoken with club officials and must work to regain his place, while manager David Moyes says the incident is not being treated as a final chance.
Key Facts
Grealish missed Everton training on Monday, according to the article.
Everton excluded Grealish from its squad for the Carabao Cup match against Newcastle.
Everton publicly described the reason for his omission as a breach of club discipline.
Grealish joined Everton on loan from Manchester City after his previous loan spell was cut short by a serious foot injury.
Everton beat Newcastle 3-1 and advanced to a quarter-final against League Two side Fleetwood Town.
Young winger Tyrique George played on the left flank against Newcastle.
Grealish held talks with Everton officials after the incident.
The article reports that Everton has had occasional time-keeping concerns about Grealish in the past.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that Russia must be allowed to return to international ice hockey competitions covered by the ruling, overturning the IIHF’s exclusions for the 2026–27 season. CAS said the IIHF had not provided enough evidence to support its security concerns, but the ruling leaves practical questions about how Russia could be included, including at next year’s men’s world championship in Germany.
Key Facts
The IIHF had excluded Russia from competitions after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
CAS overturned the IIHF’s decisions barring Russia from events in the 2026–27 season, including the men’s and women’s world championships.
CAS did not rule on whether Russia must compete without national symbols or on other organizational arrangements.
The IIHF said it would follow the ruling but maintained that its exclusions were needed to protect safety and competition integrity.
Germany’s ice hockey federation said Germany remains opposed to Russia’s participation in next year’s men’s world championship.
The championship draw is already complete, and including Russia could require changes to the teams or tournament format; Ukraine has qualified.
The first event where Russia could return is the men’s world junior championship, which begins December 26 in Edmonton and Red Deer, Canada.
The ruling did not mention Belarus, which the IIHF has also excluded from international events.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Tokyo because of a neck injury, saying she could not play at full strength. The withdrawal came a day after she secured the year-end world number one ranking, and she said she planned to return for next month’s WTA Finals.
Key Facts
Rybakina was scheduled to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in the Tokyo quarterfinals.
She came onto the court to address the crowd and sign autographs after withdrawing.
Rybakina secured the year-end top ranking with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Yulia Putintseva in her opening match in Tokyo.
She first became world number one last month after winning the US Open, replacing Aryna Sabalenka.
Rybakina won the Australian Open in January and has three Grand Slam titles.
She arrived in Tokyo after winning the Ningbo Open in China, where she beat Fernandez in the final.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Australian Hyrox athlete Joanna Wietrzyk said she continued racing in Beijing after a foodborne bacterial infection caused her to lose control of her bowels because she was focused on finishing and winning. She later forfeited her victory and prize points, and said she has reflected on the decision as she prepares to race again in Hamburg.
Key Facts
Wietrzyk, 24, became ill during a Hyrox event in Beijing last month after a bacterial infection linked to food poisoning.
She said she felt well before the race and first noticed symptoms about halfway through it.
Wietrzyk won the event but later forfeited her victory and prize points.
She said she regretted not considering the effects of continuing to race on other competitors.
Hyrox changed its rules to let organizers disqualify athletes when bodily fluids or waste affect an event’s integrity.
Hyrox co-founder Moritz Fürste said the organization had made a mistake by not intervening during the Beijing race.
Wietrzyk said she and her family received abuse and threats after images of the incident spread online.
Wietrzyk was due to compete in Hamburg as she returned to racing.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
