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Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri will contest a final-race championship showdown in Abu Dhabi after the Red Bull driver won a gripping Qatar Grand Prix.

Verstappen benefited from a strategy call from McLaren that flew in the face of decisions made by every other team during an early race safety car.

It was a costly decision that sacrificed track position to Verstappen in the final stages and in hindsight threw away the race win for Piastri.

Verstappen won to take his seventh win of the season, equalling Norris and Piastri, while the Australian was second and the Briton fourth behind the Williams of Carlos Sainz.

Norris won himself an extra two points by passing Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes on the penultimate lap.

Norris has been left with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, who moved ahead of Piastri by four points heading to Abu Dhabi on 5-7 December.

To win the title, Norris must finish third at Yas Marina if Verstappen wins the race next Sunday. (BBC SPORT) 

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Rohit Sharma broke the record for the most sixes hit in men’s one-day internationals as India edged South Africa by 17 runs in the opening game of their series in Ranchi.

After being asked to bat, India posted 349-8 with Virat Kohli hitting a record-extending 52nd ODI century with a brilliantly paced 135 off 120 balls.

He shared 136 with Rohit, who made 57 off 51 balls, for the second wicket.

Rohit, who already held the record for the most sixes across formats in international cricket (now 642), hit three sixes to overtake Shahid Afridi’s 15-year record of 351 ODI maximums.

India were 161-2 in the 22nd over when the former captain was dismissed and run-scoring became more difficult in the middle overs but the hosts were superbly marshalled by Kohli.

He also shared 76 with stand-in captain KL Rahul, who then took over when Kohli was dismissed, to hit 60 off 56 balls.

South Africa slipped to 11-3 in reply and 130-5 but Matthew Breetzke (72 off 80) and Marco Jansen (70 off 39) gave them hope with a 97-run stand.

Both were dismissed in the 34th over by Kuldeep Yadav and South Africa’s hopes seemed over at 228-7.

However, Corbin Bosch (67 off 51) put on partnerships with Prenelan Subrayen and Nandre Burger, who both made 17, to leave the Proteas needing 37 from 18 balls.

Bosch was farming the strike and turning down singles and left 18 from the final over, but he skied the second ball from Prasidh Krishna to cover.

The second game in the three-match series takes place on Wednesday. (BBC SPORT) 

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The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) yesterday handed over a state-of-the-art portable, mobile PCR instrument along with a supply of testing cartridges to the Ministry of Health’s National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), marking a significant boost to Guyana’s capacity for rapid disease detection and outbreak response.

The equipment was handed over to Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Narine Singh by CARPHA’s Executive Director.

Valued at USD $300,000, this advanced diagnostic equipment enables results within two hours, allowing health officials to swiftly identify priority pathogens and respond to public health threats with greater efficiency. The portable system is designed for flexibility and can be deployed across regions, including remote and hinterland communities, ensuring equitable access to timely testing.

The PCR platform can detect a wide range of infectious diseases, including dengue and other vector-borne illnesses.

Additionally, the cartridges provided support testing for foodborne pathogens, norovirus, and leptospirosis, enhancing Guyana’s ability to manage both endemic and emerging diseases.

Honourable Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health, emphasised that this new machine will be extremely valuable in delivering timely results and significantly improving the speed and accuracy of disease diagnosis.

Meanwhile, CARPHA’s Executive Director, Dr. Lisa Indar, emphasised the importance of this technology in strengthening regional health security. She noted that the machine’s rapid turnaround time and portability will significantly improve the country’s ability to respond to outbreaks quickly, safeguard communities, and support ongoing surveillance efforts.

The Ministry of Health expressed deep appreciation to CARPHA for its continued partnership and commitment to enhancing public health capacity. The donation to the NPHRL forms part of broader regional initiatives to modernize laboratory systems, strengthen preparedness, and build resilience against current and future health threats.

With this new equipment, Guyana is better positioned to protect its population, support faster clinical decision-making, and reinforce national and regional disease monitoring systems. (Ministry of Health press release)

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Twelve families in Lethem, Region Nine are now officially homeowners through the Government’s Lethem Housing Support Programme, executed by the Ministry of Housing–Central Housing and Planning Authority.

The initiative, conceptualized by His Excellency, President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, supports low-income families who face difficulties in building on their allocated lands, by providing access to affordable homes.

Each unit measures 550 square feet and includes two bedrooms and a living and kitchen area, along with a bathroom facility. Valued at approximately $3 million, the homes are supported by a $1 million building-materials subsidy provided by the Ministry, while beneficiaries finance the remaining cost through mortgages. The houses were constructed with the incorporation of locally sourced materials, providing economic support to several communities in the region.

The keys were handed over to the new homeowners on Saturday by the Minister of Housing, Hon. Collin D Croal, and Minister within the Ministry of Housing, Hon. Vanessa Benn

Each unit measures 550 square feet and includes two bedrooms and a living and kitchen area, along with a bathroom facility. (Photo: Ministry of Housing/November 30, 2025)

Sharon Malcolm, a single mother of two, was visibly emotional as she received her keys. She described the moment as one of the happiest of her life and highlighted how transformative it will be for her children.

“My two kids, they can call this their home. So, no more renting… we have our own home.”

She noted that the programme has empowered many single parents like herself to achieve what once felt out of reach, while also helping families build generational wealth.

Another beneficiary, Dennevoll Milliano, applauded the government’s continued investment in the region and shared that the home will primarily benefit his children. “We’re just waiting for this time to get the house so that we move inside,” he said, noting that his family has been anticipating this milestone.

Each unit measures 550 square feet and includes two bedrooms and a living and kitchen area, along with a bathroom facility. (Photo: Ministry of Housing/November 30, 2025)

For single parent Gianne Augustine, the home brings immediate relief after years of renting a cramped one-bedroom space. She said her children are especially excited about finally having adequate room—her daughter most of all.

“When she comes and she see that we have two [rooms] now, she was like excited … I’m feeling very happy, lucky to have a house of my own now,” she expressed.

The programme targets 600 low-income families in Lethem. Minister Croal noted that construction of the first 100 houses is completed. Of these, 78 have already been handed over, while the remaining 22 are undergoing final paperwork before being presented to beneficiaries.

“We are happy to make people’s lives better,” the Minister said, noting that every home handed over reflects a promise fulfilled to families who need it most.

He emphasized that the homes offer families improved shelter and a stronger foundation for their future. (Ministry of Housing press release)

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The Government of Suriname has decided to slash the amount of funds allocated to government ministries and agencies for their annual year-end socials but will still offer the $1,000 Suriname dollars (or about US$26) support for civil servants and some groups.

A release from the office of President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons stated that the socials’ spending has been reduced from 2.4 million Suriname dollars to 500,000 Surname dollars.

The release noted that this decision was made as part of the government’s commitment to “an efficient austerity policy” and as part of measures to “restore the economy in a sustainable manner.”

“This decision stems from the government’s social responsibility and aligns with its commitment to an efficient and frugal spending policy. Taking austerity measures into account, this allows ministries to still carry out their year-end closing,” the release stated.

Former Surinamese President, Chan Santokhi had said that oil royalties equivalent to about US$750 would be distributed to citizens but the new Geerlings-Simons government reportedly shelved this initiative as the country could not sustainably fund that plan.

Meanwhile, the support for some groups of citizens remains unchanged.

“The cabinet emphasizes that this measure has no impact on the previously announced support for citizens. The one-time amount of SRD 1,000 for civil servants and equivalents, persons with disabilities, vulnerable households, and [pensioners] remains unchanged. This financial bonus will be paid out in December 2025,” the release noted.

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Andre Russell, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) legend, has decided to call time on his IPL career after not being retained by the franchise ahead of the 2026 season, and announced that he would be joining the team’s support staff as its “power coach”.

“I’ve made a decision to retire from the IPL. I’ll still be active playing in various leagues all around the world and all the other KKR franchises,” Russell said in a video message. “I had some amazing time and great memories. hitting sixes, winning games, MVP and all of those things.

But sometimes you just have to know when to hang up the boots. When I made this decision, I just felt like ‘yes, this is the best decision’. I don’t want to fade out. I want to leave a legacy and it’s best to retire when fans ask ‘why, you still have some more in you, you still could go for a bit longer’ than say, ‘yeah, you should have done it years back’.

“We are part of the Instagram world, so when you’re going through your feed, you keep seeing yourself in different jerseys and, you know, friends, team-mates sending you stuff and, like, ‘you’re looking good in this jersey, what do you think’ and I’m like, ‘hmmm, I look weird in that jersey’. And it’s just those thoughts that’s been going through my head. I had a few sleepless nights.

There have been a lot of conversations, between me and Mr Venky Mysore, and also Mr Shah Rukh Khan, about another chapter in my IPL journey, and they have shown me respect and love and they appreciate whatever I have been doing in the field and to be in a set-up where I’m familiar, that matters to me a lot.”

Russell, who was part of KKR’s title-winning teams in 2014 and 2024, was also the IPL’s Most Valuable Player in 2019.

Russell won 16 Player-of-the-Match awards at KKR, only behind Sunil Narine’s mark. And that long association has been strengthened with a position in the team’s support staff as “power coach”.

At KKR, Russell will be part of a new-look back room, to be headed by new coach Abhishek Nayar, who has replaced Chandrakant Pandit. Tim Southee has been appointed bowling coach, Shane Watson has joined as assistant coach, and Dwayne Bravo remains in his capacity as team mentor.

As for releasing him ahead of the latest auction, the franchise had deliberated the move ahead of the 2025 mega auction too, before deciding to stall that call. Russell had retired from international cricket in July, having only played the T20 format after the 2019 World Cup.

Ahead of the 2025 mega auction, Russell was among the five players retained by KKR, for INR 12 crore. But as per the IPL’s retention formula, INR 18 crore was added to KKR’s purse for the 2026 auction once they released Russell.

Russell was among the big names released by KKR along with Venkatesh Iyer, Quinton de Kock, Anrich Nortje, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and others.

KKR will have the strongest purse at the IPL auction with INR 64.3 crore, but with just 12 players currently they have a lot of slots to fill.

Russell, 37, has been a constant for the franchise since IPL 2014, after starting out with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2012. A bona fide T20 great, Russell is also a legend of the IPL, one of only two players to score over 2000 runs and pick up 100 wickets in the tournament, Ravindra Jadeja being the other.

In 133 appearances for KKR over the years, Russell scored 2593 runs with 12 fifties, and scored at a strike rate of 174.96, hitting 220 sixes along the way. With the ball, he picked up 122 wickets, including three four-wicket hauls, and took 40 catches. (ESPNcricinfo)

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A Sergeant attached to the Guyana Police Force (GPF) is currently hospitalised nursing multiple injuries about his body after he was involved in an accident at Tucville, Georgetown, on Friday.

The Guyana Police Force did not name the injured rank, who they said is attached to the Brickdam Impact Base.

According to a Police report, the crash, which occurred about around 12:30 hrs, involved Force ATV CR 6202, driven by the Sergeant, and motor lorry GAG 7559, which was being operated by a Cuban national.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the Police ATV was heading west along Lama Street when the motor lorry, which was travelling in the opposite direction, allegedly swerved into its path.

However, it appears as though the ATV swerved into the lorry based on CCTV footage of the incident.

Nevertheless, the accident resulted in a collision that threw the Sergeant onto the roadway, causing injuries about his body.

He was picked up in a conscious condition and taken to the Guyana Fire Service Headquarters.

The injured rank was later transported to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, where he is currently admitted with a suspected fractured left leg and other injuries.

Police said the Cuban national who was driving the motor lorry was into custody, and the vehicle has been lodged at the East La Penitence Police Station.

Investigations are ongoing.

Editor’s note: This story was updated after the CCTV footage of the accident was reviewed. 

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Forty-four-year-old Julius Mandella Haniff is now dead after he allegedly lost control of the car he was driving and crashed into a utility pole along with Good Hope Public Road, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

The accident occurred around 03:38 hrs Friday.

Police Headquarters reported that investigations revealed that Haniff, a resident of Edinburgh, East Bank Berbice, was driving motorcar, PAG 9310, west along the southern lane of the road when he lost control on the wet roadway due to rainfall.

“The car subsequently crashed into a concrete utility pole on the southern grass parapet,” Police said.

A woman, Yurajwatie Hussain, 39, who is currently pregnant, was also in the car.

Both occupants sustained injuries and were pulled from the wreck by public-spirited citizens. They were rushed to the Mahaicony Cottage Hospital.

Hussain was examined and later discharged while Haniff’s condition worsen and he subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Investigations are ongoing.

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