- China offers $325 bn in fiscal stimulus for ailing economy
- Dodgers drop Padres 2-0 to advance in MLB playoffs
- Alexei Navalny wrote he knew he would die in prison in new memoir
- Last-minute legal ruling allows betting on US election
- Despite hurricanes, Floridians refuse to leave 'paradise'
- Israel observes Yom Kippur amid firestorm over Lebanon strikes
- Trump demonizes migrants in dark, misleading speech
- X says 'alert' to manipulation efforts after pro-Russia bots report
- US, European markets rise before Boeing unveils sweeping job cuts
- Small Quebec company dominates one part of NHL hockey: jerseys
- Comoros shock Tunisia, Salah, Mbeumo strike in AFCON qualifiers
- Boeing to cut 10% of workforce as it sees big Q3 loss
- Germany win in Nations League as 10-man Dutch rescue point
- Undav brace sends Germany to victory against Bosnia
- Israel says fired at 'threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- Want to film in Paris? No sexism allowed
- Ecuador's last mountain iceman dies at 80
- Milton leaves at least 16 dead, millions without power in Florida
- Senegal set to announce breakaway development agenda: PM
- UN says 2 peacekeepers wounded in south Lebanon explosions
- Injury-hit Australia thrash 'embarrassing' Pakistan at Women's T20 World Cup
- Internal TikTok documents show prioritization of traffic over well-being
- Israel says fired at 'immediate threat' near UN position in Lebanon
- New US coach Pochettino hails Pulisic but worries over workload
- Brazil orders closure of 2,000 betting sites
- UK govt urged to raise pro-democracy tycoon's case with China
- Sculptor Lalanne's animal creations sell for $59 mn
- From Tesla to Trump: Behind Musk's giant leap into politics
- US, European markets rise as investors weigh rates, earnings
- In Colombia, children trade plastic waste for school supplies
- Supercharged hurricanes trigger 'perfect storm' for disinformation
- JPMorgan Chase profits top estimates, bank sees 'resilient' US economy
- Djokovic proves staying power as he progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Sheffield Utd boss Wilder 'numb' after Baldock death
- Little progress at key meet ahead of COP29 climate summit
- Fans immerse themselves in Marina Abramovic's first China exhibition
- Israel says conducting review after UN peacekeepers wounded in Lebanon
- 'Party atmosphere': Skygazers treated to another aurora show
- Djokovic 'overwhelmed' after 'greatest rival' Nadal's retirement
- Zelensky in Berlin says hopes war with Russia will end next year
- Kyrgyzstan opens rare probe into glacier destruction
- European Mediterranean states discuss Middle East, migration
- Djokovic proves staying power as progresses to Shanghai semi-finals
- Hurricane Milton leaves at least 16 dead as Florida cleans up
- Britain face 'ultimate challenge' in America's Cup duel with New Zealand
- Lebanon calls for 'immediate' ceasefire in Israel-Hezbollah war
- Nihon Hidankyo: Japan's A-bomb survivors awarded Nobel
- Thunberg leads pro-Palestinian, climate protest in Milan
- Boat captain rescued clinging to cooler in Gulf of Mexico after storm Milton
- Tears, warnings after Japan atomic survivors group win Nobel
Norris heads Piastri in McLaren one-two at Belgian GP practice
Lando Norris topped the times ahead of his team-mate Oscar Piastri as McLaren finished a dominant one-two in Friday's second free practice ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix.
The duo, who secured a front row lockout in qualifying at last Sunday's Hungarian Grand Prix, set the pace again ahead of series leader and three-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
The Dutchman faces taking a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday's race after his team fitted him with a new engine, taking him beyond the permitted limit of four units for the season.
Norris clocked a best lap in one minute and 42.260 seconds to outpace Piastri by 0.215 seconds and Verstappen by 0.217, meaning they were separated by only 0.002 seconds after lapping the 7.004-kms circuit, the longest on the calendar.
In cooling conditions, with rain threatening, the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were fourth and fifth ahead of George Russell of Mercedes and Alpine's Esteban Ocon, who it was announced Thursday will switch to Haas next year.
Kevin Magnussen was eighth in his Haas ahead of Sergio Perez of Red Bull and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in the second Mercedes.
After his successful exploits in opening practice, which he topped with some ease, Verstappen was out swiftly for FP2 on mediums to set a marker lap in 1:43.456 as Perez joined him on the pace, back in third, separated from the champion by Hamilton.
To the delight of his fans, Alpine's Ocon joined the fray, having missed most of the earlier action due to a suspected water leak.
Verstappen improved his time as the McLarens began to reel him in, but it was Sainz, in his Ferrari, who leapt to the top of the timing monitor in 1:43.098 before Piastri moved six-tenths clear.
"Might just need to check the floor," reported the Melburnian driver, who claimed his maiden F1 victory in Hungary. "Turned into a skateboarder at Turn Seven…"
Piastri was soon displaced by his team-mate Lando Norris, in 1:42.260, giving them a one-two again, with the Australian adrift by two-tenths, but 0.002 clear of the Dutchman.
After two aborted attempts on softs, Hamilton could manage no better than 10th on his third flying lap with Russell in sixth behind the Ferraris, a below-expectations effort from Mercedes as they switched to race runs.
For Hamilton, who counts the majestic high-speed Ardennes circuit as one of his favourites, it was a discouraging day as he sought a set-up for Sunday's race, which is expected to be run in dry conditions after a wet qualifying day on Saturday.
J.Oliveira--AMWN