Formula 1 renews Canadian GP contract until 2035
The Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will stay on the calendar until the end of 2035 after agreeing to a four-year extension to the existing deal, Formula One said on Tuesday.
The contract renewal also includes a long-term extension to Bell Media's media rights deal, the Liberty Media-owned sport added.
Last weekend's grand prix at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve was the 54th edition since the race first featured in the championship in 1967.
The Montreal track, named after the late Ferrari great and father of 1997 world champion Jacques, became the permanent host in 1978.
'I would like to thank the promoter, Octane Racing Group, for their continued efforts in upgrading this iconic venue in recent years, and all local, regional, and national political stakeholders who have worked closely together to make this event what it is today,' said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.
The race's previous contract extension was to 2029 but two of those years (2020 and 2021) were during the Covid-19 pandemic when Formula One did not visit and the deal was extended to 2031.
Next year's race will be held earlier than previously with a new May 24 slot after switching with Monaco and aligning more closely with Miami.
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The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
The state of the adult industry in SA: A market under pressure
I started the Lola Montez Brand over 20 years ago. It was the first of its kind. An adult store that was more boutique than a store that made it safe for women to shop. It was a place where couples could get real advice about their relationship and purchase a range of toys to spice up the bedroom. We went from 1 to 4 stores and back again over the years and recently closed all our bricks and mortar outlets to be online. We still offer the same educated and honest advice. I have wondered for some time now whether it is just me or whether we are all suffering. Yes, there certainly are more players in the market with fierce online competition. If your algorithms aren't perfect, you are nowhere to be found. Don't even think about advertising on social media, you'll be banned faster than you can say Butt Plug. I'm assured it's the same for everyone. The South African adult industry, once dominated by a few brick-and-mortar stores offering high-end, discreet and knowledgeable service, is now navigating choppy waters. A convergence of economic, regulatory, logistical, and digital challenges is threatening the survival of longstanding adult retailers and reshaping the landscape of the industry entirely. The Decline of Physical Retail: A Perfect Storm Retail across all sectors has been under pressure, but adult retail in South Africa faces unique hurdles. High commercial rentals—especially in premium, upmarket areas—have made it nearly impossible for adult stores to compete for desirable locations. Despite a more progressive approach to sexual wellness, adult shops still face stigmas that prevent them from gaining access to malls and retail zones with high foot traffic. Zoning laws and landlord reluctance mean many are forced into industrial areas or low-traffic locations, which impacts visibility and footfall and keeps the industry feeling sleezy. Coupled with rising utilities and security costs due to persistent load shedding and crime, maintaining a physical presence has become financially untenable for many businesses. The shift to online retail, accelerated by COVID-19, has only exacerbated this decline. Regulatory Red Tape and Technical Hurdles Beyond rental issues, South African adult retailers also face harsh regulatory and logistical hurdles The South African National Standards (SANS) require that all rechargeable adult toys—those containing lithium batteries—meet strict safety compliance standards. Importers must register, test, and certify each model, even if it's a variation of an existing design. This costly and time-consuming process significantly delays product launches and adds to overheads. Moreover, lithium batteries are considered dangerous goods for air transport, leading to additional courier fees and complex logistics. These costs are passed on to the consumer, making locally-sourced products far more expensive than the same items bought from international platforms—many of which skip compliance and safety procedures entirely. The Online Competition Conundrum Online giants like Temu, Shein, and Wish have further eroded the profitability of local Players. These platforms offer cheap adult toys, shipped directly from overseas, often without duties being paid or regulatory compliance being met. These products are rarely covered by warranties and come with no after-sales service or consumer protections. Consumers, facing their own financial constraints, are increasingly opting for lower-cost alternatives, despite the risks. The result? Local adult stores can't compete on price and are losing market share rapidly. Reputable South African brands that offered education, discretion, high-quality products, and in-store expertise are being edged out by volume-based, faceless e-commerce operations. The Bigger Picture: Industry at Risk This collision of factors—regulatory barriers, high rentals, unfair import practices, and international competition—is having a significant impact on the adult industry as a whole. Once-thriving businesses are closing their doors, scaling back operations, or being forced to compromise on quality to survive. The broader implications are concerning - fewer safe, informed spaces to explore sexual health and wellness, job losses in an already struggling economy, and a decline in consumer rights and product safety standards. What Can Be Done? If the adult industry in South Africa is to survive and thrive, multi-pronged action is needed: Lobby for Fair Access: Retailers and advocacy groups must lobby municipalities and shopping centres to treat sexual wellness retail like any other health and beauty offering. Education is key to breaking down stigma. Simplify SANS Processes: Regulatory frameworks must be reviewed and streamlined for small businesses. Consideration should be given to exemption categories or partnerships for low-risk devices. Local Manufacturing Incentives: Encouraging local production of adult toys could reduce reliance on expensive imports and create jobs. Government incentives for manufacturing could drive innovation and economic inclusion. Consumer Education: Campaigns must highlight the importance of quality, safety, and after-sales support. Consumers need to understand what they lose when they buy from anonymous overseas platforms. Collective Bargaining and Bulk Shipping: Local retailers could form cooperatives to pool resources for compliance testing and shipping, reducing costs and increasing bargaining power with regulators and couriers. Our wholesalers have entered the retail market making competition even more difficult. Digital Excellence and Hybrid Models: Investing in sleek, educational online stores with excellent service, discreet delivery, and local credibility could win back customers. Hybrid models that blend online with experiential pop-ups or events could also offer a future path. Those who have the capital are trying. Temu is still winning. The adult industry in South Africa is at a crossroads. Without urgent and coordinated efforts to address the unique pressures it faces—from compliance costs to online competition—it risks becoming an underground or entirely imported market, devoid of trusted local brands and service. Preserving the industry isn't just about pleasure products—it's about access to safe, shame-free sexual wellness resources in a country that needs them more than ever.


Daily Maverick
13 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
2025 British & Irish Lions jet off to Australia in vastly different atmosphere
The 2025 Lions tour starts on Friday evening with a match against Argentina in Dublin. Very different circumstances to the tour's start four years ago during Covid. The official expedition through Australia kicks-off in Perth on 28 June against the Western Force. As the British & Irish Lions prepare to leave for Perth this weekend for the 2025 tour to Australia, the mood is much lighter and more jovial than four years ago. That's because the world is a vastly different place from when the British & Irish Lions' 2021 tour to South Africa (SA) remained in the balance until the last moment. The Covid pandemic meant the tour's feasibility and ability to go ahead was a constant roving target. The pandemic brought the 2021 tour close to collapse on several occasions. The original operational and commercial plans, which in themselves were complex documents to agree on, had to be rewritten. And then rewritten again and again. There was talk of playing the matches between the world champions, Springboks, and the Lions, outside of the Republic. Australia offered to host, but that was turned down for several reasons, including the unpalatable time zone for broadcasting. Dubai was briefly discussed as an alternative because fans might be allowed, but that option quickly withered on the vine. The most plausible scenario was moving the entire caravan to Britain with the Springboks playing tourists. That option, which was acceptable to both the Lions organisation and SA Rugby (Saru), hit snags because South Africa was placed on Britain's 'red list' of countries with Covid surges. In the end, the decision to continue as scheduled in SA was made when there was only about a month to go, because broadcasters and sponsors needed clarity; and a host of other logistics providers such as hotels, security, medical services and transport needed to be finalised. It went ahead and into the record books, but the overriding theme of 2021 was the empty Cape Town Stadium as the backdrop to what were three gripping Tests, despite the eerie surroundings. More positive 2025 tour The 2025 Lions tour starts on Friday evening with a match against Argentina in Dublin, although the official expedition through Australia kicks off in Perth on 28 June against the Western Force. Friday's clash against the Pumas doesn't carry Test status — it should — but will be a vital pilot study for coach Andy Farrell and his 38-man squad. There is also the question of money. The Argentina game will raise £2.55-million (R61-million), of which R21-million will go to the Pumas squad, which is a handy little bonus. But for Farrell, the most important factor is allowing some game time for combinations after a brief training camp in Portugal so that the Lions don't arrive in Australia completely underdone. That in itself makes a change from four years ago when the initial concerns were not so much over match-readiness but rather whether there would be matches at all. In 2025, concern lies with whether Australian Rugby is up to the standard required to compete with the Lions. There is some compelling evidence to suggest that Rugby (Union, not League) in Australia is suffering. The Wallabies are ranked eighth in the world, while Australia doesn't have a club that looks close to winning Super Ruby. Almost two years ago the Wallabies failed to make the knockout stages of Rugby World Cup 2023, losing 40-6 to Wales, who have subsequently lost 16 Tests in a row. The Brumbies made the 2025 Super Rugby semi-final but that hardly constitutes a tale of success for Australian rugby. And to further compound matters Rugby Australia (RA) announced a AUS$36.8-million (R430-million) deficit for the 2024 financial year. Obviously, the Lions tour will bring in huge revenue to help offset those losses but the state of the sport in the country remains precarious. This tour is explicitly 'expected to yield a record financial surplus', according to RA chief executive Phil Waugh. Beyond 2025, Australian rugby is set to enter a new and significantly enhanced five-year broadcast cycle from 2026. The agreement with Nine Entertainment is projected to be valued at approximately A$240-million (R2.8-billion), representing a substantial 40% uplift from the current contract. War of words On the field, former Ireland coach and now Wallabies mentor Joe Schmidt, a New Zealander, threw some jibes at the Lions. Schmidt is well known for his mind games and he immediately set the tone at the announcement of his first squad earlier this week, lobbing a jibe at the Lions' southern hemisphere players. The tourists will have a cosmopolitan flavour, with two former Junior Springboks in the party to Australia, as well as two players born in Australia, and three in New Zealand. Schmidt focused his barbs on Ireland's New Zealand-born centre Bundee Aki and Scotland's Australian-born midfielder Sione Tuipulotu. He described the pair as a 'southern hemisphere centre partnership that will be pretty formidable'. Former Junior Springboks Pierre Schoeman (prop) and Duhan van der Merwe (wing), who both play for Scotland, have also been included in the 38-man squad. There are further Southern Hemisphere connections in the squad with the selection of the New Zealand-born Ireland duo of Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe, in addition to Aki. Australian-born wing Mack Hansen, who plays for Ireland, was also included. Tuipulotu represented Australia U20s between 2015-17, but his maternal grandmother is Scottish. Hansen represented Australia U20s in 2018, but qualified for Ireland through his Cork-born mother. The Lions shot back about the questioning of the Lions players' heritage through assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth. 'I don't know if they (Australians) are questioning their (non-British born players') commitment because you would argue their journey and how committed they have been to their country, whether that be Scotland or Ireland, England or Wales, everyone has earned the right to pull on the Lions jersey,' Wigglesworth said. 'They are, to a man, incredibly proud to be here. It is not your background or how you have got here, it is what sort of player are you and what sort of man are you? And we have got great men and great players.' Van der Merwe brushed it off when asked about his heritage and credentials as a Lion, in an interview with The Guardian. He took some social media abuse when he was part of the 2021 tour, but he has learned to cope. 'I always knew they were going to get stuck into me,' he told the Guardian. 'There were a lot of personal messages on social media towards me. I just dust it off because I know how hard I've worked to get to where I am. 'You always have people on social media who are going to bring you down and slate you, but I've got to a point in my career where it doesn't faze me at all.' DM Schedule Friday 20 June British & Irish Lions v Argentina Aviva Stadium, Dublin Saturday 28 June Western Force v British & Irish Lions Optus Stadium, Perth Wednesday 2 July Queensland Reds v British & Irish Lions Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Saturday 5 July NSW Waratahs v British & Irish Lions Allianz Stadium, Sydney Wednesday 9 July ACT Brumbies v British & Irish Lions Gio Stadium, Canberra Saturday 12 July Invitational Australia and New Zealand XV v British & Irish Lions Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Saturday 19 July First Test: Australia v British & Irish Lions Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Tuesday 22 July First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions Marvel Stadium, Melbourne Saturday 26 July Second Test: Australia v British & Irish Lions MCG, Melbourne Saturday 2 August


The Citizen
13 hours ago
- The Citizen
Denel presents its turnaround strategy to parliament, blames Covid-19 for poor performance
Retrenchments are on the cards for workers at Denel says CEO. The leadership of Denel appeared in front of the joint standing committee on defence. Picture: Reuters Workers at the state arms company Denel could be retrenched as part of the company's latest turnaround strategy. Denel CEO Tsepo Monaheng appeared before parliament on Friday to present his plans to save the ailing company. Since 2019, Denel has received around R10 billion in bailouts from the government. 'We are looking at restructuring the business so that we get cash into the business and one of those areas is to make sure that we go through the Section 189s and have the right people in the business,' he said. Despite Denel's ongoing battles with unions over wages, Monaheng said the company is forced to prioritise paying off its debt. Some of the debt goes as far back as 2019. 'Denel still has a lot of debt even when we make money the creditors take the money and the banks want their money so it makes it difficult for us to execute our turnaround strategy,' he said. He said the company had even considered selling some of its non-core assets to replenish its cash reserves. He said another part of the revenue-generating strategy is to ensure that the company secures more international contracts. 'The countries that are placing orders with us they have trust that Denel has turned a corner and we cannot disappoint by nonperformance, so performance is critical for us.' Monaheng said it is critical for the business to spend money in a justifiable manner as part of the turnaround strategy. 'Denel has incurred a lot of costs and in many cases, it is costs that we cannot even justify. If we had managed our money better at least we would be a break-even business.' He said the company hopes to derive more than 60% of its revenue from international contracts. 'Most of the export contracts if we execute them well the profits are good,' he said. He said another turnaround move is to ensure that customers all over the world trust the products that have been produced by Denel. When was the last time Denel made profit? Monaheng said the last time Denel was profitable was around 2016. 'The problem with loss making is that you are not generating cash so this means you are getting deeper and deeper into trouble because we do not have cash to fund our operations so that is why we had to go ask for money.' Monaheng blamed the Covid pandemic and internal problems for its poor performance over the years. He said the company depends on its foreign contracts which were difficult to obtain during the pandemic. He also pointed out that staffing problems in senior management positions had made accountability difficult. 'The other reason besides Covid that contributed to Denel's collapse in the past few years is the collapse of internal controls. 'So we are fixing that to make sure that there are no leakages in the business and we are doing what we are supposed to be doing at all times,' he said. ALSO READ: Adequate emergency reserves in place for occasional system constraints – Eskom MP's reaction to Denel's presentation Meanwhile, some parliamentarians demanded clarity on when Denel started failing since Monaheng had listed Covid as one of the factors. 'The first presenter said Denel started taking a nose dive in 2020 with Covid and that they have not been able to recover from Covid but it was also said the last time Denel was profitable was the 2015/16 financial year. 'But Covid happened in 2020 not in 2015 so what was the reason for the initial five years of Denel not being profitable?' said the parliamentarian. Wage increases This week workers at the company affiliated to the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa) protested outside the company's offices in Pretoria over the implementation of a past wage agreement They are demanding a 7% salary increase. NOW READ: Victory for Transnet: more cash incoming, union accepts salary increase