F1 | Leclerc blazes to Baku pole as Perez joins him on the front row in Azerbaijan Grand Prix qualifying

Charles Leclerc took pole position with a stunning lap in qualifying for the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, as Sergio Perez put himself on the front row in P2.

Leclerc set the ultimate benchmark of 1m 41.359s, going over two-tenths faster than Sergio Perez in a nailbiting Q3 session. Although he had provisional pole before that, Carlos Sainz couldn’t hook up his final effort and ended up fourth – behind Max Verstappen.  –read more– 

watch: Qualifying Highlights | 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix

CNN travel | Pre-travel testing requirement lifted: What you need to know about the new US travel policy

(CNN) — Many travelers in the United States and abroad have been waiting for it. The travel industry has been pushing for it. And on Sunday an end arrives to the requirement for travelers to test negative for Covid-19 before entering the US.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cited a “new phase” of the pandemic in a statement confirming the rule change.

“Widespread uptake of highly effective Covid-19 vaccines, the availability of effective therapeutics, and the accrual of high rates of vaccine- and infection-induced immunity at the population level in the United States” have all helped lower the risk of severe disease and death, the agency said.  –read more–

Car and Driver | Every Electric Vehicle That’s Expected in the Next Five Years

These EVs aren’t for sale yet but are in various stages from concept to production—and perhaps a few may never see the light of day.  –read more–  

F1 | What tyres will the teams and drivers have for the 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix?

Pirelli have nominated the three softest tyre compounds in their range for this weekend’s 2022 Azerbaijan Grand Prix at the Baku City Circuit.

F1’s official tyre supplier has allocated the same range of tyre compound that were brought to last year’s race, with the teams again set to receive the C3 hard tyre (x2 sets), C4 medium tyre (x3 sets), and the C5 soft tyre (x8 sets).  –read more– 

CNN BUSINESS | The CEO who fired 900 people over Zoom is accused of misleading investors

New York (CNN Business) – Vishal Garg, the Better.com CEO who fired 900 employees over Zoom just before Christmas, has been sued by a former executive for allegedly misleading investors.

The SoftBank-backed online mortgage company agreed to a $7.7 billion merger with a blank-check firm to take the company public just over a year ago, but the so-called SPAC deal has yet to close. Since then, Garg’s public controversy — and surging mortgage rates — have hurt the company’s image and business.

Sarah Pierce, a former executive vice president for sales and operations at the company, claimed in a lawsuit that Garg misrepresented Better.com’s statements to ensure the SPAC merger moved forward.  –read more–  

CNN travel | CDC’s travel advisory on monkeypox: ‘Practice enhanced precautions’

(CNN) — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has an “Alert — Level 2” advisory for travelers to “practice enhanced precautions” because of the spread of monkeypox, a rare disease that’s a cousin of smallpox.

On its advisory, the CDC said that the “risk to the general public is low, but you should seek medical care immediately if you develop new, unexplained skin rash (lesions on any part of the body), with or without fever and chills.”

The CDC has three types of levels it might issue as cases have been reported in dozens of destinations. The levels are:

• Watch — Level 1: Practice usual precautions
• Alert — Level 2: Practice enhanced precautions
• Warning — Level 3: Avoid nonessential travel

On its website, the CDC has not applied levels to specific destinations, as it does with Covid-19.  –read more– 

HGTV | 50 Patio Design Ideas

A patio is a great way to add extra living space and increase your home’s value. Find patio design inspiration and practical tips from professional builders on how to create the backyard of your dreams.  –view patios– 

B/R | Rafael Nadal Beats Casper Ruud to Win French Open Title for 14th Time

The King of Clay has done it again.

Rafael Nadal earned his 14th career French Open title with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 win Sunday over Casper Ruud in the men’s singles final.  -–read more-–

CNN BUSINESS | Mercedes just sold the world’s most expensive car for $142 million

(CNN) – Mercedes-Benz confirmed on Thursday that it recently sold the world’s most expensive car. A very rare 1955 Mercedes-Benz SLR coupe that had been kept in the German automaker’s collection was sold to a private owner for €135 million, the equivalent of $142 million. That price makes it the most expensive car known to ever have been sold, according to Hagerty, a company that tracks collector car values.

Money from the sale will be used to establish the Mercedes-Benz Fund, a global scholarship fund, Mercedes said in an announcement.

The previous record sale price for a car was reportedly $70 million paid in 2018 for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO.  –read more–  

CNN travel | Where to go this summer: 11 top destinations

Panama: Avenida Central runs through Panama City’s Casco Viejo. The historic district is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

(CNN) — It’s looking like this summer will be a travel season to remember, especially following the Covid-stricken summers of 2020 and 2021.

“Not only are we seeing exponential travel enthusiasm, we are also anticipating some amazing new summer experiences, events and offerings,” said Carole-Anne Hughs Wood, director of marketing for Embark Beyond, a New York-based luxury travel agency.

New York, Disney World and the United Kingdom, which is celebrating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, all have great things going on.

“The excitement this summer to get out and experience the world, both near and far from home, certainly feels unprecedented,” she added.  –read more–