'All systems go' for Australian F1 Grand Prix, say organisers

Australian Grand Prix chief Andrew Westacott said he was "confident" November's race would go ahead but poured cold water on the idea that Melbourne could host back-to-back rounds of the Formula One championship.

The 2020 edition of the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled at the last minute as the Covid-19 pandemic took a hold and ground almost all of sport to a halt.

Traditionally the opening race on the F1 calendar, the 2021 race has been moved to November as Australia's borders remain effectively closed.

The government said last week that they could remain so until the middle of next year, but Westacott said he was in constant discussion with heath officials to ensure the race at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit goes ahead.

"We're all systems go for November 21 for the Formula One event," the chief executive of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation told ABC TV on Monday.

"We're working very, very closely in concert with the Victorian government on every aspect of the Covid-safe plans ...

"As you can imagine, it's something very, very complex, it's very, very much a work-in-progress, and we're working with the Victorian government ... on every one of the details right now."

The one major international sporting event to take place in Melbourne since the start of the pandemic was the Australian Open tennis championships in February.

That was only possible after all players and support staff coming from outside Australia had quarantined for 14 days - a logistical impossibility for the Formula One teams who are scheduled to race in Brazil on November 7.

"We're going to finalise all those details over the next four to five months," Westacott added in an interview on Melbourne's 3AW radio. "None of it is finalised, it's been worked through at the moment."

With the health situation in Brazil threatening that race, Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo last month suggested the teams might head straight to Australia for two rounds of the championship.

"I think the people in Brazil are very, very deadset on hosting their grand prix two weeks earlier than us," he added.

"We want to concentrate on delivering one GP here in Melbourne on November 21 ... Our job is to deliver it very successfully."

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

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Classification of skills

A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.

A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.

The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.