Updates from the Formula 1 GP season-opener in Melbourne Lights out in Albert Park at 3pm AEDT/4am GMT Any thoughts? Email Joey To start with some news from post-qualifying, it’s been confirmed that Antonelli will start from the front row of the grid despite his car being released in an unsafe condition during Q3. After his team had worked feverishly to repair his car following a crash in FP3, carbon fibre cooling devices still attached to his car when he left the pits, one if which dislodged and was promptly run over by eventual sixth-placed qualifier, McLaren’s Lando Norris. “Overall, I think P6 is a reasonable starting position for tomorrow, given some of the issues we’ve had coming into qualifying,” Norris said. “I’m not happy about P6, and I do think P3 was doable, given we lost some performance after hitting debris. But, having missed a lot of time in FP1 yesterday, alongside some of the other challenges we’ve been dealing with so far this weekend, it’s not a bad starting position. We’re in the mix, which is where we wanted to be, so we’ll prepare for tomorrow and focus on doing what we can to move forward.” Continue reading...

Zelenskyy cites Ukraine expertise with ‘Shahed’ drones; deaths and casualties rise from Russian attack on Kharkiv. What we know on day 1,474 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday he had spoken to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman about the situation in Iran and the Middle East and restated Kyiv’s offer to help deal with Iranian drones. “Ukraine has been fighting against (Iranian-designed) ‘Shaheds’ for years, and everyone acknowledges that no other country in the world has such experience,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram of his conversation. “We are ready to help and expect that our people will also receive the necessary support.” Ukrainian manufacturers of cheap interceptor drones designed to knock out enemy unmanned aerial vehicles say they have the capacity to export in large volumes, amid inquiries from the US and Middle East prompted by the Iran war. Hundreds of drones based on Iran’s Shahed model and now made in Russia fill Ukraine’s skies during frequent attacks, and many are downed by air defences including western missiles, fighter jets, truck-mounted guns and interceptor drones. Reported deaths and casualties from a Russian missile strike on a five-storey residential building in Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv have risen to at least 10 people, including two children, and 16 others wounded, officials said. Zelenskyy condemned Saturday’s attack and called for an international response. He said Russia struck Ukraine overnight with 29 missiles and 480 drones, targeting energy facilities in Kyiv and other central regions, with damage reported in at least seven other locations. Police in Sweden have seized a false-flagged cargo ship off its southern coast believed to belong to Russia’s shadow fleet and suspected of transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, authorities said Saturday. The 96-metre (315-foot) Caffa left Casablanca in Morocco on 24 February and was headed for St Petersburg when armed Swedish police boarded it on Friday off the southern town of Trelleborg. “The vessel is on the Ukraine sanctions list. Information indicates that it has essentially been used to transport grain that is stolen, as we understand it, from Ukraine,” the coast guard’s acting head of operations, Daniel Stenling, told a press conference. Questions about the America’s weapons stockpiles have grown as the US campaign against Iran escalates, with many Democratic lawmakers arguing that Trump is waging a “war of choice.” Missile defence systems are under the most strain, according to experts, with Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, interceptors in high demand in Ukraine and Israel, respectively. “I’m not particularly worried about us actually running out during this conflict,” said Ryan Brobst, a scholar focused on US defense strategy at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies. “It’s about deterring China and Russia the day after this conflict is over.” Continue reading...

Deployment of US ground troops could be discussed later on and ‘would be a great thing’ says president Trump. Key US politics stories from 7 March at a glance As the war in the Middle East rages on, US president Donald Trump has acknowledged that deploying ground troops in Iran in future is not off the table. Pressed by the Guardian on whether he would send in troops to secure the enriched uranium, believed to be stored at Iranian nuclear sites that the United States bombed in Operation Midnight Hammer last year, Trump suggested that was a possibility. Continue reading...

US president leaves open the possibility while ruling out having Kurdish forces in Iraq mount an invasion US-Israel war on Iran – follow live Donald Trump on Saturday left open the possibility of sending US troops into Iran in certain circumstances and suggested they would win a ground war, while at the same time ruling out the possibility of having Kurdish forces in Iraq mount an invasion to take control of Tehran. “I don’t think it’s an appropriate question,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “There would have to be a very good reason. I would say if we ever did that they would be so decimated that they wouldn’t be able to fight at the ground level.” Continue reading...

Government says new rights for parental leave and sick pay will increase equality and economic growth Women will disproportionately benefit from new workers’ rights measures rolled out from next month, according to research. The TUC said approximately 4.7 million women are to benefit from stronger sick pay from April, including more than 830,000 who will receive statutory sick pay for the first time. These are the lowest-paid women, who are currently not eligible to receive sick pay because they earn below the threshold of £125 a week, the study found. The TUC said low-paid workers, especially women, have missed out on any form of sick pay for too long, leaving them with no choice but to go into work when they are ill. As well as stronger sick pay, from April fathers and partners will have a day-one right to paternity leave, and all parents will gain the day-one right to unpaid parental leave under changes from the Employment Rights Act. Paul Nowak, the TUC general secretary, said: “For too long women have borne the brunt of a sick pay system that is not fit for purpose, and a culture of exploitative, insecure work. “That’s why the Employment Rights Act is an important step forward for women at work.” A government spokesperson said: “The Employment Rights Act is a huge boost for women in the workplace – introducing enhanced protections for pregnant women and new mothers, menopause action plans for large employers and rights for parental leave from day one. “Women thriving in the workplace is not just important for equality but for boosting economic growth.” Shared parental leave, which allows parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave and up to 37 weeks of pay after the birth or adoption of a child, was introduced in 2014. New fathers can take two weeks’ paid leave at a rate of either £187.18 a week or 90% of average weekly earnings, whichever is lowest. Research last year found that mothers lose an average of £65,618 in pay by the time their first child turns five, as the “motherhood penalty” risks their financial security. Mums in England are hit by a “substantial and long-lasting reduction” in their pay after they have children, as they become less likely to stay in paid employment, the Office for National Statistics found. It found women’s average monthly earnings had fallen by 42%, or £1,051 per month, five years after the birth of their first child, compared with their pay one year before the birth. This equated to a loss of £65,618 over five years, according to the analysis, which tracked pay data from 2014 to 2022. Continue reading...

We take a look at the best images from the opening day of the Games, including curling, downhill skiing and ice hockey Continue reading...

British men’s No 1 comes from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Draper continuing recovery from long-time injury Jack Draper came from behind to beat Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to start his title defence in Indian Wells. The British men’s No 1 is continuing his comeback from eight months out with an arm injury and played his first ATP Tour event since Queen’s last June in Dubai last week, losing in the second round. The 24-year-old, who still wears a protective sleeve on his left arm, looked out of sorts during the opening set, some wayward returns proving costly. But he rallied at the start of the second, opting for power as a string of well-struck returns was capped by a backhand winner down the line to break Bautista Agut for a 2-0 lead. Continue reading...

Police arrest 16-year-old, 17-year-old and 18-year-old over ‘savage’ attack on 22-year-old man Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Three teenagers have been charged with murder after a man who tried to intervene and help a 14-year-old schoolboy was killed in a “savage” stabbing attack. Emergency crews were called to the Mernda train station in Melbourne’s north-east on Friday evening after reports of a fight among teenagers. Continue reading...

US president delivers stinging criticism of UK prime minister over delayed support for Iran war Donald Trump has renewed his stinging criticism of UK prime minister Keir Starmer over the lack of immediate UK support for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, adding: “That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer – But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!” Continue reading...

Pep Guardiola had Omar Marmoush in the tightest of bear hugs and seemed strangely unwilling to release the smiling Egyptian. It was the 73rd minute and two goals from the newly withdrawn Marmoush, the second a real show stopper, and another from Savinho had enabled Manchester City to come from behind and potentially shatter Newcastle’s entire season. Continue reading...

It was everything an FA Cup tie should be, as six goals were scored, one player was sent off and a Premier League side received a huge scare, requiring villainous technology to save them from a likely penalty shootout. The only thing missing was an upset but Chelsea will not mind triumphing against Wrexham in a classic of the genre. Goals from Sam Smith and Callum Doyle twice gave the Championship side the lead, only for an Arthur Okonkwo own goal and Josh Acheampong’s strike to take the game into extra time. Garnacho, who had earlier been the victim of a red-card challenge from George Dobson, volleyed home the winner. If not for the video assistant referee, the match would likely have gone to penalties but Lewis Blunt’s equaliser was ruled out by the finest of margins. João Pedro added a fourth in added time to remove any lasting jeopardy. Continue reading...

Speaking outside the embassy, Zarah Sultana told protesters: ‘we will not be ignored again’ Thousands of protesters calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran have marched to the US embassy in central London. Groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends Of Al-Aqsa led the march to the embassy on Saturday afternoon, after gathering on Millbank, near Westminster. Continue reading...

A hundred days from their first game, Iran’s prospects of playing in the US are fast fading as turbulent times once more impact the tournament Saturday marks 100 days from what should be the start of Iran’s World Cup, a Group G fixture against New Zealand in Inglewood, near Los Angeles. As the United States bombs Iran – and Iran bombs a range of countries, including three that have also qualified – it seems all but impossible that they can take part in the tournament. Were Iran to pull out or be expelled, they would become the first qualified nation since India and France in 1950 not to take up their place. Neither withdrawal in 1950 was political (in truth, saying there were two withdrawals is a technicality; those were chaotic years for qualification). India pulled out not, as has often been claimed, because they were banned from playing barefoot, but because they couldn’t afford the trip. Continue reading...

Old scars haunt the hosts at the Narendra Modi Stadium, while New Zealand have their own chokers tag to ditch The Narendra Modi Stadium is a spectacular, enormous dome, the largest cricket ground in the world. On Sunday night it will contain 130,000 people, the vast majority clad in India’s blue, and one ghost that terrifies them all. This was supposed to be the site of India’s coronation as 50-over world champions in November 2023. But on an awkward surface, later rated average by the International Cricket Council, their batters struggled and Australia beat them comfortably. Continue reading...

The humiliation in Rome means it is now three defeats in a row for England, each more soul-destroying than the last The haunted look writ large across the face of Maro Itoje said it all. England had burst into the Italy half, deep into the 80th minute and Ollie Chessum was on the gallop, desperately trying to salvage something from the wreckage. Closer and closer they got before the shrill of the referee’s whistle confirmed England’s worst nightmare. Italy were about to put the seal on a first ever win in the fixture in 33 attempts and it was dawning on Itoje that he was powerless to stop it. The final whistle blew and England players were, to a man, stunned. Shellshocked. Marcus Smith was on his haunches, Chandler Cunningham-South staring into the abyss. The camera panned to Tom Curry, ruled out after an injury in the warm-up, as he slumped on the bench wearing a look of despair. England in ruins. The empire that Steve Borthwick had built reduced to rubble. When responses to defeat are promised and repeatedly fail to materialise, the logical next step is regime change. Continue reading...

Detectives are investigating if alleged surveillance of Jewish locations and individuals is linked to possible attacks on British soil Counter-terrorism detectives have been granted more time to question four men arrested on suspicion of spying for Iran on locations and individuals linked to the Jewish community. The suspects, one Iranian and three dual British-Iranian nationals, can now be held in custody until 13 March, the Metropolitan police said on Saturday. The men, aged 22, 40, 52 and 55, were arrested under the National Security Act at addresses in Harrow, Watford and Barnet shortly after 1am on Friday. The Met said six other men, aged between 20 and 49, arrested at the same location in Harrow, have been bailed pending further investigation. One of the men was further arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, the force added. Detectives are understood to be investigating why the alleged surveillance of Jewish locations and individuals was being carried out and whether it was linked to a wish to carry out attacks on British soil. Part of the investigation is looking at claims that in-person surveillance in London took place and whether it was directed from overseas. The operation by counter-terrorism police and MI5 had been going on for months. [https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/mar/06/arrests-london-suspected-spying-iran-intelligence-service] Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, said on Friday the arrests meant police had kept “Britain safe from a potential threat”. Mahmood said: “I want to thank the police and our security services for the action they’ve taken today to keep Britain safe from a potential threat. “The Jewish community and the wider public will understandably be concerned by today’s arrests. We continue to monitor the situation closely and engage with those affected. “I can reassure you that our police and security services are world-leading and won’t hesitate to take action to counter any threat to the UK. They will continue to use the full range of tools and powers available to them to keep this country safe. They have the government’s full support as they carry out their vital work. “We must now give them the time and space to continue their investigations.” In October last year, MI5’s director general, Ken McCallum, said 20 plots linked to Iran had been disrupted on UK soil in the previous 12 months. Most of those were against Iranian dissident targets, with at least one linked to an Israeli target in Britain. Continue reading...

⚽ FA Cup updates from St James’ Park; kick-off 8pm GMT ⚽ Live scores and results | Follow us on BlueSky | Mail Scott Newcastle United make four changes to their starting XI after the 2-1 win over Manchester United. Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Nick Woltemade and Wednesday night’s matchwinning hero Will Osula replace Dan Burn, Joelinton and Anthony Gordon, who drop to the bench, and the suspended Jacob Murphy. Manchester City wipe the slate clean, just about, following their 2-2 home draw with Nottingham Forest. Ten changes, which means it’s easier to tell you the identity of the only starter still standing: Matheus Nunes. Erling Haaland has the night off. Continue reading...

Townsend: ‘This is very significant but it’s round four’ Kyle Steyn expected to be fit for final match in Dublin Gregor Townsend remained ice cool after Scotland’s exhilarating seven-try victory against France, which keeps them in the hunt for the title with one round to play, a position Scotland have never known in the Six Nations. The win was no big deal, he seemed to be saying. “There have been other games where it’s probably meant a lot to the group,” he said, “whether it was a response or to break a record – away from home in Paris or Wales, or beating England for the first time in a number of years. So they maybe are the ones that have more significance. This [win] is very significant, but just now it’s round four. And it gives us a chance to win in round five.” Continue reading...

Northern Irishman pulled out before third round ‘I felt a twinge in my back, it became muscle spasms’ Rory McIlroy is confident of defending his Players Championship title from Thursday despite withdrawing from the Arnold Palmer Invitational 35 minutes before his third round. McIlroy suffered back spasms, with the Northern Irishman unwilling to potentially put appearances at the Players and next month’s Masters at risk by taking to the course at Bay Hill. McIlroy will also be defending the crown at Augusta National. “While warming up in the gym this morning, I felt a small twinge in my back,” McIlroy said. “As I started hitting balls on the range before the round, it worsened and developed into muscle spasms in my lower back. Unfortunately, I’m not able to continue and have to withdraw. I was excited to compete this weekend. I wish the Arnold Palmer Invitational a great finish and look forward to being back next year.” Continue reading...

Dr Hannah Gould on eco-funerals, being ‘the death person’ and the one thing everyone should know before they die Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email Around 2040, Australia will reach peak death. A silver tsunami of boomers are predicted to propel the annual death rate to double that of today, putting immense strain on the healthcare and deathcare systems. Dr Hannah Gould – a death scholar and author of the book How to Die in the 21st Century – calls it “boomergeddon”, and says it brings with it a certain range of ideas about what a good death looks like. Sign up for our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

Paul Heath knew the rice-cooking David McLean was his sort of guy. Then one humid morning, he reached for the camera to capture a post-shower moment Find more stories from the moment I knew series Get our weekend culture and lifestyle email We met in 1998, at a health and relationship course run back then by the Gay Men’s Health Centre in Melbourne. I saw David across the crowded room at a drinks session afterwards and slowly made my way around to talking with him. We were both in our mid-30s, and I’ve always gone for those tall skinny guys. We chatted easily and before he left I scribbled down my number. He rang a few weeks later on a Saturday night, apparently figuring I wouldn’t be home and that he’d just leave a message. When I picked up, I think he was a little thrown. He said something like: “Hi, um, hang on a sec, oh fuck, I’ve gotta turn the rice down!” And I thought, this is my sort of guy – Saturday night at home cooking rice, what’s not to love. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning Continue reading...

Amera last saw Ali in 2014, the day IS arrived at their village in northern Iraq. Now living in Australia, she’s published years of unsent letters When Islamic State militants arrived at their family’s home in northern Iraq, Amera and her brother were sitting under their grandmother’s fig tree. The 11-year-old girl had been watching a ripening fig for days but needed her older brother Ali’s height to reach it. Now, with IS beginning an assault on their town’s Yazidi people, she thought this may be her only chance. Continue reading...

Italy 23-18 England Azzurri stun visitors for first win in 33 meetings Even by the Six Nations’ usual standards this has been a remarkable tournament. And to the list of stunning outcomes can now be added the biggest result in the history of Italian rugby. For the first time in 33 attempts they have beaten England at rugby union and no one could possibly claim the boys in blue did not deserve their long-awaited special day. Entering the final half hour it had seemed as though England might just leave Rome with their dignity intact. Instead, not for the first time in this championship, they were the architects of their own downfall with the momentum of the game swinging decisively after two visiting forwards, including captain Maro Itoje, were sent to the sin-bin simultaneously. Continue reading...

Explosion happened in pre-dawn hours at Dalí nightclub in the province of Trujillo along Peru’s northern coast A bombing at a nightclub in Peru has injured 33 people, including minors, authorities said Saturday. The explosion happened in the pre-dawn hours at the Dalí nightclub in the province of Trujillo along Peru’s northern coast, according to a statement from the local emergency operations center. Continue reading...

As Masoud Pezeshkian tries to deescalate conflict, hardliners urge installation of new Supreme Leader to marginalise the president The surprise offer by the president of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, to not attack countries in the neighbourhood so long as their airspace and US bases within their territories are not used to attack Iran has provoked a storm inside the country as the military appeared to contradict him, if not outright overrule him. There were also calls for a new supreme leader to be installed as quickly as possible, as a means of marginalising the president. Attacks on facilities in Bahrain and elsewhere have continued, and there were unconfirmed reports that Bahrain had become the first Gulf country to fire back at Iran. Continue reading...