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The first race of Formula 1’s new era delivered drama from the very start in Melbourne, as George Russell converted pole position into victory at the Australian Grand Prix, leading home Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli for a dominant one-two finish.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc completed the podium, narrowly holding off teammate Lewis Hamilton after a tense strategic battle at Albert Park.

Early drama before lights out

The race had barely begun when local favourite Oscar Piastri crashed while driving to the grid. The McLaren driver clipped too much kerb on his out lap, spinning heavily into the barriers.

The conflict involving Israel, Iran and the United States intensified on Friday as Israeli warplanes carried out heavy strikes on both Beirut and Tehran, marking the seventh day of fighting.

Israel said it launched a large-scale wave of airstrikes on Tehran, while explosions were also reported in Iran’s western city of Kermanshah, an area known for missile bases. In Lebanon, Israeli aircraft pounded Beirut’s southern suburbs, the heaviest attacks since a 2024 ceasefire ended the last war with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

At the same time, Iran fired missiles and drones toward Israel and several Gulf countries, including...

Donald Trump has demanded the «unconditional surrender» of Iran, escalating rhetoric a week after the United States and Israel launched military operations against the country.

In a social media post, Trump said there would be no agreement with Iran unless it fully surrendered, adding that after new leadership is chosen, the United States and its allies would help rebuild Iran’s economy.

His remarks came just hours after Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, said that several countries had begun mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict, though he did not specify which nations were involved.

Meanwhile, fighting across the region...

Israel and Iran exchanged new attacks on Saturday as their war entered a second week, while Tehran issued a rare apology to neighbouring states affected by Iranian strikes.

Masoud Pezeshkian apologised to countries in the Gulf region that had been impacted by Iranian actions and urged them not to join the U.S. and Israeli campaign against Iran.

«I personally apologise to neighbouring countries that were affected by Iran’s actions,» Pezeshkian said, adding that Tehran would suspend attacks on nearby states unless assaults on Iran originated from their territory.

However, Donald Trump dismissed the statement and...

The United States has temporarily exempted India from restrictions on Russian oil for one month, allowing shipments already loaded on tankers to be sold, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X.

The waiver applies only to crude that has already been loaded onto vessels and does not extend to new purchases.

Washington introduced the measure amid concerns that India could face a fuel shortage as tensions and conflict in the Middle East disrupt energy supplies. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off about half of India’s oil imports, leaving the country with reserves that could...

Enter Engineering has paid outstanding wages to almost 12,800 staff, the Ministry of Employment announced, following its intervention.

The move comes after workers posted complaints on social media about delayed salaries and criticised the ministry for inaction. In response, officials inspected the company and its affiliates, covering 11 sites in Tashkent and in the Jizzakh, Samarkand, Bukhara, Navoi and Kashkadarya regions. A total of 34 enterprises linked to the contractor were reviewed.

The ministry said inspections will continue and inspectors will keep monitoring the company’s operations to ensure all workers’ rights are protected.

From economics and politics to business...

Pixar is developing a third movie in the hit «Monsters Inc.» franchise, the studio confirmed in a Wall Street Journal profile released as its latest film, «Hoppers,» hits cinemas.

The original 2001 movie, directed by now-Pixar chief creative officer Pete Docter and starring John Goodman and Billy Crystal, centres on monsters who scare children to power their city and grossed $528.7 mln worldwide. Its 2013 prequel, «Monsters University,» directed by Dan Scanlon, earned $743.5 mln and inspired the sequel series «Monsters at Work,» which ran for two seasons.

No director or plot details for the new film have been revealed...

Russia warned on Friday that it would take countermeasures if Finland allows nuclear weapons to be stationed on its territory, arguing that such a move would increase tensions and make the country more vulnerable.

The reaction came after Finland signalled plans to lift a long-standing ban on hosting nuclear arms, a step that could allow their deployment during wartime.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the proposal would escalate tensions across Europe and create new security risks.

«This statement leads to an escalation of tensions on the European continent,» Peskov said. «By deploying nuclear weapons on its...

Prabowo Subianto said he is prepared to withdraw from the «Board of Peace» proposed by Donald Trump if the initiative fails to deliver benefits for Palestinians, according to a government statement released on Friday.

Prabowo, who leads the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, has faced criticism from domestic Islamic organisations after agreeing to participate in the board and contribute troops to a Gaza stabilisation force. The force is part of a ceasefire arrangement brokered by Trump that ended the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.

Iran war raises new doubts

The conflict involving Iran has further complicated the situation...

Albert Park delivered its usual drama as the first Qualifying session of the 2026 Formula 1 season got underway. Mercedes came into the weekend as favourites, and George Russell reinforced that status with a dominant FP3 performance, finishing six tenths ahead of the field. Stable, fast, and reliable, Russell was the man to beat throughout Qualifying.

Kimi Antonelli looked strong early but suffered a heavy FP3 crash after overusing the kerbs, leaving his car in pieces. Mercedes managed an impressive rebuild, allowing him to join Q3 and secure second on the grid, though investigations into his pit lane releases...

Quentin Tarantino is preparing a return to directing with an original stage play, stepping away from previously planned film projects.

The filmmaker had earlier abandoned plans to direct The Adventures of Cliff Booth and scrapped his proposed film The Movie Critic. Instead, he is now focusing on a theatre production he has written himself.

According to reports, the play is an «old-fashioned British farce» intended for London’s West End. The production is expected to feature a large ensemble cast and physical comedy reminiscent of the stage classic Noises Off. An industry source said the show could premiere as early as...

Nodirbek Abdusattorov claimed victory at the Prague International Chess Festival after finishing with six points from nine rounds.

The Uzbek grandmaster secured first place following a strong overall performance that included a crucial win over reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju. The result strengthened Abdusattorov’s position in the standings and proved decisive in the race for the title.

The triumph marks Abdusattorov’s second victory at the Prague tournament, having previously won the event in 2024.

Late twists decide standings

One of Abdusattorov’s main challengers throughout the competition was Dutch grandmaster Jorden van Foreest, who led the standings for much...

George Russell set the fastest time in the final free practice session ahead of qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix on Saturday, while teammate Kimi Antonelli suffered a heavy crash at Albert Park Circuit.

Antonelli locked up at Turn Two late in the session and slid into the barriers, sending one of his front wheels bouncing away from the wreckage. The incident brought out a red flag as the 19-year-old confirmed over team radio that he was unhurt.

After the session resumed briefly, Russell posted the quickest lap with a time of 1:19.053, finishing 0.616 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s...

India allowed an Iranian naval vessel to dock at the port of Kochi after Tehran requested emergency assistance, just days before the United States sank another Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

According to government sources, the vessel IRIS Lavan requested urgent docking on 28 February due to technical issues. Indian authorities approved the request on 1 March, and the ship arrived in Kochi on 4 March with 183 crew members on board.

The ship had recently participated in India’s International Fleet Review 2026 and the multinational naval exercise MILAN naval exercise in Visakhapatnam alongside other international naval...

Authorities in Iran have warned that security forces may use lethal force against suspected criminals and protesters as tensions rise following recent military strikes involving the United States and Israel.

Ahmadreza Radan, commander-in-chief of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, said police had been authorised to shoot suspected thieves during what officials described as a wartime situation.

Speaking on state television, Radan said officers had been given a «shoot-to-kill order» to deal with individuals suspected of theft or disorder amid the current crisis.

Separately, Salar Velayatmadar, a member of Iran’s parliamentary national security commission...

Donald Trump has demanded the «unconditional surrender» of Iran, escalating rhetoric a week after the United States and Israel launched military operations against the country.

In a post on social media, Trump said there would be «no deal with Iran except unconditional surrender,» adding that the country would later be rebuilt with the help of allies once new leadership is established.

The comments came shortly after Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, said that several countries had begun mediation efforts aimed at ending the conflict, though he did not specify which nations were involved.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces intensified military operations...

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a suspect in a major cryptocurrency theft involving funds linked to the United States Marshals Service.

Authorities confirmed that John Daghita was taken into custody on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in a joint operation involving French law enforcement and U.S. investigators.

According to officials, Daghita is suspected of siphoning more than $46 mln worth of cryptocurrency from government-controlled digital wallets into accounts under his control. The arrest was announced by Kash Patel, director of the FBI.

The case began after a cryptocurrency analyst known online as ZachBXT published an...

Qatar has condemned overnight strikes by Iran in Bahrain after buildings housing members of the Qatari navy were hit during the attack.

In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said facilities in the Bahraini capital Manama that housed personnel from the Qatari Emiri Naval Forces were among the structures targeted. Authorities confirmed that all personnel were safe and unharmed.

The buildings were reportedly used by naval forces participating in the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Unified Maritime Operations Center, part of a regional initiative aimed at strengthening maritime security cooperation among Gulf states.

Officials in Bahrain initially reported that...

The future of Corey Lewandowski at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security remains uncertain following the dismissal of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Lewandowski, who has worked closely with Noem in recent months, told reporters that «no decisions have been made» about whether he will continue serving in a voluntary role at the department. Despite speculation about his departure, he publicly praised Donald Trump and declined to criticise the president’s decision to remove Noem from the post.

Multiple media reports suggest Lewandowski is expected to leave the department alongside Noem, although no official announcement has been made.

During Noem’s tenure...

Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire at dozens of points along their border on Friday, forcing more than 100,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The escalation marks the worst violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan in years. Fighting has included Pakistani air strikes on Taliban government sites, including the Bagram Air Base north of Kabul.

Afghan officials said Taliban forces targeted Pakistani military positions along the 2,600 km border and shot down a drone. Pakistani security sources said their forces struck Afghan targets including in Kandahar and destroyed several border posts.

Amazon Prime Video has unveiled the trailer for the fifth and final season of The Boys, confirming that the show will return on April 8 with its first two episodes. The series finale is scheduled to air on May 20.

According to the official synopsis, the final season takes place in a world dominated by Homelander, whose unstable leadership leaves the country under his control. Hughie, Mother’s Milk and Frenchie are being held in a so-called «Freedom Camp», while Annie attempts to organise resistance against the powerful Supes. Kimiko’s whereabouts remain unknown.

The situation changes when Butcher resurfaces carrying...

After a lengthy delay last year, Bungie, the studio behind Destiny and Halo, has officially released its new extraction shooter, Marathon. The PvPvE title is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, but its Steam launch numbers have fallen short compared with ARC Raiders, one of its main competitors.

Following the success of The Finals, Embark Studios returned with ARC Raiders, which initially launched as a PvE game but later added PvP. The change proved successful, with the game peaking at over 481,000 concurrent Steam players, selling more than 12 mln copies, and winning Best Multiplayer...

From April 2026, Uzbekistan will introduce a VAT refund system for foreign visitors at all international airports, according to the Ministry of Justice.

Tourists will be able to claim 85% of the VAT in cash, while 15% goes to the Tax Free operator. Refunds can also be credited to a bank card.

The minimum purchase for eligibility is set at 300,000 soums ($25). The scheme will no longer limit the types of goods eligible for Tax Free refunds, with the exception of food items.

From economics and politics to business, technology and culture, Kursiv Uzbekistan brings you...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev condemned drone attacks on Azerbaijani territory and expressed wishes for the swift recovery of those injured.

On March 5, Mirziyoyev held a phone conversation with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss the sharp escalation of tensions in the Middle East. Both leaders noted that such attacks during the holy month of Ramadan violate universal human values and international norms.

Mirziyoyev thanked Azerbaijan for assisting in the safe evacuation of Uzbek citizens from Iran. In response, Aliyev expressed gratitude for Uzbekistan’s support and the friendly dialogue during a difficult period.

The incident in Nakhchivan occurred...