For seven years now, Russell has been a driver just waiting for the right car, and this year he might have it. This year’s new rules have given Mercedes a chance for a reset, and the indication so far is that they have made a much better job of it than last time around.

The feeling in the paddock leaving testing last month is that Mercedes and Ferrari were the teams in the best shape, with Red Bull and McLaren perhaps a little behind in a relatively closely matched top four that is more than a second a lap clear of everyone else.

Russell is confident enough in Mercedes’ potential to say that he “thinks we’ve delivered a very strong car” but he’s wary of the performance of Red Bull’s new engine.

Even so, his sights are set high. “I do want to go head-to-head with Max,” he says. “and obviously Lando had a great season last year.”

As things stand, before Melbourne gives the first glimpse of a real competitive order, Russell’s obvious potential rivals this year are Verstappen, Norris, Piastri and the two Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Hamilton, if the seven-time champion can rediscover the mojo he appeared to have lost last year, and to some extent in 2024.

Of Russell’s 19-year-old team-mate Kimi Antonelli, who is going into his second season after an up-and-down debut in 2025, Wolff says: “I’m absolutely certain it will be a good year for him, but I don’t think we should expect him to be like George all the time.”

Russell is good friends with world champion Norris and Leclerc. The three came up through the junior ranks together and all believe that the intense competition they gave each other, along with Williams’ Alex Albon, was an important factor in them all reaching F1, as it forced each to keep raising their own standards to keep up with the others.

But it’s perhaps a fight with Verstappen that whets the appetite most.

A U.S. Justice Department lawyer told jurors at a civil antitrust trial Tuesday that the concert industry is broken because Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation Entertainment have monopolized the market, driving up prices for consumers, but the companies say the government is wrong.

David Dahlquist, an attorney with the Justice Department‘s antitrust division, said in his opening statement that the United States and 39 states are counting on the Manhattan federal jury to end the monopoly and reward artists and consumers with a competitive marketplace that will leave them with more money.

“This case is about power, the power of a monopolist to control competition,” he said. “Today, the concert ticket industry is broken.”

David Marriott, arguing on behalf of the companies, disputed the government’s claims.

“We’ll let the numbers do the talking,” he said. “We do not have monopoly power.”

open image in gallery

Judge Arun Subramanian has told jurors that evidence will be presented over the next six weeks before they’ll be left to decide whether Live Nation and Ticketmaster broke antitrust laws.

The trial stems from a lawsuit filed in 2024 that alleged the companies have dominated the industry by suffocating competitors and controlling everything from concert promotion to ticketing.

Ticketmaster, which was established in 1976 and merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller across live music, sports, theater and more.

Dahlquist noted that the ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour.

The company said the site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.

Dahlquist said Live Nation’s anti-competitive practices include using long-term contracts ranging from five to seven years to keep venues from choosing rivals and blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers.

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Enjoy unlimited access to 100 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music

Advertisement

Sign up now for a 30-day free trial. Terms apply.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

open image in gallery

Ticketmaster’s clashes with artists and fans date back three decades. Pearl Jam took aim at the company in 1994, years before the Live Nation merger, although the Justice Department ultimately declined to bring a case.

Live Nation has maintained that artists and teams set prices and decide how tickets are sold.

Marriott said Live Nation was the world’s biggest supporter of musical artists, enabling 159 million people in 2025 to see 11,000 artists at 55,000 concerts.

He said the government has exaggerated how much the companies make, including by saying Ticketmaster pockets $7 a ticket, when it actually gets $5 and clears less than $2 after expenses.

Live Nation and Ticketmaster, he said, “are all about bringing joy to people’s lives.”

It’s the latest twist in the planning saga in Manchester

Plans to demolish two Victorian ‘Italianate’ buildings next to a city centre park have hit a major snag.

The future of 1 Parsonage and 5 Parsonage, warehouses built in the 1860s and 1870s respectively, looks to be in doubt after developers Beaconsfield Commercial Ltd requested planning permission to build a new 14-storey block in their place. The duo are now offices which Beaconsfield says ‘are in a deteriorated condition and no longer meet office occupier standards’, prompting the bid for new offices with a restaurant and bar on the ground floor.

It’s not the first time redevelopment was eyed for the Victorian warehouses, with a previous plan to replace them with a glass tower abandoned following worries about its height, compatibility with the area, and the level of demand to fill proposed offices.

Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MEN

However, the 14-storey block’s future is now uncertain after heritage group Historic England formally objected to the move, saying demolition would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area.

“At Historic England we’re always keen to work with developers to find solutions that deliver growth while respecting Manchester’s unique character,” said Catherine Dewar, its north west director.

“We’ve done this successfully on schemes like St Michael’s, where collaboration led to a better outcome for the city’s heritage. Sadly, the current proposals for Parsonage Gardens don’t strike that balance and we would lose some of Manchester’s heritage as a result.

“Demolishing these buildings would cause significant and irreversible harm to the conservation area and the new tower would dominate the setting of one of the city centre’s rare green open spaces.

“Manchester’s heritage is one of its greatest assets and a great source of pride for people who love this city. Research shows that properties in conservation areas see values rise by around 9pc so looking after historic places like Parsonage Gardens isn’t just the right thing to do – it makes good economic sense too.”

Opposition has also been expressed by neighbours, who also previously said demolition would ‘harm’ to the conservation area, and the influence on existing buildings.

You can view the plans here.

Greater Manchester Police authorised a section 60 authority for Bolton town centre today (Tuesday, March 3), which grants them extra powers to stop and search.

This follows reports of a large-scale disturbance between groups of 30 or more individuals at Bolton interchange yesterday.

Alyas Majid, 18, has since been arrested and charged with possession of a bladed article in public following the incident in which police believe a number of people were assaulted.

Majid, of Westleigh Lane in Leigh, is due to appear at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on May 6, 2026.

Chief Inspector John Haywood from GMP’s Bolton district said: “Incidents such as this can be concerning for the local community, but I would like to reassure those who live and work in the area that we are fully committed to tackling violent crime and keeping our streets safe.

“The Section 60 authority has been put in place to give our officers enhanced powers to stop and search individuals in the area, helping us to prevent further violence and identify those responsible.

“We have already charged an 18-year-old man overnight and my officers have been working hard throughout the day to identify further suspects.

“Extra patrol officers have also been deployed around the local area both on foot and in patrol cars.”

The Section 60 will be effective in the following areas;

• Boundries
• Topp Way
• Bury New Road
• Bradford Street
• Manchester Road
• Lever Street
• Fletcher Street
• College Way
• Major Street
• Spa Road
• Marsden Road

Police will be given extra powers to stop and search within the highlighted area (Image: GMP)

The Section 60 powers come under the 1994 Criminal Justice and Public Order Act and will run for 24 hours.

Having been authorised at 4pm on Tuesday 3 March 2026, it is set to expire at 4pm on Wednesday 4 March 2026.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact us on 101, quoting log number 1234 of 03/03/2026.

Information can also be reported online or by using the LiveChat function at www.gmp.police.uk.

If you can’t report online, or to 101, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Pet owners need to stay vigilant at this time, as this highly common spring plant — already in bloom across the UK — is extremely toxic to dogs and cats, warns a vet.

Advertisement

With spring tantalisingly close, our cherished spring flowers are returning as they start to blossom throughout the UK.

As temperatures gradually rise, bringing welcome warmth to our island, the unmistakable signs of spring have emerged – namely the stunning flowering plants that define the season.

While most people are celebrating, pet owners must exercise caution as spring arrives, because there’s an incredibly prevalent spring plant whose beautiful blooms present a significant health hazard to dogs and cats.

In fact, you need only venture outdoors for a stroll to observe that this plant has already started flowering on pavements, in gardens and across green spaces.

For pet owners, spring brings considerable seasonal dangers and those with pets must stay watchful when they’re outdoors with their beloved four-legged companions – because whilst daffodils may herald the eagerly anticipated arrival of spring for humans, this cheerful plant can prove dangerously poisonous to dogs and cats, reports the Express.

Advertisement

Dave Martin, Veterinary Surgeon and Group Director of Animal Welfare at IVC Evidensia, has issued a warning about the risks daffodils present to pets. He has additionally offered his professional guidance to help pet owners safeguard their animals as spring draws near.

Why the spring plant is so toxic for pets

Dave cautions: “Daffodils may be a spring favourite, but they’re highly toxic to dogs and cats if eaten. Owners should stay alert on walks and keep any daffodils at home well out of reach.

“Even the water from a vase containing daffodils can make pets unwell if they drink it, so always dispose of flowers and water carefully.”

The vetadds: “Dogs that love to dig need extra supervision, as the bulbs contain the highest concentration of toxins.”

However, daffodils aren’t the sole spring plants requiring vigilance from pet owners.

Dave explains: “Other spring favourites like tulips, snowdrops, buttercups, and bluebells might look lovely but can also be harmful if ingested. Signs of poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhoea and unusual tiredness.”

Spring favourites – fleas, ticks and snails

The mild, damp conditions characteristic of spring also create an ideal breeding environment for fleas, making this the optimal time to verify your pet’s flea prevention is current.

Ticks similarly become more prevalent during the spring months, lurking in long grass and woodland areas.

After your pet’s daily outdoor walks, it’s vital to carry out a comprehensive check of their coat, paying particular attention to the head, neck and ear regions to identify any unwelcome passengers quickly.

When dealing with ticks, owners must use a proper tick removal tool, as attempting to extract these parasites by hand risks leaving their mouthparts embedded in the skin, which in more serious cases may require surgical intervention. Those uncertain about safe tick removal should seek guidance from their vet.

This time of year also brings increased numbers of slugs and snails which, despite appearing harmless, can carry lungworm — a potentially fatal parasite if consumed.

To keep your pets protected and free from parasites, your vet can recommend monthly preventative treatments, including chewable tablets or spot-on applications.

Can pets get hay fever?

Much like their owners, both dogs and cats can suffer from hay fever.

As spring arrives and pollen counts rise, some pets may begin sneezing, develop watery eyes or a runny nose, while others display symptoms through persistent scratching, nibbling or irritated patches of skin. In certain cases, they may even lose small amounts of fur in areas where they’ve been scratching or licking.

Here’s what pet owners should do about it:.

Wipe your dog’s paws and coat after a walk. This will help in washing away pollen and ease the irritation.

Cat owners are recommended to do the same after their feline friend has been outside.

If your pet continues to struggle, a vet can advise on straightforward treatments to alleviate springtime flare-ups.

It’s also crucial to seek urgent veterinary assistance if your pet seems to have consumed poisonous plants or is displaying signs of toxic poisoning including vomiting, diarrhoea, severe abdominal pain, drooling, tremors, convulsions, and, in serious cases, collapse or respiratory failure.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

It may affect parking for football fans and shoppers on the weekends

A city centre car park will close for over two weeks for a fair. John Thurston and Son’s Mart Fair returns to Peterborough city centre on Thursday, March 19, and runs until Sunday, March 29.

The fair will be held at the Pleasure Fair Meadow car park. There will be over 100 rides on offer at the fair, providing lots of fun for all ages.

The fair will be open from 6pm until 10pm on weekdays, and 2pm until 10pm on Saturdays and Sundays. The car park will be closed from March 14 until March 30.

This could affect city centre parking for people attending Peterborough United games and also shopping. A Peterborough City Council spokesperson said: “Pleasure Fair Car Park will be closed from 6pm on Saturday 14 March until 6pm on Monday, March 30, due to the return of Mart Fair. Please use alternative car parks during this period.

“For any Posh fixtures taking place during the closure period, please use alternative parking. Thank you for your cooperation.”

The alternative council car parks motorists can use are:

• Bishops Road
• Brook Street
• Car Haven
• Dickens Street
• Railway Sidings
• Regional Pool
• Riverside
• Sand Martin House multi-storey
• Trinity Street
• Wellington Street

Do you want more of the latest Cambridgeshire news as it comes in from across the county? Sign up to our dedicated newsletter to make sure you never miss a big story from Cambridge or anywhere else in the county. You can also sign up to our dedicated Peterborough, Traffic and Crime newsletters for the latest updates on the topics you are most interested in.

The blaze broke out at around 6.20am on Sunday, March 1, outside Transporters 247 Ltd, trading as urtyres.co, and involved three vehicles.

A man, who asked to be known only as MJ and who called 999, said the fire escalated rapidly after a BMW 523i caught alight, sandwiched between a Mercedes‑Benz Sprinter and a Citroen Relay, describing the scene as “ferocious”.

CCTV footage shows him initially attempting to tackle the flames himself using a jet hose before contacting the emergency services.

MJ said: “They are so thorough and professional, there is so much more than just putting out a fire.

“Had the firefighters not checked the back of the Citroen Relay that was ready to ignite, they just stopped it in time before the fire spread to the buildings.

“The end result is like T2 or Mel Gibson’s Mad Max cars – but melted to molten liquid. It became that ferocious. I couldn’t believe it.”

He admitted he initially delayed calling emergency services.

“I wasted seven vital minutes trying to deal with it. I had no idea of the ferocity or the velocity of what came within minutes of the BMW catching fire,” he said.

“I’ve just recovered from something that could have burned down the whole of Nile Street if I delayed any longer.

“Every second counted.

“Please, it is so important for people to call 999 first.

“Don’t try like I did and faff about in panic. I learned my lesson.”

MJ said neighbouring businesses, including Halfords and ASL (a Siemens contractor), were close to the scene as the fire intensified.

CCTV footage captured the extent of the blaze and MJ’s efforts in attempting to tackle the fire.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 6.13am on Sunday morning (Sunday 1 March), a fire engine from Bolton fire station was called to reports of a fire involving three vehicles on Nile Street, Bolton.

“Crews arrived quickly on the scene.

“Firefighters used a hose reel jet to extinguish the fire and make the area safe.

“Firefighters were in attendance for around 50 minutes.”

No injuries were reported.

Ryan Gosling had bigger concerns than promoting his film while interviewing a journalist who dialed in from the middle of the desert.

Gosling was doing a press junket for Project Hail Mary — his new film based on the popular 2021 sci-fi book by Andy Weir — when journalist Jake Hamilton appeared via video link.

“Do you have help on the way?” the actor asked Hamilton after joking that he looked like he was appearing from the inside of a volcano.

“You look like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, the one where he’s climbing,” he continued, referencing the red rocks surrounding the reporter.

“This is amazing. I don’t want you to be stranded, but the production value on this… Do you technically need a permit to shoot there? It’s like you’re doing a Western!”

The interviewer explained that before speaking with the La La Land star, he had been on a Grand Canyon bus tour — which unexpectedly broke down.

“Obviously, I would do anything not to miss an interview with you,” Hamilton told the Oscar nominee.

Gosling paused several more times during the interview to check whether the journalist had enough supplies to last in the desert, which Hamilton confirmed he did.

“You sure? You’re sure you have enough water for everyone? Because that could get ugly… I am worried about your hydration. You got a power bar?” Gosling continued.

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day

New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Advertisement

Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day

New subscribers only. £9.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled.

Try for free

ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

“I definitely want to hear that you got out of this,” the actor told Hamilton at the end of the interview.

The reporter later shared the interview clips on his Instagram alongside the caption, “That moment you have to interview Ryan Gosling…but your tour bus broke down in the middle of the desert.”

People were quick to turn to the comments afterward, commending both Hamilton for his commitment to still doing the interview and Gosling for his adamant concern for the journalist.

“No need to discuss the movie tbh, this is the best interview ever done. Ryan interviewing you about your tour bus breaking down is epic lol,” one person wrote.

Another person agreed, “I actually cannot get over this. From the commitment to the interview to Ryan’s concern for your well-being, this is too good.”

In Project Hail Mary, Gosling plays a schoolteacher tasked with traveling into space to save the world. The cast also includes Anatomy of a Fall star Sandra Hüller, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung and Milana Vayntrub. It is directed by The Lego Movie’s Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.

The film is scheduled for release in theaters March 20.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Senate is headed towards a vote Wednesday on President Donald Trump’s decision to embark on a war against Iran, an extraordinary test in Congress for a conflict that has rapidly spread across the Middle East with no clear U.S. exit strategy.

The legislation, known as a war powers resolution, gives lawmakers an opportunity to demand congressional approval before any further attacks are carried out. The Senate resolution and a similar bill being voted on in the House later this week face unlikely paths through the Republican-controlled Congress and would almost certainly be vetoed by Trump even if they were to pass.

Nonetheless, the votes marked a weighty moment for lawmakers. Their decisions on the five-day-old war — which Trump entered without congressional approval — could determine the fates of U.S. military members, countless other lives and the future of the region.

“Wars without clear objectives do not remain small. They get bigger, bloodier, longer and more expensive,” said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer at a news conference Tuesday. “This is not a necessary war. It’s a war of choice.”

Trump administration scrambles for congressional support

After launching a surprise attack against Iran on Saturday, Trump has scrambled to win support for a conflict that Americans of all political persuasions were already wary of entering. Trump administration officials have been a frequent presence on Capitol Hill this week as they try to reassure lawmakers that they have the situation under control.

“We are not going to put American troops in harm’s way,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters in a raucous news conference at the Capitol Tuesday.

But six U.S. military members were killed over the weekend in a drone strike in Kuwait. Hundreds of others in the region have died.

Trump has also not ruled out deploying U.S. ground troops. He has said he is hoping to end the bombing campaign within a few weeks, but his goals for the war have shifted from regime change to stopping Iran from developing nuclear capabilities to crippling its navy and missile programs.

“I think they are achieving great success with what they’ve done so far,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Tuesday, adding that what happens next in the country will be “largely up to the Iranian people.”

Almost all Republican senators were readying to vote Wednesday against the war powers resolution to halt military action, but a number still expressed hesitation at the idea of deploying troops on the ground in Iran.

“I don’t think the American people want to see troops on the ground,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., as he exited a classified briefing Tuesday. He added that Trump administration officials “left open that possibility,” but it wasn’t an option they were emphasizing.

Lawmakers to go on record

The votes in Congress this week represented potentially consequential markers of just where lawmakers stand on the war as they look ahead to midterm elections and the consequences of the conflict.

“Nobody gets to hide and give the president an easy pass or an end-run around the Constitution,” said Sen. Tim Kaine, the Virginia Democrat leading the war powers resolution. “Everybody’s got to declare whether they’re for this war or against it.”

Republican leaders have successfully, though narrowly, defeated a series of war powers resolutions pertaining to several other conflicts that Trump has entered or threatened to enter. This one, however, is different.

Unlike Trump’s military campaigns against alleged drug boats or even Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the attack on Iran represents an open-ended conflict that is already ricocheting across the region. For Republicans who are used to operating in a political party dominated by Trump and his promises of keeping the U.S. out of foreign entanglements, the moment represented a bit of whiplash.

“War is ugly, it always has been ugly, but we’re taking out a regime that has been trying to attack us for quite some time,” said Sen. Markwayne Mullin, an Oklahoma Republican.

Meanwhile, Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who has long pushed Trump to engage overseas, argued that the widening conflict represented an opportunity for Arab and European countries to join in the fight against Iran and the militant groups it supports.

“I don’t mind people being on record as to whether or not they think this is a good idea,” he told reporters, but also argued that too much power over the military was ceded to Congress in the War Powers Act, which mandates that presidents must withdraw troops from a conflict within 90 days if there is no congressional authorization.

House vote looms

On the other side of the Capitol, House leaders were also readying for an intense debate over the war followed by a vote Thursday.

“I do believe we have the votes to defeat it, I certainly hope we do,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said after an all-member briefing on Tuesday night.

Meanwhile, House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said he expected a strong showing from Democrats in favor of the war powers resolution.

As lawmakers emerged from a closed-door briefing Tuesday night, Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, implored the Trump administration to “come to Congress” and speak directly to the American people about the rationale for the war.

His voice filled with emotion as he said, “Our young men and women’s lives are on the line.”

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

What happens next in Iran? Will there be regime change? And what are the actual objectives of Israel and America?

Yalda and Richard are both in Israel as the conflict in the region ramps up. Both have been reporting on the ground and working their contacts to find out what the American and Israeli strategy is.

As the death toll in Iran climbs, and the Americans say the biggest hits are yet to come, just what happens next?

The two of them will answer listeners’ questions, so write to them at theworld@sky.uk

To listen to Richard’s bonus Q&A episode, click here.

You can also watch the podcast on our YouTube channel here.