Authorities say capture of bull and tiger sharks necessary to protect lives as environmentalists launch urgent legal challenge

Some beaches in areas of New Caledonia are closed to swimming and the authorities have begun shark culling off the capital, Nouméa, after a fatal attack in the popular tourist spot – prompting a legal challenge to stop the operation and reigniting debate over public safety and marine conservation.

The culling operation began on 23 February, after a man from New Caledonia riding a wing foil in a recreational area was attacked and killed. Preliminary investigations indicate the victim was attacked by a tiger shark that measured at least three metres.

The previously named Screen Actors Guild (Sag) awards also saw wins for the ensemble casts of Sinners and The Studio, while Harrison Ford took home lifetime achievement

• Actor awards 2026 red carpet – in pictures

Michael B Jordan, Jessie Buckley and the late Catherine O’Hara were among the big winners at this year’s newly titled Actor awards.

Previously known as the Screen Actors Guild awards, the Actors are voted on by a membership of more than 160,000 actors. The name change was to provide “clearer recognition in terms of what the show is about”.

Award-winning science fiction and horror writer died in Colorado on 21 February with family at his side

Dan Simmons, the author of more than 30 novels and short story collections spanning horror, political thrillers and science fiction such as Hyperion and The Terror, has died at age 77.

Simmons died in Longmont, Colorado on 21 February, with his wife and daughter at his side, his obituary announced.

• Flight disruptions force F1 teams into new travel arrangements

• But all drivers expected to make it to Melbourne for season opener

As many as one thousand members of the Formula One circus have been forced into last-minute travel changes to get to Melbourne’s opening round in the wake of the escalating crisis in the Middle East, and some are set to miss the start of the season entirely.

However, a larger logistical headache has been narrowly avoided, after the cars and supporting equipment were already shipped from last month’s testing in Bahrain – one of the countries drawn into the conflict – prior to this week’s widespread aviation disruptions.

Conflict spreads to Lebanon as Hezbollah targets Israel over killing of Khamenei and IDF responds with strikes on Beirut

• Latest updates: US-Israel war on Iran

Israel carried out heavy airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, after the Iran-backed group launched missiles and drones towards Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Residents of Beirut were awoken by the sounds of about a dozen blasts at 3am on Monday, as Israel struck three different locations in the southern suburbs of the capital.

Iran-backed Hezbollah says it launched rockets and drones at Israel in retaliation for the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

• Podcast: The assassination of Iran’s ayatollah – and fears for a wider conflict

• Full report: Trump open to talks with Iran as conflict deepens in Middle East

• How have you been affected by events in the Middle East?

Bahrain has said that one person was killed by shrapnel from an intercepted missile. The death of a foreign worker at Salman Industrial City, working on a boat there, marks the kingdom’s first reported fatality in the war.

Bahrain, home to the US navy’s 5th fleet, said it intercepted 61 missiles and 34 attack drones launched against it. It said some shrapnel had gotten through, striking buildings and the naval base.

Brent crude jumped by 13% during early trading and stock markets came under pressure as US-Israeli strikes on Iran raised fears of disruption

Oil prices rose and stock markets came under pressure on Monday after intense US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted fears of significant global economic disruption.

Brent crude jumped by as much as 13% during early trading – to hit $82 per barrel, a 14-month high – as the effective closure of the strait of Hormuz, one of the most important arteries for global trade, intensified concerns over oil supplies.

The juvenile freshwater crocodile was first spotted by a group of teenagers in Ironbark Creek in the Australian city on Saturday

An Australian freshwater crocodile has been captured in a city creek thousands of kilometres south of its normal range, after sightings shocked onlookers at a suburban park.

The crocodile was first spotted in Ironbark Creek in Newcastle – about 100km north of Sydney – around midday on Saturday, by a group of teenagers.

Eclipse will feature a deep, coppery-red full moon on 3 March, with scientists predicting the best times to see it

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North America, Australia and New Zealand will be treated to a rare total lunar eclipse on Tuesday known as a “blood moon”.

As the full moon dips into the planet’s shadow it will change colour to a “deep and coppery red”, says astrophysicist Dr Rebecca Allen of Swinburne University.

Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne, Hobart – starts 10.04pm, ends 11.02pm

Brisbane – starts 9.04pm, ends 10.02pm

Adelaide – starts 9.34pm, ends 10.32pm

Darwin – starts 8.34pm, ends 9.32pm

Perth – starts 7.04pm, ends 8.02pm

New York, Washington DC – starts 3.44am, ends about 6.30am

Detroit – starts 3.44am, ends 7.06am

New Orleans, Chicago – starts 2.44am, ends about 6.24am

San Francisco, Los Angeles – starts 12.44am, ends about 6.23am

Tokyo – starts 5.44pm, ends 11.23pm

Beijing – starts 6.00pm, ends 10.23pm

Manila – starts 5.57pm, ends 10.23pm

Jakarta – starts 6.06pm, ends 9.23pm

Ukrainians to help intercept drones targeting Gulf allies, UK PM says; Russian overnight missile attacks on Ukraine hit new high. What we know on day 1,467

The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, said Ukrainian experts would provide guidance on intercepting Iranian drones being launched at Gulf allies, as Tehran responds to the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. “We are not joining these strikes, but we will continue with our defensive actions in the region,” Starmer said on Sunday night. “And we will also bring experts from Ukraine, together with our own experts, to help Gulf partners shoot down Iranian drones attacking them.” Ukraine was yet to comment on Starmer’s announcement.

Russia fired more missiles in overnight attacks at Ukraine in February than in any other month since at least the beginning of 2023, analysis by Agence France-Presse (AFP) shows. The missile attacks targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in particular, AFP said. Russia launched 288 missiles at Ukraine in February, an increase of about 113% compared to 135 missiles in January. Additionally, in February, Russia launched 5,059 long-range drones during its night-time pummelling of Ukrainian cities and towns – an increase of about 13% percent compared to January. AFP conducted analysis of daily figures provided by the Ukrainian air force.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said changes in Iran brought about by US and Israeli strikes should be “used properly” to benefit the country’s people. Speaking in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said Iran had “predetermined the way it is treated” by supplying attack drones to Russia in Moscow’s four-year-old conflict in Ukraine and had also “fomented wars in the region”. “It is important that the this chance for changes in Iran be used properly,” he said, adding “The Iranian people were on their own for a long time, enduring violence while standing against the Iranian regime.” Zelenskyy said on Saturday Moscow had fired more than 57,000 Iranian-designed Shahed-type drones at Ukraine during the war.

Belgium has seized an oil tanker believed to form part of the so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent western sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Special forces assisted by French helicopters boarded the ship in a clandestine operation in the North Sea on Saturday night, Kate Connolly writes. Prosecutors said the tanker, identified as the Ethera, was falsely flying the flag of Guinea and was believed to be on its way back to Russia when it was seized in Belgium’s exclusive economic zone.

Zelenskyy praised Belgium’s decision to seize the tanker. “This particular vessel has long been under US, EU and UK sanctions, but nonetheless continued to illegally transport Russian oil using a false flag and forged documents,” he wrote on X. “We welcome this strong action against Moscow’s floating purse and thank France for supporting the operation.”

Claire Danes, Wunmi Mosaku, Rose Byrne and host Kristen Bell were among the crowd at the 32nd Actor awards, formerly known as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards, held in Los Angeles on Sunday

Royal College of Psychiatrists says impact on mental health often overlooked and calls for improvements in care

Nearly three-quarters of UK women do not know menopause can trigger a new mental illness, polling shows.

This lack of understanding is so acute that the Royal College of Psychiatrists has launched its first targeted “position statement” to raise awareness about menopause and mental health.

Trials to form part of three-month consultation on Keir Starmer’s plans to tackle negative effects of smartphone use

Hundreds of teenagers will be enlisted to trial social media bans in the coming months with overnight digital curfews and daily screen time limits also tested as part of Keir Starmer’s plan to crack down on the negative effects of smartphone use.

The trials will be part of a three-month consultation launched this week that could lead to an outright ban on social media for under-16s similar to that introduced in Australia. Ministers have said they are ready to toughen laws just six months after the introduction of child protection measures in the Online Safety Act.

• Visitors score twice in last 12 minutes to draw 3-3 in Rome

• Sevilla come from 2-0 down to draw derby at Real Betis

Juventus maintained their hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League after bouncing back from two goals down to draw 3-3 at their top-four rivals Roma with nearly the last kick of the game. Federico Gatti lashed in Juve’s leveller in the third minute of stoppage time to give the visitors a point in Rome that keeps them four points behind their opponents in fourth.

Juve were trailing 3-1 with 12 minutes remaining after goals from Wesley França, Evan Ndicka and Donyell Malen gave the hosts a commanding lead in front of more than 65,000 delighted fans. But Jérémie Boga volleyed Juventus back into the game and just as Roma looked as if they would hold out for the win Gatti pounced on a poorly defended free-kick to snatch an unlikely point.

Keir Starmer says the UK has not been involved in the US-Israeli strikes, but warned that 200,000 British people are in countries being targeted by Iran

The UK has agreed to let the US use British military bases to attack Iranian missile sites, Keir Starmer has said.

The UK has so far not been involved in the US-Israeli strikes on Iran, but in a recorded statement on Sunday evening, the prime minister said that Iran’s approach was becoming more reckless and putting British lives at risk, leading to the decision to allow the US to use two of its military bases.

If every win is going to be painful from here, you may as well just take the painful wins – welcome to Arsenal’s late title stagger

On Thursday night at a swanky London hotel so luxuriously risk‑averse the toilets are equipped with wireless thermostats to control to within half a degree the heat of the seat, the Premier League chief executive, Richard Masters, spoke in detail for the first time about the prospect of “Premflix”, the direct‑to‑consumer model of the future, an app that will sluice this irresistible footballing opiate directly into the eyeballs of 8 billion rapt humans.

In doing so Masters was echoing the words of Todd Boehly on the same stage 12 months earlier, who had talked about the Premier League as a kind of fire stolen from the gods, source of the next great tech platform, an engine of empire, tool of world domination, of lassoing the moon out of the sky.

FBI official says evidence found on the suspect and in his car indicated a ‘potential nexus to terrorism’

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The FBI’s joint terrorism taskforce has been called in to help investigate a deadly mass shooting in downtown Austin, Texas, on Sunday morning in which a gunman opened fire in front of a bar popular with university students, killing two people and injuring 14 others before being fatally shot by police.

An FBI official, Alex Doran, told reporters at a press conference that it was too early to determine the shooter’s motivation. But he added that evidence found on the suspect and in his car indicated a “potential nexus to terrorism”.

Home secretary announces 30-month protection limit, with refugees required to leave if their home countries are later judged safe

• ‘That resentment is real’: Mahmood’s Denmark visit aims to hammer home tough line on immigration

Shabana Mahmood has ripped up the government’s asylum rules so that from Monday every refugee will be told that their status is temporary and will last just 30 months.

In a move that has concerned a refugee charity, the home secretary said that claimants whose countries are deemed to be safe by the UK government will from now on be expected to return.

Lindo speaks out after man with Tourette syndrome shouted slur while actor was on stage with Michael B Jordan

British-American actor Delroy Lindo expressed gratitude for “the support and love” he and Michael B Jordan have received after a man with Tourette syndrome (TS) shouted the N-word as the two men presented a Bafta award.

“We appreciate all the support and love that we have been shown,” Lindo – who, like Jordan, is Black – said on stage at the annual NAACP Image awards in Los Angeles. He called it “a classic case of something that could be very negative becoming very positive”.

• Fifa president wants more intervention in battle against racism

• Mouth covering in focus after Vinícius Júnior’s allegation of abuse

The Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, has suggested players who cover their mouths while addressing opponents could be sent off as part of the governing body’s battle against racism.

The practice, which has long been deployed to prevent cameras picking up conversations between teammates and opposition, has been put in focus after Vinícius Júnior’s allegations of discriminatory abuse by Gianluca Prestianni. The Benfica player denies doing so but was suspended for his side’s Champions League playoff second leg against Vinícius’s Real Madrid pending the outcome of a formal investigation.

• Goalkeeper made last-ditch save to deny Garnacho

• ‘David’s hand brought my heart back to life’

Mikel Arteta said his heart almost stopped before David Raya kept ­Arsenal’s title challenge on track with a stunning late save to deny 10‑man Chelsea a late equaliser at the Emirates Stadium.

Raya was in exceptional form ­during a crucial 2-1 win, making a series of excellent stops during a tense encounter, and the Spaniard was alert when a cross from Alejandro Garnacho threatened to drift inside his near post as full time approached. The goalkeeper pushed the ball wide, ensuring that goals from William Saliba and Jurriën Timber enabled Arsenal to restore their five-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League.

US president signals willingness to engage with Tehran’s surviving leadership as strikes and retaliatory attacks intensify across region

• US-Israel war on Iran – latest updates

Donald Trump said on Sunday he was prepared to talk to what was left of the Iranian leadership in the wake of the killing of the country’s supreme leader by US-Israeli air strikes aimed at overthrowing the regime.

Trump was speaking as a second day of intense bombing of Iranian cities and Tehran’s missile counter-attacks sent tremors across the region and through the global economy. On Monday the conflict spread to Lebanon as Israel began striking Hezbollah targets, after the group launched missiles and drones towards Israel’s north in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei.

Attack on Iran has widespread support, with little questioning of whether it is best option for lasting security

• US-Israel war on Iran – latest updates

In June, Benjamin Netanyahu declared “a historic victory, which will stand for generations” after the 12-day war on Iran.

His decision to attack Iran again, less than a year later, was greeted with broad and enthusiastic support from Israeli politicians, including the prime minister’s bitter rivals, and a public willing to endure death and massive disruption to their lives.

Chancellor urged to reform Office for Budget Responsibility to open way to more public investment

Rachel Reeves must reform the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to open the way to more public investment, an alliance of thinktanks has argued ahead of the chancellor’s spring forecast on Tuesday.

With Keir Starmer’s government under intense pressure after Labour’s defeat by the Greens in Thursday’s Gorton and Denton byelection, the thinktanks called on Reeves to review the watchdog’s remit.