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Warlpiri delegation from Yuendumu, north-west of Alice Springs, has collected the seven objects from University of VirginiaSeven sacred Indigenous objects have been returned to central Australia from an American university.A delegation of Warlpiri men from Yuendumu, north-west of Alice Springs, collected the objects after they were repatriated from the University of Virginia last week. Continue reading...

Lightning kills 21 and millions of homes submerged while armed forces asked to help amid continuing stormsAt least 59 people died as floods cut a swatch across north-eastern India and Bangladesh, leaving millions of homes underwater, authorities said on Saturday.In India’s Assam state, 18 people died in the floods or landslides and 2 million others had seen their homes submerged in flood waters since Thursday, the state disaster management agency said. Continue reading...

Nato chief warns war could last years; Russia sends many reservists to Sievierodonetsk battle, says regional governorRussia’s war in Ukraine could take years, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said. “We must prepare for the fact that it could take years. We must not let up in supporting Ukraine,” he said. “Even if the costs are high, not only for military support, also because of rising energy and food prices.”Russia was sending a large number of reserve troops to Sievierodonetsk from other battle zones to try to gain full control of the besieged eastern city, the governor of Ukraine’s Luhansk region said on Sunday. “Today, tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, they will throw in all the reserves they have … because there are so many of them there already, they’re at critical mass,” Serhiy Gaidai said on national television.A big explosion rocked an area near Sievierodonetsk on Saturday. Rodion Miroshnik, an official in the self-styled separatist administration of the Luhansk People’s Republic, posted a video of what he said was the cloud on the Telegram messaging app.Five civilians were killed on Saturday in Ukrainian strikes on the eastern separatist city of Donetsk, according to local authorities. “As a result of the bombardment by Ukrainian forces, five people were killed and 12 others were wounded in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” the authorities said in a statement posted on Telegram.Several Russian missiles hit a gasworks in the Izium district in eastern Ukraine, Kharkiv region governor Oleh Synehubov said on Saturday. “A large-scale fire broke out, rescuers localised the fire,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Reuters reported him adding that some other buildings had also been damaged.Russian missiles destroyed a fuel storage depot in Novomoskovsk, a town in eastern Ukraine, on Saturday. According to the head of the regional administration, three people have been sent to the hospital.The Pentagon is considering sending four additional rocket launchers to Ukraine, Politico reports. According to US defence department officials, speaking to the outlet on anonymity, the US may likely send four more high mobility artillery rocket systems, making their total number about eight. The decision would be “based on Ukrainian immediate needs,” the official told Politico.Russia and Ukraine have carried out a prisoner exchange, the Kyiv Independent reports. Five captured Ukrainian individuals were returned to Ukraine on 18 June in exchange for five captured Russian individuals, according to the Ukrainian defence ministry’s intelligence directorate.Yuliia Paievska AKA “Taira”, the Ukrainian captured paramedic who was freed from Russian captivity during the week, released a video thanking Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy for her release. “I always believed that everything would be exactly this, and everyone who is now on the other side, they know everything will work out,” she said.Zelenskiy presented state awards to border guards in Odesa as he visited the troops in southern Ukraine on Saturday. “I want to thank you from the people of Ukraine, from our state, for the great work you are doing, for your heroic service,” the president said. “It is important that you are alive. As long as you live, there is a strong Ukrainian wall that protects our country.” Continue reading...

RMT union leaders say ‘no viable’ deals are on the table and walkout is set to go ahead, hitting tourism, sport and festivalsNetwork Rail bosses say they plan to hold more talks with union leaders today in a last-ditch attempt to avert the biggest strike on the railways for more than three decades.More than 40,000 rail workers are due to walk out on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Only about half of Britain’s rail network will be open on strike days with a very limited service on lines which are open. Continue reading...

Sudden temperature plunge prompts rare lightning warning, but better weather expected by next weekendThe Met Office has urged people to stay indoors where possible as the south of England is struck by a “huge cluster” of thunderstorms.As temperatures plummeted from Friday’s highs of 32C, the forecaster issued a lightning warning that it has only used a “handful” of times before. Continue reading...

Solar Victoria fielded 50% higher than usual number of inquiries into power storage amid cold snap across eastern states

Four former senior navy personnel say conventional sub could be in water by 2032 to cover Australia’s needs before nuclear program

Six legislators call for return of cultural treasures held by British Museum ‘to their Athenian home’More MPs and peers have expressed support for the repatriation of the Parthenon marbles to Greece as protesters in London mark the 13thanniversary of the opening of the Athens museum where they believe they belong.Calls for the reunification of the antiquities, removed by Lord Elgin from the Acropolis in controversial circumstances more than 200 years ago – and regarded as vital to the nation’s cultural memory – mounted on Saturday with six UK lawmakers telling the Greek daily, Ta Nea, that restitution was the only proper thing to do. The British Museum acquired the sculptures from the diplomat in 1816. Continue reading...

17-year-old pronounced dead near Spurs stadium despite paramedics’ attention as detectives seek witnessesTwo people have been arrested after a teenage boy was stabbed to death minutes away from Tottenham Hotspur’s stadium in north London.Police were called just after midday on Saturday to reports of a stabbing in Orchard Place, Tottenham, where they tried to save the 17-year-old’s life. Continue reading...

At a special Tribeca film festival event, the stars of Michael Mann’s acclaimed crime saga reminisced while offering suggestions of who could play them in a remakeAny misgivings about terseness at a Q&A panel dedicated to Heat, a film in which men prefer to let their automatic rifles talk about their feelings for them, were quickly put to one side last night at the dazzling United Palace theater in Manhattan’s Washington Heights.The Tribeca film festival event dedicated to the 1995 crime classic from Michael Mann – who couldn’t attend due to a positive Covid test, but took care to record a video message from the Italian set of his forthcoming Enzo Ferrari movie, wistfully recalling his initial pitch all those years ago at a Broadway Diner lunch – began with an out-of-the-gate standing ovation for the assembled talent: producer Art Linson, as well as stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, a couple of guys unable to get a cup of coffee in New York without a round of applause. Things only got rowdier from there. Continue reading...

Relic of the murdered Republic of Congo leader will be returned to his family as Brussels confronts its bloody past in AfricaThe Belgian government will return a tooth of Patrice Lumumba to his family this week, hoping to draw a line under one of the most brutal and shameful episodes in the country’s bloody exploitation of central Africa.The relic is all that remains of Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, under its earlier name Republic of Congo, and an icon of the struggle against colonialism in Africa, who was murdered by separatists and Belgian mercenaries in 1961. His killers dissolved his remains in acid, though some kept teeth as macabre mementoes. Continue reading...

Boris Johnson reaffirms commitment to provide long-term ‘strategic resilience’ to help expel Russian troopsBoris Johnson has reaffirmed Britain’s support for Ukraine, cautioning against “Ukraine fatigue” as Russia’s invasion enters its fifth month.Speaking to reporters on his arrival at RAF Brize Norton after his trip to Kyiv, the prime minister said: “When Ukraine fatigue is setting in, it is very important to show that we are with them for the long haul and we are giving them the strategic resilience that they need. Continue reading...

Sevenfold rise in those waiting at least a year for cases to be heard as lawyers quit over cuts in legal aidMore than 5,800 victims of violent crime and sexual offences are stuck in one of the worst-ever backlogs in the crown courts, enduring delays of at least a year before their cases are heard, the Observer can reveal.The number of cases facing these delays once a defendant has been charged has increased more than sevenfold in two years, according to an analysis of crown court figures in England and Wales. Continue reading...

Strikes on railways confirmed for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, and on tube network on TuesdayUnion leaders have confirmed that next week’s rail and tube strikes will go ahead after talks failed to resolve a bitter row over pay, jobs and conditions.The three 24-hour strikes by 40,000 Rail, Maritime and Transport union members will cause almost a week of disruption. Continue reading...

As rates on shorter-term loans increase, longer-term deals look more attractiveLocking into a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage used to come at a considerable cost but as interest rates on shorter-term home loans have edged up, the price of a decade’s worth of certainty has fallen.This week the best two-year fixed-rate mortgages had a rate of 2.54% for those borrowing 60% of the property’s value, while five-year deals were at 2.64% and the best 10-year rate was 2.73%. Continue reading...

Explosion heard 6km away before three blazes seen in separate buildings, with the fire expected to continue burning for some timeAt least one person was killed in a large fire at a Shanghai chemical plant that shot clouds of smoke across the city on Saturday, state media reported.The fire at a Sinopec Shanghai Petrochemical Co plant in outlying Jinshan district broke out around 4am but was brought under control later that morning, according to state news agency Xinhua. Continue reading...

Temperature could exceed 42C in parts of France as scientists warn heatwaves will hit earlier than usual due to climate changeFrance, Spain and other western European nations braced for a sweltering weekend that is set to break records and sparked concern about forest fires and the effects of climate change.Temperatures already nudged over 40C (104F) in parts of France on Friday. Continue reading...

Putin says he has ‘nothing against’ Ukraine membership of EU; German chancellor calls for direct talks with Russian leader to end war

This blog is now closed – we will be returning in a few hours to bring you all the latest developments

Officials give confirmation after forensic tests, as police suggest killings were not carried out upon orders from organised crime

Families call for change as data shows Indigenous people on foot dying at a troubling rate

Lismore diocese wins halt on civil case after arguing woman had never complained before Clarence Anderson died in 1996

Life inside Mariupol after it fell, fighting in Sievierodonetsk – a battle that could decide the course of the war – and the Russians fighting for Kyiv

Alexander Abramov’s lawyer says his client has not ‘given aid or comfort’ to Russian government’s war in Ukraine

NSW Council of Social Services says councils should not make beach visits out of reach for lower-income families

Labour leader and deputy have promised to resign if found to have breached Covid rules by eating curry and drinking beer at eventKeir Starmer and Angela Rayner have returned questionnaires to Durham constabulary, giving their account of a gathering during last year’s local election campaign, the Labour party has confirmed.The pair have both promised to resign if they are found to have breached Covid rules by eating a curry and drinking a beer at the event, which was caught on camera. Continue reading...

Singer breaks multiple records with Stranger Things-revived hit after ‘manual reset’ of streaming ratiosKate Bush has scored an improbable and inspiring No 1 in the UK singles chart, with Running Up That Hill reaching the top 37 years after the song was released.The 1985 track has stormed domestic and global charts after its inclusion in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things last month, introducing it to a new generation of fans. Continue reading...

Privileges committee investigating whether PM misled parliament when he said ‘no Covid rules were broken’Boris Johnson could be ordered to give evidence under oath when MPs begin a new investigation into claims he lied about Partygate.The privileges committee is expected to start its inquiry within the next month and will aim to deliver a verdict by the autumn on whether Johnson misled parliament. Sessions are likely to be held in public, in an attempt to limit potential criticism about the group’s work and avoid any accusations of a “cover up”. Continue reading...

Canadian government has admitted that physical and sexual assault at the schools was rampant and has apologizedCanadian police said they arrested a 92-year-old retired priest for a sexual assault more than 50 years ago at one of Canada’s residential schools for Indigenous children.Sgt Paul Manaigre of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said on Friday that police arrested retired Father Arthur Masse for the assault. Manaigre said the victim was 10 years old at the time and it happened between 1968 and 1970 at Ford Alexander residential school in Manitoba. Continue reading...

Foreign affairs committee chair tells party it should drop focus on ‘divisive politics’ and says he is ambitious for himselfTom Tugendhat has hinted that he will run to replace Boris Johnson in the next Conservative leadership election, as he warned that the party was too focused on “divisive” politics.The Tory backbencher said his party was not like “a church, with one true faith, one Pope”, but that MPs should “offer ourselves forward for service” when another contest for the top job is held. Continue reading...

PM announces programme including battle skills and counter-explosive tactics that will take place outside Ukraine

Terry Wogan and Ulrika Jonsson were on duty when the UK – near-flawlessly – hosted the song contestIt’s 9 May 1998. All Saints are top of the charts, New Labour has been in power for the past year and David Beckham has yet to be sent off against Argentina at the World Cup. Life is good.Fast forward 24 years and you could be forgiven for forgetting that, amid the haze of the late 90s, it was also the last time Britain hosted the Eurovision song contest, hot on the heels of Katrina and the Waves’ success with Love Shine a Light 12 months earlier in Dublin. Continue reading...

Irène Probstein travels from US to remember her family’s escape and thank Channel islanders who rescued themShe was last on these sandy shores eight decades ago when her family – just about – managed to stay a step ahead of the rapidly advancing Nazis.On Friday, Irène Probstein, a 91-year-old Jewish woman who lives in Massachusetts, was back on Jersey to remember her family’s dramatic escape and thank the Channel islanders who rescued them and offered refuge and kindness. Continue reading...

Unprecedented food shortages could spark riots in dozens of countries as Black Sea blockade adds to pressures, says WFP chiefDozens of countries risk protests, riots and political violence this year as food prices surge around the world, the head of the food-aid branch of the United Nations has warned.Speaking in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, on Thursday, David Beasley, director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), said the world faced “frightening” shortages that could destabilise countries that depend on wheat exports from Ukraine and Russia. Continue reading...

The new face of the central London street is alleged to harbour tax evasion and counterfeit salesTourists visit London for its world-class museums, restaurants and shopping – and American sweets, judging by the rapid growth of US candy stores in the capital.Oxford Street is home to more than 30 of these American sweet shops, opening in stores abandoned by more traditional retailers. Continue reading...

Self-service bar popular with locals and foreigners has been shut down after being linked to hundreds of casesHeaven Supermarket’s ability to attract young Chinese customers and foreigners has always been viewed with envy by its competitor bars in the Chinese capital.Located in one of the busiest nightlife districts in Beijing, the bar is modelled as a large self-service liquor store with chairs, sofas and tables. It is not the fanciest in its presentation, but on Chinese review websites, patrons highlight its affordability and down-to-earth attitude. Continue reading...

Proposed bar is ‘fightback’ against number of queer venues lost to property developmentQueer campaigners have launched a £100,000 fundraising drive to open the UK’s first community-run LGBTQI+ venue after a property developer stalled on its promise to fund a venue after closing the famous the Joiners Arms bar.The Friends of the Joiners Arms campaign group launched a crowdfunding initiative on Friday, selling shares in the proposed new bar and community venue for as little as £25 in a “fightback” against the number of queer venues lost to property development. Continue reading...

The machines are growing sentient, waste collection empires are expanding, but don’t worry, Paddington still has the powerOh good – computers are sentient now. Great to start the week with an extra shove of momentum on the kamikaze death-plunge that is modern life. To recap: Google has suspended an AI engineer after he released extracts from a conversation he had with the company’s chatbot development system, known as LaMDA. So far so customer service queue. However, the engineer claimed the conversation showed the bot had become sentient and was actually a person. Continue reading...

Incident under control in 30 minutes with driver and passengers unharmed, according to reportsFirefighters have been called to a bus alight in south London.Dramatic images posted on social media showed the vehicle on fire on Brixton Hill on Friday morning. Continue reading...

Many of those who don’t use direct debit for council tax are still waiting for £150 after two monthsThousands of households are still waiting for the £150 energy rebate more than two months after the scheme to help with the rising cost of living was launched.The payment, part of a package of measures announced by the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, in February, is aimed at those living in properties in council tax bands A to D and designed to help cover rising energy bills. Continue reading...

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! defended loaning Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday’ gown to the reality TV star and said its importance ‘has not been negated, but rather highlighted’The owners of the dress belonging to Marilyn Monroe and worn by Kim Kardashian at last month’s Met ball have hit back against allegations the dress was damaged by the loan.Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which bought the dress – Monroe wore it to sing Happy Birthday to John F Kennedy in 1962 – for £3.8m in 2016, said it was “confident” Kardashian did not cause any damage to the garment. Continue reading...

Critics question value of US president’s visit, raising fears it will endanger dissidents and legitimise regime’s human rights stanceRights advocates fear Joe Biden’s decision to visit Saudi Arabia will endanger dissidents abroad and be seen by the authorities there as giving the green light to restrict civil liberties domestically.Abdullah Alaoudh, of the thinktank Democracy for the Arab World Now and son of jailed cleric Salman al-Odah, said: “Right before inauguration, he [Biden] said he will be sure to protect Saudi dissidents – those were his words. We’re not protected by someone shaking hands with the same person who is threatening us every day and taking our families hostage due to our activism here in the US.” Continue reading...

Fujian unveiled amid heightened tensions with US over self-ruled TaiwanChina has launched its third aircraft carrier, the first designed and built entirely in the country, marking a significant military advance for the Asian superpower.The announcement comes as tensions between China and the US have ramped up in recent weeks over Beijing’s sabre-rattling towards self-ruled Taiwan, which it views as a breakaway province to be seized by force if necessary. Continue reading...

Epidemiologists and industry groups say requirement no longer needed but chamber of commerce says decision is for health officials

More than 770 crossings will have countdowns shorted by up to a minute and a halfAuthorities in Taipei have shortened waiting times at traffic lights for the summer, fearing that pedestrians could become ill if they are forced to stand in the tropical heat for too long.The announcement on Friday will see more than 770 intersections in the Taiwanese capital cut waiting times by as much as one and a half minutes. On average, the signal countdowns are being cut by 30 seconds each. The new times will run between 9am and 4.30pm until September. Continue reading...

Ad agency no longer considers terms of offer ‘to be fair and reasonable’ after bidder’s shares fallM&C Saatchi has withdrawn its support for a £310m takeover bid from the digital marketing group Next Fifteen, saying it no longer regarded the terms as “fair and reasonable” amid pressure from another bidder.The deal would have ended almost three decades of independence of one of Britain’s most famous advertising agencies. M&C Saatchi said the reason behind the withdrawal of its support was the decline in the value of Next Fifteen’s shares. They have fallen 28% since the deal was announced in late May. Continue reading...

Liberal-leaning justice says ‘there are days I get discouraged … sometimes I cry’ but urges leftwing lawyers to persevereThe liberal-leaning supreme court justice Sonia Sotomayor said on Thursday that US supreme court “mistakes” in high-profile cases can be corrected over time – as she adopted a positive tone ahead of a decision in which its conservative majority is expected to reverse the constitutional right abortion in America.Sotomayor, speaking in Washington DC at the annual meeting of a liberal legal group, did not directly address last month’s publication of a leaked draft opinion in a key abortion case out of Mississippi that includes a request to overturn the pivotal 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, or any of the court’s other current cases. Continue reading...

NSW premier says health funding ‘a great start’ after national cabinet meeting; electricity reserves improve across National Energy Market; ASX plunges to lowest level since November 2020; nation records 51 Covid deaths. This blog is now closed

John Penrose, former anti-corruption tsar, says PM ‘shouldn’t be weakening role’ after ethics adviser’s resignationThe government’s former anti-corruption champion has said it would be “quite a big mistake” for Boris Johnson to scrap the ethics adviser role after the resignation of Lord Geidt.The prime minister’s official spokesperson said on Thursday that Johnson would not immediately start looking for a replacement for Geidt, but would instead review the system of enforcing the ministerial code. Continue reading...