World news | The Guardian

Monuments erected on the Stadtschloss are an infiltration' of the city and its skyline by nationalists, say criticsSilently towering into the grey Berlin sky, the latest addition to the German capital's skyline is easily missed by passengers passing along the Unter den Linden boulevard below. Eight statues of Old Testament prophets, each more than 3 metres tall and weighing 3 tonnes, were installed last week in a circular formation around the cupola of the palace in the centre of the metropolis.Whether these wise men made of sandstone are mere innocent bystanders overlooking the ebb and flow of German history or warriors in a culture war over the country's future, however, has been the subject of heated debate. Critics say the erection of Isaiah, Ezekiel and co is emblematic of the silent manipulation of a prestige architecture project by a shady group of donors with nationalist leanings. Continue reading...

Households renting outside cities rose by 19% with 450,000 more privately letting in 2021 compared with 2011A dramatic rise in the number of renters in rural areas has prompted England's largest councils to call for a new long-term plan for housing.The number of households in private and social rentals has increased by more than half a million in rural areas over the past decade, outpacing London and major cities, according to a report from the County Councils Network. Continue reading...

Princess of Wales says she has explained her diagnosis to George, Charlotte and Louis, which Cancer Research says is better than keeping a secret

Several McGill University students have spent more than three weeks demanding it divest $20m from various companiesA group of students at McGill University have spent more than three weeks on hunger strike in an effort to force the Canadian college to divest from companies supporting the Israeli military".The move follows months of protests and sit-ins at McGill and at universities around the world, as students and faculty members have protested against Israel's military offensive in Gaza. Continue reading...

Cancer Research UK's chief executive says high-profile cancer cases such as Catherine's can help others to seek help early

Islamic State claims responsibility after gunmen in combat gear opened fire and reportedly set off explosives at Crocus City Hall

Country's reputation as one of Africa's model democracies under threat after weeks of violenceSenegal heads to the polls on Sunday after weeks of chaos, violence and uncertainty prompted fears that democracy had been fatally undermined in one of west Africa's most stable countries.Analysts say the presidential election is the most wide open in Senegal since it secured independence from France more than 60 years ago. Continue reading...

Labor's Rebecca White is hoping to unseat Australia's only remaining Liberal government and return her party to power after 10 years in opposition

Police allege the accused dumped an injured man on a street in Melonba and left him to dieA man will face court accused of murder following a pre-arranged fight after which he allegedly dumped his opponent in a western Sydney street and left him to die.Emergency services were called to Georgina Crescent in Melonba about 8.45pm on Friday after reports a man had been found and was likely deceased. Continue reading...

The Princess of Wales's video was intended to calm the fevered speculation about her but may just spark yet more incessant coverageWhen she met Prince William, the heir to the British throne, more than 20 years ago at St Andrews University, Catherine, the Princess of Wales had her first taste of the appetite for news about her life and her budding romantic involvement with the young prince.Since their marriage in 2011, the desire for news, any news, about Catherine has only grown. Her every movement has been tracked, every outfit remarked upon, every decision - around her work, her children, the way she spends her free time, the way she moves - has been endlessly analysed, assessed, lauded or judged. Continue reading...

MPs due to have free vote on proposal but some in party have privately expressed concerns it goes too far

British Pregnancy Advisory Service says there is genuine concern' over rising number of investigations

Immersive tour at Musee d'Orsay takes visitors back to 15 April 1874 - the moment that marked the movement's birthIn a lush red-and-gold carpeted photographer's studio in northern Paris, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edgar Degas are adding the final touches to the hanging of their paintings, while fellow artists Berthe Morisot and Camille Pissarro lament the lack of recognition for their work and Claude Monet bemoans being mistaken for Edouard Manet.Outside, Parisian gentlemen in top hats and ladies in bustles are admiring the newly completed Opera House or enjoying an early evening drink on the cafe terraces while horse-drawn carriages clatter down Baron Haussmann's new grands boulevards. Continue reading...

In demonstration of Australia's air combat capability, Grant Shapps travels in RAAF Super Hornet after meeting with Anthony Albanese

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The ISKP regional affiliate has a haven in Afghanistan and carried out recent bombings in Iran, suggesting it has capacity for major atrocities

Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they hope Princess of Wales can heal privately' after she says she is in early stages of preventive chemotherapy

Concerns raised after former Cherish Life vice-president Alan Baker elected chair of party's Griffith divisional council

Royal says in recorded statement her condition was discovered after she had abdominal surgery in January

Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden's thoughts are with princess's family during this incredibly difficult time'The Joe Biden White House has expressed sympathy and support to the Princess of Wales after her announcement that she is being treated for cancer.Biden's press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, wished Catherine a full recovery at a Friday press briefing. Continue reading...

Catherine announces she has been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving chemotherapy treatmentThe Princess of Wales has announced she is undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. She revealed the news in a video message that was broadcast on Friday evening.Here is the statement in full: Continue reading...

Catherine has lived life in public eye since meeting Prince William and still commands huge affectionFor the royal family, Catherine has been a dream princess. After the turbulent years of Diana and Sarah Ferguson, the royals were delighted when William became romantically involved with the nice, middle-class girl from the home counties when the pair were studying at St Andrews University.Since then, there has been a fairytale wedding, three healthy children, and a princess to be proud of: calm, cheerful and devoted to her job as wife and mother to the future king and his siblings. Continue reading...

Traumas and revelations of the past 12 months bring to mind the late Queen's speech from 1992

Labour and a Tory donor say it should be returned after police say they are investigating alleged racist remarksRishi Sunak has been urged to rethink the decision to keep 10m from the Conservative donor Frank Hester after police said they were investigating racist comments which were allegedly made" by the businessman in 2019.The investigation by West Yorkshire police was triggered by a complaint from Diane Abbott, after the Guardian reported that Hester told colleagues that looking at the MP made you want to hate all black women" and said she should be shot". Continue reading...

Blinken hits back after Russia and China veto draft resolution; Israeli PM says he hopes for US support, but will go into Rafah without itThe Palestinian news agency Wafa reports that hundreds of worshipers" were blocked" from reaching the al-Aqsa mosque compound by Israeli forces on Friday.According to Wafa: Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli forces significantly increased their military presence around checkpoints in Qalandia, north of Jerusalem, al-Zaytouna, east of Jerusalem, and Bethlehem to the south. The forces turned back hundreds of worshipers, citing a lack of necessary entry permits." Continue reading...

Far-right commentator posts The rumors are true - I am finally free' following clashes with site's co-founder Ben ShapiroThe far-right commentator Candace Owens left the rightwing Daily Wire website amid tensions over her alleged antisemitism and opposition to US funding of Israel's war in Gaza.Daily Wire and Candace Owens have ended their relationship," said Jeremy Boreing, co-founder of the site with the rightwing commentator Ben Shapiro, who has clashed with Owens and is a strong supporter of Israel and its actions. Continue reading...

Campaigner for Women Against State Pension Inequality says PM has power to bring legislation before parliamentRishi Sunak is lagging behind not just Keir Starmer but also Nigel Farage, Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson in net favourability in some latest polling from YouGov.Other highlights include Sadiq Khan having a large lead over Susan Hall in popularity ahead of London's mayoral contest in May, and Vaughan Gething and Humza Yousaf both still having work to do to overhaul the popularity of their predecessors. Continue reading...

Campaigners call for outdated structures' that undermine progress and encourage inequality to be dismantledCultural organisations and equality campaigners have called on high-profile figures in the arts to give up their membership of the all-male Garrick Club, saying it undermines attempts to reduce gender bias in the sector and actively encourages inequality.More than half a dozen groups said they were concerned at the revelation that several cultural leaders, including the chair of the English National Opera and the chief executive of the Royal Opera House, were part of the exclusive club. Continue reading...

Judge says Arvind Kejriwal can be held until next Thursday, as his party's leaders condemn accusations as politically motivatedAn Indian court has ruled that Delhi's chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, will be kept in custody for six days after his dramatic arrest on corruption charges.Kejriwal, the top elected official for the Indian capital, was taken in by police on Thursday night as part of an investigation into an alleged scam involving kickbacks for alcohol licensing deals. Continue reading...

Five-month impasse in UN security council extends as Netanyahu insists Israel will press ahead with new offensive against Rafah

Figures reveal 413,541 spent on travel since the policy to send asylum seekers there was devised in 2022

Josep Borrell, high representative for foreign affairs, says all responsible will be held to account' after attacks on energy infrastructureAfter Russian strikes targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, Ukraine's grid is getting urgent assistance from Poland, Romania and Slovakia, national grid operator Ukrenergo said, Reuters reported.Russia regards itself to be in a state of war due to the West's intervention on Ukraine's side, the TASS news agency quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying, Reuters reported. Continue reading...

Chain considers opening more outlets as consumers dine in at low-cost pubs amid cost of living crisisJD Wetherspoon has revealed a near-eightfold uplift in pre-tax profits as price-conscious consumers flocked to drink and dine at its network of low-cost pubs.The chain reported on Friday that pre-tax profits in the six months to the end of January had risen to 36m from 4.6m a year earlier and said it expected a reasonable outcome" for the current financial year. Continue reading...

Hypnotherapist told the court she stabbed Ian, 72, after suffering years of physical and psychological torment

Robert Temple hacked into victims' social media accounts and downloaded naked photos to sell onlineA comedy hypnotist who overturned a ban on performing his stage show has been given an eight-month prison sentence for identity theft and stealing explicit images of women.Robert Temple admitted hacking into women's email and social media accounts, and stealing identity documents and naked photos, which he exchanged for cryptocurrency. Continue reading...

Washington fears loss of bases in Niger would risk the country following its neighbours and falling under Russian hegemonyUS policymakers are scrambling after the ruling military junta in Niger cancelled a mutual security pact that could lead to American forces being expelled, stirring fears of a loss of vital influence to Russia in west Africa.In a setback for Washington's counter-terrorism strategy against Jihadist groups in the region, Niger announced last weekend that it was revoking the pact, which had been in force since 2012. There are about 1,000 American military and civilian personnel in Niger. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Sculpture bought by US billionaires was made almost 20 years after date that appears in its nameA Damien Hirst shark preserved in formaldehyde that was purchased by American billionaires was dated to the 1990s even though it was not made until 2017.The 4-metre (13ft) tiger shark, dissected into three parts, is the centrepiece of a luxury bar in the Palms casino resort in Las Vegas. It first appeared in the casino six years ago, with the title: The Unknown (Explored, Explained, Exploded), 1999. Continue reading...

Campaigners say government is failing to match major step forward as EU prepares to introduce polluter pays' principleNew EU rules which introduce polluter pays" principles to get pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies to pay for the pollution they cause in rivers will not be adopted by the government in England, as campaigners say the country is falling behind.Lawmakers in Europe have signed off on an update to the urban waste water treatment (UWWT) directive, which is to further tighten restrictions on pollution. More nutrients from agricultural waste and sewage will have to be removed from waterways under the new rules. It also for the first time applies standards to micropollutants such as chemicals from pharmaceutical waste. Continue reading...

Kyiv says the country's largest dam and hydroelectric plant were hit as Moscow unleashed 88 missiles and 63 drones

Legislation is designed to protect music industry professionals against intellectual property being replicated without consentBill Lee, the governor of Tennessee, signed off on legislation on Thursday, designed to protect songwriters, performers and other music industry professionals against the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.The move makes Tennessee, long known as the birthplace of country music and the launchpad for musical legends, the first state in the US to enact such measures. Supporters say the goal is to ensure that AI tools cannot replicate an artist's voice without their consent. The bill goes into effect on 1 July. Continue reading...

Last-minute decision on Tuesday's match leaves football bodies searching for alternative venueNorth Korea has abruptly cancelled its 2026 World Cup qualifying match with Japan next week, leaving organisers frantically searching for an alternative venue.North Korea reportedly decided it would no longer host the match, which had been scheduled for next Tuesday at the Kim Il-sung Stadium in Pyongyang, a day before the teams met in Tokyo on Thursday in the first of their two Asian qualifying Group B qualifiers. Continue reading...

West Yorkshire force work to establish facts and whether crime was committed by Tory party donorWest Yorkshire police are investigating alleged racist comments made by Conservative party donor Frank Hester at a meeting in 2019.The force said the investigation had been passed over from the Metropolitan police because the meeting took place in Horsforth, Leeds. Continue reading...

Proposal aims to stop Kremlin flooding bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise European marketThe EU is set to impose a tariff of up to 50% on Russia grain imports amid fears the Kremlin could flood the bloc with cheap wheat to destabilise the European market.The proposal, announced by the European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, follows a plea on Thursday to EU leaders by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to do something about grain stolen" by the Russians from occupied territories. Continue reading...

Public accounts committee finds real-terms median pay has decreased for most Whitehall staff since 2013Morale in the civil service is being hit by chronic low pay, and Whitehall is increasingly unable to keep staff because salaries have declined in real terms for a decade, the public accounts committee has warned.The cross-party watchdog, chaired by the Labour MP Meg Hillier, said there were chronic pay issues" in Whitehall. Civil service pay at almost all levels has seen a long-term decline, with median pay decreasing in real terms for most staff since 2013", it said. Continue reading...

Sean Kirkpatrick is no longer head of the UFO hunting' office - but a new report he worked on has shaken the world of ufologySean Kirkpatrick doesn't seem too thrilled to be chatting with me about UFOs. Since taking over the Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in 2022 - government-speak for UFO hunting - Kirkpatrick has received violent threats, social-media smear campaigns, and even had to call the FBI after a UFO fanatic tried to break into his home.I've had people threaten my wife and daughter, and try to break into our online accounts," Kirkpatrick says. I didn't have China and Russia trying to get on me as much as these people are." Continue reading...

Exclusive: new role created after Guardian uncovered allegations against company's security guardsA vast Del Monte pineapple farm in Kenya that supplies most British supermarkets is advertising for a human rights manager to address its human rights challenges" in the wake of allegations of killings and violence by its security guards.The job advert says the candidate will need to develop a detailed action plan to address human rights challenges in the workplace and in surrounding communities". Continue reading...

Three nurses share how they have been affected as survey finds many in NHS in England turning to credit or savings

A majority of owners agree to deal, which will give them a share of the $30m building price and support from the NSW government

Leaders at summit agree text that says pause should lead to sustainable ceasefire'Meanwhile, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, has met with Luis Montenegro, who has been nominated as Portugal's next prime minister.Both are members of the centre-right European People's party. Continue reading...

Events to be held this weekend celebrating Bingley Five Rise locks, which opened in 1774 and is still in useFor people who like their thrills gentle, safe and at never more than three miles an hour, Bingley Five Rise locks is quite a rollercoaster ride.The canal lock flight in West Yorkshire, the steepest in the UK and a true wonder of the nation's waterways, will this weekend celebrate its 250th birthday. Continue reading...