World news | The Guardian

Eastern Command spokesperson says Ukrainian forces are pressuring' Russian troops in Donetsk Oblast; Russian shelling hits residential area. says Ukraine

Grandmother of Nahel M calls for calm as 45,000 police and gendarmes deployed in fifth night of rioting

With a lower carbon footprint than gas-fired cremation, the process is described as gentler on the body and kinder on the environment'For anyone uneasy at the thought of their body being consumed by flames or interred in an insect-teeming grave, a new funeral choice is about to become available: water cremation.The process of dissolving a body in a bag in 160C water treated with an alkali will become available in the UK from this week - the first new legal method of disposing of cadavers since the Cremation Act of 1902. It has been described as a boil in the bag" funeral. Continue reading...

Rebel group of 50 have voiced objections to the bill designed to stop public bodies boycotting IsraelAs many as 50 Conservative MPs are threatening to rebel against a government measure due to be debated on Monday that would impose fines on public bodies, including local councils, that seek to mount boycotts against Israel.The proposal - piloted by the communities secretary, Michael Gove - is a Conservative manifesto commitment, and has caused divisions in both main parties, highlighting the controversy surrounding the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. Continue reading...

Gemma Germeney, 31, died at scene of flat fire in King's Hedges, while Lilly and Oliver Peden, eight and four, died later in hospitalPolice have named a woman and two young children who were killed in a fire in a flat in Cambridge.Gemma Germeney, 31, died at the scene of the fire in Sackville Close, King's Hedges, on Friday morning, according to Cambridgeshire police, while Lilly Peden, eight, and Oliver Peden, four, were taken to hospital where they later died. Continue reading...

Lords Balfe and Skidelsky were at event in June where ambassador sought to justify Moscow's invasion of UkraineTwo British peers were among 50 people who attended a party organised by the Russian ambassador to the UK at his opulent residence in west London last month, to mark the creation of a Russia independent of the Soviet Union.Andrei Kelin, the Russian ambassador, spoke at the event where he sought to justify his country's bloody invasion of Ukraine, while those attending included the Conservative Lord Balfe and cross-bencher Lord Skidelsky. Continue reading...

Experts warn early learning centres may seek to capitalise on government's scheme, which comes into effect from 1 July

Prices rise amid concerns from competition watchdog over Transurban's proposed acquisition of operator of Melbourne's EastLink

Australian parliamentary inquiry recommends levy but some public health experts warn it could be ineffective unless carefully designed

Soap star who also acted in Coronation Street, Brookside and the musical Chicago, had dementia, her family saidThe soap opera stalwart Meg Johnson has died at the age of 86 after having had dementia for the last few years", it has been confirmed.The death of Johnson, who had played Pearl Ladderbanks in Emmerdale since 2003, was announced in a joint statement from her family, the talent agency Jorg Betts Associates and the ITV show. Continue reading...

Portuguese organisation hopes to set up resource for veterinary practices around BritainPingo does not look like a conventional superhero. There is no spandex costume, a dearth of magical powers and - as far as is known - no secret identity. Yet the black and white cat is part of a bold endeavour to save lives: the first feline blood bank in the UK.Human blood banks have existed in the UK since 1937, while dogs have been taking part in canine blood donation drives for years. Continue reading...

Confusion as spokesperson says reports Misuzulu Zulu in hospital after falling ill were untrueUncertainty reigned on Sunday over the health of South Africa's Zulu king, the head of the country's most influential traditional monarchy, with his spokesperson denying reports he had been hospitalised.Misuzulu Zulu, 48, ascended the throne last year after the death of his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, amid a bitter feud over the royal succession. Continue reading...

Influential Brexiter backed home secretary's leadership bid but is said to object to her singling out British-Pakistani menSuella Braverman's rhetoric about child sexual abuse and grooming gangs has cost her the support of an influential Conservative backer, Steve Baker, in a sign her hardline approach to culture war issues could hamper her chances of becoming Tory leader.Baker, a Tory MP on the Brexiter right of the party, who is now a Northern Ireland minister, was Braverman's de facto campaign manager when she stood to succeed Boris Johnson as Conservative leader and prime minister last summer. Continue reading...

Impassioned singer and guitarist, who has died of natural causes, also fronted the bands Hot Snakes, Pitchfork and ObitsRick Froberg, the strident frontman with US post-hardcore bands Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, Pitchfork and Obits, has died aged 55.His death was announced by longtime collaborator John Reis, who wrote on Instagram:Rick passed away suddenly last night from natural causes. His art made life better. The only thing he loved more than art and rock n roll was his friends. He will forever be remembered for his creativity, vision and his ability to bring beauty into this world. I love you, Rick. I will miss you for the rest of my life. Continue reading...

Religious nationalists emboldened now their representatives are major players in Benjamin Netanyahu's new administrationFive bullet holes now scar the walls and window of Hummus Restaurant, a modest fast food outlet near the settlement of Eli on the Israeli-built highway running the length of the occupied West Bank.On 20 June two gunmen affiliated with Hamas, the militant group in control of the Gaza Strip, shot and killed four people here in one of the worst attacks committed by Palestinians against Israelis in years. The incident was triggered by a huge Israeli army raid in the West Bank city of Jenin, which killed five people. The restaurant attack in turn led to a revenge rampage the next day by Israeli settlers on neighbouring Palestinian villages, in which one person was killed and about 30 homes and 60 cars set alight. Continue reading...

Remains of eight Hurricanes dating back to 1940s conflict found south of KyivAuthorities in Ukraine have discovered the remains of eight British Hurricane fighter planes dating back to the second world war.The aircraft, found near an unexploded bomb dating from the same conflict in a forest south of Kyiv, were sent to the Soviet Union by Britain after Nazi Germany invaded the country in 1941. Continue reading...

Warning from head of NHS in England comes as minister accuses junior doctors of walking away from talksThe head of the NHS in England has said patients will pay the price" because ministers and health unions have failed to stop unprecedented strikes this month, with the health secretary, Steve Barclay, accusing junior doctors of walking away" from talks.Amanda Pritchard, the chief executive of the health service in England, said the significant disruption" was only going to get worse in July, with industrial action due to take place in seven in eight days in the middle of the month. Continue reading...

Dispute involves 16 train operators in England from 3-8 July, and cross-border services may also be affectedRail passengers across Britain have been warned to expect disruption this week as train drivers stage fresh industrial action.The drivers' union Aslef has called an overtime ban from Monday 3 July until the end of Saturday 8 July at 16 train operators around England, in a long-running dispute over pay and conditions on the railway. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Ukrainians who fought against separatists tell of kidnap and torture by invaders; the fate of hundreds of others is a mysteryViktor Kushyn knew Russian soldiers were after him. He sensed it from the first day of Moscow's full-scale war on Ukraine in February last year, when Russians occupied his village in the Kharkiv region.So when two Russian service personnel stopped him in the street one morning in May 2022, he didn't resist. He spent the next few days locked in a cellar with other men who, like him, had fought against Russian-backed separatists between 2014 and 2022 in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Continue reading...

Musicians say they can't afford to go on the road any more, while smaller events are cut back or cancelledMusicians are dropping out of festivals because huge rises in the cost of performing are outstripping their fees. Artists told the Observer they have had to turn down offers to play or cut out elements of their live shows, while others have revealed they have lost as much as 17,000 for a single performance.Although ticket prices have risen by 15% on average, the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) warned that the costs of staging a show are up by 30%, and that gap is costing both artists and promoters. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Surveys show steady support for industrial action by doctors and nurses in pay disputeMost Britons support healthcare workers in their wave of strikes over pay and conditions this year despite the worsening disruption, polling shows.About two-thirds of the public said they supported striking nurses, ambulance workers and junior doctors, despite growing numbers of appointments and operations having to be cancelled, according to Ipsos polling carried out between January and June. Continue reading...

Decision by UK and other European powers comes amid uncertainty over future of 2015 agreementThe UK and other European powers are expected to announce plans to breach the 2015 Iran nuclear deal for the first time when they confirm they are not going to lift sanctions on Tehran's use of missiles this October as required in the agreement.Donald Trump took the US out of the nuclear deal in 2018, but Germany, France and the UK remained inside the deal, even though Iran responded to the US walkout by breaching the agreed limits on the quality and quantity of enriched uranium. Iran is closer to producing weapons grade uranium than ever before. Continue reading...

Charities say some patients will struggle to access the help they needTwice as many people with mental health conditions are being given virtual therapy on the NHS compared with before the pandemic began.An Observer analysis of data from private providers, cross-checked against NHS figures, reveals around one in three mental health treatments in England are delivered online, up from one in five in 2019, and one in 10 in 2017. Patients with mild to moderate depression or anxiety can be referred to app- or web-based, self-guided cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) courses, instead of traditional face-to-face talking therapies. Continue reading...

Peter Dutton, meanwhile, lashes companies supporting yes campaign saying they lacked a significant backbone'

Left shifts tactics to go with the grain' of Keir Starmer's projectLabour will come under pressure to back abolishing the two-child limit on benefits, promise universal free school meals and restore the international development department, as activists and trade unions attempt to persuade Keir Starmer to adopt a more ambitious policy platform.With the Labour leadership using the last few weeks to jettison or correct potentially problematic policies before an election campaign next year, it now faces a summer of concerted campaigning from figures across the party who want it to be bolder in its pledges. Continue reading...

Cost of living crisis and rising interest rates forcing more people to become trapped in poverty'The number of UK households struggling with heavy debt has increased by two thirds since 2017, according to new analysis. Debt Justice, a charity that campaigns against unjust debt, has found that about 12.8 million adults in the UK are falling behind on bills or finding repayments a heavy burden. It is calling for urgent action to prevent people being trapped in poverty".The findings come after the Bank of England increased interest rates to 5% last month, the highest level for 15 years. Financial markets now expect the Bank to raise rates to as much as 6.25% by the end of the year. Continue reading...

Mishap occurred as 23-year-old celebrated Territory Day with surgeons later attempting to reattach arm at Royal Darwin hospital

Most domestic and international departures on time after two troublesome days but Qantas still reported 20 cancellations on Sunday

Vasyl Myroshnychenko says foreign minister does understand Ukraine well but when you visit it gives you a different angle'

Investigators say hiker not in any trouble' but could help determine tourist's movements prior to her disappearance

Putin's admission of funding Wagner could open doors for war crimes trial; Zelenskiy warns of serious threat' at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant

At-risk children between 12 and 17 reported seeing promotions from a wide range of sources including their homes, school and social media

Despite the Climate Change Committee's warnings to stop growing capacity, Gatwick is gearing up for another try at a second runwaySo what bit of no new airport capacity" did airports not understand? The Climate Change Committee (CCC) spelled it out again on Wednesday: flying accounted for 7% of UK carbon emissions last year, the trend is upwards, and more airport capacity is incompatible" with national net zero targets.Of course, they've said it before: but as the committee noted in its 2023 progress report, airports have since have been racing to expand. This time, hammering it home, the CCC says that no expansion at all should go ahead until the government sorts out a proper way to manage it. Continue reading...

Police braced for unrest after funeral for Nahel, killed by police on Tuesday, held near Paris on SaturdayMore than 1,000 people were arrested in the fourth night of unrest, as family and friends prepare to bury the 17-year-old fatally shot by police.Associated Press reports that France's interior ministry said that 1,311 people were arrested as protesters once again clashed with police. Continue reading...

Warwick McKibbin says Australia's central bank has been slow to react as supply pressures from Covid and war in Ukraine abate

Incident at South Australia's Kurlana Tapa centre was downplayed, lawyer claims, but government says safety and wellbeing of children is highest priority'

Health service shown to be under some of worst pressure in its history in week Rishi Sunak launched plan to retain and recruit workforce You start thinking you will crack': former NHS tell their storiesNearly 170,000 workers left their jobs in the NHS in England last year, in a record exodus of staff struggling to cope with some of the worst pressures ever seen in the country's health system, the Observer can reveal.More than 41,000 nurses were among those who left their jobs in NHS hospitals and community health services, with the highest leaving rate for at least a decade. The number of staff leaving overall rose by more than a quarter in 2022, compared to 2019. Continue reading...

Emmanuel Macron has to find a way to deal with the anger and resentment simmering in communities on the marginsAt about 3am last Friday I was woken up by what sounded like gunfire. I wasn't far wrong. From the back windows of my apartment in southern Paris I could make out fireworks being hurled at the police and hear the immediate response with flash-balls", the less than lethal" weapons used by French police for riot control.I had spent the evening following the news coverage of the violent riots that were breaking out spontaneously all over France. There were familiar images of cars and buildings on fire and heavily armed police lines - familiar at least to anyone who has lived through the past few years of angry protest in France. But what was most disturbing about these riots was the sheer scale of it all: the violence was not just contained to the banlieues of the big cities but was everywhere, including picturesque towns such as Montargis in the Loiret. Continue reading...

Man, 23, and 15-year-old Leonardo Reid stabbed to death in north London on Thursday, while third man also woundedA man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a young man and a teenage boy were stabbed to death in north London.The 46-year-old man was arrested on Saturday afternoon and was in custody at a north London police station. Continue reading...

Gen Mark Milley says no one should have any illusions about difficulty of Ukrainian offensive

In 2021 Emmanuel Macron promised victims of the city's drug crime he would help. Grieving residents tell how he failed themInside, Emmanuel Macron was sharing a typically polished vision of a rejuvenated, safer Marseille. Yet it was outside the spruced-up gym in the impoverished Busserine district - tensions building on the hottest day of the year - where the real story was playing out.Little more than 12 hours before the police killing of a 17-year-old boy 500 miles north in Nanterre would convulse the country, scores of officers clutching assault rifles and bulletproof riot shields clashed with teenagers of north African descent, trading insults as officers profiled potential troublemakers. Continue reading...

Truck lost control at notorious junction in Londiani, hitting people and vehicles in latest road catastropheThe death toll of a road crash in western Kenya rose to 52 on Saturday, officials said, as rescuers worked to clear the wreckage from one of the deadliest traffic accidents in the country in recent years.A truck carrying a shipping container veered out of control and ploughed into multiple other vehicles and people thronging a busy roadside junction on Friday evening, plunging the nation into shock and mourning. Continue reading...

President Macron cancels visit to Germany amid France's worst violence for 18 years

Local government minister Lee Rowley says he has concerns about value for money for taxpayersA minister has ordered a Cambridgeshire council to end its experiment" with a four-day working week.South Cambridgeshire district council had announced plans to extend its trial until next April but it has been overruled. Continue reading...

Prime minister says he experienced racist abuse when growing up but progress has been made in tackling itRishi Sunak has spoken of the pain he felt from racism when he was growing up, as he said he believed the cricketing authorities were committed to stamping out widespread discrimination in the game.Speaking to the BBC's Test Match Special during the Ashes Test at Lord's, the prime minister said he felt the sting" of racism while growing up. He said his children were less likely to be exposed to racist abuse because of the progress made in tackling it. Continue reading...

On day to remember 160th anniversary of abolition of slavery in Netherlands, Willem-Alexander says racism is still a problemThe Dutch king, Willem-Alexander, has apologised for the Netherlands' historical involvement in slavery and the effects that it still has today.The king was speaking in Amsterdam on the 160th anniversary of the legal abolition of slavery in the Netherlands, including in former colonies in the Caribbean. Continue reading...

Admission that Russia paid 86bn roubles to Yevgeny Prigozhin's mercenaries this year is potentially significant, say legal expertsVladimir Putin's efforts to end a coup by the Wagner group may have made it easier for an international court to prosecute him, and the Russian state, for war crimes committed by the mercenary fighters, according to experts in international law.After the mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin said the mercenaries had been fully funded" by Russian authorities. In the year to May 2023 alone, they received more than 86bn roubles from the state budget, or over a billion dollars, he added. Continue reading...

Tory peer says in light of Thames Water troubles that firms should not have been allowed to borrow so muchThe former Conservative leader Michael Howard has stood by the privatisation of the water sector, of which he was a leading proponent, despite the crisis surrounding Thames Water.The Conservative peer did admit, however, that with hindsight some companies should have been prevented from taking on so much debt. Continue reading...

Met police make arrests after activists block parade in Piccadilly by sitting in front of Coca-Cola truckJust Stop Oil protesters have disrupted London's Pride march in protest over the event accepting sponsorship money from high-polluting industries".A number of protesters were arrested after blocking the road in front of a Coca-Cola truck. Continue reading...

The Wagner mercenary group boss who marched on Moscow has had his internet outlets blocked and troll factory closed downSuddenly, Yevgeny Prigozhin is a phantom. Is he in Belarus or St Petersburg? In unconfirmed footage that makes him look like a Bond villain, he struts across a rooftop, shadowed by a muscled bodyguard, takes a seat in a helicopter, and vanishes into the skies of St Petersburg.For nearly a decade, Prigozhin has sown scandal in Russia, creating a troll factory empire, leading Russia's interference into foreign elections and bankrolling the Wagner mercenary group that fought in Ukraine and has propped up dictators in Africa. Continue reading...