The Guardian 2022 August 29 – September 04

August 29

Revealed / ‘Disturbing’ race divide in cancer patients’ wait times in England Exclusive: analysis of 126,000 cases over a decade shows black and Asian people face longer delays   A damning review of the world’s largest primary care database by the University of Exeter and the Guardian discovered minority ethnic patients wait longer than white patients in six of seven cancers studied. Race and health leaders have called the results “deeply concerning” and “absolutely unacceptable”. The analysis of 126,000 cancer cases over a decade found the median time between a white person first presenting symptoms to a GP and getting diagnosed is 55 days. For Asian people, it is 60 days (9% longer). For black people, it is 61 days (11% longer).

Energy crisis / Nearly a quarter of UK adults plan to keep heating off this winter, poll finds

Party conferences / New Tory leader urged to scrap MPs’ break amid cost of living crisis

Notting Hill carnival / Colour and joy return to west London after three-year hiatus

Corner shops / Rising energy costs ‘will force thousands to close’

Worried about the cost of living? You’re a doomsaying lefty, says Liz Truss

Frances Ryan

August 30

Kherson / Zelenskiy tells Russian forces to flee amid Ukraine counteroffensive

President vows to push Russia’s military back to the border as advisers claim Ukrainian troops have breached frontline in several places

Ukrainian troops had broken through Russian defences in several areas of the frontline near Kherson city, Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, claimed. However, in a Telegram post, Arestovych cautioned against any expectations of a quick win, describing the offensive as a “slow operation to grind the enemy”. “Of course, many would like a large-scale offensive with news about the capture by our military of a settlement in an hour,” he wrote. “But we don’t fight like that … Funds are limited.”

Russia / Moscow alleges second Ukrainian involved in Darya Dugina killing

Security service claims without evidence that man helped assemble car bomb that exploded near Moscow

August 31

Mikhail Gorbachev / Soviet leader who ended cold war dies aged 91 Russian news agencies report death of last leader of Soviet Union at Central clinical hospital in Moscow

‘A true man of peace’ / What the papers say about the death of Mikhail Gorbachev

Kherson / Zelenskiy adviser warns progress will be slow as southern counterattack begins Zelenskiy aide claims troops have broken through Russian defences in several areas of frontline near Kherson

Rocket deception / Ukraine using wooden decoys to lure Russia into wasting its missiles – report

Food security / First ship carrying grain from Ukraine docks on Horn of Africa

Explained / Ukraine claims counteroffensive in the south

September 01

Cost of living crisis / Cold homes will cost children’s lives and cause long-term damage, warn experts

Winter ‘humanitarian crisis’ will damage children’s lungs and brain development   China / Treatment of Uyghurs may be crime against humanity, says UN human rights chief   The outgoing UN human rights commissioner, Michelle Bachelet, has said that China had committed “serious human rights violations” against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province which may amount to crimes against humanity.   “The extent of arbitrary and discriminatory detention of members of Uyghur and other predominantly Muslim groups, pursuant to law and policy, in context of restrictions and deprivation more generally of fundamental rights enjoyed individually and collectively, may constitute international crimes, in particular crimes against humanity.”   Security guards stand at the gates of what is officially known as a vocational skills education centre in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Reuters

European Union / Foreign ministers agree to suspend visa travel deal with Russia

September 02

‘Democracy is under assault’ / Biden warns US is imperiled by Trump and Maga extremists   Joe Biden warned that American democracy was in grave peril by Republican forces loyal to Donald Trump who “fan the flames” of political violence in pursuit of power at any cost.   “Donald Trump and the Maga Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic,”   Biden said in remarks delivered at Independence Hall. … “Maga forces are determined to take this country backwards,”   he said.   “Backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love.”

In a primetime address, the president further said the Republican party was ‘dominated, driven and intimidated’ by Trump

Zaporizhzhia / IAEA team arrive after shelling delay

Rafael Grossi praises work of plant staff and says inspectors will remain on Russian-occupied site

September 03 – September 04

Live / Russia-Ukraine war: Ukrainian forces ‘exploiting poor Russian leadership’; EU outcry at gas pipeline closure Ukraine invasion Analysis / Russia’s hybrid war on Ukraine extends to new terrain as Gazprom cuts supply to Europe Energy war with west has exploded after weeks of tension

UK says Ukraine achieved ‘tactical surprise’ with latest counter-offensive; EU rejects Moscow reasoning for Nord Stream closure Nord Stream 1: Gazprom announces indefinite shutdown of pipeline