Artefacts on display in Oxford next month show the ‘humorous insights’ of a writer best known for his nightmarish stories As Franz Kafka awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into ... a funny guy, actually. The Prague-born writer, who died a century ago on 3 June, aged 40, is less renowned for his humour in novels and stories such as The Metamorphosis, The Trial and The Castle, and more for his nightmares of ordinary people trapped in impenetrable bureaucratic mazes ..read more

Council leaders warn of ‘infrastructure crisis’ that will also affect green energy schemes and hinder growth Housing projects are being delayed for years because of an “infra­structure crisis” caused by lack of capacity in the National Grid, council leaders have warned. Building schemes for thousands of homes are on hold, while new ­projects face delays of up to four years in some parts of the UK because of a ­lengthening queue of developers waiting to be connected ..read more

Scarlet Blake to serve minimum of 24 years for murdering Spanish engineer Jorge Martin Carreno • Warning: includes graphic content A cat killer obsessed with violence and death has been jailed for life with a minimum of 24 years after being convicted of murdering a man she deliberately targeted as part of a sexual fantasy. Scarlet Blake, 26, targeted Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, as he walked home from a night out in Oxford in July 2021 ..read more

Scarlet Blake, 26, brutally attacked Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, and left him to drown in July 2021 A woman who livestreamed herself killing, dissecting and blending the body of a cat before brutally attacking a man and leaving him to drown to death in a river months later has been convicted of murder. Scarlet Blake, 26, targeted Jorge Martin Carreno, 30, as he walked home from a night out in Oxford in July 2021 ..read more

My sister, Marian Kitching, who has died aged 92, was more widely known by her maiden and professional name, Marian Creaser. Initially in the north-east of England, and then for 50 years in Oxford, she was renowned as a pianist, accompanist, teacher, examiner and as an impassioned advocate of high standards in musical performance. Our parents, Polly (nee Hillaby) and Raymond Creaser, ran a newsagent’s business in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, but were also both accomplished musicians. Marian went to the local girls’ grammar school in Stockton, and from an early age was winning piano competi ..read more

Vigil is one of a series of events due to be held in the next few days in solidarity with people affected by events in Middle East A multi-faith peace march is due to be held in London on Sunday, aimed at easing the bitterness and tension over the Israel-Gaza war. The midday march from Trafalgar Square to Parliament Square and back is one of a series of events due to be held in the next few days and weeks in solidarity with people affected by conflict in Israel and Palestine. Gatherings are also planned in Birmingham and Oxford ..read more

Private operators are guaranteed faster journey times by the council in return for investment Oxford is launching an electric fleet that will make the city one of the UK’s leading adopters of zero-emission buses. The 159 new battery-powered buses will give Oxford more electric buses per capita than other cities including London, Glasgow and Leicester, under a pioneering arrangement in which the council will guarantee private operators faster journey times in return for investment ..read more

From law firm to farm: five Ukrainian refugees describe the wrench of adjusting to new lives in strange corners of Europe, as well as the opportunities and generosity they encountered Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, more than 8 million refugees have fled the country for Europe. But according to UNHCR data, only a third of them have found jobs since their displacement and many complain of underemployment. What is it like to flee your home and then try to earn a living in a foreign country? To lose a career and a lifetime’s work, and start all over again? Five Ukrainians tel ..read more

My friend Alice Cook, who has died aged 70, was a psychotherapist, writer, feminist and political activist. Her life’s work concerned health and wellness, especially for women. She was a nurse, a health visitor and managed various mental health projects in London for many years. She also worked with mentally ill patients and community health aides in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka, in 2010 and 2011, though she became sceptical of this type of volunteer work and questioned whether her skills and experience could really help in such a different context. She moved to Stroud, Gloucestershire, in 2016 and d ..read more

Oxford and Abingdon MP’s extended family among those sheltering in besieged Holy Family church in Gaza City Israel-Gaza war – live updates “I fear my family under siege by Israeli forces in a church in Gaza will not survive until Christmas, between the snipers and the lack of water.” Those were the stark words of Layla Moran, the MP for Oxford and Abingdon whose extended Christian Palestinian family members are among those who have been trapped inside the Holy Family church complex in Gaza City for 60 days ..read more