More than a thousand supporters at a pro-Palestine encampment in California face arrest by police, a day after it was attacked by pro-Israel counter-protesters
Tensions are growing at the University of California where hundreds of police in riot gear have gathered after warning pro-Palestinian protesters to disperse or face arrest, a day after their encampment was violently attacked by masked counter-protesters.
Police began forming lines near the encampment at the Los Angeles campus and ordered the dispersal of more than a thousand people who had gathered in support of the protesters on Wednesday night, warning over loudspeakers that anyone who refused to leave could face arrest.
Continue reading...Party predicted to lose about half of the 1,000 seats it is defending in contest that could shape Rishi Sunak’s future
Voting has begun in local elections in England, where the Conservatives are braced for heavy losses that could destabilise Rishi Sunak’s premiership.
The elections, which cover more than 2,600 seats across 107 English councils, are seen as a key test of whether the Conservative party is as unpopular with voters as the polls suggest.
Continue reading...Swinney has won backing of several senior cabinet members and SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn
John Swinney is expected to announce that he will run for SNP leadership and first minister of Scotland.
Swinney, 60, a hugely experienced politician who joined the party at the age of 15 and has served in many roles across several administrations, including as party leader, has already won the backing of a number of senior cabinet members and the SNP’s Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn.
Continue reading...Postponements come hours after queueing fans were turned away from A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie gig on Wednesday evening
The troubled Co-op Live arena has postponed Olivia Rodrigo’s concerts as part of her Guts world tour because of a “technical issue”, hours after the last-minute cancellation of its opening concert for the third time.
Two hours after announcing that A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie would no longer be performing, the venue confirmed that Rodrigo’s concerts on 3 and 4 May had also been cancelled.
Continue reading...Exclusive: DNA expert whose work led to Andrew Malkinson case breakthrough says job should be given to forensic scientists
Interns have been given the job of weeding out potential wrongful convictions for rape and murder in a major case review prompted by Andrew Malkinson’s exoneration, the Guardian can reveal.
The miscarriage of justice body the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said last month that it would be re-examining cases it had refused to refer to the court of appeal to check for new DNA testing opportunities.
Continue reading...A senior Hamas official told AFP the group was looking to end the war but had reservations about the ceasefire plan
At least 34,596 Palestinians have been killed and 77,816 injured in Israel’s military offensive on Gaza since 7 October, according to new figures released by the Hamas-led health ministry in the territory.
In addition, according to the latest update from the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, since 7 October, 474 Palestinians including 116 children, have been killed in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and about 5,000 were injured. It reported that at least 457 were killed by Israeli forces, and at least ten by Israeli settlers.
Continue reading...Teenage boy died in attack by man armed with sword, while two police officers and two others were injured
A man has been charged with murder after a series of stabbings in Hainault on Tuesday that left a teenage boy dead.
Marcus Aurelio Arduini Monzo, 36, was charged with the murder of Daniel Anjorin, 14. He will appear at Barkingside magistrates court on Thursday.
Continue reading...Met Office says storms may cause travel disruption and flooding, leading to difficult driving conditions
Heavy thunderstorms overnight could give way to the warmest day of the year so far in Britain.
The same storm caused mudslides in northern France, which started around midnight and killed at least one person, a 57-year-old woman, and injured her partner.
Continue reading...Exclusive: 2003 study was cited as evidence that risks of hepatitis C could not have been foreseen at the time
A study cited at the infected blood inquiry, as evidence that the devastating consequences of blood products contaminated with hepatitis could not have been foreseen, misrepresented the results of a trial in making its case, the Guardian can reveal.
Up to 6,520 people are believed to have been infected with hepatitis C through imported factor VIII blood products in the 1970s and 80s, while a further 26,800 are estimated to have been infected with the virus though blood transfusions. About 2,000 people are estimated to have died as a result.
Continue reading...Global forecast contrasts with downbeat assessment for a British economy constrained by high interest rates, price rises and staff shortages
The UK’s economic outlook has worsened this year as high interest rates and the lingering effects of last year’s surge in inflation take a bigger toll on growth than previously expected, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
In a downbeat assessment of the potential for the economy to expand in 2024, the Paris-based thinktank downgraded its forecast for UK growth this year from last November’s forecast of 0.7% to 0.4%.
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