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

• US campus protests: live updates
• Where are the US college campus protests and what is happening?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dozens of demonstrators in Peckham surround coach before it can take people to barge in Dorset

A coach sent to collect asylum seekers and take them to the Bibby Stockholm barge has been surrounded by protesters in south London.

Dozens of demonstrators in Peckham have blocked a coach before it was able to pick up passengers by surrounding it on all sides.

A senior Hamas official told AFP the group was looking to end the war but had reservations about the ceasefire plan

The EU has offered Lebanon a financial package of €1bn (£855m / $1.07bn), European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Beirut on Thursday.

The funds would be available from this year until 2027, von der Leyen told a joint news conference with Lebanon’s prime minister Najib Mikati and Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides.

This continued EU support will strengthen basic services such as education, social protection and health for the people in Lebanon. It will accompany urgent economic, financial and banking reforms. Furthermore, support will be provided to the Lebanese armed forces and other security forces with equipment and training for border management and to fight against smuggling.

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.

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.

UK constrained by high interest rates, price rises and staff shortages but thinktank offers optimistic outlook for global economy

The UK will be the worst-performing economy in the G7 next year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, as high interest rates and the lingering effects of last year’s surge in inflation weigh.

In a downbeat assessment, the Paris-based thinktank also downgraded its forecast for UK growth this year to 0.4% from a November forecast of 0.7%.