Pro-Palestinian protests spread to more college campuses in the United States as authorities appeared to be running out of patience and police began to push back forcefully. Riot officers used chemical irritants and tasers at one university as administrators at some of the country's most prestigious institutions battled to prevent occupations taking hold.

Atlanta

Pro-Palestinian protests have intensified across numerous college campuses throughout the United States, leading to a stark escalation in the response from law enforcement agencies. In a particularly forceful instance at one university, officers resorted to chemical irritants and tasers to disperse protestors. This intensification comes amid growing tensions as administrators from some of America's most renowned academic institutions endeavor to thwart the establishment of protest occupations.

At Emory University in Atlanta, the situation reached significant levels of confrontation. Armed with riot gear and semi-automatic rifles, police officers evacuated a camp of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, a move that has sparked controversy and claims of excessive force by many students. Witnesses described scenes of unnecessary violence against peaceful protestors, including incidents where students were forcibly knocked to the ground.

The protests, part of a broader national movement spanning from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, and New York, are driven by opposition to the war in Gaza. Demonstrators, many of them students, are not only pressing their educational institutions but also the U.S. government to sever financial ties with Israel. This push comes in the aftermath of the Senate's approval of an additional $26 billion in aid to Israel, fueling the discontent among protestors who criticize the funding's implications on the conflict.

The demonstrators articulate a deep frustration over the use of taxpayer money to support what they view as the unjust treatment of Palestinians. Amid these escalating protests, universities have responded by enlisting police support to evacuate participants, citing trespassing violations and concerns over the protests inciting anti-Semitism on campus. This stance is echoed by the U.S. State Department, which condemned the observed rhetoric in the protests as inflammatory, offensive, and steeped in anti-Semitism.

Nevertheless, protestors and affiliated pro-Palestinian groups staunchly refute the accusations of anti-Semitism, arguing instead that their critical stance on the conflict is being misconstrued as an attack on Jewish people. This debate reached new heights following the arrests of over 100 demonstrators at Columbia University, prompting a pro-Palestinian group to file a civil rights complaint, alleging an unjust crackdown on their freedom to protest and express political opinions.



Pro-Palestinian U.S. campus protests grow as police crack down

Give me a reason why you're doing this, I go to this school. Scenes of chaos on the Emory University campus in Atlanta, as police in riot gear, some holding semi-automatic rifles, cleared out a camp of pro-Palestinian protesters. A heavy use of force, which many students felt was unjustified and disproportionate. This is insane. I just saw police use unnecessary violence for peaceful protesters. I saw police knock students to the ground. From Los Angeles to Austin, Texas to New York, students across the U.S. continued to protest against the war in Gaza. Many were calling on their schools, but also on the U.S. government to divest from Israel, days after the Senate approved an additional $26 billion in aid for the Jewish state. I'm here because I'm tired of my taxpayer money, everybody's taxpayer money, funding the killing of innocents. The latest wave of protests triggered a heavy-handed security response, with universities in some cases calling on police to forcefully evacuate students. They've accused the protesters of trespassing and of fueling anti-Semitism on campus, an argument reiterated by the U.S. State Department on Thursday. As part of these demonstrations happening on various college campuses, happening in various places, we have seen rhetoric, language, commentary that is incendiary, that is offensive, that is rooted in anti-Semitism. Protesters and activists have denied accusations of anti-Semitism and say they're being silenced for expressing a political opinion. On Thursday, a pro-Palestinian group filed a civil rights complaint against Columbia University following the arrests of over 100 demonstrators earlier this week.

The bodies of Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson have been formally identified after their grieving family arrived in Mexico. Authorities have arrested four people in connection with the alleged murders.

Baja California

Grieving family arrives in Mexico to identify brothers remains

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Seoul

Chinese fighter jet detonates flares near Australian helicopter

Israel's military has carried out airstrikes in Rafah, residents said, hours after Israel told Palestinians to evacuate parts of the southern Gaza city where more than a million people uprooted by the war have been sheltering.

Jerusalem

Israel-Gaza War

Israel strikes Rafah after evacuation order, residents say

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Soloviove

Ukraine Invasion

Russia advances in Ukraine's east, announces nuclear drills

Chinese President Xi Jinping awoke in Paris on Monday on his first visit to the region in five years, with trade and Russia's war with Ukraine on the agenda in talks with France's Emmanuel Macron and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen.

Paris

China's Xi Jinping pays state visit to France

Israel has ordered civilians in Rafah to move towards Khan Younis, in the clearest sign yet that a military operation is imminent. A ceasefire in Gaza looks as distant as ever with Hamas refusing to lay down arms unless there is a complete cessation of the war. Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would go it alone if necessary, even in the face of criticism from its Western allies.

Rafah

Israeli army orders Palestinians to evacuate parts of Rafah

The bodies Australian brothers, Jake and Callum Robinson have been identified by authorities in Baja California, Mexico. It comes as their grieving parents arrive in the country.

Council of the City of Sydney

Brothers identified as victims of Mexico robbery

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Mascot

Qantas ordered to pay compensation over 'ghost flight' scandal

A former detective is facing allegations of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman whose case he was initially assigned to investigate. Accused of exploiting his authority, Glenn Coleman, 55, has been charged with 10 offences,

Penrith

Police officer accused of assaulting rape victim

The death toll from heavy rains that have caused flooding in Brazil's southern state of Rio Grande do Sul has risen to at least 78, local authorities said, with more than 115,000 people displaced.

State of Rio Grande do Sul

Climate Crisis

Death toll rises in record-breaking Brazil floods

China's President Xi Jinping has arrived in France for a rare visit with President Emmanuel Macron. They are set to discuss trade, amid growing tension between Europe and China over an imbalance between China's exports and European imports.

China's Xi Jinping visits Europe amid global tensions

While several pro-Palestinian campus protests in the U.S. were dismantled over the weekend, others became more disruptive and interrupted at least one graduation ceremony.

Chicago

Protests disrupt graduation ceremonies at U.S. universities

Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu flatly ruled that out.

Tel Aviv-Yafo

Gaza truce hopes fade as Israel, Hamas trade blame

The Israeli cabinet has voted to unanimously shut down Al Jazeera's operations in the country. That's according to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a statement on X. 
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Israel announces ban of Al Jazeera channel, website

Australian police said they have shot dead a boy after he stabbed a man in Western Australia's capital Perth, in an attack authorities said indicated terrorism.

Perth

Australian police shoot boy dead after stabbing

Sadiq Khan has been elected mayor of London, winning a historic third term after a dramatic contest. Khan was declared the winner over the Conservative candidate, Susan Hall with 43.8% of the vote.

London

Sadiq Khan elected London mayor for third term

Floods have killed at least 58 people in southern Brazil. Nearly 70,000 have been forced from their homes. Tens of thousands of people have been left without drinking water or electricity. It's the worst flooding the region has seen in more than 80 years.

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Students at the University of California in Irvine say they will remain on campus until all their demands are met. School officials say they'll continue to negotiate with the protesters -- and are hoping to reach a deal soon.

Irvine

Police, protesters in stand-off at California university

The Federal Government will cut $3 billion in student debts, in measures to be announced in next week's budget. The reforms will see the student loans of three million graduates by an average of $1200 and changes to loan indexation.

Camperdown

Labor to wipe $3 billion of student debts

Mexican authorities have charged three suspects over the disappearance of Australian brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad. It's believed the tourists became embroiled in a bungled robbery. Four bodies were found near the trio's abandoned campsite, but are yet to be formally identified.

Mexican authorities lay charges over Australian brothers' disappearance

A knife-wielding teenage boy has been shot dead by police in Bunnings carpark in Willetton, Perth. The 16-year-old boy had phoned Triple Zero saying he planned ‘acts of violence’ and stabbed a male member of the public. The WA Police Commissioner says the teenager had ‘mental health and radicalisation issues’.

Willetton

Police shoot dead ‘radicalised’ teenage boy in Perth

The death toll from rains in Brazil's southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul rose to 57, local authorities said on Saturday (May 4) afternoon, while dozens still have not been accounted for.

Dozens missing amid record-breaking Brazil flooding

There are renewed hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza after a Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo to continue talks amid reports of a proposal agreed to by Israel to halt fighting for an initial 40 days in exchange for the release of hostages.

Hopes rise for Gaza ceasefire amid Hamas talks

Students showing support for Palestinians have set up camp outside the University College London. They say they'll continue their protest until the university divests from Israeli institutions that 'profit from the war in Gaza'.

Pro-Palestine university protests spread to London

Dozens of Palestinians have held a demonstration in the West Bank, to condemn the killing of five Palestinian fighters. Crowds rallied hours after Israeli troops attacked the fighters in the village of Deir al Ghoson.

Five Palestinian fighters killed during West Bank raid

Dozens of people in two rubber dinghies have reached the southern coast of England, the latest among thousands of asylum-seeking migrants to make the risky sea crossing from France this year.

Dover

Asylum seekers arrive in England despite Rwanda threat

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Canberra

Pressure mounts on Immigration Minister after latest detainee incident

Mexican authorities have reportedly discovered a fourth body near the cliff site where Perth brothers Jake and Callum Robinson disappeared, along with their American friend Jack Carter Rhoad. The Australian family of the brothers are en route to Mexico. The bodies are yet to be formally identified.

Ensenada

Fourth body discovered in Mexico search for Australian brothers

Ukraine is eagerly waiting for Western aid as Russia racks up more victories on the battlefield. Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on a visit to Kyiv gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use British weapons to strike directly at Russia.

Kyiv

U.K. allows its weapons to be used on Russian soil

Canadian police have charged three Indian men with the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year and said they were probing whether the men had ties to the Indian government.