Morning news brief: US campus protests; Trump hush money trial; and more

Over 2,100 people have been arrested in pro-Palestinian protests across US campuses, with the faculty at UCLA joining students in demonstrations, amid concerns for student safety. Meanwhile, in the ongoing hush money trial of former US president Donald Trump, allegations of extortion have surfaced, marking a contentious Day 10 in court.

In other news, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, now jailed, has in an article claimed that the only option left for the military establishment is to murder him and that he prefers death over what he calls "slavery."

In Indian politics, Rahul Gandhi will run for the Lok Sabha seat in Rae Bareli, taking over the spot from his mother, Sonia Gandhi, who recently moved to the Rajya Sabha.

Pro-Palestinian protestors at UCLA received unexpected support this week. Faculty members, alerted by a student call for help, volunteered to join the protest.

"Students expressed feeling unsafe," said Graeme Blair, a political science professor, "and they wanted our assistance in improving the situation."

Donald Trump, after a day slamming his democrat rival Joe Biden in campaign rallies, returned to court on Thursday (May 2) for his hush-money trial. Day 10 of the trial saw Trump and his team allege that the hush money was nothing short of "extortion".

Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan has said that the military establishment in the country would murder him, adding he would prefer death to slavery. In an article for the British daily, The Telegraph, Khan, the chairperson of the Pakistan-Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), wrote on Thursday (May 2) that in today's time, Pakistan and its people stand in confrontation with each other.

The suspense over nominations in two Congress strongholds in north India—Amethi and Rae Bareli— has finally ended. Surprisingly, Rahul Gandhi has been announced as the party candidate from Rae Bareli, the seat vacated by his mother Sonia Gandhi when she moved to Rajya Sabha.