Protests in solidarity with Gaza are sweeping across colleges in the U.S.; the U.S. Supreme Court is considering a case involving the Starbucks union.

In recent days, protests in support of Gaza have swept across universities in the United States, and tensions in educational institutions have reached a peak. Students from Columbia, Yale, and New York universities were arrested during the protests. The administration of Columbia University decided to move classes online in an attempt to "reduce the intensity of emotions." On the campuses of the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Michigan, students set up tent camps in support of Gaza. Recent events at Columbia include actions by students demanding that the university divest from companies with ties to Israel.

NPR representative Jasmine Garst spoke with students at Columbia University and noted their demands, which include urging the institution to "disclose information about its investments and stop funding weapons technologies and companies associated with Israel." She also pointed out that among the protesters were Jewish students who emphasized that there is no single voice in this movement. These protests highlight the diversity of opinions within the Jewish community.

The situation in the United Kingdom

Meanwhile, in the UK today, lawmakers approved a plan to deport refugees to Rwanda. Rishi Sunak's government is prepared to pay Rwanda for processing and resettling those who seek asylum in the United Kingdom. This initiative is generating mixed opinions:

• SupportersIt is claimed that it is a "creative solution" for fixing the broken system.
• CriticsIt is claimed that this contradicts human rights.

Prime Minister Sunak views this policy as a "powerful deterrent" intended to stop people from making dangerous attempts to cross the border illegally into the UK. However, there are concerns that legal difficulties may result in only a small number of people being sent to Rwanda. Given that this could cost hundreds of millions of taxpayer pounds and tarnish the UK's reputation, critics are questioning whether such a policy is worth the expense.

The Starbucks case

Today, Starbucks is set to appear before the Supreme Court, and the case is not about coffee, but rather about how much the government can intervene in the protection of workers' rights during labor investigations. In February 2022, seven Starbucks employees in Tennessee were fired shortly after announcing their intention to form a union. Starbucks claims that the employees violated numerous corporate rules, including allowing a film crew onto restricted property.

The judges will hear arguments about whether there was an error by the lower court, which ordered Starbucks to reinstate fired employees until the investigation is complete. Over the past few decades, labor laws have complicated the process of forming unions and filing labor complaints, according to NPR.

Cultural news

As for cultural news, artists UMI and Louis VI have released new songs featuring natural sounds in collaboration with the UN Museum as part of a project for Earth Day. This mixtape includes celebrities such as Ellie Goulding, Brian Eno, and the heirs of David Bowie, who aim to connect pop culture with environmental issues. All royalties from streaming will be directed to organizations focused on nature conservation.

Secrets of longevity

Additionally, as part of NPR's special series "How to Thrive with Age," the secrets of longevity are being explored. One of the treatments used by many for diabetes may have additional benefits. Scientists studying the biology of aging are launching a clinical trial of metformin to determine whether its anti-inflammatory effects can contribute to a longer and healthier life. Metformin was first used to treat diabetes in France in the 1950s and received FDA approval in the 1990s. Research has shown that metformin may reduce the risk of certain types of cancer and improve cardiovascular outcomes. Scientists hope that this clinical trial will change the approach to treating age-related diseases from an isolated method to a comprehensive one aimed at treating aging as a whole.

News from the world of board games

Finally, a new version of the popular board game Catan will soon be released, which will take into account issues of energy production and environmental pollution. The latest news from NASA reports that the Voyager 1 probe is once again transmitting data. After troubleshooting issues that arose over the past few months, the probe has resumed sending valuable information.

Conclusion

In light of the homeless issue, the Supreme Court has for the first time expressed support for a ban on sleeping in public places in one of the cities in Oregon. This digest was prepared by Majd Al-Waheedi.