welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore. i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines: police in georgia crack down on protesters as thousands demonstrate against controversial new laws. this is the scene live in the capital tbilisi. this place outside georgia's parliament in at the capital tbilisi has been the scene of so many anti—government and anti— russia process over the years but this time the government may have gone too far. an investigation into the killing of the black woman breonna taylor concludes that a us police force indulged in routine discrimination, illegal searches and the use

of excessive force. why the dutch government says it'll restrict the export of some equipment used to make microchips, citing national and international security concerns. and australia looks set to become the first country in the world to totally eliminate cervical cancer. live from our studio in singapore, this is bbc news. it's newsday. welcome to bbc news, broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. we begin in the former soviet republic of georgia, where large crowds have been protesting against new laws which critics say will limit freedoms. i will limit freedoms. want to take you to the latest

i want to take you to the latest information that we are getting out from georgia, and as we understand it to police have been using water cannons, teargas, and it is taking place in that capital city of tbilisi, but live scenes on the ground right now is what you are seeing on your screens. there are people, obviously, who are very upset and angry over the last couple of days. we have seen thousands of demonstrators out on the streets there, and in the protests, there have been major demonstrations, talking mainly about the restriction of civil liberties, of course, the anger over the floor. we can hear more help from our correspondent round dimitri. every moment in history has its iconic image. this may be

george's. on tuesday, thousands of protesters stood for europe and it stood their ground against water cannons, teargas and pepper spray. they even fought back. 55 police were injured. protesters have been outraged by what has been happening in parliament. pro—government mps spoiling for a fight with the opposition and then backing a controversial foreign agents bill. the law would require ngos and media that give more than 20% of their funding from that give more than 20% of theirfunding from broad —— that get more than 20% of the funding from broad label themselves as foreign agents. it is like russia's foreign agent law which has been used to stigmatise and silence foreign voices. the georgian

government says it wants more transparency and that the bill has been copied from an american law but in a statement the united states embassy in tbilisi described it as kremlin inspired legislation, and said it was a dark day for georgian democracy. this place outside georgia's parliament in the capital of tbilisi has been the scene of so many anti—government and auntie russia protests over the years but this time the government may have gone too far. the country's opposition is powerless to change things inside parliament because the government holds the majority of seats, but it does not mean that the people of georgia are ready to give up the fight for their country to have a future in europe. their country to have a future in eur0pe-— their country to have a future in euroe. ~ , ., ., .,, in europe. we belong to europe. we are europe. _ in europe. we belong to europe. we are europe. i— in europe. we belong to europe. we are europe. i am _ in europe. we belong to europe. we are europe. i am here - in europe. we belong to europe. we are europe. i am here with l all we are europe. i am here with all these _ we are europe. i am here with all these people _ we are europe. i am here with all these people to _ we are europe. i am here with all these people to guarantee| all these people to guarantee that there will never be a russian _ that there will never be a russian rule here ever. on the international— russian rule here ever. on the international stage, _ russian rule here ever. on the international stage, georgia'sl international stage, georgia's authority said they want to

join the eu, but their actions back at home speak louder than their words abroad. this could be georgia's moments — the first stirrings of mass unrest against the government that appears increasingly out of sync with its own population. in other top stories for you today. the usjustice department has delivered a damning indictment of louisville police department over the fatal shooting of a black woman in 2020. breonna taylor was shot dead by police during a raid on her home in 2020. an investigation by thejustice department has concluded that the police department in louisville routinely discriminated against black people, used excessive force, and conducted illegal searches. here is what attorney—general merrick garland had to say. lmpd uses excessive force, including unjustified neck restraints and the unreasonable use of police dogs and tasers, conduct searches based on invalid warrants,

unlawfully executes warrants without knocking and announcing, unlawfully stops, searches, detains, and arrests people, unlawfully discriminates against black people in enforcement activities. our north america correspondent, nada tawfik has more. she spoke to me a little earlier. the department ofjustice, after the black lives matter movement in 2020, really took off after the killings of george floyd and breonna taylor. they have launched these investigations. now, the investigation into minneapolis is still ongoing. but here we have a really damning indictment about what happened in louisville, kentucky. in this 86—page report

you heard the attorney general merrick garland outlining there just exactly how this was a pattern of racial discrimination. i mean, he detailed how police officers videotaped themselves throwing drinks from their cars at people, how they insulted disabled people, how they used racial slurs against black citizens, calling them things like �*animal,’ �*monkey�*, vboy-v and he said this extended even into the department's practices when it was looking into sexual assault calls, or other calls that were of a sensitive nature, and he said that this really eroded the community trust that is so needed when we are talking about effective policing in communities. so this really speaks, i think, to what a lot of activists have been saying, that there is a widespread toxic culture in policing that needs to be addressed. merrick garland talked about the fact that there are cops who do theirjob very well and serve the community, all but that he did see this pattern here. and i think that makes this report incredibly significant. so where do we go from here now that, as you point out, there has been such a great deal of detail and evidence

in that report? where do we go from here? well, if you look at louisville, what the attorney general has reached with the city and the government there is what's called a legally binding consent decree. so they actually have to have a monitor that will oversee a lot of the reforms that they have agreed now to put in place as a result of this report. if we look at what happened with tyree nichols in memphis, well, the police chief there has actually asked the department ofjustice to look at their practices and to come up with recommendations. and we know that the department ofjustice is more widely looking at some of these specialised police units. remember, five of the police officers who beat and killed tyree nichols, who are now facing murder charges, second degree murder charges, they were part of a specialised unit that was actually supposed to reduce crime in these areas. but what many citizens there said actuallyjust led to an intimidating the community.

so i think we are now seeing some of these reforms having to be put in place. i think for, you know, social justice advocates, they're going to continue pushing for those reforms and trying to hold these police departments to account to see if anything really changes. to the netherlands now, and the dutch government says it'll restrict the export of certain types of equipment used to make microchips, or semiconductors, on the grounds of national and international security. it comes after pressure from the united states to get the netherlands to restrict china's access to high—end chip technology, but the government did not mention china by name. it said the restrictions, which it hopes to have in place before summer, would help prevent dutch chips being used for undesirable military applications, and cited a technology used by the leading dutch manufacturer of semiconductors, asml.

in all for more let's go to san francisco, where we can in all francisco, where we can speak to sean hollister. he's a senior editor at technology website the verge. it is great to get you on the programme, sean, and perhaps just to explain to audiences why this is so significant and for the consequences of this are, in particularfor china. well, it is particularly significant because asml is the supplier of ultraviolet machines that are used to create the most advanced semiconductor chips. they are the only supplier of this kind of machine and they supply tsmc which is the leading company producing semiconductors out of china and taiwan it so when a company, tsmc that produces an estimated 92% of the world's

most advanced chips can't get what it needs to do that, it could be very significant for the global supply of those chips, the kind of chips you would your iphone, in the new nividia graphics card in your computer or the ais that are giving you the interesting jackpot results. we haven't read a lot _ jackpot results. we haven't read a lot those _ jackpot results. we haven't read a lot those chat - jackpot results. we haven't read a lot those chat box. i jackpot results. we haven't - read a lot those chat box. what does this mean for consumers? does everything become more expensive or does it give an edge when it comes to developing high enter text? there is an important question about the edge that they might get when the almost monopoly force of tsmc is reduced by any amount whatsoever. intel used these same ultraviolet machines. they are now using many machines from asml as

well. they would love to increase the competitiveness and there are many policies in place including the united states to help companies like intel do that. that said, tsmc is so big and produces so many of the chips for many of the world's most profitable leading companies, like apple and so on that i don't imagine it is going to make a huge difference, and as far as regular consumers go there is less interested in buying electronics. there has been an economic downturn as i am sure every viewer of the station is aware, and there is less demand for those chips, so if tsmc can't use as many of the cutting—edge gypsy does necessarily mean they will be a short trip of existing chips. it is not like the netherlands is taking back machines it sent to china already. if is taking back machines it sent to china already.— to china already. if we can 'ust to china already. if we can just take _ to china already. if we can just take a _ to china already. if we can just take a step _ to china already. if we can just take a step back - to china already. if we can i just take a step back because to china already. if we can - just take a step back because a lot of the time when we have these discussions, particularly with analysts from china,

beijing and the government there often say this is not really about national security. it is about the us trying to ensure that it stays ahead when it comes to high—end technology in the future. what is your assessment of that? tsmc is so bi and assessment of that? tsmc is so big and powerful— assessment of that? tsmc is so big and powerful and _ assessment of that? tsmc is so big and powerful and so - big and powerful and so important to many us companies that i do not see it as a matter of competitiveness rather than reliance dependents. there is so much reliance dependence on china that can be a national security issue, just in case china decided not to provide all of these semiconductors, regardless of any kinds of security risks that might exist, but also for the netherlands, asml is an incredibly important influential company in the netherlands and have twice accused china to try to steal their secrets to build these machines themselves, so there is a desire from china to cut off the rest of the world and

manufacture their own chips from scratch.— from scratch. sean hollister there, senior _ from scratch. sean hollister there, senior editor - from scratch. sean hollister there, senior editor at - from scratch. sean hollister there, senior editor at the l there, senior editor at the technology website the verge, thank you so much forjoining us on newsday. you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme: the lionesses, england's women's football team, use international women's day to announce new funding for girls' sports in the uk. the numbers of dead and wounded defied belief. this the worst terrorist atrocity on european soil in modern times. in less than 24 hours then, the soviet union lost an elderly sick leader and replaced him with a dynamic figure 20 years hisjunior. we heard these - gunshots in the gym. then he came out through a fire exit and started firing _ at our huts. god, we were all petrified. james earl ray, aged ai,

sentenced to 99 years and due for parole when he's 90, travelled from memphis jail to nashville state prison in an eight—car convoy. paul, what's it feel like to be married at last? it feels fine, thank you. what are you going to do now? is it going to change your life much, do you think? i don't know, really — _ i've never been married before. this is newsday on the bbc. i'm in singapore. our headlines — this is the scene live in the capital tbilisi — police in georgia crack down on protestors, as thousands demonstrate against controversial new laws. you can see people still out on

the streets there and the scene is getting increasingly chaotic over the last few hours. we have seen more and more protesters gathering on the streets and intense clashes between police and protesters. the british prime minister has been defending his plan to reform the uk's asylum system, saying it shows his government is "on the side of the british people." the proposed legislation would ban people who arrive in the country in small boats from claiming asylum, or seeking british citizenship. the labour leader sir keir starmer accused the government of delivering "utter failure", and called the latest plana gimmick. here's our political editor chris mason. and why she thinks it will be lawful, but can't be certain.

we are testing novel interpretations of the law but we do not consider that we have crossed the boundary and we do not consider that we are in unlawful territory. labour don't want to appear soft, as some might see it, but they reckon the approach continues to be hopeless. after 13 years, small but crossings higher than ever, claims unprocessed, the taxpayer paying for hotel rooms, criminal gangs running all the way laughing to the bank and an asylum system utterly broken on his watch. the prime minister said labour had opposed many of his plans, including sending asylum seekers to rwanda. stopping the boats is notjust my priority, it is the people's priority. he wanted to, in his words, scrap the rwanda deal. he voted against measures to deport foreign criminals, mr speaker, and he even argued against deportation flights. he is just another lefty lawyer standing in our way.

and talking of criticising lawyers and others, look at this, an e—mail that didn't come from the home office, but the conservative party, suggesting previous policies on small boats were blocked by "an activist "blob of left—wing lawyers, civil servants "and the labour party." it's all in the name of the home secretary, even though she claims she knew nothing about it. civil servants are furious. if she or the conservative party make a mistake, admit it and apologise people you have insulted those people are working on some of the most difficult things and they deserve better than this. the conservative party says it's looking into it. back in the commons, the snp accused government of exaggerating. yesterday, this was a tory government who said 100 million people could be coming to these shores, and this is a tory government that this morning said that number could in fact be billions.

complete and utter nonsense. so may i ask the prime minister, from whom are his government taking inspiration — nigel farage or enoch powell? the figure of 100 million doesn't come from the government, but from the un, mr speaker. and it illustrates the scale of the global migration crisis. and this is the government's latest response to what it calls a crisis — a former raf base in essex that will be used to house migrants. in other news for you today, australia says it's on track to become the first country in the world to totally eliminate cervical cancer — globally, this is the fourth most common cancer — and also the fourth leading cause of cancer death. the world health organization has a target to eliminate cervical cancer within the next century, but australia could achieve that as soon as 2028. this type of cancer is entirely treatable, given screening, vaccination and access to treatment, but it is also a disease of inequality, with low income groups facing the worst survival rates. earlier, i spoke to

dr claire nightingale from the melbourne school of population and global health and asked her why australia's cervical cancer strategy was so successful. australia has had a very strong focus on prevention for a very long time. as you mentioned, screening and vaccination are very important here. so australia has had a screening programme for the last 30 years, either in the form of a pap test, which many people will know, or more recently hpv testing. about 60 to 70% of women and people with a cervix have participated regularly in this programme, and also australia introduced a school—based vaccination programme to girls in 2007 and extended this to boys in 2013. both these programmes have led to very low rates of cervical cancer here and have resulted in us being on track to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem. but there are some women and some people with a cervix in australia that do participate at lower rates,

and therefore do continue to remain at higher risk of cervical cancer. so why is it so difficult to reach this group of people? what are the challenges in getting this treatment to those who need it? i guess it's before the treatments. i guess it's before the treatments. it's really getting people access to the right prevention mechanisms. so for screening, aboriginal and torres strait islander people, some culturally and diverse immunities, people living with a disability and gender diverse people can face barriers to screening, including a lack of services that they have access to, that make them feel safe, embarrassment, shame, and additional cultural barriers that make it harder to go to the doctor and to undergo a pelvic examination, which screening typically requires. this requires you to undress from the waist down. and we hope that some of these barriers can be overcome

with the newer screening option, and this is called self—collection. following on from their momentous win at last summer's women's football euros, england's lionesses team are celebrating another victory. they've persuaded the uk government to put more money into sport for girls. the plans were announced on international women's day, and mean girls at school in england will be offered the chance to play football and have the opportunity of at least two hours of pe every week. here's our sports correspondent natalie pirks. commentator: england, european champions! it was a moment english football will never forget. but the next day, despite bleary eyes, the team were laser focused on their next target, ensuring equal access to sport for school girls. one, two, three! today, on international women's day, the prime minister granted their wish. we are passionate about a lasting legacy and the next generation of football for girls especially, but it is exciting times ahead, and hopefully there are girls

who can take over from us and dojust even better. fantastic football players but so much more than that, their consciousness, that social conscience and trying to have a positive impact on society has brought us where we are today. with a two—year cash injection, the government wants all english primary schools to achieve sport gender equality and to commit to a minimum of two hours of pe a week. these figures illustrate why. 72% of girls play as much football as boys in primary school, but by the time they reach secondary school, that figure drops to 41%. only 46% of all schools offer girls the same access to football via after—school clubs, and figures released last week show there is an enjoyment gap — more than two million fewer women who enjoy getting active, compared to men. a lot of that is down to experiences in school. it feels really brilliant because just knowing that everyone is equal, is,

like, really important. i am really glad because i think everyone should be equal and get the same amount of support. a note of caution, though — the department for education has ploughed billions of taxpayer cash into ringfenced pe funding in the last ten years with little scrutiny of actual spend and impact. just how will they ensure schools now deliver on their big promise? it is potentially wonderful news for all primary schools in receipt of the funding, the important thing is the devil is in the detail. we need ofsted to scrutinise what schools do thoroughly, which they have not done since september 2019. by helping to remove barriers for future players, the lionesses have shown they are not afraid to fight for their legacy. are you all ready to go and be our next generation of football stars ? yeah! now the government must hold up their side of the bargain. before we go, i want to take

you back to our top story and take you live to georgia, where you can see the scene live in tbilisi, the capital. police in the georgian capital have been using water cannon, tear gas, as you can see there on your screens. it is almost 5:30am there, coming up to be what is to be the third day of protests. we have seen police and protesters clashing in the last few hours. the scenes have become far more chaotic and tense, with protesters demanding that they are heard, and they are angered by legislation that they say will restrict civil liberties. georgia's parliament have approved a first reading of this bill, despite the public protests and international condemnation. and we have seen police out in full force over these last several hours, raising questions about exactly how these clashes may end, or how these clashes may end, or how they may continue for. lots

more on this story on bbc news and is always on the bbc website. but for now, thank you so much forjoining me. do stay with bbc news. hello, there. we have some disruptive weather on the way in the next 2a to 48 hours. looks very snowy indeed across a central swathe of the uk. the met office have issued an amber warning for heavy snow across northern england, particularly over the pennines, where we're likely to see up to a0 centimetres of snow by the time we move through thursday, thursday night and into friday morning. reason for it, this deep area of low pressure, with all its rains pushing into the cold air. so although we'll have rain south of the m4 corridor, some of this rain could be quite heavy across southern england, south wales, it will be turning readily to snow across the northern half of wales through thursday, into the midlands, certainly

the north midlands, and across northern england where we'll see significant accumulations starting to pile up over the pennines and also for north wales. a milder day to come, i think, across southern areas, ten to 13 degrees here. this is where we'll have the heavy rain. a chilly but sunny day across scotland, with a few snow showers around. now, as we head through thursday evening, thursday night, the snowfall continues across north wales, northern england, certainly over the pennines and developing into northern ireland, southern scotland as well. again, to the north of here, it's likely to stay very cold with clear skies. but we have a widespread yellow snow warning for northern ireland, much of southern scotland, northern england, the midlands into north wales, two to ten centimetres at lower levels, up to 15 centimetres on the hills. but it's this amber warning most concerned about over the pennines — 25 to a0 centimetres likely by the time we reach friday morning. so the snowfall continues in those similar areas through the early hours of friday, starting to pull away, though, from northern ireland and southern scotland.

here it's going to be another very cold night. snow showers for northern scotland. that wintry mix of rain, sleet and snow will be affecting large parts of england and wales. as we start friday morning. that area of low pressure starts to pull away in towards the near continent, taking the snow with it. but also we'll see a spell of strong northerly winds for a while on its back edge as it pulls away. so a cold, windy, snowy morning across central and eastern parts of england, in particular for friday, could see some drifting of snow as well. but it clears out quite quickly and then we'll see plenty of sunshine moving in its place for friday afternoon, but it's going to be a cold day wherever you are. take care.

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