america's top diplomat makes a surprise visit to ukraine, reaffirming us support for the country. presidentjoe biden puts major new tariffs on billions of dollars worth of chinese imports including electric vehicles. riot police clashed with protesters in the georgian capital of tbilisi after parliament passed a divisive foreign agent law that has already sparked weeks of mass protests. the law would force civil society and media organizations to register if they receive foreign funding. on tuesday, georgia's parliament passed the third and final reading of the bill, clearing a major hurdle before

it can become law. it's likely to be vetoed by georgia's president, but parliament can override the veto with an additional vote. critics are dubbing it the russia law. they say that it's similar to legislation russia uses to suppress certain opinions and silence critics of the kremlin. those who oppose the bill also argue that the legislation could negatively affect georgia's chances ofjoining the european union. he bbcs rayhan demytrie has been on the ground in tbilisi and sent this report from. they marched in with a warning against the protesters who have been demonstrating outside parliament for weeks. protesters stood defiantly, refusing to move away... ..and then violence... ..all in the name of a contentious law, which protesters fear will mark the end of georgia's democracy. you get a sense, now, they are moving more intensely, and the protesters are beginning to boo. they're being pushed away from the square.

we will be in the eu. we will be in the eu! freedom to the georgians! georgian people are standing for their rights, to make a decision, which is to be against this law. we do not wish it. it is dragging us back into the same hole that we finally crawled out of. a similarforeign agents law exists in russia, used there to crack down on the government's critics. georgians worry the same thing might happen here. they are liars, they are putin's guys, you know? they are doing russian work here. earlier, mps from the governing party passed the law, after a debate turned into a brawl. authorities defended the bill, saying it would help protect georgia from foreign interference. critics suspect the government

is trying to defend the interests of one man, bidzina ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in russia. that is also intrinsically very russian — to defend the interests of one man against the interests of one nation. these mass protests have been driven by georgia's youth, standing up to defend the national dream of a future in europe. here in the us... the white. they said if it passes it will cause them to change their relationship with georgia. i talked with an ambassador who served in kazakhstan who is a senior fellow at brand.— fellow at brand. it is clear penular — fellow at brand. it is clear pepular support _ fellow at brand. it is clear popular support is - fellow at brand. it is clear. popular support is opposed fellow at brand. it is clear- popular support is opposed to the government. well the security— the government. well the security forces break or enforce _ security forces break or enforce a brutal treatment of

demonstrators. in 2014 in ukraine _ demonstrators. in 2014 in ukraine security forces broke a protest — ukraine security forces broke a protest and he fled the country. there is a lot of pressure _ country. there is a lot of pressure on security forces now and a _ pressure on security forces now and a lot — pressure on security forces now and a lot of— pressure on security forces now and a lot of people in georgia are pretty upset. the biden administration informed congress it's moving forward with more than 1 billion dollars in new weapons for israel. the announcement — first reported by the wall streetjourrnal — comes less than a week after the white house paused an arms shipment to israel over concerns about israel's planned invasion of rafah in southern gaza. the un says for 50,000 people have _ the un says for 50,000 people have fled — the un says for 50,000 people have fled the rafa crossing is israeli — have fled the rafa crossing is israeli step up their campaign against — israeli step up their campaign against mass. 1,53 israeli step up their campaign against mass.— against mass. 1/3 of the imputation _ against mass. 1/3 of the population was - against mass. 1/3 of the i population was sheltering there. in the north of gaza thousands are fleeing israeli

bombardment. critical supplies of fuel and medicine are running out with major aid crossings into gaza closed for more than a week. aid groups a life—saving health services are at a standstill much like the stalled talks to a ceasefire which reached an impasse with both sides trading blame. the prime minister _ both sides trading blame. tie: prime minister of both sides trading blame. tue: prime minister of qatar both sides trading blame. tt9 prime minister of qatar today said the latest fighting had really damaged efforts to get another ceasefire, the chances of a breakthrough were diminishing. a week ago did seem there were hope of a breakthrough now those hopes appear to have been dashed. lts appear to have been dashed. us secretary of state made a surprise visit to kyiv and what he called a critical moment for the country amid a fresh russian offensive, the top us diplomat sought to reassure ukrainians of us support. the cominu ukrainians of us support. the coming weeks _ ukrainians of us support. tt9 coming weeks and months will demand a great deal of ukrainians who have already sacrificed so much, i have come

to ukraine with a message. you are not alone. united states has been by your side day 1. we are with you today. we will stay by your side until ukraine �*s is purity and sovereignty, its ability to choose its own path is guaranteed. he its ability to choose its own path is guaranteed. he met with the ukrainian _ path is guaranteed. he met with the ukrainian president- path is guaranteed. he met with the ukrainian president as - path is guaranteed. he met with the ukrainian president as well i the ukrainian president as well who in response to his assurances emphasised ukraineposmac need for fresh military aid, since friday troops have been struggling to push back against a new russian offensive in the north of the country. this is the map of the battlefield, areas in red under russian occupation, heavy fighting has opened a new front in the north—east, that has already changed hands in the war in moscow is taking kharkhiv again. these are the latest verified images of the aftermath of russian airstrikes on residential areas in kharkhiv on thursday injuring 20 people. tom bateman is

travelling with the us secretary of state and sent this update.— secretary of state and sent this update. while this was a trip meant — this update. while this was a trip meant to _ this update. while this was a trip meant to show _ this update. while this was a trip meant to show solidarityj trip meant to show solidarity in the form of a fresh flood of american ammunition it has been a whirlwind today, we arrived i was travelling with anthony lincoln on the sleeper train from the polish border getting to care 1st thing this morning, the 1st meeting was with president zelenskiy. we heard from the leader refused thanks to the americans were breaking the deadlock in washington, a year it has been going on the partisan paralysis, unable to get $60,000,000,000 worth of military assistance flowing to ukraine. we learned something important, the 1st armaments of that package are now at the frontline, a senior official telling us that artillery shells missile interceptors are now in the battle area 3 weeks

after that package made its way through. the question is — as all of this going to be enough, what we heard from the secretary of state was an attempt to reassure ukrainians they are in this for the long term, there was a particular theme tonight on young ukrainians. i watched anthony lincoln speak to hundreds of students in kyiv, then he appeared with a band, a rock band playing rocking in the free world, a neil young classic, at a bar in kyiv, he is a keen guitarist, there was an important message there. it was about trying to say, we see the future of ukraine with the west and the eu, with nato, here is the continued support from the us with ukrainian reforms meant to be mixed in to get that in place. the problem is this is a promise he can

make it is not necessarily stopping 1 media is residentially there hilarious a residentially there hilarious a resident who the interviewees agency over the interviewees agency over the interviewees agency over the interviewees agency over us eligibility based on the of dollars of, shyla literally is at issue was raised in, drain, iranians looking from year alien from here to tell policy there is no policy areas is no guarantee to be able remain as it is now remain a letter now year. b, remain a letter now year. a manhunt is underway and enhanced your mind a sneh rana unified in the papers that his identity as a result of those articles with the others killed and the onus heavily argentina every time levent company lapid was a issues at a place on tuesday near normandy, inside the machine, it was a man alone has and known as lignite, told ms bn2a-20 will has and known as lignite, told ms bn2a—20 will be renovating, when attacked, because the latest electronic has the latest. , :, , :, latest electronic has the latest. , :, , latest. this was a very well-planned - latest. this was a very well-planned and - latest. this was a very well-planned and very latest. this was a very - well-planned and very easily, well—planned and very easily, blandly and ours ultimately the

hours and indicated not held only occasionally and how well they are, not that they would give away vital information, we can expect to see some raids overnight, criminal gangs have access to heavy weapons and prepared to use them notjust on each other and it reinforces the trend of serious violence in the southern city of marseille we have been seeing, in the past year 50 murders have been linked to gang violence there, there are troubling questions for the authorities but for now the most pressing matter is trying to locate and apprehend the man they call public enemy number 1. the man they call public enemy number l— the man they call public enemy number1. : ., ., ., number 1. around the world and across the _ number 1. around the world and across the uk _ number 1. around the world and across the uk this _ number 1. around the world and across the uk this is _ number 1. around the world and across the uk this is bbc - number 1. around the world and across the uk this is bbc news. | across the uk this is bbc news. it is finally open the u.k.'s biggest indoor arena has staged

its 1st performance after weeks of last—minute cancellations and chaos, the manchester band elbow open the arena in their home city, the venue has been blighted by setbacks shows by peter kay, olivia roderigo and take that had to be cancelled or moved but as colin peterson reports those problems into tonight. after open night cancelled on 3 previous occasions a gig was actually going ahead. occasions a gig was actually going ahead-— occasions a gig was actually going ahead. you go through something — going ahead. you go through something like _ going ahead. you go through something like this - going ahead. you go through something like this and - going ahead. you go through something like this and you i going ahead. you go through i something like this and you go to bed with the demons. today the boss showed _ to bed with the demons. today the boss showed us _ to bed with the demons. today the boss showed us around. . to bed with the demons. today the boss showed us around. asj the boss showed us around. as much the boss showed us around. is much as i the boss showed us around. sis much as i love doing these interviews with you and this is our 3rd 1 i don't and we will do a 4th copy although the venue is open parts of the venue is open parts of the venue are not finished. dozens of construction _ venue are not finished. dozens of construction workers - venue are not finished. dozens of construction workers were i venue are not finished. dozens| of construction workers were on the site and the boss said it could take 6 months before it is completed, the next shows include the black keys, eric clapton and barry manilow. you

are watching bbc news, the white house is unveiling new tariffs targeting china saying the unfair trading practices harm americanjobs and the unfair trading practices harm american jobs and key industries such as clean energy and electric vehicles, under the new policy tariffs on chinese electric cars were quadruple from 25% to 100%. levies on steel will triple and the rate on semiconductors will double, china criticised the move wanting it would seriously affect the atmosphere of bilateral cooperation, they are the latest escalation in the trade war between the largest economies in the world which has roots in former president donald trumpposmac administration. earlierthe president contrasted his policies with those of mister trump. policies with those of mister trum -. ~ , policies with those of mister trum. g, . policies with those of mister trum. . , trump. my predecessor promised increased exports _ trump. my predecessor promised increased exports and _ increased exports and manufacturing but he did neither and failed, he signed a trade deal with china they were supposed to buy $200,000,000,000 worth of american goods, instead china imports from america barely

budged. imports from america barely budued. ~ , , imports from america barely budued. ~, , ., ., , budged. mister trump favours broad tariffs _ budged. mister trump favours broad tariffs on _ budged. mister trump favours broad tariffs on american - broad tariffs on american goods, stop president biden says he is taking a more targeted approach increasing tariffs on emerging high—tech industries like clean energy and semiconductors, the biden white house will maintain a try. tariffs on $360,000,000,000 in chinese imports, we can speak to our china correspondence standing by for us in beijing stop china is warning retaliation what could that look like? me is warning retaliation what could that look like? we are not could that look like? we are rrot sure _ could that look like? we are not sure what _ could that look like? we are not sure what form - could that look like? we are not sure what form that - could that look like? we are l not sure what form that would take, the foreign ministry yesterday made a pre—emptive statement before the tariffs were now saying it was not in the spirit of the agreement reached between the 2 heads of state and president biden is going against his word, not to contain china and again state media this morning has come out

with a phrase, this protectionism will only make america lose again, certainly for people in beijing what this shows is a sign of things to come in this election year, the 2 candidates aiming to be president of the united states are also aiming to show how tough they can be on china. what impact will have dashmac all these tariffs have? this what impact will have dashmac all these tariffs have?— all these tariffs have? this is all these tariffs have? this is a key question _ all these tariffs have? this is a key question because - all these tariffs have? this is a key question because here| all these tariffs have? this is i a key question because here in china they are the world �*s largest and fastest growing industry, the car making is something the electrical car making something china excels at, however not many vehicles make it through the united states, the biggest market is europe and southeast asia, very few reach the shores of america, there is a big reason for that chinese electric cars are very popular within china

because they drive smaller distances, chinese people drive within cities rather than between, to show how much the chinese public have engaged with these cars, look at the charging stations, they are are 8,000,000 charging stations across china, and the use there are only 64,000, that goes to show how the market has caught on here and not in america, many analysts believe the tariffs might not have the effect that the biden white house want him to. fin effect that the biden white house want him to. on another note rushes _ house want him to. on another note rushes president - house want him to. on another note rushes president is - house want him to. on another note rushes president is due i house want him to. on another note rushes president is due to| note rushes president is due to arrive in china in the next 24 hours, we know the us has worn china against aiding the russian war on ukraine, what can we expect from that visit? this morning and the chinese state media president putin has given an interview with 1 of

the major state media outlets here, saying relations between china and moscow are at the highest level ever, he is expected here in the next 24 hours earlier and we expect xi jinping to roll out the red carpet for his comrades but beijing has been under increasing pressure from the us and europe in the last few months about its relationship with moscow, sydney here the us secretary of state came to beijing with a warning saying the president should distance himself from moscow and stop providing components that russia can use in its war in ukraine, there is no suggestion beijing are supplying weapons to moscow, however the tray thatis to moscow, however the tray that is flourishing between these countries after western sanctions have taken effect means trade has exponentially growing and might be shielding moscow from the effects of western sanctions, certainly europe and the us want that to come to an end, what xi jinping

will have to calculate is how much will this relationship cost, how much will it cost him to stand shoulder to shoulder with his what he has called in the past dear friend, with his what he has called in the past dearfriend, president putin, because the west will be watching and already america has threatened further sanctions on china including on chinese banks, if they see more of these components being sold to moscow. of these components being sold to moscow— of these components being sold to moscow. thank you so much. in the to moscow. thank you so much. in the us _ to moscow. thank you so much. in the us donald _ to moscow. thank you so much. in the us donald trump - to moscow. thank you so much. in the us donald trump 's - in the us donald trump �*s defence team cross—examined michael coe and his former lawyer on tuesday, taking his credibility as a witness, he claimed mister trump approved a plan to reimburse them for a hush money payment made to stormy daniels and he kept him informed at each stage, on his way out at the end of the day mister trump spoke to the media saying he would love to not be under the gag order mentioned he would rather be out on the

campaign trail, our correspondent has the latest on the events. a cross of historic consequence, donald trump �*s lawyer goes after michael cohen to save the former president from a conviction. the strategy could be summed up as character assassination. he zeroed in on his public comments during the trial calling mister trump name such as dick tate —induced bag, he confirmed prosecutors had asked him to stop repeatedly, tookjabs asked him to stop repeatedly, took jabs at asked him to stop repeatedly, tookjabs at his credibility asking him about his time in prison and lying under oath, then he tried to portray michael cohen is somewhat obsessed with getting donald trump thrown in jail, obsessed with getting donald trump thrown injail, duress or photos of his merchandise from this website including a t—shirt showing donald trump behind bars. michael kind city to see him convicted but it was

up to see him convicted but it was up to the jury not to see him convicted but it was up to thejury not him, to see him convicted but it was up to the jury not him, sitting a short distance away president trump seemed unmoved from the answers from his friend turned foe but the defence did not ask at the documents at the heart of the case was testimony that donald trump knew about the hush money and the alleged reimbursement scheme. blanch plans to keep grilling him all day thursday when caught resumes. earlier i spoke to an attorney as previous served as attorney as previous served as a spokesperson for and represented michael cohen. a lot of questions asked about whether michael cohen could keep his cool on the stand, how do you think he did at court? t do you think he did at court? i wasn't in the court but my do you think he did at court? t wasn't in the court but my name wasn't in the court but my name was used in vain by the trump lawyer that is why i did not want to be a distraction in the courtroom, he has done this before when he decided to go public he was under great pressure from his family that was very upset with his lying for donald trump for 10 years as i was. he went to a

congressional hearing, and public under oath, on american and international television live, with republicans haranguing him about being a liar, there was a sign on the, liar, there was a sign on the, liar, liar, pants on fire, for a day he took those insults from the republicans on the committee, he has been there and done that. the committee, he has been there and done that.— and done that. the lawyers of donald trump _ and done that. the lawyers of donald trump tried _ and done that. the lawyers of donald trump tried to - and done that. the lawyers of. donald trump tried to discredit him today pointing to his character in the comments he made during the trial calling donald trump names like dictator, do you think comments he has made as the trial has been going on take away from his credibility? it been going on take away from his credibility?— his credibility? it would have the trial was _ his credibility? it would have the trial was about _ his credibility? it would have the trial was about his - the trial was about his credibility but this is a distraction and a strategy to change the subject. but distraction and a strategy to change the subject.- change the sub'ect. but his credibility _ change the sub'ect. but his credibility as _ change the sub'ect. but his credibility as a _ change the subject. but his credibility as a prime - change the subject. but his i credibility as a prime witness in making this payment is important?— in making this payment is imortant? . , ,

important? ordinarily but the wa the important? ordinarily but the way the ease _ important? ordinarily but the way the case was _ important? ordinarily but the | way the case was constructed, everything he testifies to is corroborated by documents, text messages and e—mails, if it was just as word the attacks on his credibility but he has to pass the test of credibility, and i gave him the only way he has to own his lies, admit to his lies and express contrition, whether people believe that contrition or not there will be scepticism but that is the only way, he has to own his lies and say he wants to tell the truth and see whether the jury believes some. he talked about wanting to get donald trump thrown in jail something the defence bringing up something the defence bringing up today, are you concerned the jury up today, are you concerned the jury could see it has a personal vendetta against donald trump? tt personal vendetta against donald trump?— personal vendetta against donald trump? personal vendetta against donald trum? , donald trump? if it was 'ust as word versus * donald trump? if it was 'ust as word versus donald _ donald trump? if it wasjust as word versus donald trump - donald trump? if it wasjust as word versus donald trump and | donald trump? if it wasjust as i word versus donald trump and it is understandable his anger towards donald trump, that would be hurtful, but every step of the way i was there for

2 years behind closed doors as they constructed the case you saw the prosecutor �*s layout, everything he says is backed up multiple times, the national inquirer leader every single thing david becker said, corroborated what michael cohen testified, it is notjust michael cohen, it is somebody backing him up, that is the key element here, as credibility has to come through to the jury as sincere but he is backed up by documents.— by documents. this is not 'ust a question �* by documents. this is not 'ust a question «i by documents. this is not 'ust a question of whether i by documents. this is not 'ust a question of whether a h by documents. this is notjust a question of whether a hush | a question of whether a hush money payment was made, it is a case with the case, do you think the prosecution has made a strong case? it think the prosecution has made a strong case?— a strong case? it is as strong a strong case? it is as strong a case as — a strong case? it is as strong a case as you _ a strong case? it is as strong a case as you can _ a strong case? it is as strong a case as you can make - a strong case? it is as strong i a case as you can make without saying donald trump wrote on the books the false ledger that said these were legal expenses when they were repayments to michael cohen for a legal political donations, that

thwarted the american people from knowing the truth right before the election. the case on his being directly writing the ledger is not necessary, either in the uk or any other dimension dashmac democratic legal system, dimension dashmac democratic legalsystem, if dimension dashmac democratic legal system, if you have a jury legal system, if you have a jury and they go to sleep at night and there is no snow on the ground, the next morning they wake up and there is snow on the ground, they can convicted beyond reasonable doubt that it snowed even though they did not see it snow, that is what this case is about, logic and common sense. what do you think will happen with this trial, we anticipate it will conclude soon? t it will conclude soon? i anticipate donald it will conclude soon? t anticipate donald trump lied when he said he would testify. i don't think so, he will not make a good witness for the defence, after telling all his supporters bravely i would testify, michael cohen stands up testify, michael cohen stands up to all the heat and guess who is sitting in the chair

with his eyes closed who will not testified, my guess is the case over by trying to destroy michael cohen, changing the subject as to what to the facts and documents show that are bolstered by the testimony of michael cohen.— michael cohen. thank you for shafint michael cohen. thank you for sharing your _ michael cohen. thank you for sharing your insights - michael cohen. thank you for sharing your insights today. i sharing your insights today. some other headlines, federal investigators say the vessel that crashed into a bridge in march in baltimore suffered power outages before leaving port due to human error, the board report said officials are investigating why it lost power again the moments before it struck the bridge, 6 people on the bridge died, the us department ofjustice is bowing violated a sediment that let them avoid prosecution after 2 deadly crashes involving its mac plane, it comes after a series of lapses this year and opens bowing to criminal prosecution. the 1st official portrait of king charles spencer �*s coronation has been

unveiled, the portrait was commissioned in 2020 it shows the king wearing his uniform of welsh guards and you can see a butterfly on his right shoulder symbolising his change from crown prince to monarch. . nasa says the sun produced its largest solar fee on tuesday in the 11 year cycle that began in 2020, last week other similar giant explosions on the sun that ejected energy light and high—speed particles into space were responsible for dazzling northern lights displays around the world, nasa says despite the world, nasa says despite the size of the huge solar flare it is not expected to have a geomagnetic impact on earth due to its location. that is our program, thank you for watching bbc news. stay with us.

hello. we've some damp weather out there at the moment, and there's also some rain in the forecast for wednesday — not an awful lot. here's the outlook for the rest of the week — a bit of a mixed bag, a little bit of sunshine, some scattered showers, but at least it'll be relatively warm. now, on the satellite picture, you'll notice this swirl of cloud — that's an area of low pressure. this is the weather front, and this low pressure will stick around really for the rest of the week. so actually, the overall weather pattern won't change an awful lot across the uk, but there will be some regional differences from day to day, of course. here's the morning, then — around 7am, we will have had temperatures between 12—14 celsius, some damp, if not at times wet, weather from east anglia into lincolnshire and along these eastern counties. but elsewhere, it's a bright and even sunny start to the day, and through the afternoon, i think our best weather will be in the north of scotland. some sunshine there in the highlands, and temperatures

could reach 23 celsius. that's the exception, though — for most of us, it'll be in the range of 18—20 celsius. now, with this low pressure not really moving away anywhere, the weather front�*s still in the same place, so thicker cloud and, at times, outbreaks of rain from east anglia and across northern england, and elsewhere, we'll see some clear spells. and here's thursday morning — again, the weather front still in the same place, at least roughly. there'll be some glimmers of brightness between the layers of cloud, but also some rain at times — or at least showers — coming and going. and again, temperatures between around 18—20 celsius — maybe a little bit cooler where the clouds thicker and the rain's just that little bit heavier. into friday, then, you can see the distribution of showers in slightly different places in scotland, maybe the north—west of england, too. i think further south, it should be brighter, and again, temperatures don't really change — it's because that area of low pressure is basically carrying the same atmosphere, and the temperatures won't be changing. high pressure is starting to push in through the weekend, but it'll be a very slow process, so don't expect major changes. so here's the summary for the rest of the week and the forecast into the weekend — notice that actually

more northern parts of the uk fare better as we head into the weekend, with some sunshine on the way for belfast, and really quite warm. bye— bye.

voice-over: this is bbc news. we will have the headlines for you at the top of the hour, which is straight after this programme. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. love it or loathe it, there is no denying formula 1 is one of the world's biggest sporting brands, attracting billions of eyeballs and commercial revenues to match. the best—known names are the drivers, the greats like senna, lauda, schumacher, hamilton, and today's number one, verstappen. but the key figures are the racing team bosses. my guest today, sir ron dennis, founded the mclaren group and was one of the most successful bosses in f1 history. what was behind his drive, not just to survive, but to thrive?