Violent Clashes At UCLA; US Set To Reclassify Marijuana | Top Stories | May 1, 2024

Catch up on the Top Stories of the day.

0:00 Violent clashes break out at UCLA pro-Palestine demonstration
- Violent clashes have erupted on the University of California campus in Los Angeles between pro-Palestinian protesters and a group of counter-demonstrators, hours after police stormed Columbia University and arrested dozens of students. In a night of what was described by UCLA authorities as horrific violence, counter-demonstrators shot fireworks into the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA and wielded poles and sticks as they tore at the protesters’ barricade before being dispersed by police.

0:32 US moves to reclassify marijuana in historic shift
⁃ The US Drug Enforcement Administration plans to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a historic shift in US drug policy. At a federal level, marijuana is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, a category it shares with heroin, ecstasy and LSD. Instead, it would be included among Schedule 3 drugs, which are considered less likely to be abused. The move would be the most significant US drug policy change in over 50 years.

0:59 Georgia rocked by clashes over ‘foreign agent’ bill
- Riot police in Georgia have fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse crowds protesting against a bill seen by the opposition as targeting media freedoms. Pro-EU protesters clashed with police outside parliament, denouncing what they see as a Russian-inspired law. Dozens of people were arrested and an opposition party leader was hurt. Georgian MPs have given their initial backing to the foreign agent bill, despite the EU warning that it could harm Tbilisi's bid to join the bloc.