World

TBILISI, (Reuters) – Georgia’s ruling party said today it was dropping a bill on “foreign agents” after two nights of violent protests against what opponents said was a Russian-inspired authoritarian shift that imperilled hopes of the country joining the European Union.

HOUSTON, (Reuters) – Governments worldwide need to simplify rules around hydrogen supply to attract investment and scale it up to become competitive enough to substitute fossil fuel use in heavy industry, energy executives said this week.

ATHENS,  (Reuters) – Tens of thousands of people marched in Greece yesterday to protest over the country’s deadliest train disaster on record, as workers staged a nationwide, day-long walkout.

AMSTERDAM/WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The Netherlands’ government on Wednesday said it plans new restrictions on exports of semiconductor technology to protect national security, joining the U.S.

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – The Export-Import Bank of China has told Sri Lanka it will try to finalise in the months ahead how it treats debt owed by the crisis-hit nation, according to a letter seen by Reuters which also reiterated a moratorium for debt due in 2022 and 2023.

KYIV, (Reuters) – Ukraine’s military said it managed to push back intense Russian attacks on the city of Bakhmut despite a Russian claim of control over its eastern half and the NATO chief’s warning that the city could fall in the next few days.

MANILA/MADRID, (Reuters) – Rallies marking International Women’s Day took place around the world today after a year in which girls in Afghanistan were banned from education, mass women’s rights protests erupted in Iran and a landmark U.S.

COLOMBO,  (Reuters) – The Export-Import Bank of China has told Sri Lanka it will try to finalise in the months ahead how it treats debt owed by the crisis-hit nation, according to a letter seen by Reuters which also reiterated a moratorium for debt due in 2022 and 2023.

POLA, Philippines,  (Reuters) – Resorts in a Philippine province known for world-class beaches and dive spots are reeling from the impact of an oil spill just off the coastline, as tourists cancel reservations during what is supposed to be peak season.

KYIV,  (Reuters) – Intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials indicates that a pro-Ukrainian group sabotaged the Nord Stream natural gas pipelines from Russia to Europe last September, but there was no evidence of Kyiv government involvement, the New York Times reported.

PARIS, (Reuters) – France’s nationwide strike against a planned pension reform, which disrupted train services, shut schools and halted fuel deliveries, will spill into today as unions seek to force a government retreat on the deeply unpopular policy.

TBILISI,  (Reuters) – Protesters in the small ex-Soviet state of Georgia threw petrol bombs and stones at police on Tuesday night after parliament gave its initial backing to a draft law on “foreign agents” which critics say represents an authoritarian shift.

KYIV,  (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly committed his troops to holding out in Bakhmut after days in which they had seemed likely to withdraw, apparently prolonging the war’s bloodiest battle in a bid to break Moscow’s assault force.

LONDON,  (Reuters) – Britain set out details today of a new law barring the entry of asylum seekers to the UK in small boats, a proposal that some refugee charities say could be impractical and criminalize the efforts of thousands of genuine refugees.

BRASILIA (Reuters) – Brazil’s central bank announced the start of a digital currency pilot project on Monday, aiming to replicate the success of its instant payment system Pix to popularize financial services in the country.

(Reuters) – Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin said his representative had been denied access to the headquarters of Russia’s military command in Ukraine on Monday, in a further deepening of his rift with the defence establishment.

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian police are investigating media reports that cited secret intelligence on alleged Chinese attempts to influence elections for potential violations of information security laws, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The White House is jumping into state-level battles for women’s reproductive rights, lending legal and messaging advice to allies in states pushing restrictions as the Biden administration seeks to make abortion access a rallying cry in next year’s presidential election.

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican and U.S. authorities said on Monday they were working to locate four Americans who were shot at by gunmen in northern Mexico and then kidnapped shortly after crossing the border.

TBILISI, (Reuters) – Lawmakers in Georgia engaged in fistfights today as a parliamentary committee debated a controversial law that would regulate “foreign agents” which critics say is modelled on draconian legislation in neighbouring Russia.