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The head of Russia's Wagner private army says "the pincers are closing" on Bakhmut, South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh is found guilty of murdering his wife and son, and how China's new No.2 hastened the end of the zero-COVID policy

by Linda Noakes

World News

Ukrainian service members prepare to shoot from a howitzer near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, March 2, 2023

Russian troops and mercenaries were closing off the last access routes to the besieged Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, on the cusp of Moscow's first major victory in half a year after the bloodiest fighting of the war. We report from now-liberated Kherson, where Ukrainians say they were pressured to register babies as Russian during the occcupation.
A court in Belarus sentenced Nobel Peace Prize winner and human rights activist Ales Bialiatski to 10 years in prison for financing protests and other crimes, in a case that rights groups say was politically motivated.
Greek railway workers extended their strike to a second day, and more protest rallies were planned, amid anger over the devastating train crash that killed at least 57, among them many university students.
A police officer and civilian were killed during violent protests in Colombia's Caqueta province, and 79 officers and nine oilfield workers were taken hostage by members of rural communities, the government said.
As unprecedented protests against China's zero-COVID policies escalated in November, Li Qiang seized the moment. We report on how Li, who is set to be named the country's new premier this month, hastened the end of lockdowns.

U.S. News

Alex Murdaugh stands after he was found guilty on all four counts at the Colleton County Courthouse in Walterboro, South Carolina, March 2, 2023

Richard 'Alex' Murdaugh, the South Carolina lawyer found guilty of killing his wife and son in a grisly and complex case that has garnered international attention, faces 30 years to life in prison when he is sentenced by a judge today.
The House of Representatives Ethics Committee said it had opened an investigation into Republican congressman George Santos, who has admitted to lying about his resume but defied calls to step down.
The Supreme Court signaled it may sidestep a ruling in a major case involving a Republican bid to give state legislatures far more power over federal elections by limiting the ability of state courts to review their actions.
Legislation being pursued by Republicans in several states aims to limit use of a planned merchant code for credit card transactions at gun retailers meant to detect suspicious firearms and ammunition sales, undermining a tool welcomed by gun control advocates.
A bipartisan group of 12 senators reintroduced legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent, nearly a year after the Senate voted unanimously to end clock switching.

Business & Markets

A sign reading 'Emergency purchasing power, inflation challenge' is seen in a supermarket in Nice, France, March 1, 2023

The recovery in euro zone business activity gathered pace last month as growth accelerated in the bloc's dominant services industry, a survey showed, providing the latest piece of evidence suggesting the currency union will avoid a recession. Britain's services sector grew at the fastest pace in eight months, boosted by stronger business confidence.
Adani shares surged after a $1.87 billion investment in the group by GQG Partners eased concern about its ability to attract funding, while the conglomerate lined up more roadshows to shore up investor confidence.
British chip technology firm Arm, owned by Japan's SoftBank, said it would pursue a U.S.-only listing this year, dashing the hopes of the British government that the tech giant would return to the London stock market.
Lufthansa said it delivered a "clearly positive result" for 2022 and expects a significant improvement in earnings this year as air travel recovers from COVID restrictions. The company is trying to avert travel chaos this summer by scrapping some scheduled flights as airport and technical staff remain in short supply.
Global asset managers that have been opening shop in China are grappling with rampant scams where online fraudsters dupe investors with juicy returns using their brands and logos, a practice known in the market as 'pig butchering'.
It's an action-packed week ahead for world markets. Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell testifies to Congress, while the Bank of Japan's boss is set to bow out. Latest U.S. jobs numbers, Australia's central bank meeting and UK economic growth data are also on the calendar.

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