Reuters World News Summary

The Japanese prime minister had been the only leader of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations yet to visit Ukraine, which has seen an outpouring of popular support in Japan following the Russian invasion. Ukraine war: Russia tightens ties with China as West offers $16 billion lifeline to Kyiv Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cemented friendship between China and Russia and jointly criticised the West, which moved to buttress Ukraine against Moscow's invasion with nearly $16 billion in financial aid and faster delivery of battle tanks.

Following is a summary of current world news briefs.

'Weakened' Macron sticks with pension bill, eyes new reforms

French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to regain the initiative with new reforms in the coming weeks after his government barely survived a no-confidence motion over an unpopular pension bill and nationwide protests continued. As labour unions prepared another day of strikes and demonstrations against Macron's pension reform on Thursday, protesters waving flags and chanting gathered in central Paris on Tuesday evening, marking the sixth consecutive day of protests since the passing of the bill.

Earthquake of magnitude 6.5 hits northern Afghanistan, killing at least 3

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan on Tuesday evening, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, killing two in the east of the country and one child in neighbouring Pakistan. The tremor was very deep, 194 km (120.5 miles), and its epicentre was in the Hindu Kush mountain range, near the remote northern Afghan province of Badakhshan.

Chinese COVID data from Wuhan market gives clues on origins, researchers say

Data from the early days of the COVID pandemic, briefly uploaded to a database by Chinese scientists, gives information on its origins, including suggesting a role for raccoon dogs in the coronavirus reaching humans, international researchers said.

The virus was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, with many suspecting a live animal market to be involved, before spreading round the world and killing nearly 7 million people to date.

Venezuelan legislature removes lawmaker's immunity amid corruption probe

Venezuela's ruling party-controlled National Assembly unanimously revoked a legislator's immunity from prosecution on Tuesday, amid a widespread corruption scandal. Hugbel Roa, a lawmaker and former higher education minister, can now be indicted for "flagrant crimes of corruption," assembly secretary Rosalba Gil said in a televised session.

Turkey's Kurds eye kingmaker role in election against Erdogan

Kurds who have long felt sidelined in Turkish politics could have a decisive role in a closely fought May election that will determine whether President Tayyip Erdogan extends his rule after more than two decades in power. With polls showing support finely balanced between Erdogan's ruling alliance and the opposition, the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) is a potential kingmaker, although a court bid to ban it may mean it has to reform under a new party umbrella.

UN urges action in Haiti displacement crisis caused by gang wars

At least 160,000 people in Haiti have been displaced in a crisis caused by increasing violence between heavily-armed gangs, the United Nations said on Tuesday, estimating that over 530 people have been killed this year. "Clashes between gangs are becoming more violent and more frequent," the office of the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights said in a statement.

U.S. 'extremely troubled' by Israeli move to lift ban on return to West Bank settlements

Washington is "extremely troubled" by a move by the Israeli parliament that paves the way for Jewish settlers to return to four West Bank settlements, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said on Tuesday. Patel said the amendment of a 2005 law that ordered the settlements' evacuation was "particularly provocative and counterproductive" to efforts to restore calm in Israel and the West Bank ahead of the Ramadan, Passover and Easter holidays.

To stay or go? The dilemma Ukrainians near front face every day

It was finally time for Vasyl Kurlyshchuk to leave. When Ukraine's State Emergency Service evacuation team arrived outside the gate of his small home in the eastern village of Kalynivka on Tuesday, the 74-year-old began slowly sorting through his papers and faded picture albums.

In Ukraine to show solidarity, Japan's Kishida meets Zelenskiy, tours massacre site

Japan's Fumio Kishida met President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Tuesday during a rare, unannounced visit by a Japanese leader that underscored Tokyo's emphatic support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion. The Japanese prime minister had been the only leader of the Group of Seven (G7) rich nations yet to visit Ukraine, which has seen an outpouring of popular support in Japan following the Russian invasion.

Ukraine war: Russia tightens ties with China as West offers $16 billion lifeline to Kyiv

Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cemented friendship between China and Russia and jointly criticised the West, which moved to buttress Ukraine against Moscow's invasion with nearly $16 billion in financial aid and faster delivery of battle tanks. The Chinese leader's visit to Moscow, long touted by the Kremlin as a show of support from its most powerful friend, featured plenty of demonstrative bonhomie on Tuesday. Xi and the Russian president referred to each other as dear friends, promised economic cooperation and described their countries' relations as the best they have ever been.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)