SERBIA: At least three lawmakers were injured today, one of them seriously, after chaotic scenes in Serbia’s parliament during which smoke bombs and flares were thrown.

Lawmakers were scheduled to vote on increasing funding for university education, but opposition parties said the ruling majority was also planning to approve dozens of other decisions.

They said this was illegal and that lawmakers should first confirm the resignation of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic and his government.

RUSSIA: President Vladimir Putin was holding talks today with the head of Myanmar’s military government, which is seeking to cement co-operation with Moscow.

General Min Aung Hlaing is making his fourth trip to Russia since his army seized power in February 2021.

UAE: The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Supreme Court rejected appeals today on behalf of dozens of dissidents convicted in a mass trial that faced widespread international criticism.

The WAM news agency reported the decision by the Supreme Court’s state security chamber, which decided to wait to issue a ruling over a separate appeal by prosecutors until April 8.

The initial ruling in 2024 saw 43 people receive life sentences, while five defendants received 15-year sentences and another five received 10-year sentences.

GHANA: A group of 10 Ghanaian MPs have resubmitted a proposal to impose repressive restrictions on LGBT rights.

The Bill proposes a three-year jail term for anyone who identifies as gay as well as between five to 10 years for anyone that promotes LGBT rights.

The legislation was passed last year by the parliament, but former president Nana Akufo-Addo declined to sign it into law before leaving office in January.