IBT Staff Reporter

Hundreds of Hindu nationalist protesters marched in the Indian state of Gujarat on Saturday, prompting the closure of stores owned by several multinational companies caught up in a furore over social media posts supporting disputed Kashmir.

Canada was bracing for more protests against the government's pandemic measures on Saturday, with the focus on the vital U.S.-Canada bridge that remained be blocked by demonstrators defying a court order and emergency measures and disrupting the North American auto industry.

Canadian police started clearing protesters blocking a bridge linking Canada and the United States more than 12 hours after a court order to end the blockade took effect, police said.

Canadian police on Saturday began clearing protesters opposing the government's strict pandemic restrictions who had blocked a key bridge to the United States, snarling international trade and prompting President Joe Biden to call for an end to the siege.

A standoff between Canadian police and protesters blocking a key bridge to the United States continued on Saturday, more than seven hours after authorities moved in seeking to end the blockade of the important trade corridor.

Canadian police made the first arrest of a protester blocking a key bridge to the United States on Saturday, more than a day after authorities moved in seeking to end the blockade of the important trade corridor.

Its navy lost, Ukraine girds for Russian warship drills

Standing at the side of a highway in the south of Madagascar, 25-year-old water seller Masy is grateful for the heavy rains that fell last week when Cyclone Batsirai hit.

India's Reliance Industries Ltd plans to produce blue hydrogen at a "competitive cost" of about $1.2-$1.5 per kg as it repurposes its $4-billion gasification assets, the conglomerate said in a presentation.

French police fired tear gas at demonstrators on the Champs-Elysees avenue and other places in Paris on Saturday after a "Freedom Convoy" protesting against COVID-19 restrictions made it into the capital.

A convoy protesting COVID-19 restrictions breached police defences and drove into central Paris on Saturday, snarling traffic around the Arc de Triomphe and on the Champs Elysees, as police fired tear gas at demonstrators.

Ayesha Imthiaz, a devout Indian Muslim who considers wearing a hijab an expression of devotion to the Prophet Mohammad, says a move by her college to expel hijab-wearing girls is an insult that will force her to choose between religion and education.

US to reopen Solomon Islands embassy to counter Chinese influence

More than six weeks went by from the time teenage Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva's sample was collected and the day she heard at the Beijing Olympics that she tested positive for a banned substance at her national championships.

Hollywood feelgood factor lives on for Wrexham football fans

U.S. President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will speak on Saturday as the United States and other Western nations warned a war in Ukraine could ignite at any moment.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday that sincere negotiations were incompatible with an escalation in tensions over Ukraine, France said.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin spoke by phone for an hour on Saturday after Washington and its allies warned that Russian forces could invade Ukraine at any moment.

U.S. President Joe Biden told Russia's Vladimir Putin during an hour-long call on Saturday that a Russian invasion of Ukraine would bring a decisive and swift response from the West, as well as produce widespread suffering and diminish Russia's standing in the world.

U.S. President Joe Biden told Russia's Vladimir Putin on Saturday that the West would respond decisively to any invasion of Ukraine, adding such a step would produce widespread suffering and isolate Moscow.

Russian Olympic skater Valieva to learn doping fate on Monday

Police fire tear gas, fine Paris protest convoy

While athletes have been competing on artificial snow throughout the Beijing Olympics, organisers are now dealing with the logistical challenge of clearing away the real thing after heavy snowfalls in the mountains of Zhangjiakou on Saturday.

US to reopen Solomon Islands embassy after 29 years

Olympic officials on Saturday said they would welcome an anti-doping investigation into the Russian doctors, coaches and family members in the entourage of 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva.

The Russian coach of the 15-year-old figure skater embroiled in an Olympic doping scandal broke her silence on Saturday, saying she was certain Kamila Valieva was "clean and innocent".

The Russian coach of the 15-year-old figure skater embroiled in an Olympic doping scandal broke her silence to defend Kamila Valieva on Saturday, while the sport's highest court said it would hold a hearing on Valieva's Winter Games future on Sunday.

'Snow Queen': Valieva's coach under scrutiny in Olympic doping scandal

Mexico must seek alternatives to detention and asylum for migrants, especially ahead of an anticipated increase in arrivals this year, the U.N.