Remove py < 3.9 deps; Mention dropped python version support in changes

Also removes the "Modernize project definition" entry. CHANGES.rst
should be written for users of the library. The entry had no relevance
for end users.

Author: mfussenegger

CHANGES.rst

@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@ Changes for crate
 
 Unreleased
 ==========
-- Modernize project definition to latest Python best practices. Thanks, @surister.
-- Exceptions: Exceptions from the BLOB API now include their full names.
+
+- Exceptions from the BLOB API now include their full names.
+
+- Dropped support for Python versions earlier than 3.10 as they've reached
+  their end of life.
 
 2025/01/30 2.0.0
 ================

pyproject.toml

@@ -49,15 +49,13 @@ classifiers = [
         "Topic :: System :: Networking",
 ]
 dependencies = [
-    "importlib-metadata; python_version<'3.8'",
     "orjson",
     "urllib3",
     "verlib2>=0.3.1",
 ]
 
 [dependency-groups]
 dev = [
-    "backports.zoneinfo<1; python_version<'3.9'",
     "certifi",
     "coverage",
     "mypy<1.20",

tests/client/test_cursor.py

@@ -20,22 +20,16 @@
 # software solely pursuant to the terms of the relevant commercial agreement.
 
 import datetime
+import zoneinfo
 from ipaddress import IPv4Address
 from unittest import mock
 
 import pytest
-
-from crate.client.exceptions import ProgrammingError
-
-try:
-    import zoneinfo
-except ImportError:
-    from backports import zoneinfo
-
 import pytz
 
 from crate.client import connect
 from crate.client.converter import DataType, DefaultTypeConverter
+from crate.client.exceptions import ProgrammingError
 
 
 def test_cursor_fetch(mocked_connection):