News / News Bulletin

US plans to boost military presence in Eastern Europe

Wednesday, 30 March 2016 11:06 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 30 March 2016 11:05 PM ]

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter listens during a press briefing at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, March 25, 2016. AFP

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

The United States says it plans to boost its military presence in Eastern Europe. It says three fully manned combat brigades will be deployed on a continuous basis from next year. This comes amid tension with Russia over the conflict in Ukraine and the war in Syria.
The Saudi-backed Syrian opposition and the U-S say President Bashar al-Assad cannot be part of a transitional government in Syria. The White House has called Assad’s participation a non-starter. The so-called High Negotiations Committee said a transitional government can be agreed only after Assad leaves.
A funeral for a young man in Saudi Arabia turns into an anti-regime protest. Makki al-Aridh was arrested nearly a month ago without a charge. Later, his death was announced and his body was handed to his family with signs of severe torture on it.
Russia says Iran’s recent ballistic missile tests do not violate a United Nations resolution adopted last July. The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s department for non-proliferation and arms control says U-N Resolution 22-31 does not ban the tests conducted by Tehran.
A Bangladeshi court has issued an arrest warrant for former prime minister and opposition leader Khaleda Zia over last year’s deadly arson attack. Warrants have also been issued for 27 senior officials and activists of Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party. An opposition party spokesman says the court order is politically motivated.
In Pakistan, supporters of a convicted murderer of the Punjab provincial governor have refused to end their days-long sit-in in the capital Islamabad. Hundreds of security forces have been deployed to disperse the protesters who have defied a second ultimatum.
China has criticized the United States for its plans to deploy a missile defense system in South Korea. Beijing calls the plan a threat to regional stability. Washington says the missile system is necessary to protect itself and regional allies from probable North Korean missile attacks.
The Brazilian president has canceled her trip to the United States amid deepening political crisis at home. Dilma Rousseff was supposed to attend a nuclear security summit in Washington. Rousseff is fighting against her impeachment proceedings as the country’s largest party has pulled out of her governing coalition.

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