AFP, Tallinn
British army equipment including tanks and self-propelled guns on Wednesday arrived by boat in Estonia, part of a NATO move to reinforce its eastern flank to deter a militarily resurgent Russia, according to Estonia’s defence forces.
The 130 units of equipment arrived at the Paldiski seaport in northern Estonia but will be transferred to the town of Tapa to join the 200 British troops and 50 French soldiers already there.
Indo-Pak water talks in jeopardy
AP, Washington
The next round of India-Pakistan water talks – that the World Bank offered to hold in Washington next month – may be delayed or cancelled because of India’s refusal to accept arbitration.
Pakistan not only wants the talks to be held as scheduled but is also seeking the World Bank’s arbitration as the guarantor of the Indus Waters Treaty.
But Indian officials told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday that India was against such arbitration and preferred negotiations within the framework of the treaty.
20,000 evacuated after fire at military arsenal in Ukraine
AP, Kiev
Around 20,000 people were evacuated Thursday in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region near the border with Russia after a massive fire at a military arsenal.
The fire at the depot in Balaklia, which holds large-caliber artillery rounds and is one of Ukraine’s largest, erupted early Thursday, prompting the evacuation and Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman to fly to the area to monitor the blaze, which is still raging. An area the size of 40 kilometers (25 miles) around the depot has been closed for flights.
Rouhani to visit Russia on March 27-28
Reuters, Moscow
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will visit Russia on March 27-28, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
Rouhani will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 28, Kremlin’s press service said in a statement.
