Main News of March 28

A roundup of what has happened in the past 24 hours

WORLD

* The US military said it had sent two nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers on an “extended deterrence” practice run over South Korea, dropping dummy bombs as part of a bilateral training exercise

* Russia strongly condemned the Arab League calling its decision to admit the Syrian opposition as the country’s representative to the organization an abandonment of plans for a peaceful settlement

* The inquest into the death of Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky opened in the UK with revelations that he was found with marks on his neck consistent with hanging

RUSSIA

* Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly ordered a snap large-scale military exercise as concerns persist over armed forces combat readiness

* One of five gunmen killed in a special operation in Russia’s North Caucasus Republic of Dagestan last week has been identified as a local lawmaker, the Investigative Committee said

* Investigators have pressed new charges against Russia's ex-Defense Ministry official Yevgenia Vasilyeva, accusing her of embezzling assets worth over 190 million rubles ($6.1 million), the Investigative Committee said

BUSINESS

* Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged to revamp transportation links in Yekaterinburg if the city wins the bid to host the World Expo-2020

* Russian oil company Tatneft said that staff have returned to Libya for the first time since the energy-rich North African country was convulsed by a violent uprising

* Russian aircraft maker Sukhoi and the Malaysian Defense Ministry have signed a $100-million contract for the technical maintenance of Malaysia’s fleet of Su-30MKM fighters, said a spokesman for the organizing committee of the LIMA-2013 aerospace exhibition