Bahraini demonstrators stage fresh anti-regime rallies

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

• Bahraini demonstrators have staged a fresh anti-regime rally in the northern town of Diraz. The demonstrators chanted anti-regime slogans and demanded the immediate release of political prisoners, including senior cleric Sheikh Ali Salman. The cleric has been sentenced to four years in prison on charges such as insulting the government.
• A UN panel on torture has expressed concern over Israel’s use of excessive force against the Palestinians. The Committee Against Torture accused Israel of using unwarranted lethal force and lengthy administrative detentions. The report also warned about barring access to detained Palestinians, including minors.
• Suspended Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has described the country’s new government as illegitimate stressing that she will fight to come back to power. Rousseff has been suspended for six months after the upper house of parliament voted on Thursday to open an impeachment trial against her.
• Whistle-blowing website Wikileaks has exposed alleged links between Brazil's new acting President and the United States, saying he acted as an informant for the US intelligence. The leaked cable reveals that Michel Temer, then a federal lawmaker, gave sensitive political briefings to US diplomats ahead of Brazilian elections in 2006.
• Thousands of students in the Argentinean capital Buenos Aires have rallied against new education reforms. The demonstrators called on the government of President Mauricio Macri to suspend the reforms which include huge cuts to education spending. 
• Hundreds of Macedonians have taken to the streets of the capital to protest against the government's decision to pardon dozens of politicians facing criminal proceedings for their alleged involvement in a wiretapping scandal. President George Ivanov plans to halt investigations against more than 50 public figures.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the installation of a new US missile system in Romania as a clear violation of the 1987 arms treaty. Putin also described the missile system as a step towards destabilizing international security and new arms race. 
• Lebanon’s capital is holding a funeral ceremony for a top commander of Hezbollah resistance movement killed in Syria. Earlier, a Hezbollah lawmaker accused Israel for the killing of Mustafa Badr al-Deen saying that the movement will respond in due time.

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