The Obama administration is eager to make rapid progress on building trade and diplomatic ties with Cuba before the president leaves office.

Parliament speaker Henry Ramos Allup said proposals would be presented in a matter of days - rather than months.

Bashar al-Assad addressed the massive flow of refugees from his country, saying it was "up to Europe to stop giving cover to terrorists."

Most of these deaths are occurring in the rapidly developing economies of China and India.

South Korea and the United States are expected to begin talks next week on possible deployment of the system.