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Latest news from and about the homeland

Photograph: Screenshot/ BLA video A fresh wave of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances has been documented across Balochistan this month, as Baloch rights groups recorded the recovery of several bodies of men who had earlier been forcibly taken, and appealed once more to international institutions that have largely ignored the province. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC)…

British journalists' union calls for public inquiry into 1984 Amritsar massacre

Britain’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on Prime Minister David Cameron to establish a full public enquiry into the 1984 Amritsar massacre, following revelations in recently released official documents about British assistance in planning the Indian military’s assault on the Golden Temple in which thousands were killed.

In a statement Wednesday the NUJ said delegates at its conference last week unanimously accepted a motion calling for a British public inquiry that would cover “all the documents and events relating to India, covering the whole of 1984.”

Security Council apologises for failure at preventing Rwandan genocide

The United Nations Security Council, commemorating the Rwandan genocide, apologised for the UN’s failure at preventing the mass atrocities.

The former president of the Security Council at the time of the massacre, Colin Keating, addressing the council today, said,

“This briefing also provides a fitting opportunity, for me in my capacity as former President of the Council to apologise for what we failed to do in 1994 and for that to be formally recorded in the official records of the Security Council.”

EU looks to impose sanctions on Russia and avoid retaliatory impact

The European Commission distributed documents outlining trade and financial sanctions on Russia, reports Reuters.

Elaborating on the need for a strong and balanced sanctions package, a diplomat briefed on the sanctions said,

“We can’t have a situation where a set of sanctions ends up having a retaliatory impact o none member state or two or three member states. If there are going to be repercussions from this, they have to be shared out.”

Schoolchildren abducted in north-east Nigeria

Approximately 100 school girls were abducted in an attack on a school in north-east Nigeria said officials today.

The gunmen, who are believed to be from the Islamist militant group, Boko Haram, forced the teenage students into lorries reports the BBC.

The militant group, whose name means “Western education is forbidden” , is responsible for an armed movement looking to establish an Islamic state in northern Nigeria.

A bomb blast yesterday, allegedly carried out by the group, in the same region killed over 100 civilians.

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Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Nepal could violate core principles of international law, says UN rights chief

The foundations of genuine and lasting peace after a long civil war would be damaged if Nepal gives amnesties for serious crimes committed during the conflict, said the UN human rights chief today.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement Monday, warned that Nepal’s legislation to set up a ‘Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission on Disappeared persons’ would grant powers to the panel to recommend amnesties contrary to the fundamental principles of international law, reports Reuters.

International tribunal rejects calls to drop genocide charges against Bosnian Serb army chief

The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia, today,  rejected arguments to drop charges of genocide against a former Bosnian Serb army chief, reports the BBC.

One of the judges, Alphons Orie, responding to assertions that there was not enough evidence, cited material presented by prosecutors including, video footage of the army chief calling for revenge against the Muslims in Srebrenica.

“The accused has a case to answer on all counts,” the judge said.

Colombian President would think twice about killing FARC leader

The Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos, said last week that he had chosen not to kill the leader of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), Rodrigo Londono, despite knowing where the leader was hiding.

Santos, suggested that he ‘would think twice’ about killing the leader after considering progress made 16 months into peace talks with the FARC in Havana, reports Reuters.

Santos has faced strong criticism from opposition politicians for embarking on long drawn peace-talks with the FARC.

UN rights chief condemns systematic torture in Syrian detention facilities

The United Nations human rights Chief, Navi Pillay, commenting on a report released by her office today, condemned the ‘rampant’ and ‘routine’ use of torture by Syrian authorities.

“In armed conflict, torture constitutes a war crime. When it is used in a systematic or widespread manner, which is almost certainly the case in Syria, it also amounts to a crime against humanity,” said the human rights chief.

Bomb blast kills scores in Nigeria, president vows to end terrorism as AU and UN Security Council condemn

Updated 23:40 GMT
At least seventy people were killed and over 124 injured when a bomb ripped through a crowded bus station near the Nigerian capital Abuja early Monday, reports said. The death toll was expected to rise.

The blast, which occurred at the Nyanya Bus Park station five miles (8km) south of Abuja, came as commuters travelled during morning rush hour.

It destroyed over 30 vehicles, including 16 luxury coaches, and hurled body parts across the area. Secondary explosions ignited vehicle fuel tanks.

Ukraine calls for UN intervention as activists seize official buildings, EU widens sanctions on Russia

EU foreign ministers said today that they would expand a list of names targeted by EU sanctions, as pro-Russian activists occupied more buildings in the eastern regions of Ukraine.

The British Foreign Secretary, William Hague , told reports that the seizure of official buildings “is something that is being planned and brought about by Russia.”

In a telephone conversation with the United States president, Barack Obama, the Russian premier, said that allegations of Russia’s involvement were “based on questionable information,” reports the BBC.