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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)…

Rwanda demands ‘respect’ as more aid cut

Rwanda has demanded respect from Western nations, accusing them of treating the country like a child, in response to further cuts in funding to the African country.

Addressing a Kenyan business club, Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo said,
"This child-to-parent relationship has to end ... there has to be a minimum respect”
"As long as countries wave cheque books over our heads, we can never be equal."

Former Milosevic aide sworn in as Serbian Prime Minister

A spokesperson for the late Slobodan Milosevic, the former Serbian and Yugoslavian President charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, has been appointed the new Prime Minister of Serbia.

Ivica Dacic was sworn in earlier, in a parliament dominated by Serbian nationalists and socialists; including Milosevic’s party the Socialist Party of Serbia headed by Dacic.

British PM to challenge Putin on Syria during Olympic visit

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has stated that he will raise concerns over Syria with Russian President Vladmir Putin, when he visits London next week to watch the Olympic Games.

Putin will be visiting Britain for the first time in 9 years, and will be watching the judo event on Thursday with the British leader.

Speaking to the Global Investment Conference in London on Thursday Cameron said that he would be focusing on trade between the two nations, commenting,

Kenyan witnesses in ICC cases face intimidation

The prosecutor for the international criminal court (ICC) has raised concerns with the Kenya over the intimidation of witnesses in the two trials involving 4 Kenyans at the Hague.

Speaking to a news conference in Nairobi on Thursday, Head of Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division Phakiso Mochochoko told the Hague that intimidation of the witnesses wa

Rwandan aid frozen by Britain

Britain has decided to freeze £16 million worth of aid to Rwanda, following allegations that the country was fuelling the conflict in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

Britain’s decision echoes steps taken by the US and Netherlands to condemn the Rwandan president, Paul Kagame, after a UN report accused Rwanda of arming rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

UN lifts sanctions on Taylor allies

The UN Security Council has lifted sanctions on 17 allies of the former Liberian president, Charles Taylor.

The sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes were imposed over 10 years ago to weaken Taylor’s regime.

"The lifting of the travel ban is welcome news for the government of Liberia," AFP news agency quotes the Foreign Minister Augustine Naguafan as saying.

25 former associates, including Taylor’s son remain on the list.

Ethnic violence in Assam

Recent ethnic clashes in the North-eastern state of Assam, India has so far claimed 44 lives and left 200,000 people displaced, Reuters reports.

There has been a proliferation in recent years of anti-Muslim sentiment among Assam’s Hindu and Christian tribes against settlers from neighbouring Bangladesh.

UN Secretary-General visits Srebrenica graves

The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon has visited Srebrenica and paid respects to the victims of the 1995 massacre, becoming the first UN chief to have done so.

During his visit he also addressed MPs in Sarajevo, where he said,

"In a tragedy of such epic proportions, there was so much blood and so much blame.”

Britain confirms military presence in Somalia

Britain has confirmed the presence of military personnel in Somalia according to the Ministry of Defence on Wednesday.

Commenting that a team of ten military advisors had been deployed in Mogadishu, the Ministry of Defence stated that they will not have a combat role. Instead, the MoD said the personnel will assist and advise the African Union Force already present in the country.

Egypt eases blockade measures on Gaza

The newly formed Egyptian government has eased restrictions on Palestinians travelling out of Gaza into Egypt, according to officials on Monday.

Under the old regulations Palestinians under 40 years old were escorted across the border by security officials and were often held in detention for up to three days.
The new move allows Palestinians to cross through Egypt on their own and permits them to stay in the country for up to 72 hours.