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.”

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Canadian defence and diplomatic officials have been quietly working on plans for possible Canadian military missions in Syria, the Ottawa Citizen reports.
 
Internal documents obtained by paper show the defence ministry has drawn up at least five scenarios for which Canadian forces should prepare.
 
At least one possible intervention “assumes that a legitimate armed opposition group has been recognized” by Canada, although details about the rest of this scenario have been blacked out, the paper said.

Israeli and Palestinian negotiators on Sunday held a rare meeting without US mediator Martin Indyk present, as they try to salvage peace talks before a deadline of April 29, the Wall Street Journal reports.