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Latest news from and about the homeland

  Three United Nations (UN) experts called for a full and independent investigation into the killing of three Lebanese journalists by Israel last week, which they described as ‘another attack on press freedom by Israeli forces.’ On March 28, Israeli forces killed Al Mayadeen reporter Fatima Ftouni, her brother and cameraman Mohamed Ftouni, and Al Manar TV reporter Ali Shoeib as they were…

Genocide charge reinstated for Karadzic

Appeals judges at the United Nations Yugoslav war crimes tribunal have reinstated a charge of genocide against former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžić, after it was dismissed last year.

The count of genocide being reinstated means that Karadzic will now face 11 charges in total, including for the 1995 Srebrenica massacre that saw more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys slaughtered by Serb forces.

Appeals judges found that evidence "could indicate that Karadzic possessed genocidal intent".

Worrying clampdown in freedoms ahead of Zimbabwean elections: Amnesty

According to a new report, ‘Walk the Talk’ by Amnesty International, Zimbabwean police are continuing to target and intimidate human rights defenders ahead of elections later this month.

Syrian base for Pakistani Taliban

The Pakistani Taliban have set up a base in Syria to assess "the needs of the jihad", according to a spokesperson.

Mohammed Amin, coordinator of the base, said to the BBC that it was set up six months ago to monitor the “jihad”.

"They were facilitated by our friends in Syria who have previously been fighting in Afghanistan.”

FSA military commander killed by rival rebel group

A senior military commander within the Free Syrian Army, Kamal Hamami has been killed by a rival rebel group, reports the BBC.

According to an FSA spokesperson, Hamami had attended a meeting with other rebel groups to "discuss battle plans" when he was ambushed. The FSA is accusing the al-Qaeda linked rebel group of the assassination.

The spokesperson, Qassem Saadeddine, told Reuters: "The Islamic State phoned me saying that they killed Abu Basir and that they will kill all of the Supreme Military Council."

UK PM marks 18th anniversary of Srebrenica genocide

The British Prime Minister David Cameron, marked the 18th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in a statement published on Thursday after meeting survivors of the genocide.

See here for full statement, extracts published below:

"It is important that we don’t forget these events. Srebrenica was a stark demonstration of what can happen when hatred, discrimination and evil are allowed to go unchecked. I am pleased that the government has been able to work with Remembering Srebrenica, an initiative dedicated to commemorating and honouring the victims of Srebrenica, to organise a remembrance ceremony in London this year for the very first time."

US urges halt to Muslim Brotherhood arrests in Egypt

The US has called on the current Egyptian leadership to stop “arbitrary” arrests of members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

"The only way this is going to work successfully... is if all parties are encouraged and allowed to participate and that's why we've made clear that arbitrary arrests are not anything that we can support,'' White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Buddhists sentenced for sectarian violence in Burma

25 Burmese Buddhists have been sentenced to up to 15 years in prison for murder and other crimes during a night of riots, fires and killings in central Burma.

Although the sentences come after weeks of Muslims being punished for sectarian violence, the sentences do not match up to instances of Muslims receiving life sentences for single killings in sectarian violence.

See the Guardian for full report.

State prosecutor orders Muslim Brotherhood chief’s arrest

An arrest warrant has been issued for the leader and other officials of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.

Mohamed Badie is accused of inciting violence in Cairo, during which over 50 people were killed.

Over 200 other senior officials of the organisation have also been issued with arrest warrants.

Read more here.

State Department remembers Srebrenica genocide

The Unite States Secretary of State , released a press statement in memory for those that lost their lives in the Srebrenica genocide.

Full statement reproduced below.

On behalf of President Obama and the American people, I join the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina today in honouring the memory of those lost in the horrific act of genocide in Srebrenica in July 1995, which stole the lives of 8000 innocent people.

Boston bomb suspect denies charges

Dzokhar Tsarnaev, the 19-year-old suspect in the Boston marathon bombings pleaded not guilty to all charges in his first court appearance.

Prosecutors could press for the death penalty for 17 counts within the 30 counts of using a weapon of mass destruction, the killing of a university police officer, carjacking and downloading internet material from Islamist radicals.

Tsarnaev's older brother and fellow suspect Tamerlan was killed days after the attack during a large-scale police operation.