The Syrian city of Homs faced further violence as the extended ceasefire deadline approaches.

Opposition activists have said that at least 30 people were killed as the Assad regime launched furhter offensives on the city.

As the Assad regime failed to put in place an agreed six-point plan towards a ceasefire by the agreed deadline of 10th April, today, the UN-Arab League envoy to the region, Kofi Annan, expressed grave concerns to the UN Security Council.

Addressing Security Council members, Annan said,

Expressing scepticism at an extended ceasefire deadline given to the Assad regime, the UK Foreign Sectretary, William Hague, expressed further cyncism and warned that the regime would be held accountable.

Hague said,

The US announced plans to lift the travel ban on senior leaders from Myanmar, and ease sanctions on American investment in the country, on Wednesday.

The United States Agency for International Development office will be reopened, paving the way to increased foreign assistance, and the first American ambassador to the country since 1990 will be named.

A senior Iranian commander with the Revolutionary Guards, Massoud Jazayeri, warned that if Washington took the first step to attack Iran in an attempt to slow its nuclear program, the United States would not be safe against retaliation, reported an Iranian daily newspaper.
 

The 1996 Formula 1 World Champion Damon Hill has voiced concern over the Bahrain Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in just on April 22nd, calling on the sport to think carefully before going ahead.

With just 3 weeks to go until the race, the British driver urged F1 leaders to “tread carefully” and said,

"It would be a bad state of affairs, and bad for Formula One, to be seen to be enforcing martial law in order to hold the race. That is not what this sport should be about. Looking at it today you'd have to say that [the race] could be creating more problems than it's solving."

The BBC has also reported that some teams and sponsors have private expressed reservations about travelling to the country, with some expecting a cancellation at the last minute.

Hill spoke up against going to Bahrain last year, as Formula pulled out due to ongoing protests and allegations of human rights abuses by the Bahraini government, saying,

"Formula One cannot put its head in the sand concerning the Bahrain Grand Prix, because it is a very volatile situation out there."

After visiting the country in February Hill stated he felt there were “sincere efforts to resolve the difficulties”, but has recently come out and said,

"Things are different now. The protests have not abated and may even have become more determined and calculated. It is a worrying state of affairs."

When reminded of his lucrative Sky commentary contract Hill replied,

"Some things are more important than contracts. The view I gave after returning from the visit last year was based on my understanding of several factors; the substantial economic significance of the GP for Bahrain; that the report on the April riots condemned the actions of the police and security forces, and that both sides were to take part in meaningful dialogue to resolve the problems peacefully. Under those conditions one could imagine the GP being a great fillip for a Bahrain on the road to recovery.”

"However, with under three weeks to go, conditions do not seem to have improved, judging by the reports in our European newspapers, social media and on Al Jazeera TV. The recent meeting to garner support for the race as a unifying event was troubling insofar as it tried to represent the rioting in Bahrain as the result of bad press reporting and as a 'youth' issue.

Arab nations and the US pledged to assist the Syrian rebels on Sunday, agreeing to send $100 million in financial assistance and communications equipment respectively.

The Assad regime has agreed to withdraw its troops and heavy weapons from densely populated areas by the 10th April announced the United Nations-Arab League envoy, Kofi Annan.

Meanwhile the United States, Britain, France, Germany and other countries remained cynical over whether President Assad will keep his word.
 
The U.S. Ambassador, Susan Rice, said,

Japan’s defense minister, Naoki Tanaka, announced on Friday that the country's missile unit will intercept a North Korean rocket if it were to cross into Japan’s territory. The announcement came as North Korea prepares to launch a satellite into orbit at the middle of next month.

Rwanda’s Justice minister Tharcisse Karugarama has welcomed a decision by a French court to extradite Claude Muhayimana, a Rwandan with French-Rwandan dual citizenship.

Muhayimana is accused of taking part in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and crimes against humanity.

Pakistan's president, Asif Ali Zardari, is due to visit India on Friday - the first visit by a Pakistani president since 2005.

Althought the visit is said to be a private pilgrimage to the shrine of Sufu saint in Ajmer, Rajasthan, President Zardari will have lunch with India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh in New Delhi.

Burma’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has won a seat in parliament after winning a by-election in Kawhmu, her party said on Sunday.

Ms Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy contested 44 out of 45 seats up for grabs in Burma’s 664-seat parliament. Official results are not due until later this week.

Aung San Suu Kyi said in a statement:

United Nations Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay has accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of being behind the systematic torture of children and the killing of civilians.

Speaking to the BBC, Ms Pillay said Assad could stop the killings immediately if he issued an order and that he would face justice for the crimes committed by the Syrian forces.

Foreign Secretary William Hague has confirmed the UK will double its non-military aid to the Syrian opposition.

An extra £500,000 will be provided to opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, both inside and outside of Syria.

The money will contribute towards the training for activists and journalists to help them get their stories out of Syria.