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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)…

Election boycott possible if there is no constitutional change, says Myanmar opposition

Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, on Friday,  threatened to boycott upcoming elections if the current country constitution remained unchanged. 

Speaking to Reuters, Ms Suu Kyi said that US praise for Myanmar’s new semi-civilian government, which took power in 2011, had made it “complacent” and hindering delivering true reform.

Responding on whether her part would run in elections without a constitutional change, Ms Suu Kyi, said,

Sinai attack leaves 17 dead

Armed gunmen attacked military checkpoints on the Sinai peninsula, leaving 15 Egyptian soliers and two civilians dead.

The checkpoints, located near the border with Gaza in the town of Sheikh Zuweid, were attacked on Thursday by militants suspected to be part of Sinai Province, a group which last year pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

Dozens of soldiers, militants and civilians have been killed already this year in northern Sinai.

Short-range missiles test-fired' by North Korea

The North Korean government has test-fired four short-range missiles, according to South Korean military officials.

The missiles were fired into the sea from Dongchang-ri, on the west coast of the country, a statement by the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.

Pyongyang regularly conducts missile tests when the south and the US are engaged in military drills, as they are currently.

A JCS spokesman said Friday's test "appeared to have been supervised by Kim Jong-Un", AFP reports.

UN finds 'excessive force' used by peacekeepers in Mali protests

United Nations peacekeepers in Mali used “unauthorised and excessive force” when attempting to quell protests outside the regional headquarters of the UN mission in the country, said a UN internal inquiry.

The protests in January led to the deaths of three people, as UN peacekeepers fired on civilians.

The Secretary-General of the UN also stated his “regret” over the incident, adding that he “condemned it as a violation” of the peacekeeping mission. The troops in question have since been sent home. UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said the organisation would follow up on the internal inquiry to ensure “justice is done”.

China’s Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank sees 47 country applications before deadline

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) received 47 applications by countries to become founding members before its deadline on Wednesday.

Despite the disapproval of the AIIB by the United States, many applicants included countries  such as the UK, Australia, South Korea, Taiwan, France and Germany.

The US has been reported to have initially attempted to dissuade allies against the AIIB, saying it was an initiative in competition with the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. Japan remains the only Asian country allied with the Americans not to have applied to join the AIIB.

Islamic state militants enter Damascus refugee camp

Officials from the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) said that Islamic State militants had entered the largest Palestinian refugee camp in Syria, Yarmouk, which holds over 18,000 residents.

Militants within the Damascus refugee camp were attacking new arrivals throughout the day said the PLO in a statement on Wednesday.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) repeatedly called on Syrian officials to allow aid into the camp, adding,

Christian students targeted in Al Shabab attack on university in Kenya

At least 147 people died in an attack on the Garissa University College campus by al-Shabab gunmen.

The four gunmen, who initially besieged the campus, targeting Christian students for executions, blew themselves up as the siege ended according to the Associated Press.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned what he called a "terrorist attack" and said the UN was ready to help Nairobi to "prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism".

The United States said it was offering the Kenyan government assistance to take on al-Shabab and would continue to work with others to take on the group.

Houthi militants seize presidential city in Yemen

Houthi militants in Yemen seized the presidential district of Aden and overtook the president’s residency on Thursday, reports Reuters.

The city in the south of Yemen was taken by the Houthis after a seven day struggle which included Saudi Airstrikes to curtail the Houthi advances.

A senior US military official plated down the likelihood of external ground troops being sent in from Saudi Arabia, stating,

Historic nuclear agreement reached with Iran

Intense negotiations between the P5+1 and Iran have ended with an agreement, under which Tehran will reduce its uranium enrichment capacity in exchange for phased sanctions relief.

US President Barack Obama said a "historic understanding" had been reached with Iran.

The P5+1, the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - and Iran, have been in negotiations for months and a deadline to reach an agreement on March 31 was missed.

Under the deal, Iran will face more inspections than any other country, President Obama said.

"If Iran cheats, the world will know it," he said, adding that the deal was based not on trust but on "unprecedented verification".

US to resume full military aid to Egypt

The US government will resume full military aid to the Egyptian regime, which was suspended after the military coup in 2013 which saw then-head of the army Gen Abdul Fattah al-Sisi come to power.

Mr al-Sisi was informed in a phone call from President Barack Obama that F-16 fighter jets, missiles and M1A1 tank kits would be delivered.

"The president explained that these and other steps will help refine our military assistance relationship so that it is better positioned to address the shared challenges to US and Egyptian interests in an unstable region, consistent with the longstanding strategic partnership between our two countries," the White House said in a statement.

The statement said President Obama expressed his concerns about human rights abuses in Egypt.