Boat carrying dozens of asylum seekers sinks off Indonesian coastSeptember 27, 2013 - 19:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A boat carrying dozens of asylum seekers has sunk off the coast of Indonesia, killing at least 21 people. Search and rescue agency officials say 25 people were rescued Friday, Sept 27, and taken to Cikole village in the West Java district of Cianjur. They say the search is continuing for more survivors, but it's unclear how many people were aboard the boat and what countries they were from. The boat was believed headed for Australia. The incident comes ahead of a visit by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to Indonesia next week, his first since taking office. Australia's policy of turning back asylum seekers' boats has been sharply criticized in Indonesia. Indonesia's vast islands and its proximity to Australia make it a popular exit point for the perilous journey. In March 2013, a boat carrying 95 asylum seekers capsized off Australian coast. Hundreds have died making the treacherous journey over the past few years. Also in March, a naval vessel plucked 77 asylum-seekers to safety after their boat broke up on the way to Australia. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |