Strong quake hits Iran, no reports on casualties yetMay 3, 2012 - 17:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A strong earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted Ilam and Kermanshah provinces, Western Iran, on Thursday, May 3 afternoon, according to Fars News Agency. The Seismological center of Ilam province affiliated to the Geophysics Institute of Tehran University registered the quake at 2:39pm local time (1009 GMT). The epicenter of the quake was located in an area 47.6 degrees in longitude and 32.7 degrees in latitude. There are yet no reports on the number of possible casualties or damage by the quake. 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 | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |