57 civilian de-miners kidnapped in AfghanistanJanuary 21, 2014 - 14:34 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A senior Afghan official said unknown kidnappers have seized 57 civilian de-miners on their way to work in western Afghanistan. The governor of Herat province, Faizullah Wahidi, said the de-miners – all Afghan – were abducted in the Pashtun Zargun district as they drove to an area that needed to be cleared of mines, according to the Associated Press. Wahidi did not know who kidnapped the workers or why. He says 63 were originally taken, but six were later released. After 30 years of near continuous conflict, Afghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Although the Taliban plant mines and roadside bombs, they generally do not hamper the work of civilian de-miners who work to clear farmlands and other common land of old explosives. 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 | Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Scholz hopes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace treaty will be signed this year German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hopes that a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan will be signed this year. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. |