Al-Qaeda's Syrian branch kidnaps activists in northJanuary 11, 2016 - 12:24 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's extremist Nusra Front group has seized two prominent media activists in the country's north, shutting down their radio station and burning rebel flags in the process, the Associated Press reports. The opposition radio station, Radio Fresh, says on its social media pages that Raed Fares and Hadi Abdullah were abducted by Nusra, al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, early Sunday, January 10 morning in a raid in the town of Kafranbel. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based group that tracks the country's civil war, says Fares, who runs the station, was taken because he had criticized the group, AP says. In January 2014, Islamic State militants sprayed his car with 40 bullets, hospitalizing him for three months, and in December of that year, Nusra detained and beat him for three days. 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 | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |