Abducted Chinese workers released in SudanFebruary 7, 2012 - 16:16 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rebel forces in Sudan's border state of South Kordofan released 29 Chinese workers to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Tuesday, February 7, 10 days after they were kidnapped, Sudan's foreign ministry said. The workers were handed over on Tuesday morning to the ICRC, Sudan's foreign ministry said. They were flown over from Kauda in South Kordofan to Nairobi in Kenya and handed over to Chinese embassy officials. "The Sudanese foreign ministry affirms to the government and people of China that Sudan's government seeks to protect Chinese investments and workers involved in it," a ministry statement said. The construction workers were captured on January 28 - apparently held as pawns in a dispute between Sudan and rebels allied with the newly independent and oil-rich South Sudan. It marked the third case of abduction of Chinese in Sudan since 2004 and highlighted the risks to China's expanding economic footprint in Africa in search of minerals and energy, Reuters reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months A court in Azerbaijan has extended the arrest of former Nagorno-Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan by five months. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |