French photographer escapes captivity in AfghanistanApril 8, 2013 - 17:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A French photographer escaped captivity in Afghanistan on Monday, April 8 more than three months after being taken hostage, the Interior Ministry said, according to Reuters Four armed men snatched freelancer Pierre Borghi from a busy area of the capital, Kabul, in November, ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. Sediqqi said Borghi had run away from his captors in Wardak province, near Kabul, and then been picked up by Afghan security forces and taken to the capital. Kidnappings are on the rise in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan. Experts say militants are using them to raise funds after cash from al Qaeda dried up. It was not clear who was responsible for Borghi's kidnapping. Criminal gangs frequently carry out the initial attack then sell victims on to militant groups. 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 | About 173 million drams and more than 30 beneficiary funds. "The Power of One Dram" is 4 years old In June 2020, the exclusive joint corporate social responsibility initiative of Idram and IDBank "The Power of One Dram" was launched. CSTO budget “to be adjusted due to Yerevan’s non-payment of contributions” The CSTO budget for the current year requires adjustments due to the refusal of Yerevan to pay their share of contributions. Russia sends note of protest to Armenia over envoy’s trip to Ukraine’s Bucha Russia has sent a note of protest to Armenia over the visit of Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan to Bucha. Armenia: Protesters march to parliament, some spend the night on street The protesters did not disperse despite heavy rain that began at around 2 a.m. local time. |