“Largest ever” evacuations from besieged Syrian towns carried outApril 21, 2016 - 12:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Relief agencies have been evacuating 500 wounded people from four besieged Syrian towns, in what has been described as the largest such operation so far in the five-year conflict, BBC News reports. Half are coming from towns blockaded by pro-government forces, and half from towns blocked off by rebels. A UN chief in Syria said he had been told the operation had been successfully carried out. Meanwhile, peace talks that started in Geneva a week ago are in difficulty. It is not clear whether a partial truce that has lasted seven weeks so far will hold. Opposition representatives walked out of the talks this week, blaming government violations of the ceasefire. Activists said government air strikes on Tuesday had killed 40 people in rebel-held areas. 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 | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |