The region is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan but is run by ethnic Armenians.

The separatist authorities there said 31 of its soldiers had now died, and some lost positions had been retaken.

Azerbaijan said 26 civilians had been injured in heavy Armenian shelling. It earlier reported at least five deaths.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have already declared general mobilisation and martial law in some areas.

The fighting is the heaviest seen in the long-running conflict since 2016, when at least 200 people were killed in clashes. It has sparked international calls for diplomacy, amid fears that regional powers could be drawn into the conflict in the strategically important Caucasus region.(BBC)…[+]

Kate Goodchild, Luke Dorsett, Roozbeh Araghi and Cindy Low died in October 2016 when their raft crashed into another and overturned, crushing them. Park operator Ardent Leisure admitted in July to breaching safety laws.

The company said it accepted responsibility and had worked to improve safety standards.

The four victims – all adults – died almost instantly after the Thunder River Rapids Ride rafts collided, an inquiry heard in 2018. Two children were also on board but survived. The accident at Australia’s biggest theme park was caused by a pump that malfunctioned near the end of the ride.

On Monday, a court said the company had failed in its duty of care and should have taken steps to make the ride safer. “Steps were not that complex or burdensome and only mildly inconvenient and really were inexpensive,” Magistrate Pamela Dowse said.(BBC)…[+]