Rio faces major budget crisis ahead of Olympic GamesJune 18, 2016 - 16:30 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Rio state authorities declared a "state of public calamity" Friday, Jue 17 over a major budget crisis in order to release emergency funds to finance the Olympic Games due to begin in August, AFP says. The decree authorizes the state to "adopt all necessary emergency measures to ration essential public services in order for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to take place." "Any institutional instability would hurt the country's image," said the decree, signed by acting governor Francisco Dornelles. The August 5-21 Olympics and September 7-18 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro will be the first to be held in South America. The events pose "serious difficulties in delivering essential public services and could even cause a collapse in public safety, health, education, transportation and environmental management," the decree said, according to AFP. Rio de Janeiro state is in financial straits due to the fall in global oil prices, while Brazil overall is floundering through a deep recession. Police, teachers and other government workers in Rio state have seen paychecks delayed because of the cash crunch. Retirees have protested because of unpaid pensions. Brazil's economy shrank 3.8 percent last year, its worst recession in 25 years. The International Monetary Fund and the market are predicting a similar contraction this year. 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 | 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. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |