Brazil deploys troops to fight crime in RioJuly 29, 2017 - 10:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Brazil has mobilized some 8,500 soldiers Friday in Rio de Janeiro state to fight organized crime and a spike in street violence, AFP reports. Some of these troops have already been deployed, with transport trucks seen rolling through the city of Rio on Friday, July 28 afternoon. President Michel Temer signed a decree allowing the use of the armed forces in Rio de Janeiro state, the official government gazette announced. Temer plans to mobilize 10,000 soldiers altogether. The operation aims in particular to fight organized crime in this city of 6.5 million people, Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told a news conference. He said other countries also need to cooperate in fighting such crime at the regional level. A year after hosting the Summer Olympics, Rio has descended into a chaos of violence, with an average of three people killed each day by stray bullets in the first six months of the year, especially when there are shootouts between police and drug traffickers. Around 90 members of the security forces have been killed so far this year in Rio. 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 | Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation. |