Beijing floods death toll soars to 77July 26, 2012 - 19:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 77 people were killed by heavy rain in Beijing at the weekend, more than double the number previously said to have died, BBC News said citing Xinhua news agency. Authorities in the Chinese capital said 66 of the 77 bodies found so far had been identified. Most had drowned. The official death toll had stood at 37 since Sunday but many angry Beijing residents said it was underestimated. The rainfall was the heaviest in Beijing in 60 years, bringing chaos to transport systems and power supplies. Major roads were flooded and more than 500 flights cancelled, with thousands of people stranded at the city's main airport. More than 65,000 people had to be evacuated. The authorities have been criticised for being slow to acknowledge the human cost of the floods. On Wednesday the mayor of Beijing resigned. Officials said the move was not related to the flooding, and that he was taking up a more senior role. 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 | Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. Prosecutors to appeal Armenia ex-President’s acquittal Sargsyan was acquitted on Friday, May 31 more than four years after going on trial on corruption charges. Armenia: 28 protesters arrested after clash with police The Investigative Committee of Armenia has announced the arrest of 28 participants of an opposition demonstration. International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. |