3 confirmed dead in Rio de Janeiro building collapseJanuary 26, 2012 - 18:02 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Three people were confirmed dead and 16 were still missing early Thursday, January 26 after three office buildings, one of them 20 stories high, collapsed in downtown Rio de Janeiro, authorities said. Officials in Brazil's second largest city said the three bodies were retrieved as rescue teams with search dogs and heavy clearing equipment sifted through the rubble. Rio state security officials said six people were hurt, including a woman who sustained head injuries and required surgery. Witnesses reported hearing an explosion and described scenes reminiscent of September 11, 2001, with walls of dust and debris, AFP reported. The collapse, apparently caused by structural problems, occurred late Wednesday as Brazil races to prepare to host the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics, events which it hopes will highlight the country's emerging economic and political prowess. 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |