Shootout in Rio slum ahead of Carnival kills 8

A police spokesman said the gunbattle in the Jacarezinho slum started while police were on a routine patrol. He declined to be quoted by name, citing standard department policy. Jacarezinho is located in northern Rio, far from the tourist areas and the Carnival parties that open Friday and draw about 500,000 visitors each year.
But the violence nevertheless adds to concerns about the city’s image and how much it will be able to curtail violence as it prepares to host the 2016 Olympics. Thursday was one of the bloodiest days in Rio since October, when a drug gang war saw police kill scores of suspects during two weeks of operations. That violence was ignited when a police helicopter was shot down by suspected traffickers, and 2,000 officers began raiding slums to look for those responsible.
Rio’s aggressive policing has been criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups, who say police here kill three people each day on average. Officials defend their tactics, saying they are going up against gangs armed with assault rifles, grenades and even anti-aircraft weapons.
Also Thursday, police found the body of the co-founder of a local non-governmental organization that offers slum youth theater training. Fred Pinheiro, whose throat was slit, had been missing for two days.
Police said there was no known motive and no suspects were in custody.
Americas

Trump says any new nuclear facilities Iran may build will be obliterated

At least 30 injured when car hits crowd outside Los Angeles club, fire department says

At least 31 injured after ‘car ploughs into crowd’ in Los Angeles

Federal judge blocks enforcement of Trump's order on ICC
NEWS FEED
Israeli PM suffering from food poisoning, his office says, after he skipped cabinet meeting
5 dead after ferry catches fire off Indonesia’s Sulawesi island
400 more families to be relocated to Khojaly by the end of this year
III Shusha Global Media Forum -PHOTOSESSION
Participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum got acquainted with village of Khidirli in Aghdam
Participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum visited Aghdam
Earthquake of 7.4 magnitude strikes off Russia's Kamchatka region, tsunami warning lifted
Number of people poisoned at recreation center in Kurdamir reaches 24
Assistant to President clarifies Azerbaijani delegation's absence from CIS Economic Council meeting
Hikmet Hajiyev: President's communication with media plays important role in preventing disinformation
Assistant to President of Azerbaijan: Abu Dhabi meeting was held on constructive basis
Panel on media literacy held within the framework of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum-UPDATED
Northern Iran rocked by powerful earthquake
Presidential Assistant: We were able to overcome massive international disinformation during Patriotic War
Hikmet Hajiyev: Shusha Media Forum allows us to cover life in the liberated territories
At least 136 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza
Victory Museum to be located in the building of the former Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region party committee
Meeting held with participants of 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum President Ilham Aliyev attended the meeting-PHOTO-UPDATED
37 confirmed dead in cruise ship accident in N. Vietnam
Mass Poisoning Occurs at a Recreation Center in Azerbaijan
Northern Iran rocked by powerful earthquake
Ukraine proposes fresh talks with Russia next week
Hong Kong issues top typhoon warning as Wipha nears
Three drones downed en route to Moscow, some flights suspended, officials say
At least 27 killed after Vietnam tourist boat capsizes in Halong Bay
Trump says any new nuclear facilities Iran may build will be obliterated
President Ilham Aliyev made post on meeting with participants of the 3rd Shusha Global Media Forum
Head of State: Unfortunately, we have not received a response from Russia regarding AZAL plane crash
Azerbaijan prepares documents to appeal to international court against Russia over AZAL plane
President: There cannot be any foreign operator on the territory of Azerbaijan related to the Zangezur corridor
Syrian special forces deploy in As-Suwayda to prevent armed clashes
China starts construction of Tibet mega-dam
President Ilham Aliyev: Azerbaijan and China have major plans to expand trade
President Ilham Aliyev: I do not use artificial intelligence myself
President: Azerbaijani citizens should not see the face of an Armenian border guard when traveling to Nakhchivan
Azerbaijani President explains impact of Trump's victory on peace deal
President Ilham Aliyev: We support African countries with respect to climate change
President describes work done in the liberated territories in short period of time as miracle
President Ilham Aliyev: International legal norms must be the guarantee of trust between Azerbaijan and Armenia
Ukraine proposes fresh peace talks with Russia next week: Zelensky
President of Azerbaijan: What happened between France and New Caledonia is a historical precedent
President Ilham Aliyev: Karabakh and East Zangezur are already a small piece of paradise
President: We have a good record of attracting foreign investments in the energy sector
President Ilham Aliyev: I am very pleased with the development of Azerbaijani media
Head of State: Our media is now capable of responding to any unpleasant slander campaign
President Ilham Aliyev answered a question regarding AZAL plane crash at Shusha Global Media Forum
President Ilham Aliyev expressed his stance on the natural gas crisis between Russia and the European Union at the Media Forum
Azerbaijani leader recommends Ukraine not to reconcile with occupation
President Ilham Aliyev: South Caucasus will be a safe and stable place
President Ilham Aliyev: We are grateful to President Trump for his efforts to help Azerbaijan and Armenia reach an agreement