More than 230 people died in a nightclub fire in Brazil

More than 230 people were killed in a crowded nightclub in south Brazil early Sunday morning. The fast-moving fire roared through the windowless nightclub. Many of them were caught in a stampede to escape. Inspectors believe the blaze in the university town of Santa Maria began when a band member or someone from its production team igniting a flare, which then set fire to the ceiling.
The vast majority of the victims, most of them university students, died from smoke inhalation rather than burns in what appeared to be the world's deadliest nightclub fire in more than a decade. More than 90 people were hospitalized, including 14 patients with severe burns.
The disaster recalls other incidents including a Buenos Aires nightclub blaze in 2004 that killed at least 194 people, a 2003 fire at a nightclub in West Warwick, Rhode Island, that killed 100 people, and a 2009 explosion at a nightclub in Russia that left more than 100 dead. Follow me on Google+ and Twitter to know more about the fire.

Queensland on alert for flooding in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Oswald

One man is dead and two other people were reported missing in Queensland's unfolding weather crisis, as Ipswich and Brisbane residents brace for flooding for the second time in as many years. Hundreds of people have been evacuated as heavy rain continued to fall on Sunday, with the towns of Gladstone and Bundaberg preparing for the possibility of major floods. Forecasters are expecting conditions "comparable to a high category one cyclone" with wind gusts of 60 knots, or 125kph, in the southeast corner over the next day. Brisbane is expecting a 2.6 metre flood peak, nearly half of the 4.46 metre peak in 2011. There will likely be two flood peaks in Brisbane at noon on Tuesday and again at noon the following day. Residents of north Bundaberg are being ordered to leave their houses immediately, the ABC reported at midday, with fears 300 houses will be inundated and those that don't to be left isolated. Follow me on Scoop for latest updates on the flood.

Thailand magazine editor jailed for 11 years for articles insulting monarchy

Somyot, a Thai magazine editor has been sentenced to 11 years in jail for defaming the the royal family under the country's draconian lese-majesty law. The criminal court in Bangkok convicted the 51-year-old guy in connection with two articles deemed offensive to the monarchy. The articles in question were published under pseudonyms in Somyot's now-defunct Voice of Taksin magazine in 2010 and the verdict was issued on Wednesday. More than 100 observers, including Thai and international scholars and journalists, diplomats and Somyot's supporters, were in court to hear the verdict. The court handed the editor five-year terms for each magazine article, with an additional year added from a suspended defamation case from three years ago. The editor is the third person convicted in the last month for insulting the royal family as calls grow within Thailand to change laws used to shield the monarchy from criticism. Please share your opinion about the scandal with me on Tumblr and let your friends know about this story.

Five teenage boys wounded in New Orleans shooting

A shooting occurred in New Orleans about 30 minutes after a parade honoring Martin Luther King Jr. passed through the Central City neighborhood on Monday (January 21, 2013). Five people, who were all between 17 and 18 years old, were wounded in the gun violence. Luckily, none of their wounds was life-threatening. Police said that when the victims were gathering outside a small grocery store near LaSalle Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, a white car drove up to them and a passenger fired a weapon from the vehicle's sunroof. The car then sped off in the direction of the Mississippi River. Officers rushed to the area after the shooting, which did not appear to be related to the parade, and quickly brought the situation under control. Besides this blog, you can also follow me on Opera for more breaking news.

Girl killed in icy Ohio highway pileup

A 12-year-old girl was killed and at least 20 people were injured on Monday in a crash involving at least 86 vehicles on an Ohio highway after a burst of snow hit the area. The accident shut down the highway, Interstate 275 near the Cincinnati suburb of Colerain Township for seven hours. This was one of at least four throughout the state on Monday. Parts of the state saw scattered snow showers, with isolated pockets of heavier snowfall. The little girl, whose name was not released, had gotten out of a damaged vehicle and was standing in the median near a cable barrier, a type of fencing made of ropelike steel wire cables. Another vehicle hit the barrier, snapping a cable, which then struck the girl and killed her. At least 20 people with undetermined injuries were taken to the local hospitals, though their injuries were not expected to be life-threatening and dozens of others with minor injuries were treated at the crash. If you know the name of the girl, please share it with us on Opera and other social networking sites.

Investment bank Gordian Group hired by Hostess union in asset sale

Gordian Group was hired by the union and pension fund for Hostess Brands Inc (HTBRS.UL) to help preserve jobs and workers' benefits as the maker of Twinkies and Wonder Bread sells off its brands. A source close to Gordian Group says the investment bank was selected in part because of its experience working on behalf of employees in other restructurings. New York-based Gordian Group, which specializes in distressed cases, will represent more than 5,000 Hostess workers. It will provide conflict-free advice for the welfare of the company's workers as well. “We aim to be directly involved in the M&A process in a way the union hasn’t been to date,” Peter Kaufman, Gordian Group’s president, said in an interview on January 21, 2013. “We’re open to working with Flowers as well as other bidders for the brands, the assets and the company.”

Actor Johnny Depp dumped by Amber Heard

 Johnny Depp is back on the market as the actor has been dumped by Amber Heard. The couple reportedly snapped up a $16 million mansion only last month. However, Amber Heard  ended their seven-month romance and headed straight for the arms of a woman. The beautiful actress jetted off on holiday with French model Marie de Villepin, the daughter of ex-French premier Dominique. Johnny Depp has signed on return as Captain Jack Sparrow in a fifth instalment of the Hollywood film franchise Pirates of the Caribbean. The movie is expected to be released in July 2015.

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