Brazilian police yesterday detained the owners of the nightclub where a fire killed 231 people, as well as two band members whose pyrotechnics they say triggered the blaze.

Three people have been arrested after a fire in a nightclub in Brazil killed more than 230 people.

A fast-moving fire roared through a crowded, windowless nightclub in southern Brazil, filling the air in seconds with flames and a thick, toxic smoke that killed more than 230 panicked partygoers, many of whom were caught in a stampede to escape.

A blaze tore through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early yesterday, killing 232 people as the air filled with deadly smoke and panicked party-goers stampeded toward the exits.

A blaze tore through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today, killing 232 people as the air filled with deadly smoke and panicked party-goers stampeded toward the exits.

A deadly fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today, killing at least 245 people attending a university party and leaving at least 200 injured, police and firefighters said.

A fire swept through a crowded nightclub in southern Brazil early today, killing at least 245 people and leaving at least 200 injured, police and firefighters said.

At least 180 people are now thought to have died in a nightclub fire in the Brazilian city of Santa Maria.

At least 90 people are reported to have died, and 200 others injured, in a nightclub fire in Brazil.

Forget about Hawaii or Florida, the buzzword among American retirees is Ireland, either Youghal, Co Cork, or Co Clare — either of which when it comes to affordable homes is hotter than anywhere Stateside.

Janet Jackson says she will not attend a tribute concert in Cardiff honouring her brother Michael because it coincides with the trial of the doctor charged over the King of Pop's death.

SHE was the voluptuous pin-up girl who set a million male hearts pounding during World War II, the favourite movie star of a generation of young men long before she’d made a movie more than a handful of them had ever seen.

At least five people died and dozens were injured when a bus carrying French tourists overturned on a US motorway bridge, it was revealed today.

NOW that newspapers bring out league tables on exam results and what are considered the ‘best’ second-level schools in the country, maybe they should accompany them with league tables of the physical condition of the schools in which staff and students alike are expected to perform.

The Irish squad will train with their Italian hosts, France, Greece and Lithuania today at their Santa Maria training base in Perugia, Italy.

Three people who said they believed entertainer Michael Jackson was guilty of child molestation were among 12 US jurors chosen to hear a lawsuit filed by a former associate over a financial dispute.

Speculation intensified today that Michael Jackson would attend a birthday party being thrown for his father in Berlin this weekend.

Michael Jackson’s fans and the media throng have mostly abandoned their vigil outside the Neverland Ranch in California, leaving the singer inside to recover from his bruising trial and the world outside awaiting his next move.

MICHAEL Jackson’s acquittal on child molestation charges drew jubilation from his fans from around the globe on Tuesday, outrage from some parents and observations that the ordeal has tarnished the pop star’s aura forever.

Jurors examining evidence in the Michael Jackson trial took an anonymous poll among themselves early in their deliberations on the charges against Michael Jackson, and it was apparent that most believed the pop star was innocent.

Fans and friends of Michael Jackson rejoiced around the globe as a jury in California delivered a verdict of not guilty in the pop star’s trial on child molestation and conspiracy charges.

Pop star Michael Jackson was tonight dramatically cleared of child abuse.

The Michael Jackson trial eases into week 16 today as jurors return to their deliberations amid increasing tensions at the California court house.

Michael Jackson’s fate was left hanging in the balance this weekend as the jury ended its sixth day of deliberations without reaching a verdict in his child sex abuse case.

JOURNALISTS swarm around the grounds of Santa Maria courthouse desperately looking for a story; fans proclaim Michael Jackson’s innocence to anyone who will listen, and scores of police officers keep watch over it all.

AS the world waits for a verdict in Michael Jackson’s child sex abuse trial the atmosphere outside the courthouse swings between the calm and the surreal.

Hours after testifying as a defence witness in Michael Jackson’s child abuse trial, Jay Leno was again mocking the pop star on the Tonight Show.

Michael Jackson’s former lawyer ordered a private investigator to keep tabs on the family of his young accuser as he feared they might sell their story to a tabloid, it emerged today.

Michael Jackson’s former maid testified today at the singer’s child molestation trial that she and other employees of the pop star used a ”media broker” to sell stories to tabloids including one claiming inside knowledge of Jackson’s sex life with ex-wife Lisa Marie Presley.

THE former house manager at Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch told jurors yesterday that he once saw three boys who toured the wine cellar with the pop star come out drunk.

Michael Jackson was greeted at court by cheering fans today as prosecutors prepared to introduce evidence of alleged past improper behaviour with young boys.

WITH one ruling, Michael Jackson’s child molestation trial has been transformed from a courtroom drama focusing on one child to a retrospective covering a decade’s worth of accusations against Jackson.

Prosecutors in the Michael Jackson case have waited more than a decade for what a judge has now granted them: the chance to tell jurors about past sexual abuse allegations that never led to criminal charges.

For the second time in less than two weeks, Michael Jackson arrived late for his child molestation trial today, walking slowly and stiffly into court.

The teenager at the centre of abuse allegations against Michael Jackson said Jackson molested him five to seven times but could onlydescribe two of the incidents in detail, the lead investigator in the case testified yesterday.

MICHAEL JACKSON faced his young accuser in court yesterday wearing slippers and pyjamas after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Child molestation allegations that Michael Jackson faced in 1993 but which did not result in charges were raised by his California prosecutors today.

Michael Jackson returned to a California court today after a week’s delay and the judge assured prospective jurors that the singer really had been ill and there was no plot to put off his child molestation trial.

Michael Jackson was admitted to hospital today after his convoy was suddenly diverted as it drove to a California court for jury selection in the singer’s child molestation trial.

Pop star Michael Jackson was taken to a hospital emergency room today, the judge in the star’s child molestation trial said.

PROSPECTIVE jurors in the Michael Jackson child abuse case were asked in a questionnaire released yesterday if they can fairly judge people of different races, have ever been diagnosed with cancer and have they ever experienced or been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Prospective jurors in the Michael Jackson child abuse case were asked in a questionnaire released yesterday if they can fairly judge people of different races, have ever been diagnosed with cancer and have ever experienced or been accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Michael Jackson returned to a California court today for a second day of jury selection in his child molestation trial and was greeted by a small group of fans.

One by one, Americans came up with reasons why they could not sit in judgement on Michael Jackson on the first day of jury selection that will eventually lead to the singer’s child molestation trial.