Houston – Fire broke out in a six-story office building Wednesday, killing three people and injuring at least six, while many others inside climbed down to safety on ladders, fire officials said.
The fire broke out at the end of the business day. Flames shot out of the top floors, and heavy smoke blanketed a nearby freeway.
Firefighters found the three bodies on the fifth floor, District Fire Chief T.J. Dowdy said. Three firefighters were injured, Dowdy said.
The fire is believed to have started in the offices of a medical supply company on the fifth floor.
Additional nation/world news briefs:
GREENCASTLE, Ind.
Sorority sues school over expulsion
A sorority accused of evicting members based on appearance and popularity sued DePauw University on Wednesday over the school’s decision to expel the organization.
Delta Zeta, which had been accused of asking only attractive, popular students to remain active members, filed the claim in U.S. District Court in Indianapolis, accusing DePauw of breaking promises and contracts, defaming the sorority, and interfering with its business relationships.
The chapter started the school year with 35 women in its house and removed 23 from active membership after a restructuring last fall. Delta Zeta has maintained the evictions were based on the members’ lack of commitment to recruiting pledges.
CLEARWATER, Fla.
Alimony required despite sex change
A woman’s sex change operation does not free her ex-husband from his alimony obligation, a judge said Wednesday.
Attorneys for Lawrence Roach, 48, had argued that his ex- wife’s decision to switch genders and change her name from Julia to Julio Roberto Silverwolf voided their 2004 divorce agreement.
“It’s illegal for a man to marry a man, and it should likewise be illegal for a man to pay alimony to a man,” said John McGuire, one of Roach’s attorneys.
Circuit Judge Jack R. St. Arnold, however, ruled that in the eyes of the law, nothing changed significantly enough to free Roach from his $1,250-a-month obligation. Silverwolf’s lawyer, Gregory Nevins, said the language of the divorce decree is clear – Roach agreed to pay alimony until his ex-wife dies or remarries.
WASHINGTON
China talks tough on U.S.-Taiwan ties
China’s ambassador to the United States urged Washington on Wednesday to continue sending a clear message condemning Taiwan independence and to stop selling weapons to the island’s government.
Zhou Wenzhong said in a speech that how the U.S. and China deal with Taiwan is crucial to the overall development of U.S.- Chinese relations.
“The question needs to be handled with great care and great caution,” Zhou told an audience at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.
Washington recognizes China and has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The U.S. maintains extensive unofficial relations with the island, however, and has pledged to see that Taiwan has the means to defend itself.
MONTERREY, Mexico
Man fatally stung by bees in orchard
A man died after a swarm of bees attacked him and his son while they were working in an orchard in northern Mexico, authorities said Wednesday.
Jesus Flores, 48, and his 18-year-old son, Jose Flores, were working in an orange orchard Tuesday in Montemorelos when they accidentally disturbed a beehive on a tree, Jose Flores told reporters.
Miguel Gonzalez, a Red Cross paramedic, said Jesus Flores died instantly after being stung about 15 times. Gonzalez said Jesus Flores was probably allergic to bee venom.
BERLIN
Prague to open talks on U.S. missile shield
The Czech government announced Wednesday that it will open formal negotiations with the United States to build part of a missile defense shield.
Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek told reporters in Prague that his country “recognizes the threats against which the defense shield should be set.”
The proposed U.S. defense system, designed to shoot down ballistic missiles launched from countries such as Iran and North Korea, has drawn especially heavy criticism in Germany.
Last week, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier warned that the defense system could divide Europe politically and would antagonize Russia, which has also complained vociferously about the plan.
