World news: Rescuers struggle in cut off areas as more rain expected

RESCUE workers in Brazil were braced for more rain today as they struggled to reach areas cut off by massive floods and landslides that look certain to have killed more than 500 people.

In the country's worst natural disaster for decades, rivers of mud tore through towns in the mountainous Serrana region outside Rio de Janeiro, levelling houses, throwing cars atop buildings and stranding thousands of residents.

The death toll was 495 people, according to official tallies late on Thursday, but rescuers had yet to reach some of the worst-hit parts of Teresopolis.

More than 13,500 people have been left homeless.

The flooding has likely caused billions of dollars in damage and has presented President Dilma Rousseff with her first crisis only two weeks after she took office.

Beyond the loss of life and property, the damage could further boost food prices in parts of southeastern Brazil, a major concern for the government.

The Serrana region is an important producer of fruit and vegetables for the Rio area but the floods have not affected Brazil's main crops such as soy, sugar cane, oranges and coffee.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo votes during the presidential primaries in Abuja. Nigeria's ruling party chose Goodluck Jonathan as its candidate.

Festival to host Gibson's return

Mel Gibson's return to the big screen will begin at the South by Southwest festival in March.

Organisers announced that The Beaver is one of five films that will have their international premieres at the multimedia film festival known as SXSW held annually in Austin, Texas.

Water recedes, leaving sludge

PARTS of Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city reopened today as deadly floodwaters that had swamped entire neighbourhoods receded, revealing streets and thousands of homes covered in a thick layer of putrid sludge. The massive clean-up has begun.

First shooting victim funeral

THE youngest victim of the mass shooting in Arizona was remembered at her funeral for her love of baseball, animals and swimming with her brother.

Christina Taylor Green's funeral is the first for the six victims killed when a gunman opened fire on a crowd at an event for Representative Gabrielle Giffords, injuring the congresswoman and wounding 13 others. The congresswoman continues to make remarkable progress, doctors said.

New Cabinet hopes for reform

JAPAN'S prime minister reshuffled his Cabinet as he tried to revive the struggling economy and expand free trade to stay globally competitive.

Naoto Kan's new Cabinet will push for reforms as Japan faces a string of problems, including an ageing population, debt and a struggling economy.

MP resigns over 'need for new start'

Denmark: Foreign Minister Lene Espersen has resigned as the leader of the Conservative Party in the coalition government. Ms Espersen said she is stepping down because "there's a need for a new start".China: A Chinese farmer has been sentenced to life in prison for avoiding motorway tolls adding up to more than 3.5 million yuan (334,000). Shi Jianfeng was sentenced by a court in the central province of Henan.