United States

Arsonist hits Hollywood

An arsonist swept through the Hollywood area under the cover of darkness, torching vehicles which also ignited nearby houses, including one once occupied by Doors frontman Jim Morrison.

The four-hour onslaught started shortly after midnight on Friday and sent firefighters scrambling to douse fires in 21 locations in Hollywood and the neighboring city of West Hollywood. In nearly every case, the fire started in a parked car.

Authorities ruled out any possible link to terrorism, while bracing for another round of fires and continuing the search for a suspect.

India

Cyclone kills at least 33

At least 33 people died when a cyclone hit southern India, officials said on Saturday as engineers rushed to restore power supplies knocked out by winds of up to 140 kilometers an hour.

Cyclone Thane lashed the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu state and the territory of Pondicherry on Friday, leaving in its wake a trail of destruction, officials from the affected regions said.

At least 21 people died in Cuddalore, which bore the brunt of the storm, said District Administrator V. Amuvalli.

Thailand

Flood death toll above 800

The death toll from months of flooding in Thailand has risen to more than 800, although the waters have receded in many parts of the country, the government said on Saturday.

Late reporting of deaths from the inundations in central and northern provinces along with heavy November monsoon rains in the south of the kingdom have seen fatality numbers continue to rise, the interior ministry said.

A total of 823 flood-related deaths have now been recorded, including 10 in the south, since the crisis began in July. Three people are still missing.

Iraq

Five dead at checkpoint

Gunmen attacked and killed five at a checkpoint manned by government-backed Sunni militiamen in the restive Iraqi province of Diyala, security officials said on Saturday.

The attack occurred in the town of Khan Bani Saad, about 30 km northeast of Baghdad, the head of the local security committee and police said.

"An attack of this size ... indicates that al-Qaida sleeper cell groups are now re-activating their movements," said Saad Abdullah, head of the security committee in Khan Bani Saad.

AP - AFP

(China Daily 01/01/2012 page4)