S P O T L I G H T

15 killed in blasts
Dhaka, December 7 
At least 15 persons were killed and over 200 injured in a series of bomb explosions set off simultaneously in four crowded cinema halls in Bangladesh’s Mymensingh district this evening. The police said the incident occurred at the cinema houses when they were running to packed capacity on the occasion of Id-ul-Fitr. A bomb ripped through a hall when a large number of people were coming out of it after the evening show. Bombs went off at three other theatres also, where the shows were on. PTI

Idol desecrated in Rajasthan
Jaipur, December 7
Miscreants allegedly desecrated an idol in a temple in Monoharpur town, 100 km from here, triggering tension and prompting authorities to deploy additional forces to maintain law and order, the police said today. The idols inside the Santoshi Mata temple were found broken by the priest yesterday when he reached there to offer evening prayers. As the news spread, a large crowd gathered outside the temple, the police said, adding that additional forces were immediately rushed to the area, which dispersed the mob. PTI

US Navy ship
Washington, December 7
An Iranian oil vessel collided with a US Navy destroyer in the northern Persian Gulf, punching a two-foot gash in the destroyer’s side but causing no injuries, US military officials said. The USS Paul Hamilton was in no danger and continued operating after the collision yesterday, the officials said. The hole in the all-steel hull was above the water line. AP