RIO DE JANEIRO -- A massive fire on late Sunday raced through Brazil's 200-year-old National Museum in Rio de Janeiro, causing no casualties but probably the total loss of a collection of more than 20 million items.

The fire broke out around 7:30 p.m. Sunday local time (2230 GMT) when the museum was closed to the public. The museum press service reported no injuries, saying all the four security guards fled the fire. The cause of the fire remains unknown. (Brazil-Fire-Museum)

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BAGHDAD -- Rival Iraqi political blocs on Monday claimed they have formed the largest alliance that would form the next government, hours before the first parliament session.

In early hours of the day, Iranian-backed Coalition of al-Fath, led by Hadi al-Ameri, and former Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who heads State of Law Coalition, announced they formed the largest alliance with 145 lawmakers after they got some lawmakers to defect from other blocs. (Iraq)

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PHNOM PENH -- Mekong floods have claimed 32 lives in Cambodia, including 15 children, in the last six weeks, Keo Vy, a spokesman for the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said Monday.

Six provinces along the Mekong River, namely Stung Treng, Kratie, Tboung Khmum, Kampong Cham, Prey Veng, and Kandal, have suffered from the Mekong overflow, he said. (Cambodia-Flood)

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LOS ANGELES -- Four people were missing and nine others were injured after two boats collided Saturday night on the Colorado River between western U.S. states of California and Arizona, authorities said on Sunday.

According to the Mohave County Sheriff's Office in Arizona, the communications center received several 911 calls in reference to a boat crash incident on the Colorado River near the Moabi Regional Park, at approximately 8:00 PM local time on Saturday (0300 GMT on Sunday). (US-Boat Collision) Enditem

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