Tsunami stories: Star boosts reliefaid by $1.4m

Sandra Bullock has given US$1million ($1.4 million) to the American Red Cross tsunami relief fund, the organisation said.

The funds from the Hollywood actress will be used to provide relief supplies, financial support and technical assistance.

The star of Speed and While You Were Sleeping also gave US$1 million after the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington.

London department store Harrods kicked off its New Year sale by pledging to donate 2 per cent of the day's takings - an estimated £150,000 ($407,000) - to the tsunami relief effort.

AFL player's body found

The body of Melbourne AFL player Troy Broadbridge - the 13th confirmed Australian tsunami fatality - has been found in Thailand by his father.

Broadbridge, 24, had been missing since being separated from his wife when the tsunami hit Phi Phi island. The couple were on their honeymoon. Trisha Broadbent is recovering in hospital in Bangkok.

Weather man sacked

Tsunami-hit Thailand has fired its chief meteorologist after his department failed to issue a warning which might have saved thousands.

Suparerk Tansriratanawong said Thailand had not been hit by a tsunami in more than 300 years and his 900-strong meteorological department had no reason to expect one.

But the English-language newspaper Nation quoted an unnamed member of the department as saying an alert was not issued for fear of hurting the tourist industry if it turned out to be false.

'Hero' arrested

A Gold Coast man hailed as a hero for saving more than a dozen lives during the tsunami disaster has been arrested on home invasion charges on his return to Brisbane.

The hero's homecoming for Thomas David Connell turned sour when detectives greeted the 32-year-old businessman, dubbed "the good Samaritan of Patong Beach" for his rescue role in Phuket, with handcuffs at Brisbane Airport.

Connell is alleged to have been involved in a home invasion on the Gold Coast in 2002.

Lights out for victims

Lights on New York's Empire State Building were to be dimmed for 15 minutes, and flags at all United States Government buildings will be flown at half-mast this week, in tribute to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

A spokesman for the management of the Empire State Building said the dimming of the iconic skyscraper's lights would be a visual tribute to the victims.

- AGENCIES