News of the Day From Around the World, Jan. 2

1 Garage fire: An estimated 1,400 cars were destroyed in a huge fire that raged through a seven-story parking garage in the northern English city of Liverpool. The fire next to Echo Arena started Sunday and was brought under control by Monday morning. There were no reported injuries. Officials set up a shelter to help the many people who could not get home because their cars had been burned. Witnesses said vehicles seemed to explode every couple of seconds when the fire was at its peak. They said it appeared to start in the engine of an older vehicle and quickly spread. Nearby apartments were evacuated because of the heavy smoke.