■ United States
Joseph Barbera dies at 95
Joseph Barbera, a co-founder of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon company that created memorable characters like the Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, died on Monday at age 95, Warner Bros film studio said in a statement. Barbera founded Hanna-Barbera with William Hanna nearly 50 years ago and it grew to become one of Hollywood's best known brand names in the field of animation. He died at his home in the Los Angeles suburb of Studio City with his wife, Sheila, by his side, Warner Bros said. No further details were disclosed.
■ United States
Pot biggest cash crop
Marijuana is now the biggest cash crop grown in the country, exceeding traditional harvests such as wheat, corn and soy beans, a new report says. The study shows that 10,000 tonnes of marijuana worth US$35.8 billion is grown each year; the street value of which is even higher. This dwarfs the US$23 billion worth of corn grown, US$17.6 billion worth of soybeans and US$12.2 billion worth of hay. Marijuana is the biggest cash crop in 12 states, with the value of pot grown outstripping peanuts in Georgia and tobacco in North and South Carolina.
■ United States
Man gets degree at 100
When Marvin "Hub" Northen left Baylor University in 1929, he was one chemistry credit shy of graduating. This fall, the 100-year-old was finally granted his degree. Northen, who lives in a nursing home in Shreveport, Louisiana, did not attend Saturday's commencement at Baylor. But he was listed among the December list of graduates. He had a surprise graduation ceremony at his Shreveport church on Nov. 28 when he was presented with a Baylor diploma, a cap and gown and his official transcript. "I didn't expect any of it. Of course, I appreciated it. It wore me out all day long," Northen said.
■ United States
Baby dies from infection
A baby died after being infected by a virulent bacterium during an outbreak that prompted officials at an East Los Angeles hospital to stop accepting patients to its neonatal intensive care unit. The infant was among five patients at White Memorial Medical Center who were infected by Pseudomonas aeruginosa -- a common but potentially deadly bacterium for those with weak immune systems. An autopsy was under way, although hospital officials said it was likely the baby died on Monday because of the infection. The infant was the second to die since the bacterium was detected Nov. 30. No autopsy was conducted on the first baby, although the infection was believed to be the cause of death.
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