Asia More than 4,000 people were killed and thousands more were missing after the most powerful earthquake in 40 years rocked Indonesia, triggering giant waves that slammed into Indian Ocean coastlines, hitting hardest in Sri Lanka, India and Thailand. Asia In Sri Lanka more than 2,100 people were killed after giant waves smashed into the island, prompting the government to declare a state of disaster. Asia More than 700 people were killed in Indonesia after a huge earthquake unleashed tidal waves that engulfed its coastline, while the country was bracing for the worst amid fears the death toll could rise far higher. Asia Tidal waves devastated the southern Indian coastline, killing at least 1,100 people, officials said, amid warnings that the death toll was expected to rise. Asia At least 195 people were killed and more than 2,000 injured in southern Thailand when giant waves caused by a massive earthquake off Indonesia struck the nation, officials said. Ukraine Ukrainians voted for a new president in a closely watched repeat election to decide whether the strategic ex-Soviet republic will break with the past and align itself with Western democracies or remain under Russia's domination. Russia A Russian cargo vessel bearing Christmas gifts and vital supplies of food and fuel docked with the International Space Station, Interfax quoted the Mission Control Centre near Moscow as saying. Mideast Israel approved arrangements to ensure the smooth running of the upcoming Palestinian presidential election as candidates began pressing the flesh after the official launch of campaigning. Uzbekistan Authorities reported a high turnout at parliamentary polls in Uzbekistan that barred all opposition forces, but voting appeared marred by irregularities. Iraq Three Iraqi security officials and a politician were killed in the run-up to January polls, with Washington reportedly trying to guarantee Sunnis top government jobs regardless of the outcome of the vote. Honduras A member of the Mara Salvatrucha gang confessed to involvement in a bloody attack on a city bus in northern Honduras this week that left 28 people dead and 21 injured, police said.