World in brief: Flood that killed at least 5 recedes

Floodwaters from Hurricane Lorenzo were receding Saturday in eastern Mexico after rains triggered mudslides and floods that killed at least five people and drove tens of thousands from their homes.

Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Melissa was gaining strength Saturday evening over the eastern Atlantic, the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said. Melissa had sustained winds of 45 mph, but posed no immediate threat to land.

Lorenzo hit Mexico’s Gulf coast on Friday and quickly faded into a potent rainstorm as it moved over the lush, ravine-cut mountains of east-central Mexico, dumping more than 13 inches of rain in some areas in less than a day.

Calcutta, India

Insult of ‘Idol’ leads fans to riot

An angry mob set dozens of vehicles ablaze in riots after a radio host made derogatory comments about the winner of the popular television show “Indian Idol,” officials said Saturday. More than 60 people were injured.

The violence broke out Friday. Supporters of Prashant Tamang, the recent winner of the TV singing competition, took to the streets of the town of Siliguri in the eastern state of West Bengal to protest against what they perceived as a radio show host’s ethnic slur against Tamang, said state police official R.J.S. Nalwa. Tamang is an Indian citizen of Nepalese origin.

In a message to his fans, Tamang called for peace, saying, “violence has no place in song or music.”