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Strong earthquake hits mountain towns in central Italy

Wednesday, 24 August 2016 8:27 AM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 24 August 2016 8:27 AM ]

Resident search for victims in the rubble after a strong heartquake hit Amatrice on August 24, 2016 Central Italy was struck by a powerful, 6.2-magnitude earthquake in the early hours, which has killed at least three people and devastated dozens of mountain villages. (AFP)

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

A strong earthquake has hit central Italy, causing serious damage to a number of towns and villages. The towns of Accumoli and Amatrice are among the hardest-hit areas, where ten people are believed to be dead. The death toll may rise as many are trapped under the rubble.
Turkey says its forces have entered northern Syria for an operation against Daesh. US warplanes are assisting Turkey in the operation in the border town of Jarablus. Turkish media say the town has already come under heavy artillery fire and airstrikes by the Turkish army.
Turkey’s Dogan news agency says a military vehicle has come under attack near the resort town of Antalya. At least three soldiers have been wounded. It’s not clear yet who conducted the attack. Violence has been surging in Turkey over the past months.
Iraqi premier Haider al-Abadi says government troops from all provinces are joining the operation to liberate the Daesh-held northern city of Mosul. Abadi has called on Kurdish fighters to join the fight against Daesh who the Iraqi PM called a threat to entire Iraq.
Human Rights Watch says Bahraini government is systematically targeting Shia clerics. According to the rights watchdog at least 56 Bahraini clergies may have been questioned or charged by Al Khalifah regime. The rights group added that Manama is violating clerics’ right to freedom of assembly.
Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Gholamali Khoshroo, has reiterated Tehran’s call for the dismantling of weapons of mass destruction across the world. Khoshroo expressed concern over the slow pace of de-nuclearization. Khoshroo was speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement at the UN Security Council.
China says it’s opposed to North Korea’s nuclear and missile development process, as well as any actions that trigger tensions on the Korean Peninsula. On Wednesday, North Korea fired a submarine-launched missile that flew towards Japan. The move has also drawn strong condemnations from South Korea and Japan.
At least three hundred people have lost their lives following catastrophic floods in eastern and central parts of India. The devastating floods caused by monsoon rains have also forced over 100000 people from their homes in recent days.

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