An earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale struck the Umbria region of central Italy, 65 miles northeast of Rome, on Aug. 24, killing at least 291 people, though that number may rise. Some small villages were completely destroyed, including Pescara del Tronto.  

As more than 4,000 rescue workers searched throughout the affected area, many survivors were found in the rubble. Aftershocks measuring up to 4.3 hit Umbria on Aug. 25, further damaging some buildings and hampering...

A series of coordinated bomb attacks was made against tourist destinations in southern Thailand on Aug. 12.

In the city of Hua Hin, popular with expatriates, four bombs were set off in the space of 24 hours, killing two people. In the city of Surat Thani, two bombs exploded at separate police stations, killing one person. A bomb in the city of Trang killed one person.

Bombs were also detonated at beach resorts in Patong, on Phuket Island, and in Phang Nga. No one was killed in...

In western Pakistan, a suicide bomber struck a hospital in the city of Quetta on Aug. 8, killing 70 people and injuring more than 100. 

Just before the bombing, more than 200 people had gathered outside the hospital for news about two prominent local lawyers who had been fatally shot earlier in the day. The lawyers had spoken out against killings by local militant groups. A Pakistani branch of the Taliban Islamist militant group claimed responsibility for the bombing.