:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/WTLRCRHHAEPM6XO5QZP5B25QT4.jpg)
Given that the earthquake has effected a large zone across the regions of Lazio, Abruzzo, Le Marche and Umbria, it is expected that the death toll will rise.
The earthquake struck at 3.36am with its epicentre in Accumoli, Rieti, about 70km north of Rome.
One small town, Amatrice, appears to have been particularly badly hit, with Mayor Sergio Pirozzi telling Italian radio on Wednesday morning "half the town doesn't exist anymore".
2. Pat Hickey and Marcus Evans had email, text contact - Rio police
Rio de Janeiro police say they have found email and texting evidence of contact between Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) president Pat Hickey and Marcus Evans, the owner of controversial British ticket agency THG, which was not authorised to sell tickets for the Rio Games.
The police said Mr Hickey and Mr Evans discussed the arrest of Kevin Mallon, the Irish finance director of THG.
[ Chicago’s Maggie McEldowney crowned Rose of Tralee 2016 ]
The Chicago Rose Maggie McEldowney was crowned the Rose of Tralee 2016 on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old Chicago native works as director of development at Marist High School. Her grandmother, Brigid O'Neill, was born in Maghera, Co Derry.
Merger costs left Paddy Power Betfair with a £47.5 million sterling (€55.4 million) loss at the end of June.
The group also announced that that Paddy Power co-founder Stewart Kenny, who as chief executive led the Irish bookie's flotation in 2001, is stepping down from the board.
Paddy Power Betfair said on Wednesday that revenues grew 18 per cent to £759 million in the six months ended June 30th from £642 million million during the same period last year.
5. Darragh Ó Sé: “Time for desperate Kerry to cast off Dublin yoke”
Our columnist Darragh Ó Sé today argues the gap between Dublin and Kerry is not as big as people think:
“Kerry’s motivation – maybe even their desperation – should make the gap even smaller. The gap should always be small between Dublin and Kerry anyway.”