World IN BRIEF : ITALY : Avalanche Kills 7 Schoolchildren

Seven schoolchildren were killed by an avalanche that was triggered by a sudden and violent thunderstorm. Seven others were trapped for about four hours under snow, mud and stones before being rescued. Police said the seven trapped children and two adult companions were taken to a hospital in the alpine village of Tione, 80 miles northeast of Milan, and that all were out of danger. The dead were among 24 students, aged 12 to 15, from a church parish in Piacenza who were on a summer outing in the mountains.