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Xinhua world news summary at 1530 GMT, April 17

Xinhua, April 17, 2016 Adjust font size:

At least 77 people were killed and more than 580 others were injured Saturday when a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Ecuador, officials said Sunday.

Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas announced the updated death toll at a press conference, saying the 7.8 magnitude quake, centered on the South American country's sparsely populated coastal regions, caused widespread destruction in the vicinity of the epicenter. (Ecuador-Earthquake)

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TOKYO -- A powerful magnitude-7.3 earthquake struck the island of Kyushu in southwestern Japan early Saturday just a day after a sizable foreshock hit the region, with the number of fatalities now standing at 41 according to the latest figures on Sunday.

Thousands of people have been injured as a result of the quakes and aftershocks which have been centered in and around Kumamoto Prefecture, and both the government and the weather agency here have warned Sunday that strong winds and heavy rain is expected to continue throughout the day and that further aftershocks and landslides are expected. (Japan-Kumamoto Quake)

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ADDIS ABABA -- Armed Group has attacked and killed 208 people in Gambella regional state of Ethiopia, on the border with South Sudan.

The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC) quoted the country's government communication office as saying that the armed group infiltrated into Ethiopia through South Sudan border. (Ethiopia-Attack)

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MOGADISHU -- A senior Al-Shabaab commander surrendered to Somali army at a village near Galcad town in Galgudud region of central Somalia on Sunday, officials said.

Somali National Army Commander in the region Col. Ahmed Mohamed told reporters that Ahmed Mohamud Afrah accepted amnesty and surrendered to the government. (Somalia-Politics)

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CAIRO -- French President Francios Hollande is going to kick off his three-day visit to Egypt on Sunday afternoon, according to the state news agency MENA.

The French president is on a three-nation tour in the Middle East, which has taken him to Lebanon. He will also visit Jordan after his trip to Egypt. (France-Egypt-Visit) Endi