In brief: Car bomb kills 15; aid workers freed

BEIRUT – A car bomb in a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens in a crowded outdoor market Monday, two activist groups said.

The bomb went off in the town of Darkoush in Idlib province, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva confirmed Monday that three of its employees and one from the Syrian Red Crescent were released, a day after being kidnapped by gunmen. The fate of three other ICRC employees who were also kidnapped Sunday was not immediately known.

7.2 earthquake hits central Philippines

MANILA, Philippines – A 7.2-magnitude earthquake collapsed buildings, cracked roads and toppled the bell tower of the Philippines’ oldest church this morning, killing at least 20 people across the central region.

The quake sent people rushing out of homes and buildings as aftershocks continued. At least five died in a stampede in Cebu, said Neil Sanchez, provincial disaster management officer.

The temblor, which struck at 8:12 a.m., was centered about 20 miles below Carmen town on Bohol Island. Four people were killed in Bohol and 15 died in Cebu province. Another person died on Siquijor Island. A total of 33 were injured.