ROME - A POWERFUL aftershock has hit the quake-struck areas of central Italy, rattling buildings as far away as Rome.

The tremblor on Monday had a 4.5 magnitude on the Richter scale and had its epicentre just north of L'Aquila, the city that was hardest hit by the earthquake in April, the Civil Protection said.

PARIS- FRENCH police probing a record heist at Harry Winston jewellers in Paris have arrested 25 people and recovered some of the 85 million euros (S$170 million) worth of precious stones, a police source said on Monday.

The arrests were made on Sunday and Monday in the Paris region after police learned that a suspected fence who had come to France from abroad was about to try to sell the stolen jewels, the source said.

BOSTON - A MEDICAL student known as the 'Craigslist killer' pleaded not guilty on Monday to first-degree murder and six other charges related to violent attacks against women who advertised on the popular website.

Philip Markoff, 23, was indicted at Boston's Suffolk Superior Court for the April 14 murder of Julissa Brisman, a 25-year-old masseuse who advertised in the erotic services section of Craigslist.com.