Quake: Cabinet to earmark 234 mn

(ANSA) - Rome, August 25 - A cabinet meeting at 18:00 Thursday will declare a state of emergency in the areas hit by Wednesday's devastating earthquake and will earmark 234 million euros from the national emergencies fund, political sources said. The Italian Banking Association is instructing its members to stop mortgage payments in the affected towns and villages.
    United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin have called to offer aid.