Morning Brief: Aftershock

China Photos/Getty Images China’s Earthquake Xinhua has warned that the death toll could reach 50,000.  The high number of children killed in school collapses have caused outrage. Communist party propaganda officials are working to manage public opinion. Taiwan is donating heavily toward earthquake aid on the mainland. Asia Burma’s regime announced favorable results from Saturday’s ...

By , a former associate editor at Foreign Policy.
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595046_080515_mb2.jpg
SHIFANG, CHINA - MAY 14: (CHINA OUT) A rescued earthquake survivor walks among the debris of collapsed houses in the Ronghua Township on May 14, 2008 in the outskirts of Shifang, one of the hard-hit cities, of Sichuan Province, China. A major earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, the worst in 58 years, jolted China's Sichuan Province May 12. The death toll has already risen to nearly 15,000 and is expected to rise with 25,000 still missing. A large dam near the hard-hit city of Dujiangyan, the Zipingpu Dam, has been damaged by the quake causing serious cracks; some 2,000 troops have been sent to plug the cracks. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

China Photos/Getty Images

China Photos/Getty Images

China’s Earthquake

Xinhua has warned that the death toll could reach 50,000. 

The high number of children killed in school collapses have caused outrage.

Communist party propaganda officials are working to manage public opinion.

Taiwan is donating heavily toward earthquake aid on the mainland.

Asia

Burma’s regime announced favorable results from Saturday’s constitutional referendum as the U.S. and EU continue to pressure it to allow in more cyclone aid. Many victims say they prefer living in ruins to the government’s refugee camps.

A suicide bomber disguised in a Burqa killed 18 in Western Afghanistan.

An obscure Islamist group claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s bombings in Jaipur, India.

A U.S. drone fired missiles at suspected militants in northern Pakistan.

2008 U.S. Election

Ending weeks of speculation, former rival John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama.

John McCain has pledged that most American troops will be out of Iraq by 2013 if he is elected.

John McCain’s wife Cindy sold off $2 million worth of investments in mutual funds that include businesses in Sudan.

The loss of a congressional seat in Mississippi has Republicans worried about this November.

Middle East

Sectarian violence continues unchecked in Baghdad’s Sadr City.

Palestinians commemorated the “catastrophe” of Israel’s founding.

President Bush praised Israel as a model of democracy.

Latin America

Hugo Chavez’s government offered to buy missiles for Colombian rebels, captured documents show.

Rising global corn and fuel prices will likely lead to a jump in Mexican tortilla prices in the coming months.

Evo Morales isn’t sweating this summer’s recall elections.

Africa

Violence in Southern Sudan has caused the U.N. to withdraw some staff.

Zimbabwe’s government has pushed the date of their runoff election back to July 31.

Europe

Italy arrested hundreds of illegal immigrants in a nationwide sweep.

In Italy’s rendition trial, the judge ruled that PM Silvio Berlusconi could be called to testify.

France’s biggest retail bank, Credit Agricole, reported 66 percent losses. The subprime crisis is to blame.

Today’s Agenda

  • President Bush will address Israel’s Knesset
  • Arab league mediators will wrap up talks in Lebanon.

Yesterday on
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Joshua Keating is a former associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating

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