Daily News Digest

China, Burma, Bush in Israel, Dem presidential race, Republicans in Congress, Farm bill, Housing, Ohio payday lending, Online war, Polar bear endangered, Iraq, Darfur, and Iran.

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China. China quake toll 'to top 50,000' "More than 50,000 people may have died in the earthquake that devastated parts of China," China warns quake death toll could reach 50,000 "China warned the death toll from this week's earthquake could soar to 50,000, while the government issued a rare public appeal for rescue equipment as it struggled to cope with the disaster." China Expedites Vast Rescue Operation "The Chinese government accelerated its massive rescue-and-recovery operation, dispatching hundreds of busloads of civilian rescue teams, paramilitary police and youthful volunteers toward earthquake-ravaged regions." China eases Internet controls, and quake news pours out "Amid a national outpouring of grief over a huge earthquake, China has relaxed its grip - perhaps briefly - on the Internet and some media outlets." Tiny Bodies in a Morgue, and Grief in China"But the awful scene at this local morgue is a sad reminder that too many of the dead are children in a country where most families are allowed to have only one."

Burma. Junta tightens grip as Burmese starve" Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough on international aid for millions of Burmese left homeless by Cyclone Nargis receded today when the ruling military junta announced that it had won overwhelming approval in a referendum." Burma to Allow 160 Asian Aid Workers "Burmese military authorities have agreed to let 160 aid workers from four Asian countries assist its struggling cyclone relief effort," Aid Groups Say Myanmar Food Stolen by Military "The directors of several relief organizations in Myanmar said that some of the international aid arriving into the country for the victims of Cyclone Nargis was being stolen, diverted or warehoused by the country's army." Monsoon predicted in Myanmar delta "Monsoon winds and rain were predicted on Wednesday to whip through Myanmar's Irrawaddy River delta, compounding the misery for at least 1.6 million survivors of this month's deadly cyclone and spawning fresh appeals from the international community for immediate access to the disaster zone."

Bush in Israel. In Israel, Bush Speaks Of Hope "President Bush arrived here Wednesday with a message of hope for Middle East peace prospects, despite fresh violence, scant signs of progress and deepening skepticism among both Israelis and Palestinians that there can be an agreement." Bush arrives in Mideast with mixed legacy in region "As part of a late-term press for an elusive peace, President George W. Bush returned to the Mideast but was greeted by a Palestinian rocket attack on an Israeli shopping center and a warning by Israeli leaders that they may deploy "the military power that Israel has in its pocket to use in a serious manner." Rocket attack on Israel hits during Bush visit "The difficulties facing President Bush in securing a new Middle East peace deal exploded when a Palestinian rocket crashed into a southern Israeli medical center as the U.S. president joined world leaders in Jerusalem to celebrate the nation's 60th anniversary." Rocket hits Ashkelon mall, 90 hurt "A shopping mall in Ashkelon was hit by a long-range rocket fired from the Gaza Strip injuring around 90 people, four of them seriously."

Dem presidential race. Edwards endorses Obama "John Edwards, whose populism was the anthem of his own presidential bid, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama in an effort to transfer his appeal among white, working-class voters to a Democratic front-runner who has struggled to win them over." Edwards Throws Support to Obama "Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards gave his long-sought endorsement to Sen. Barack Obama, calling on Democrats to unite behind him and turn their attention to the fall campaign." Obama ads in Kentucky stress that he's a Christian "Obama's race, religious background and patriotism have become controversial subplots during the drawn-out primary season. The Kentucky ads remind viewers that Obama is a Christian."

Republicans in Congress. For GOP, third lost seat may be cause for alarm "They said the first was an outlier. The second, a fluke. But after losing their third seat this year in a special election, House Republicans faced the possibility that if they don't repair their image with voters, they could be in for another rough November." After String of Losses, Republicans Face Crisis "House Republicans turned on themselves yesterday after a third straight loss of a GOP-held House seat in special elections this year left both parties contemplating widespread Democratic gains in November." Republican Election Losses Stir Fall Fears"The Republican defeat in a special Congressional contest in Mississippi sent waves of apprehension across an already troubled party, with some senior Republicans urging Congressional candidates to distance themselves from President Bush to head off what could be heavy losses in the fall."

Farm bill. Farm Bill Passes by Veto-Proof Margin "The House passed a final version of a new five-year farm bill by a vote of 318 to 106, a margin large enough to override President Bush's promised veto of the nearly $300 billion measure." House Passes Farm Bill by a Veto-Proof Margin"Ignoring a veto threat from President Bush, who says he wants to sharply limit government subsidies to farmers at a time of near-record commodity prices and soaring global demand for grain, the House approved a five-year, $307 billion farm bill with a solid bipartisan majority."

Housing. Foreclosures skyrocket 65% in April "In a sign that the mortgage collapse is getting worse, not better, foreclosure filings surged 65% in April from April 2007, leading some analysts to warn that the crisis might not end before 2010." Slow economy hits Hispanics hard "The steep, continuing U.S. housing downturn has had a disproportionate impact on the Hispanic workforce, which is highly concentrated in construction."

Ohio payday lending. Payday lenders likely doomed "The Senate was unable to find a compromise that both satisfied payday lenders and eliminated the debt trap that bill supporters said forced too many borrowers to take out new loans to pay for old ones. So it did what the House did last month: dropped the hammer."

Online war. Online warfare research outlined "Procurement documents released by the U.S. Air Force give a rare glimpse into Pentagon plans for developing an offensive cyber-war capacity that can infiltrate, steal data from and, if necessary, take down enemy information-technology networks."

Polar bear endangered. Polar bear is added to the endangered species list "The Interior Department designated the polar bear as threatened with extinction because of shrinking sea ice, making it the first creature added to the endangered species list primarily because of global warming."

Iraq. A War Over a Wall Defies Truce in Sadr City"This is the war over the wall. It is a daily battle of attrition waged over the large concrete barrier that the Americans have been building across Sadr City in the hope of establishing a safe zone in the southern tier of the Shiite enclave."

Darfur . Top UN official warns of increasing Darfur violence "The U.N. peacekeeping chief warned of an alarming increase in violence in Darfur that has spread to the Sudanese capital and could escalate further."

Iran. Gates: U.S. Should Engage Iran With Incentives, Pressure "The United States should construct a combination of incentives and pressure to engage Iran, and may have missed earlier opportunities to begin a useful dialogue with Tehran, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said."