Top Story: Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is telling citizens to "be prepared for the worst" after a devastating earthquake in Sumatra last night. At least 500 people have died but government officials say the final tally will likely be in the thousands. The 7.6-magnitude earthquake began off the coast of Sumatra and the coastal town of Padang bore the brunt of the devastation.Tremors were felt as far away as Singapore.
More than 500 buildings were destroyed including schools, hospitals, hotels, and a shopping mall. A relief effort is currently underway with the Indonesian military assisting rescue workers, but a shortage of heavy machinery remains a problem.
A second powerful quake today caused damage but no reported fatalities.
No good options: President Barack Obama met with senior advisors yesterday to consider possible new U.S. strategies in Afghanistan.
Middle East
- Critical international talks over Iran's nuclear program have begun in Switzerland.
- Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has created a political coalition that includes several Sunni groups.
- The Israeli government has retained attorneys to dispute war crimes charges from last year's war in Gaza.
Asia
- China celebrated 60 years of Communist rule with its biggest military parade ever.
- A relief effort has begun in Samoa, where a deadly tsunami killed dozens of people and flattened villages yesterday. The earthquake that caused the tsunami was not directly related to the quake in Indonesia.
- Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with a Burmese minister in New York.
Europe
- The fracturing of Romania's coalition government may be putting its IMF aid at risk.
- Britain has sworn in a brand new supreme court.
- Northern Ireland police arrested a suspected IRA member for the killing of a policeman seven months ago.
Africa
- Fighting has broken out between rival Islamist rebel groups in Somalia.
- The United Nations condemned this week's political violence in Guinea.
- Kenya's controversial anti-corruption chief resigned.
Americas
- Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was sentenced to six years in jail on corruption charges.
- Protests by indigenous groups over oil drilling in Ecuador left one dead and dozens wounded.
- Venezuelan students ended a hunger strike after the Organization of American States agreed to hear their grievances against Hugo Chavez's government.
BAY ISMOYO/AFP/Getty Images
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