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Top Stories

A powerful aftershock hit earthquake-devastated China. The total death toll is now expected to exceed 50,000.

Torrential rains are compounding cyclone damage in Burma.

Asia

Hu Jintao is visiting Sichuan province to personally inspect earthquake damage. In a rare move, the Chinese government is inviting international aid.

Several cholera cases have been confirmed in Burma.

Indian police suspect a Bangladeshi militant group in the investigation of Tuesday's terrorist attack in Jaipur.

Pakistan appears to have no interest in stopping militants from crossing into Afghanistan.

Afghanistan may be on the brink of food riots.

Middle East

Osama bin Laden issued an audio tape in honor of Israel's 60th anniversary, vowing to wipe the Jewish state off the map.

A suicide bombing killed 20 at a funeral west of Baghdad.

President Bush was warmly received as Israel's Knesset, but his speech has generated some controversy.

U.S. Politics

Congressional Democrats blocked a $162.5 billion war funding bill.

California's supreme court ruled that gay couples have the right to marry. The historic ruling could become a campaign issue in November.

Barack Obama has fired back at what he calls a "false political attack" in Bush's Knesset speech.

Africa

A massive oil pipeline explosion tore through a heavily populated area in Lagos, Nigeria.

Zimbabwe has set June 27 as the date for its runoff election between President Robert Mugabe and challenger Morgan Tsvangirai.

Women are key to Rwanda's economic revival.

Europe

French civil servants staged a nationwide strike to protest public sector job cuts.

Russia has accused Georgia of aiding rebel groups in the North Caucasus.

The last members of the Russian doomsday cult have left their cave.

South America

Leaders of 50 European and Latin American countries are meeting in Peru to discuss global food prices.

The captured files linking Colombian Farc rebels to Venezuela appear to be real.

Today's Agenda

• Rival Lebanese leaders will head to Qatar for peace talks.
• Bush will meet with the king of Saudi Arabia.
• Ukraine joins the world trade organization.
• The Dominican Republic holds presidential elections.

Yesterday on Passport

• Bush plays the Nazi card at the Knesset
• Where have all the iPhones gone?
• China's shoddy school construction could destabilize regime