BEIJING, China (CNN) -- Up to 5,000 people are feared to have been killed by Monday's powerful earthquake in just one affected region of central China, the Chinese government said.
State-run news agency Xinhua said authorities in Sichuan Province believed about 10,000 people were injured, in Beichuan County, in the northeastern part of the province.
The Sichuan provincial disaster relief headquarters said 80 percent of the buildings collapsed in the Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County after the 7.8-magnitude quake, Xinhua reported.
Several hundred students are also feared to be buried in collapsed school buildings, the agency said.
The quake was "felt in most parts of China," Xinhua reported, with the confirmed casualties in the provinces and municipality of Sichuan, Gansu, Chongqing and Yunnan.
Xinhua said several schools collapsed, at least partially, in the quake.
» Full Story | CNN - May 12, 2008
CAIRO (AP) — Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused Pope Benedict XVI of helping in a "new Crusade" against Islam and warned in a new audiotape of a "severe" reaction for Europeans' publication of cartoons seen by Muslims as insulting Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
The message raised concerns al-Qaeda was plotting new attacks in Europe.
» Full Story | USA Today
A lawyer for the call girl linked to former New York Gov. Eliot Sptizer said the woman was only 17 when filmed for "Girls Gone Wild" videos in 2003.
After hearing from the attorney for Ashley Alexandra Dupre, the maker of "Girls Gone Wild" said the video's Internet release will be delayed.
» Full Story | CNN
Having long pushed, unsuccessfully, for the disqualified Florida and Michigan primaries to count, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., is now advocating revotes in those states.
Her path to the Democratic presidential nomination becomes much tougher without one of those scenarios happening, though it does not currently look like either one will.
» Full Story | ABC News
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World News
China steps up Tibetan crackdownXinhua news agency reported huge damage to government buildings and shops after riots in Sichuan province on Sunday.
And officials said 24 people had been arrested after demos in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, and 170 protesters had surrendered to authorities.
» Full Story | BBC News
- Egypt Presses for Abbas to Control Border
- Death Toll From Violence Rises
- Thai opposition leader urges PM-elect Samak to focus on economy
Entertainment News
Jennifer Lopez's Twins Make Their DebutThe singer and her babies, Max and Emme, born Feb. 22 in Long Island, N.Y., appear in Friday's issue of People magazine and at People.com.
The magazine spread features 12 pages of photos of the pop star with husband Marc Anthony and their 1-month-olds inside their Long Island home and nursery.
» Full Story | FOX News
- What the SAGs mean for Oscar
- Sundance honors films with a political edge
- New Kids: Back on the Block?
Business News
U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Rose 22,000 to 378,000The number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance rose last week and the total number on benefit rolls reached the highest since August 2004, signs that firings are increasing.
Initial claims for benefits increased 22,000 to 378,000 in the week ended March 15, more than economists forecast and the highest since the week of Jan. 26, from 356,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said in Washington.
» Full Story | Bloomberg
