 Aftershock rattles China quake zone
 REUTERS
Residents walk near destroyed houses in earthquake-hit Wenchuan, Sichuan province, Friday. A strong aftershock sparked landslides Friday near the epicenter of this week's powerful earthquake, while some survivors were pulled from rubble after being buried for four days.
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Death toll from Myanmar cyclone nearly doubles
YANGON, Myanmar, 8:14 p.m. May 16 (AP)
The official death toll nearly doubled to 78,000 from Myanmar's killer cyclone as heavy rains on Friday lashed much of the area stricken two weeks ago, further hampering relief efforts.
Aid workers shackled by the country's military regime struggled to get even the most basic data about the needs of up to 2.5 million survivors. The Red Cross warned that a lack of clean water may swell the ranks of the dead.
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, 8:10 p.m. May 16 (AP)
U.S. delays Guantanamo war crimes trial pending Supreme Court ruling: A military judge on Friday postponed the first war crimes tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, saying he wants to wait until the Supreme Court makes its highly anticipated ruling on the right of detainees to challenge their confinement in civil courts.
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, 7:46 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Officials: Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez leading vote with 53 percent: Officials say Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez is leading the presidential election with 53 percent of the vote and 10 percent of precincts reporting.
TORONTO, 7:09 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Canada scraps development of medical isotope reactors: Canadian energy officials Friday scrapped development of a nuclear reactor project to produce radioactive isotopes for the diagnoses of cancer and other illnesses, citing costs of the program.
LIMA, Peru, 5:34 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Rights groups condemn 24 corporations in symbolic trial during Latin American-EU summit: A panel of human rights activists “ethically and morally” condemned 24 European corporations Friday at a symbolic trial parallel to a biennial Latin America-European Union summit in Peru.
KUWAIT CITY, 5:12 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Kuwait votes for a new parliament: Kuwaitis vote Saturday for a new parliament that must work with the royal family-controlled Cabinet, whose recent resignation triggered a period of political stagnation in this oil-rich U.S. ally.
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique, 4:37 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Martinique jury finds man guilty of burning, killing woman in town center: A jury in Martinique has found a man guilty of murder after he set his ex-girlfriend on fire in front of town hall three years ago.
BELFAST, Northern Ireland, 4:35 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Belfast assassination probe loses sensitive data: A judicial probe into the assassination of a Roman Catholic lawyer in Northern Ireland reported Friday that it has lost sensitive computer data about the investigation.
CARACAS, Venezuela, 4:13 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Venezuelan opposition leader demands that Chavez clarify rebel ties: A Venezuelan opposition leader is demanding that President Hugo Chavez explain accusations of close ties between his government and Colombian rebels.
4:03 p.m. May 16 (AP)
U.S. monitoring China's nuclear sites after quake: American experts are monitoring nuclear facilities in China's earthquake zone, officials said Friday, after France's nuclear watchdog reported that some had suffered minor damage.
LIMA, Peru, 4:01 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Latin America-Europe summit shadowed by conflicts between regional leaders: European and Latin American leaders sought to unite against poverty, global warming and high food prices on Friday, but their summit was clouded by a feud between Colombia and Venezuela.
UNITED NATIONS, 3:49 p.m. May 16 (AP)
France criticizes Myanmar for barring aid ship: France criticized Myanmar's military junta on Friday for refusing to allow a French Navy ship with 1,500 tons of aid for victims of Cyclone Nargis to deliver food and medicine with small boats and helicopters.
JERUSALEM, 3:25 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Pelosi visits Israel for 60th anniversary events: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of Israel's founding.
NEW YORK, 3:22 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Survival of quake victims depends on many factors: A nurse survived eight days in the wreckage of a Turkish hospital destroyed by an earthquake in 1992. A newborn was rescued after more than a week in the rubble of Mexico City's 1985 quake. Now, in China, rescuers are pulling out victims days after they were buried by a powerful earthquake.
WUFU, China, 2:32 p.m. May 16 (AP)
China's 1-child policy causes extra pain: After their daughter was born, Bi Kaiwei and his wife, Meilin, decided to adhere to China's one-child policy and its slogan, “Have fewer kids, live better lives.”
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 2:23 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Bush doesn't get the answer he wanted from Saudis: Saudi Arabia didn't exactly tell President Bush no. But it sure didn't say yes, either. The response seemed to be “maybe” or maybe “a little” when Bush came calling for help in reducing skyrocketing oil prices. Whatever the answer, it seemed unlikely to lower prices at the pump much – if any – for American consumers.
BEICHUAN, China, 2:03 p.m. May 16 (AP)
China rescuers seek survivors in hard-hit town: Piles of broken concrete rise seven stories high, and a few buildings stand askew, knocked at odd angles. People cry out the names of missing relatives and rescue workers shout, “Is anyone there? Is anyone there?”
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 2:01 p.m. May 16 (AP)
White House Notebook: No question, Bush not doing Q&A: No question about it: President Bush hasn't given reporters a chance to ask him anything on this Mideast journey.
CAIRO, Egypt, 1:53 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Bin Laden says Palestinian cause at heart of jihad: Osama bin Laden vowed Friday to fight Israel for the liberation of the Palestinians, claiming their cause is at the heart of al-Qaeda's holy war with the West.
HAVANA, 1:38 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Official: Cuba supports unrestricted Internet, but U.S. embargo makes it impossible: A top Cuban official said Friday that Raul Castro's government would consider loosening Internet restrictions on ordinary citizens newly allowed to purchase computers – but Washington's decades-old economic embargo makes it impossible.
NEW YORK, 1:27 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Refugees from Western Sahara speak of hardships: One man describes a harrowing dash through a minefield, his pregnant wife in tow, as they raced to escape from the very rebels who were supposed to be protecting them.
CANOVANAS, Puerto Rico, 1:23 p.m. May 16 (AP)
AP IMPACT: Losing racehorses killed in Puerto Rico: For thoroughbreds in this U.S. Caribbean territory, being fast enough to win, place or show is a matter of life and death – losers often don't even make it off the racetrack grounds alive.
KHARTOUM, Sudan, 12:59 p.m. May 16 (AP)
Correction: Sudan story: In a May 11 story about Sudan severing ties with Chad, The Associated Press, relying on a state television report, erroneously reported the dollar value of a reward offered by the government for Darfur rebel leader Khalil Ibrahim.
PARIS, 11:45 a.m. May 16 (AP)
10 arrested in France, Germany and the Netherlands in terror probe: A three-country police sweep Friday instigated by France netted 10 people suspected of financing terrorist movements – and threw the spotlight on al-Qaeda-linked militants with roots in Uzbekistan.
VATICAN CITY, 11:22 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Pope Benedict pens prayer for Chinese Catholics: Pope Benedict XVI has written a special prayer for Chinese Catholics who face “daily trials” in the officially atheistic country, the Vatican said Friday.
UNITED NATIONS, 10:40 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
Myanmar accuses France of sending 'warship': Myanmar's U.N. envoy accused France Friday of sending a “warship” towards the cyclone-ravaged country, a charge the French ambassador to the United Nations vehemently rejected.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, 10:20 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Saudis see no reason to raise oil production now: Saudi Arabia's leaders made clear Friday they see no reason to increase oil production until customers demand it, apparently rebuffing President Bush amid soaring U.S. gasoline prices.
WASHINGTON, 10:08 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
U.S. helps China with satellite data on quake: The United States has provided China with satellite images of earthquake-stricken areas, and will provide two planeloads of relief for quake victims this weekend, the State Department said Friday.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, 10:01 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Pakistan protests suspected U.S. missile strike on border village: Pakistan's army lodged a formal protest Friday to “allied forces” in neighboring Afghanistan over a suspected U.S. missile strike this week that killed 14 people in a Pakistani border village.
BUENOS AIRES, 9:57 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
Argentine gov't says farm strike 'irresponsible': Government officials Friday criticized a decision by Argentine farmers to extend their strike over a hike in export taxes, signaling that an agreement to end the standoff remains elusive.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 9:56 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Dutch government to criminalize visiting non-licensed prostitutes: The Dutch government, famous for liberalism on issues of personal morality, announced plans Friday to criminalize the visiting of prostitutes who are not officially licensed.
SHANGHAI, China, 7:37 a.m. May 16 (AP)
China tallies losses, costs from quake: Cracked dams and buckled roads, collapsed buildings and toppled factories – China has begun to tally its losses from an earthquake this week that killed thousands and left thousands more missing, with estimates ranging to over $20 billion.
OTTAWA, 7:10 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
Canada scraps medical reactor plan, says isotopes safe: Canada said Friday it was scrapping work on a trouble-plagued nuclear reactor project designed to produce medical radioisotopes, but promised to maintain output by continuing to use an older reactor.
MOSCOW, 6:58 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Last doomsday cult members leave cave in Russia after authorities find 2 rotting corpses: The nine remaining members of a Russian doomsday cult holed up for months awaiting the end of the world abandoned their cave Friday after authorities removed two rotting corpses from the underground lair.
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, 6:46 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Dutch cartoonist arrested on suspicion of violating hate speech laws with artwork: A Dutch political cartoonist was arrested this week on suspicion of insulting people because of their race or religion through his work, authorities said Friday.
VATICAN CITY, 6:27 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Pope voices his opposition to gay unions, backs traditional marriage between a man and a woman: Pope Benedict XVI is pressing his opposition to gay unions. He says traditional marriage is an irreplaceable good for the entire society, and calls the union between man and woman the “natural cradle” of life.
LISBON, Portugal, 6:19 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Lawmakers in Portugal approve deal to standardize Portuguese spellings: Lawmakers on Friday adopted a widely contested standardization of Portuguese that requires hundreds of words to be spelled the Brazilian way.
BELGRADE, Serbia, 6:12 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Nationalists, Socialists say they are close to forming new Serbian government: Serbia's nationalists and Socialists from late strongman Slobodan Milosevic's party said Friday they are close to forming a coalition government that would sideline pro-Western parties' election gains.
YANGON, 6:06 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
More rain deepens misery in cyclone-hit Myanmar: Torrential tropical downpours lashed Myanmar's cyclone-hit Irrawaddy delta on Friday as thousands of destitute victims took to roadsides to beg for help to supplement the meagre trickle of aid flowing in.
BEIJING, 5:41 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
Chinese sports stars pledge quake relief: Chinese sports stars have opened their wallets to help earthquake victims in their country with Houston Rockets star Yao Ming pledging 2 million yuan ($286,100).
BERLIN, 5:41 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Chinese diplomat criticizes German politicians' plans to meet Dalai Lama during visit: A Chinese diplomat on Friday criticized German politicians for meeting with the Dalai Lama during the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader's five-day visit to the country.
BEIJING, 5:25 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
China to probe high number of school collapses: China has launched a probe into the high number of school collapses in Monday's earthquake that killed thousands of children and buried thousands more when many other buildings remained standing.
BEIJING, 5:13 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
China on alert against quake radiation leaks: China is on precautionary alert against possible radiation leaks from the deadliest earthquake to hit the country in three decades, according to government website seen on Friday.
JAIPUR, India, 5:01 a.m. May 16 (REUTERS)
Indian police suspect Bangladeshi hand in blasts: Police probing bombings in western India that killed 63 people said on Friday that new evidence pointed increasingly towards Indian Islamists backed by a Bangladeshi militant group as being behind the blasts.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, 4:41 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Suicide attacker targets police bus in Sri Lankan capital: A suicide bomber on a motorcycle rammed into a bus carrying riot police in Sri Lanka's capital Friday, killing 10 people, including eight policemen, and wounding 85 others.
KIEV, Ukraine, 4:33 a.m. May 16 (AP)
Ukraine joins WTO, forcing economic reforms and opening new trade channels: Ukraine became the 152nd country to join the World Trade Organization on Friday after 14 years of negotiations, getting in ahead of bigger neighbor Russia and committing the former Soviet republic to economic reforms and opening new trade channels.
