Hello and welcome to this edition of
CRI Roundup on Saturday, May 17th. I'm. Yun Feng in Beijing.
Let's take a look at some of the major events that have taken place in China and around the world during the past week.
50 thousand people are feared dead after a massive earthquake hit southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The cyclone death toll in Myanmar has climbed to over 43 thousand.
CNN President Jim Walton has apologized for the insulting remarks against China made by CNN's commentator Jack Cafferty.
And Lebanon's cabinet has reversed measures that had triggered the worst violence in the country since its 15-year civil war.
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The most destructive earthquake in recent Chinese history hit the southwestern province of Sichuan Monday afternoon. The 7.8-magnitude quake struck Wenchuan County causing severe damage to an area of more than 100 thousand square kilometers.
By Thursday afternoon, the confirmed death toll in Sichuan alone had neared 20 thousand with more than 50 thousand feared dead, according to the State Council's rescue headquarters.
The government immediately began emergency response measures and Premier Wen Jiaobao, heading the State Council Rescue Headquarters, managed to reach the epicenter of Wenchuan County on Wednesday.
"The central government will never neglect this area. We're determined to save all the injured and trapped people here."
Intensive rescue efforts are underway as donations pour in from all parts of the country as well as from the international community. The nation's unified response and the quick reactions of the government at all levels have deeply impressed the international society.
Salvano Briceno the Director of the Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction in the United Nations.
"We were very surprised by how quickly the search and rescue crews responded to the disaster. It was really impressive. It was very quick."
On Friday morning, Chinese President Hu Jintao flew to the quake-hit regions to console the victims and inspect the rescue and relief work.
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The death toll from Myanmar's cyclone Nargis has risen to over 43 thousand, according to a state radio report Thursday evening.
Nearly 28 thousand people remain missing.
Amanda Pitt is with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
"We are seeing more flights getting into the country. We're seeing more relief items reaching those people in the delta and in Yangon. However the levels of aid getting in really are not adequate, and they are not enough to meet the needs on the ground."
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CNN President Jim Walton has apologized for the insulting remarks made toward China by CNN commentator Jack Cafferty.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday that Walton offered the apology in a letter to the Chinese ambassador to the US Zhou Wenzhong. He said there was genuine offense felt by the Chinese people over the Jack Cafferty commentary.
In early April, Cafferty said in a live televised program that Chinese products were "junk" and the Chinese were "goons" and "thugs."
His remarks invoked widespread condemnation from the Chinese people all over the world.
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Lebanon's cabinet on Wednesday decided to reverse decisions that had provoked the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. The reversal brings the country a step closer to resolving a week-old political crisis.
Two government decisions: one concerning the Hezbollah telecommunications network and the other concerning an airport leadership change are set to be cancelled.
Ghazi Aridi is the Lebanese Information Minister.
"The Cabinet agreed on the proposal to cancel the two decisions."
The actions had triggered the worst violence in the country since its 15-year civil war. More than 70 people died in clashes between government supporters and the opposition Hezbollah.

