Top headlines

Here are today's top stories in the newsroom for Friday, May 16th.\ \ \ In foreign news, two natural disasters are taking a large toll on two countries — one in Burma, the other in China. The cyclone's death toll is up to 78,000. Rescue workers in China are sifting through rubble in a desperate search for signs of life from Monday's earthquake. Some 700 people are believed to be buried in one province.\ \ \ In Jerusalem yesterday, President Bush says it'll take another 60 years to achieve an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal. \ \ \ On Capitol Hill, a Democratic party rules committee is scheduled to meet May 31 on how to handle Michigan and Florida's disputed primaries. \ \ \ War funding battles in the House: $163 billion in emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan are rejected. \ \ \ In other news, Sen. John McCain's outreach to liberal blogs is a new campaign strategy to attract more voters. Washington Times reporter Stephen Dinan has the story, which has been picked up by the Drudge Report. \ \ \ And, a controversial passport card alarms Congress on security issues. Reporter Bill Gertz has the exclusive. \ \ \ \ — The Washington Times editors\ \ \