China

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake has struck the central Chinese province, Sichuan.  Initial reports say between 3,000 to 5,000 people are known dead, with official Chinese media predicting the death toll will continue to rise.  VOA's Stephanie Ho reports from Beijing.

The large earthquake struck after midday. The epicenter was 90 kilometers from the Sichuan provincial capital, Chengdu.

The Vice-Director of the Sichuan Earthquake Bureau, Deng Changwen, spoke to China Central TV by phone.

He said the large earthquake cut all communication to the disaster area, hampering official attempts to determine the real situation.

China is gearing up its preparations with the 2008 Beijing Olympics exactly one year away on Wednesday.

The International Olympic Committee says the Chinese have laid "strong foundations" for the Games. And 63 official events are taking place across China to mark the beginning of the countdown to 8 August 2008. But human rights groups are using the milestone to highlight concerns over China's record on arms sales to Sudan, its record in Tibet and child labour.

Even before Beijing was awarded the Games on 13 July 2001, fears were expressed about the compatibility of China's human rights record and the spirit of the Olympic movement. Sudan and Tibet are two issues that have caused controversy, while last month a Chinese stationery firm accused of using child labour was stripped of its licence to produce official merchandise for the Games.

Air pollution is another major concern, with Beijing experimenting with measures such as ordering