You may have seen the headlines….here they are in a newsreal: John Edwards is readly to endorse Obama. If his 19 pledged delegates follow, that’s 1620 for Obama to 1441 for Clinton…

In many ways these developments pale when compared to the TEN MILLION said to be affected by the earthquake in China the death toll now estimated at 15,000, and the big fa nearly 400 dams damaged.

One prospect not discussed. The costs of this will reach into the tens of billions leaving less money for China to lend to the United States—a further complicating our own calamity.

Another storm is on its way to Burma….More death and tragedy expected.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO THE WAR ON DRUGS?

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. government has injected hundreds of foreigners it has deported with dangerous psychotropic drugs against their will, The Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing medical records, internal documents and interviews with people who have been drugged.

The newspaper said it has identified 250 cases in which the government has, without medical reason, given drugs meant to treat serious psychiatric disorders to people it has shipped out of the United States since 2003.

Involuntary chemical restraint of detainees without medical justification is a violation of some international human rights codes, the Post reported.

ECONOMIC DECLINE INTENSIFIES

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER EDITORIAL BOARD

The so-called housing crisis is worse than most people think. Nearly 3 million homeowners with subprime or other nontraditional loans are facing foreclosure. USA Today reports more prime loans are going south as well, already topping the highest level in at least a decade. But dig deeper and it’s not just a housing problem: It’s a major credit calamity that involves houses, car loans and other instruments of personal and commercial debt.

INVESTMENT NEWS: JPMorgan jobs on chopping block

JPMorgan Chase may cut as many as 4,000 of its own employees as the bank prepares to absorb staff from Bear Stearns

UK: ATTACKS ON BANKER BONUSES GROW

The outspoken private-equity pioneer Jon Moulton has become the latest high-profile financier to attack the culture of multimillion-pound bonuses for bankers in the City, saying it had “damaged” the UK market.

This came as he told MPs that up to 30 companies bought by private equity in the UK could fail over their inability to service high levels of debt.

Mr Moulton, founder of Alchemy Partners, has added his voice to a growing cadre of critics of the level of investment banking remuneration packages at a Treasury Select Committee meeting yesterday.

TRACKING FORECLOSURES

LOS ANGELES - More U.S. homeowners fell behind on mortgage payments last month, driving the number of homes facing foreclosure up 65 percent versus the same month last year and contributing to a deepening slide in home values, a research company said Tuesday.

Nationwide, 243,353 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in April, up 65 percent from 147,708 in the same month last year and up 4 percent since March, RealtyTrac Inc. said.

MIDDLE EAST ECONOMIES GROW AS OURS DECLINES

The IMF’s latest regional outlook for the Middle East – released on Monday – suggests that high oil prices will continue to fuel both government spending and private sector investment – making the Middle East the only region likely to maintain its 2007 growth rate (of about 6%). See “Middle Eastern Economic Outlook 2008: Strong Growth On Oil and Investment But Inflation a Risk