Death toll passes 22,000 in Myanmar cyclone

Hi on this Tuesday, May 6, 2008. I'm Rebecca Field in for Kristin Volk with today's top news update.

The death toll has jumped again from that catastrophic cyclone in Myanmar. A local government radio station reports more than 22,000 people are dead and 41,000 are still missing after the storm hit over the weekend. The U.N. is reportedly estimating a million people could be left homeless from the destruction. Relief organizations have started to arrive in the area providing food and other supplies.

Meanwhile President Bush and first Lady Laura Bush are offering U.S. aid to Myanmar. The President called on the military government earlier today to allow the U.S. to come in and help. His wife made a similar plea yesterday, asking officials to let in the disaster response team to assess the situation. Bush says the U.S. has already given some aid, but wants to do much more.

Voters in Indiana and North Carolina are heading to the polls today...a day that could be the final straw in the battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. 187 delegates are up for grabs today and the New York senator would need to take 70 percent of them to match up with the Obama. Clinton recognizes the importance of today's primaries...she called the election a "game changer."

Oil prices have hit another record high today. Oil futures reached more than 121 dollars a barrel...reportedly because of worries about a weak U.S. dollar and limited supply. The dollar weakened again to the Euro yesterday. There have also apparently been potential threats to the U.S. oil supply in Iraq and Nigeria lately. One Goldman Sachs analyst predicts prices could go up to $150 to $200 a barrel in the next six months to two years.

That's all for now. Tune in tomorrow for another UPI update.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• myanmar
• cyclone
• bush
• laura
• president
• barack
• obama
• hillary
• clinton
• democrat
• oil
• prices
• news

[gbail9566]

THANX for the special delivery, Rebecca, you're the best.

[goodstimers]

yes, u'r damned right. US president is just like any other world leaders... telling ppl they're helping other countries over their natural disaster while leaving their own homeland unattended... it's a real idiotic talk.

[goldenlove108]

The military junta needs to be killed

[nathanwilefrazier]

It seems like a nice gesture for the US to offer aid to Myanmar, but given the remaining mess in New Orleans, a bit of a hypocritical one as well...

[tlndofa]

yeh thank for the news bec,she sure is one of a kind

[ilovegarthie]

thanks Re.... your 1 in a 1000

[siavashkingen]

love this!