PHILIPPINES-WEATHER: The head of the Philippine Red Cross (Richard Gordon) said today (Sunday) that the death toll from Typhoon Fengshen has risen to at least 155. However, that figure could rise dramatically after a ferry with more than 700 passengers and crew capsized in the storm. Three survivors from the wreck have been found and the bodies of four victims have been recovered. Coast Guard vessels have been unable to reach the MV Princess of Stars, which capsized off the coast of Sibuyan Island in central Romblon province, because of high winds and massive waves.
THAILAND POL: Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej says he will resign if a no-confidence vote in parliament this week goes against him. In his weekly television address today (Sunday), Mr. Samak, who was elected in December, said he would confront his opponents in the Senate in a debate to begin Monday. But, Mr. Samak said he would not bow to thousands of protesters who are camping outside his office in Bangkok, demanding that he step down. Members of the People's Alliance for Democracyhave gathered in the streets of the capital for the past three weeks, demanding Mr. Samak's resignation.
ZIMBABWE: Militant supporters of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe have occupied a site in the capital where opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was to hold a major pre-election rally. Witnesses say hundreds of ruling party supporters, armed with sticks and clubs, took over the Harare showgrounds ahead of the planned rally today (Sunday). In a statement, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the militants attacked journalists and others at the site. There has been no independent confirmation of that claim.
The world's leading oil producers and consumers are meeting in Saudi
Arabia for emergency talks on how to deal with soaring crude oil prices.
Saudi Arabia called for today's (Sunday's) meeting being held in Jeddah.
SAUDI OIL MEETING: The Saudis are expected to formally announce plans at the meeting to
increase oil production by 200-thousand barrels a day in July.
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia said it is ready to pump more crude oil, in a
bid to stabilize prices. The Saudi deputy oil minister, Prince
Abdulaziz bin Salman, said Riyadh is prepared to meet the demands of
its customers.
Audio in Lao.