The BBC has a report on the welcome announcement that the generals who rule the country they call Myanmar will at last allow humanitarian aid in to the 2.5 million worst affected by the cyclone on May 2. Read between the lines it tells of the perverse priorities and and care behind the generals earlier refusal. I've said before and will say again these men are not stupid, just evil.

In Thailand UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened a new base to speed
up aid for victims of the cyclone, which killed 78,000 and left 56,000
missing.

Meanwhile polls closed in the final stage of a controversial Burmese referendum on a new constitution.

Yes it would have been a shame if foreigners should witness the "referendum" they might be confused by the armed soldiers present at polling booths to make sure there was no misunderstanding. They could get the impression that this important referendum designed to ensure the generals' grip on power and dress it with a fine cloak of "democracy" was less than free and fair.

The UN estimates that only a quarter of the 2.5 million Burmese affected by the cyclone have received the help they need.