CNN 2008-05-17

From the CNN center in Atlanta I'm Nicole Lapin. Here are some headlines NOW IN THE NEWS.

Senator Barack Obama talking with voters today in South Carolina, a really striking back at President Bush, Obama calls the president's statement before the Israeli Knesset appalling 1, saying that the attacks like that simply divide the country. Now, the president on Thursday, you might recall said that they those who will pursue diplomatic negotiations 2 with Iran are the same as those who were branded as appeasers of Nazi 3 Germany before WWII. Now Obama's campaign first denounces the remarks as a false political attack. Publicly, the White House is insisting now the president wasn't talking about Obama. Privately 4, White House aides tell CNN he was.

Saudi leaders now meeting with President Bush today have rejected his request to step up oil production this morning. Mr. Bush fears that increased supply would reduce gas prices in the United States. The White House says the Saudis are feared that there isn't enough high demand right now to justify 5 increasing their oil output. Both gas and oil prices reached a new record high this morning.

Hundreds upon Hundreds of aftershocks are keeping people in China on / edge right now. A 5.5 magnitude tremor 6 shook already devastated 7 areas this morning triggering landsides and blocking roads. Survivors 8 are still being pulled from collapsed 9 buildings four days after the earthquake hit. Meanwhile, new shipments of supplies are making their way to devastated areas of China. And the first international rescue teams are now being allowed into the earthquake zone. At least 22, 000 people are confirmed dead. The Chinese government now estimates for the final death toll 10 could top 50, 000.

Also brand new deal has been reached today over US food aid in North Korea. The first shipment of 500, 000 tons of food will start next month. The move comes as North Korean officials said they are facing a major shortfall in food supplies. The U. S. aid program says both the two sides have agreed on terms of allowing more over side of food aid distribution.

Ok. And the White House actually the House of Representatives has just rejected a 163-billion-dollar proposal to fund the wars in Iraq and also Afghanistan for another year. 132 Republicans simply sat out the vote in protest. Minority leader John Boehner now is accusing democrats 11 of playing political games by adding and increasing veteran's education benefits and additional unemployment insurance to this bill. The Senate is expected to debate its version of the bill coming up next week.

Those are the headlines of this hour, for more on those stories and other news of the day. CNN is always your source, on line, on TV or on your cell phone. With a catch and take care