absolutely shocking pictures, aren t they, andrew? everything seems to be whirling around the computer screen there. all tolled, more than 500 americans have died in severe weather this spring, making the most deadly tornado seas innocent united states since lack in 1953. it s also taking a huge financial toll. catastrophe risk models estimate the insured losses of $1 billion to $3 billion just in the tornado deaf state city of joplin, missouri. the kind of figures we re dealing with here. they also estimate the tornado damage from a series of storms in april in the southern u.s. will probably also cost between $3.7 billion and $5.5 billion. american airline is feeling the pinch as well. it s had to take 65 american and american eagle jets out of service on wednesday and that s specifically related to storm damage, andrew. yes. just incredible. it continues, too. as the oecd wraps up its 50th
in syria. these rikts are set to show demonstrations in dara last friday. although cnn cannot verify when the video was shot. an estimated 1,500 people are unaccounted for in joplin,h. nearly 100 volunteers are working to reunite family and determine who s really missing. the volcanic eruption in iceland that s disrupted air traffic in europe is finally ending. the ash cloud thrown up from the volcano is drifting east and dissipating and most of the airports closed are re-opening. those are the headlines. i m zain vergee, world business today starts now. good morning, from cnn london and welcome to world business today. i m nina dos santos. and good afternoon from cnn hong kong, rhyme andrew stephens. the top stories this thursday, may 2 th. sony s bad run continues. it s now forecasting a profitable year ahead. even that outlook fails to impress. dominique strauss-kahn is now under house arrest at this luxury new york townhouse. i m a leader by temper and att