20120531 7pm

9AM Intro

Good morning, it's 9 o'clock. I'm Bill Thissen

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan on securities is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Investors yesterday voiced their support for the plan - by pushing the benchmark index 2.9-per cent higher. The index has not closed that high since early August 2011. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. And also in financial news .... Ten-year government bond yields rose to a three-week high yesterday on concern an increase in electricity prices next month will stoke inflation. Tai-Power will raise prices to help recover losses from costlier fuel prices. Inflation reached 1.44-per cent in April, compared with 1.21-per cent in March. The government forecast last week that consumer prices will rise 1.84-per cent this year, versus 1.42-per cent in 2011 and 0.97-per cent in 2010. -------------- Lawmakers are urging the government to amend acts governing child welfare and domestic violence - saying both area need better laws to improve reporting mechanisms. The call follows the release of a report stating that there were 37-thousand reported cases of child abuse in 2010 - a sharp increase from 8,400 cases recorded in 2004. According to Ministry of Interior statistics indicate an average of one child is abused every 17-minutes in Taiwan.

syria

Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged yesterday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on ``armed terrorists'' who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports the White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia have also announced diplomatic expulsions

italy

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy yesterday, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago. Rescuers were searching through the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. The number of those forced to leave their homes doubled to 14,000.

julian

Britain's Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether to approve the extradition of WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange to Sweden, a potential turning point in the Internet activist's controversial career. Assange has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation, where he is accused of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian programmer. Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

mitt

In US politics... Mitt Romney is set to clinch the Republican presidential nomination today with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

asteroid

A newly discovered small asteroid has harmlessly zipped close to Earth _ just as scientists expected. The 16-foot-long space rock, discovered on Memorial Day, passed by today at a distance of 8,950 miles from the Earth's surface. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks such flybys, said the asteroid was the sixth closest asteroid approach. It was also the second asteroid encounter this week. On Monday, another asteroid, 69 feet across, flew by at a distance of 32,000 miles.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 28 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

That's the ICRT News at 9. I'm _____

20120531 3pm

9AM Intro

Good morning, it's 9 o'clock. I'm Bill Thissen

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan on securities is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Investors yesterday voiced their support for the plan - by pushing the benchmark index 2.9-per cent higher. The index has not closed that high since early August 2011. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. And also in financial news .... Ten-year government bond yields rose to a three-week high yesterday on concern an increase in electricity prices next month will stoke inflation. Tai-Power will raise prices to help recover losses from costlier fuel prices. Inflation reached 1.44-per cent in April, compared with 1.21-per cent in March. The government forecast last week that consumer prices will rise 1.84-per cent this year, versus 1.42-per cent in 2011 and 0.97-per cent in 2010. -------------- Lawmakers are urging the government to amend acts governing child welfare and domestic violence - saying both area need better laws to improve reporting mechanisms. The call follows the release of a report stating that there were 37-thousand reported cases of child abuse in 2010 - a sharp increase from 8,400 cases recorded in 2004. According to Ministry of Interior statistics indicate an average of one child is abused every 17-minutes in Taiwan.

syria

Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged yesterday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on ``armed terrorists'' who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports the White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia have also announced diplomatic expulsions

italy

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy yesterday, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago. Rescuers were searching through the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. The number of those forced to leave their homes doubled to 14,000.

julian

Britain's Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether to approve the extradition of WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange to Sweden, a potential turning point in the Internet activist's controversial career. Assange has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation, where he is accused of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian programmer. Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

mitt

In US politics... Mitt Romney is set to clinch the Republican presidential nomination today with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

asteroid

A newly discovered small asteroid has harmlessly zipped close to Earth _ just as scientists expected. The 16-foot-long space rock, discovered on Memorial Day, passed by today at a distance of 8,950 miles from the Earth's surface. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks such flybys, said the asteroid was the sixth closest asteroid approach. It was also the second asteroid encounter this week. On Monday, another asteroid, 69 feet across, flew by at a distance of 32,000 miles.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 28 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

That's the ICRT News at 9. I'm _____

20120531 10am

9AM Intro

Good morning, it's 9 o'clock. I'm Bill Thissen

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan on securities is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Investors yesterday voiced their support for the plan - by pushing the benchmark index 2.9-per cent higher. The index has not closed that high since early August 2011. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. And also in financial news .... Ten-year government bond yields rose to a three-week high yesterday on concern an increase in electricity prices next month will stoke inflation. Tai-Power will raise prices to help recover losses from costlier fuel prices. Inflation reached 1.44-per cent in April, compared with 1.21-per cent in March. The government forecast last week that consumer prices will rise 1.84-per cent this year, versus 1.42-per cent in 2011 and 0.97-per cent in 2010. -------------- Lawmakers are urging the government to amend acts governing child welfare and domestic violence - saying both area need better laws to improve reporting mechanisms. The call follows the release of a report stating that there were 37-thousand reported cases of child abuse in 2010 - a sharp increase from 8,400 cases recorded in 2004. According to Ministry of Interior statistics indicate an average of one child is abused every 17-minutes in Taiwan.

syria

Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged yesterday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on ``armed terrorists'' who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports the White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia have also announced diplomatic expulsions

italy

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy yesterday, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago. Rescuers were searching through the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. The number of those forced to leave their homes doubled to 14,000.

julian

Britain's Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether to approve the extradition of WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange to Sweden, a potential turning point in the Internet activist's controversial career. Assange has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation, where he is accused of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian programmer. Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

mitt

In US politics... Mitt Romney is set to clinch the Republican presidential nomination today with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

asteroid

A newly discovered small asteroid has harmlessly zipped close to Earth _ just as scientists expected. The 16-foot-long space rock, discovered on Memorial Day, passed by today at a distance of 8,950 miles from the Earth's surface. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks such flybys, said the asteroid was the sixth closest asteroid approach. It was also the second asteroid encounter this week. On Monday, another asteroid, 69 feet across, flew by at a distance of 32,000 miles.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 28 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

That's the ICRT News at 9. I'm _____

20120531 9am

9AM Intro

Good morning, it's 9 o'clock. I'm Bill Thissen

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan on securities is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Investors yesterday voiced their support for the plan - by pushing the benchmark index 2.9-per cent higher. The index has not closed that high since early August 2011. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. And also in financial news .... Ten-year government bond yields rose to a three-week high yesterday on concern an increase in electricity prices next month will stoke inflation. Tai-Power will raise prices to help recover losses from costlier fuel prices. Inflation reached 1.44-per cent in April, compared with 1.21-per cent in March. The government forecast last week that consumer prices will rise 1.84-per cent this year, versus 1.42-per cent in 2011 and 0.97-per cent in 2010. -------------- Lawmakers are urging the government to amend acts governing child welfare and domestic violence - saying both area need better laws to improve reporting mechanisms. The call follows the release of a report stating that there were 37-thousand reported cases of child abuse in 2010 - a sharp increase from 8,400 cases recorded in 2004. According to Ministry of Interior statistics indicate an average of one child is abused every 17-minutes in Taiwan.

syria

Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged yesterday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on ``armed terrorists'' who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports the White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia have also announced diplomatic expulsions

italy

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy yesterday, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago. Rescuers were searching through the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. The number of those forced to leave their homes doubled to 14,000.

julian

Britain's Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether to approve the extradition of WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange to Sweden, a potential turning point in the Internet activist's controversial career. Assange has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation, where he is accused of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian programmer. Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

mitt

In US politics... Mitt Romney is set to clinch the Republican presidential nomination today with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

asteroid

A newly discovered small asteroid has harmlessly zipped close to Earth _ just as scientists expected. The 16-foot-long space rock, discovered on Memorial Day, passed by today at a distance of 8,950 miles from the Earth's surface. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks such flybys, said the asteroid was the sixth closest asteroid approach. It was also the second asteroid encounter this week. On Monday, another asteroid, 69 feet across, flew by at a distance of 32,000 miles.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 28 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

That's the ICRT News at 9. I'm _____

20120530 7pm

9AM Intro

Good morning, it's 9 o'clock. I'm Bill Thissen

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan on securities is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Investors yesterday voiced their support for the plan - by pushing the benchmark index 2.9-per cent higher. The index has not closed that high since early August 2011. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. And also in financial news .... Ten-year government bond yields rose to a three-week high yesterday on concern an increase in electricity prices next month will stoke inflation. Tai-Power will raise prices to help recover losses from costlier fuel prices. Inflation reached 1.44-per cent in April, compared with 1.21-per cent in March. The government forecast last week that consumer prices will rise 1.84-per cent this year, versus 1.42-per cent in 2011 and 0.97-per cent in 2010. -------------- Lawmakers are urging the government to amend acts governing child welfare and domestic violence - saying both area need better laws to improve reporting mechanisms. The call follows the release of a report stating that there were 37-thousand reported cases of child abuse in 2010 - a sharp increase from 8,400 cases recorded in 2004. According to Ministry of Interior statistics indicate an average of one child is abused every 17-minutes in Taiwan.

syria

Eyewitness accounts from the Syrian massacre emerged yesterday, describing shadowy gunmen slaughtering whole families in their homes and targeting the most vulnerable in poor farming villages. The Syrian regime has denied any role in the massacre, blaming the killings on ``armed terrorists'' who attacked army positions in the area and slaughtered innocent civilians. It has provided no evidence to support its narrative, nor has it given a death toll. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports the White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada and Australia have also announced diplomatic expulsions

italy

An earthquake killed 16 people and injured about 350 in northern Italy yesterday, spreading fear among thousands of residents living in tents after a similarly strong tremor in the same region flattened their homes nine days ago. Rescuers were searching through the rubble of houses and warehouses in the Emilia-Romagna region, where several building sites had just reopened after the previous quake on May 20. The number of those forced to leave their homes doubled to 14,000.

julian

Britain's Supreme Court is expected to rule today on whether to approve the extradition of WikiLeaks chief Julian Assange to Sweden, a potential turning point in the Internet activist's controversial career. Assange has spent the better part of two years fighting attempts to send him to the Scandinavian nation, where he is accused of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian programmer. Assange is best known for revealing hundreds of thousands of secret U.S. documents, including a hard-to-watch video that captured U.S. forces gunning down a crowd of Iraqi civilians and journalists that they'd mistaken for insurgents. His release of a quarter-million classified State Department cables outraged Washington and destabilized American diplomacy worldwide.

mitt

In US politics... Mitt Romney is set to clinch the Republican presidential nomination today with a win in the Texas primary, a triumph of endurance for a candidate who came up short four years ago and had to fight hard this year as voters flirted with a carousel of GOP rivals.

asteroid

A newly discovered small asteroid has harmlessly zipped close to Earth _ just as scientists expected. The 16-foot-long space rock, discovered on Memorial Day, passed by today at a distance of 8,950 miles from the Earth's surface. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which tracks such flybys, said the asteroid was the sixth closest asteroid approach. It was also the second asteroid encounter this week. On Monday, another asteroid, 69 feet across, flew by at a distance of 32,000 miles.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 28 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

That's the ICRT News at 9. I'm _____

20120530 3pm

3PM Intro

Good afternoon. It's time for ICRT news at 3. I'm Mike Woodward.

Fines For Idling Cars

First, Taiwan news... The government today reminded motorists that a grace period on idling their engines when parked by the side of the road runs out after tomorrow. Starting Thursday, drivers will be fined at least 1,500NT if they leave their vehicles idling on the side of the road for more than three minutes. That minimum amount applies to motorcyclists ... while small cars will be fined 3,000NT and larger vehicles 5,000 NT. A three month grace period has been in effect since the changes to the Air Pollution Control Act were introduced on March 1. The EPA said today more than 34,000 warnings have been issued during the grace period at places such as schools, hospitals, and bus and train stations ... places where drivers are most likely to park their cars while keeping their engines running. An EPA official said law enforcement authorities will have some flexibility in handing out tickets, for example cars with senior citizens or physically challenged people because they might need to keep the engine running to keep the car air-conditioned. (jm)

HTC Phones

Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC said today that all of its smartphones have cleared a review process launched by United States customs authorities. The authorities found the devices to be in compliance with a patent ruling filed by a U.S. trade panel. Ahead of the opening of the Taiex today, HTC in a filing to the exchange said future shipments should continue to enter the U.S. and the company is confident that it will soon be able to meet the demand for its products. An HTC spokeswoman is quoted as saying that the company has found alternatives to the technologies used in some of its devices that were said to infringe on patents owned by Apple. One analyst said despite the faster-than-expected clearance, some U.S. telecom operators may have concerns about whether HTC shipments can fill their orders on time. She added the U.S. Customs review on HTC phones has likely sped up the company's efforts to shift its dependence from the U.S. market. Asia is projected to replace the U.S. as HTC's biggest market this year. (jm)

syria

in world news... The U.S. White House has some sharp words for Syria after expelling its top diplomat. AP correspondent Jerry Bodlander reports.

syria II

Activists say Syrian troops are shelling restive suburbs of Damascus and rebel-held areas in the central city of Homs.

China

in regional economic news... China is rolling out a mini-stimulus to fight its economic slump but is moving cautiously after its massive response to the 2008 global crisis left a painful hangover of inflation and debt. Beijing has yet to announce a total price tag. But measures announced piecemeal in recent weeks include 66 billion yuan ($10 billion) to build affordable housing and 26.5 billion yuan to subsidize sales of energy-efficient appliances. That limited size should make the effort more manageable than the 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) avalanche of spending and bank loans in 2008. But its power to boost growth in a $2.5 trillion economy also will be smaller.

French Open

in tennis action... Former champion Serena Williams shocked the French Open crowd, and herself, by losing to Virginie Razzano in the first round, her earliest exit from a grand slam in the 47 appearances she has made in an outstanding career.

weather

Taiwan weather forecast for tonight according to the Central Weather Bureau, possible showers up north, clouds mid-island; possible showers down south. Lows tonite north, center and south respectively: 22, 23 and 24 At the moment Taipei is cloudy with haze and 30, Taichung rather cloudy and 30, Gauhsiung fairly cloudy and 31.

3PM Outro

That's ICRT News at 3. Thank you for listening. I'm Mike Woodward.

20120530 10am

Click here to download the EZ News audio file

10AM EZ News Intro

Good morning ... it's 10 o'clock and I'm Gavin Phipps w/ EZ News

10AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The Tai-Ex opened down 31.64 points this morning from yesterday's close - at 7,310.65 on turnover of 3.06-billion N-T dollars. --------- Premier Sean Chen rejected Finance Minister - Christina Liu's - resignation late yesterday. Liu tendered her resignation earlier in the day after K-M-T lawmakers rejected a Cabinet proposal for the capital gains tax. She had been a vocal backer of the Cabinet's proposal. Speaking to reporters at just after 10:30 yesterday evening .... Cabinet spokesperson - Hu Yu-wei - said the Premier has asked Liu to remain on office and continue to work on the capital gains tax issue. Hu added the Premier hopes to merge the K-M-T proposal with the Cabinet's initial plan regarding a tax on securities transactions. Meanwhile .... The K-M-T's capital gains tax plan is drawing mixed reviews --- leaving brokerage houses relieved and groups interested in tax fairness dissatisfied. The plan will allow individual investors to choose between reporting stock gains as part of their income - or paying a stock transaction tax of between 0.02 and 0.06-per cent that only kicks in when the Tai-Ex closes above the 8,500 point mark. Stock market analysts say the K-M-T plan has short term benefits - but limitations over the medium term. -------- The main opposition D-P-P's newly elected chairman - Su Zhen-chang - took office yesterday -- vowing to revamp the party. According to Su .. the D-P-P will re-establish representative offices in the United States and Japan - while working to improve communication with the voting pubic at home. The appointments of the party's new deputy secretaries-general and other department head are slated to be announced sometime this week.

Syria ..

In international news ..... Western countries say they are set to expel senior Syrian diplomats. The move is in response to the killing of 108 people in the Hoola region of Syria last Friday. The United States, France, the Britain, Germany, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Switzerland have all taken similar action. The United Nations says most of the victims were summarily executed - and has blamed government forces and militia for the killings. U-N-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan held talks with President Bashar al-Assad yesterday in an attempt to kick-start his peace plan. Assad has blamed the violence on "terrorists."

Italy ...

Rescuers in northern Italy are continuing to comb through rubble for more survivors -- after a strong earthquake killed at least 16 people yesterday. Some 350 people were injured after the magnitude 5.8 quake hit the Emilia Romagna region. It was the second deadly earthquake in just over a week. The number of people made homeless from recent quakes in the area has now risen -- from six- to 14-thousand.

Egypt ...

In Egypt ... The Muslim Brotherhood's candidate for president - Mohammed Mursi - says he will include a wide range of political forces in any government he forms. Mursi has promised to provide representation to women and children. His Freedom and Justice Party has said the presidency would no longer be about one person --- and Muris has vowed to end the era of a what he called ---- the "Superman President."

Burma ..

Myanmar's opposition leader - Aung San Suu Kyi - arrived in Thailand yesterday --- on her first trip outside the country in more than two decades. She is attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia. The pro-democracy leader was given a passport in early May. An estimated 130-thousand Myanmar refugees live in camps in Thailand -- many of whom fled political persecution.

UK ...

Wikileaks founder - Julian Assange - is set to find out later today whether or not he will be extradited from Britain to Sweden to face charges of sex crimes. At least one extradition expert said that his long-running legal campaign may finally yield a victory for the Australian computer programmer. Assange became a household name following the release of a quarter-million classified U-S State Department cable.

Canada ...

A severed human foot has been mailed to the headquarters of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative party. Police were called shortly after a receptionist opened a blood-soaked box. Police said the package was addressed to the Conservative Party of Canada and not to a specific person. Harper's office is not located at the party headquarters.

WEATHER AM .....

Looking at the weather across Taiwan ... We can expect ..... partly cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers in the north and center - w/ a high of around 32 in both Taipei and Taichong --- and mostly cloudy skies in the south w/ a high of 32 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- Taichung -- Gaoxiong --

10AM EZ News Outro

That was EZ News at 10 on ICRT w/ me Gavin Phipps ....