20120502 10am

10AM EZ News Intro

Good morning. It's 10 o'clock. I'm _______ and time for EZ News on ICRT.

10AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The Tai-Ex opened up 21 points this morning from Monday's close at 7,523 on turnover of 8.67-billion N-T dollars. -------- President Ma Ying-jeou backtracked on plans to hike electricity rates later this month late yesterday. Ma said his administration has decided to adjust electricity rates in three stages instead on hiking all rates on May 15th -- as was originally scheduled. According to Ma ... the move is aimed at allaying public concern over rising living costs. The first electricity rate hike will take effect on June 10-th -- and the second stage hike on December 10-th. The date for a third stage hike has yet to be determined. Ma also promised to review the operational efficiency of the island's state-run power and oil companies. ----------- Thousands of union members and blue collar workers rallied in Taipei yesterday - Labor Day - in protest over the Ma administration's failure to tackle rising living costs and stagnant salaries. Some 3-thousand people gathered in Liberty Square - and called on the government to review its labor policies, in particular the designated responsibility clause --- which allows for excessive hours. Members of over 50 labor groups also protested against the use of contract workers in government agencies and a proposal to "de-link" the minimum wage for domestic and foreign workers. The protestors gathered at Liberty Square at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall then marched to National Taiwan University Hospital, the Ministry of Education and the Legislature and the Cabinet buildings. ----------- The Central Weather Bureau is warning of torrential rain islandwide begriming today -- as the first plum rains of the year are expected to arrive. According to the bureau ... this year's plum rain season will see a higher likelihood of torrential rain and thunderstorms. Heavy rain is expected to last through mid-June, especially in the center and south. Meanwhile .... the weather bureau says initial indicators show that there is a likelihood of Taiwan being hit by one or more strong typhoons this year.

obama-afghan

U-S President Barack Obama marked the anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden with a swift trip to Afghanistan today. Obama met with U.S. troops and signed a joint strategic pact with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The deal is aimed at bringing down the curtain on America's longest war. Obama, in the midst of his effort to win re-election as president and commander in chief, ended the visit with a televised speech, declaring that the war is ending and Americans can look forward to the ``light of a new day on the horizon.''

dissident

US Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton -- is heading to China for a trip which will include talks about the highly-sensitive case of a Chinese dissident, who's said to have sought refuge with US diplomats in Beijing. Clinton said the US and China have a "constructive" relationship, which allows the US to raise all issues on the bilateral agenda. American and Chinese officials won't talk about Chen Guang-chen in public, but his case is expected to come up during previously scheduled meetings.

myanmar

Aung San Suu Kyi is set to be sworn in to Myanmar's military-backed parliament today to take public office for the first time since launching her struggle against authoritarian rule nearly a quarter century ago. The 66-year-old opposition leader's entry into the legislature is the start of a historic new political era in Myanmar. The government has spearheaded months of unexpected reforms since taking power last year, including the holding of by-elections on April 1st.

rupert

A committee of British lawmakers called Rupert Murdoch unfit to run his global media empire. The finding reflects just how deeply the phone hacking scandal born of his defunct News of the World has shaken the relationship between the press and politics. The ruling yesterday against Murdoch, his son James and three of their executives also exposed the waning influence of the media tycoon, and could jeopardize his control of a major broadcaster. Charles de Ledesma reports a senior lawmakers committee found that a Murdoch company misled Parliament about the scale of phone hacking at one of its tabloids.

WEATHER AM .....

cloudy skies and possible thunder showers w/ a high of 32 islandwide. Current Temperatures ... Taipei -- 30 Taichung -- 28 Gaoxiong -- 30

10AM EZ News Outro

That's EZ News at 10. I'm _____