20120502 7pm

7PM EZ News Intro

Good evening. It's 7 o'clock. I'm _____ and time for EZ News on ICRT.

Defense minister, top security adviser to stay put: officials

Government officials today denied reports that Defense Minister Gao Hua-zhu and National Security Council Secretary-General Hu Wei-chen will be replaced in the next Cabinet reshuffle. Next Magazine reported that Gao would replace Hu as President Ma Ying-jeou's top national security adviser, but officials said the president has been satisfied with their performances and has decided to keep them on. There has been widespread speculation that the Ma administration will make changes in its defense and foreign policy team in the near future after having adjusted its economic and financial team earlier this year. (EG)

Taipower should reform before rates are hiked: Consumers' Foundation

The Consumers Foundation believes that state-run Taiwan Power Co. should review its operations and make reforms before electricity rates are increased. A CF official says that while it is not unacceptable for Taipower to raise electricity rates to make up for its losses, a review of operational costs and subsequent reforms should come first. The Ministry of Economic Affairs originally announced that electricity rates would go up May 15, with household electricity rates increasing by an average of 16.9 percent, commercial rates by 30 percent and industrial rates by 35 percent. However, the government has now decided to partially increase the rates in June, and again in December. (EG)

Myanmar

Myanmar's foremost democracy campaigner Aung san Suu Kyi has taken up her seat in the nation's parliament. Nathan King reports from Yangon.

Egypt

Unidentified assailants today descended on Egyptian protesters gathered outside the Defense Ministry in Cairo calling for an end to the country's military rule, triggering clashes that killed at least five people. The violence is the latest episode in more than a year of turmoil in Egypt following the ouster of longtime authoritarian ruler Hosni Mubarak and will likely fuel more tensions just three weeks ahead of presidential elections. The military generals who took over from Mubarak in February last year have promised to hand over power to a civilian administration by July 1 but that has not stopped protesters from staging rallies demanding the generals leave immediately. Security officials said the clashes broke out when the assailants set upon several hundred protesters who had camped out in the area since early Saturday to press their demand for the military to go. The protesters fought back and the Health Ministry later confirmed that five people died. It was not clear if the victims were all protesters or if any of the attackers were among the dead. The ministry said at least 45 people were wounded.

Egypt2

Also in Egypt, a senior International Monetary Fund official says the fund remains willing to consider a much-needed $3.2 billion aid package for the country, but is waiting for sufficient consensus from political leaders in Cairo. The director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia department, says that Egypt has made some progress on meeting the fund's conditions. But he suggested that more work is needed. The official says the IMF would only consider the loan once Egypt puts together an economic recovery plan with ``the necessary backing.'' Egypt's Islamist-dominated parliament last week rejected the military-appointed Cabinet's economic plan, setting back efforts to secure the IMF funding.

Japan

Japanese media say a Harley-Davidson motorcycle lost in last year's tsunami has washed up on a Canadian island about 6,400 kilometers away. The rusted bike was found in a large white container where its owner, Ikuo Yokoyama, had kept it. He was located through the license plate number. Yokoyama lost three members of his family in the March 11, 2011, tsunami, and is now living in temporary housing in Miyagi prefecture The motorcycle is among the first items lost in the tsunami to reach the west coast of North America. In March, an Alaska man found a football and later a volleyball from Japan; their owners were located last week using names that had been inscribed on the balls.

Weather

Central Weather Bureau forecasters say it's going to be partly cloudy islandwide tonight, with occasional showers or thundershowers. Lows tonight will be 20 or 21 in the north, 23 in the center, and 24 in the south. Tomorrow, we'll see more clouds, and possible showers in the north, potential thunderstorms over the rest of the island. Highs then will hit 25 up north, 28 midisland, and 29 in southern Taiwan. Right now, it's 28 in Taipei, 27 in Taizhong, and 29 in Gaoxiong.

7PM EZ News Outro

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