20120507 7pm

7PM EZ News Intro

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

Former Culture Chief to Sue Gossip Tabloid

Taipei City's Former Culture Chief is suing a local gossip tabloid over a report that she plagiarized research papers. Next Magazine, in addition to claiming Zheng Mei-hua had plagiarized research papers, also recently reported she was forced to step down as a result. Zheng announced today through a lawyer that she plans to sue the tabloid. Zheng's statement said the allegations are unfounded and have seriously damaged her reputation. The statement said the papers had been reviewed by relevant authorities ... and that she had ample evidence to prove her research findings. The statement said Zheng will seek both criminal and civil damages to the full extent of the law against the magazine. As to why she stepped down as director of the Taipei Bureau of Cultural Affairs ... the statement said that was a personal career decision to return to academic life. (jm)

CPI up 1.44% in April

Taiwan's Consumer Price Index, or CPI rose to 108.04 in April, up 1.44 percent from the year-earlier level. The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics said the increase was due in part to an average 6.32 percent year-on-year increase in fuel prices, which helped push up the index by almost a quarter percentage point. But a drop in the prices of some fruits and lower telecommunications service charges helped prevent an even sharper rise in the index. The CPI also rose 0.95 percent on a month-on-month basis, driven higher mainly by increases in the prices of fuel, clothing, cigarette and travel. (EG)

Qaida

An Al-Qaeda leader wanted in connection with the bombing of the USS Cole 12 years ago has been killed by US air strike in Yemen. Our Washington Correspondent Simon Marks says the US had offered a multi-million dollar reward for information leading to Fahd al-Quso's capture. That was Simon Marks

Syria

Syrians cast ballots today in parliamentary elections billed by the regime as key to President Bashar Assad's political reforms. However, the opposition dismissed the vote as a sham meant to preserve his autocratic rule. The voting for Syria's 250 member parliament is unlikely to affect the course of Syria's popular uprising, which began 13 months ago with anti-Assad protests. The U.N. says more than 9,000 people have been killed in Syria's turmoil. Election officials say more than 7,000 candidates are competing for seats in the legislature in a country of almost 15 million eligible voters. The elections are the first under a new constitution, adopted three months ago. The charter for the first time allows the formation of political parties to compete with Assad's ruling Baath party and limits the president to two seven-year terms. The parliament is not considered an influential body in Syria, where the real power is concentrated around Assad and a tight coterie of family and advisers. Experts say that despite the legal changes, Syria's oppressive security services keep true regime opponents from participating in politics.

Russia

Vladimir Putin took the oath of office in a brief Kremlin ceremony today, while on the streets outside thousands of helmeted riot police prevented hundreds of demonstrators from protesting his return to the presidency. Putin has ruled Russia since 2000, first as president and then during the past four years as prime minister. The new, now six-year term will keep him in power until 2018, with the option of running for a fourth term. Despite unprecedented security measures in the center of Moscow, at least 1,000 opposition activists tried to protest along the route Putin's motorcade took to the Kremlin. Many wore the white ribbons that are a symbol of the anti-Putin protest movement. The demonstrators, separated into several groups, were met by helmeted riot police. A total of 120 were detained, including opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

Weather

Central Weather Bureau forecasters say it's going to be mostly clear across Taiwan tonight, with lows of 23 in the north, 24 midisland, and 26 in the south. Tomorrow, partly clear conditions islandwide, though there may be some afternoon thunderstorms in the central parts of the country. Highs then will hit 33 across Taiwan. Right now, it's 29 in Taipei, 28 in Taizhong, and 28 in Gaoxiong.

7PM EZ News Outro

That's EZ News at 7. I'm _____