20120507 9am

9AM Intro

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

Premier to name vice economics minister as Taipower chairman

Premier Sean Chen yesterday said he will formally approve the resignation of Edward Chen as chairman of the state-run Taiwan Power Company ... and name incumbent Vice Economics Minister Huang Jung-chiou as the new head of the utility company.

The ministry says the move is part of efforts to push for reforms in the company, which has come under increasing scrutiny over a recent decision to hike electricity rates.

Cabinet spokesman -- Philip Yang, said the ministry submitted Chen's resignation to the Executive Yuan late May 4th, along with its recommendation that Huang should take over the position.

Taichung Councilor Calling for New Military Height Requirements

A councilor in Greater Taichung is proposing a review of military service regulations on height requirements ... to allow men less than 1.58 meters tall to serve in the armed forces.

Councilor Wu Min-ji spoke on behalf of Huang Wei-hao, a senior from the Chung Chou University of Science and Technology.

Huang was rejected by the ministry when he reported for mandatory military service because of his short stature....2 centimeters short of the minimum height requirement.

He was also declared unqualified for alternative service.

Wu said as Taiwan prepares to switch from conscription to an all--volunteer military force, it should follow the example of other countries

Rebates proposed for energy-efficient air conditioners, TVs

The Ministry of Economic Affairs is proposing a second round of subsidies for electrical appliances.

This comes ahead of a first-stage hike in electricity rates scheduled for June.

The proposal will provide a rebate of 2-thousand n-T dollars for every energy-saving air conditioner or television set purchased.

The estimated budget for the subsidies is 700 million N-T dollars, with the final amount will be decided by the Cabinet.

france

France handed the presidency Sunday to leftist Francois Hollande, a champion of government stimulus programs who says the state should protect the downtrodden.

The victory that could deal a death blow to the drive for austerity that has been the hallmark of Europe in recent years.

The president-elect inherits a country deep in debt and divided over how to integrate immigrants while preserving its national identity.

He portrayed himself as a vehicle for change across Europe.

Elsewhere...

Greeks punish the two main parties in parliamentary elections, with official projections showing both hemorrhaging support and no party gaining enough votes to form a government. The results could affect the country's course as it grapples with a debt crisis that has shaken world markets.

yemen

An drone airstrike yesterday killed a top al-Qaida leader on the FBI's most wanted list for his role in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole warship.

Fahd al-Quso was hit by a missile as he stepped out of his car.

The drone strike that killed Quso was carried out by the CIA, after an extended surveillance operation by the CIA and U.S. military.

The strike was authorized by the Yemeni government, which then made the announcement after the operation was complete, part of the U.S. strategy to give the host government more public ownership of the operation being carried out on Yemeni soil.

afghan

An Afghan soldier killed one U.S. marine and wounded another before being shot to death in return fire yesterday in southern Afghanistan, the latest in a series of attacks against foreigners blamed on government forces within their own ranks.

Nearly 20 such attacks this year have raised the level of mistrust between the U.S.-led coalition and their Afghan partners as NATO gears up to hand over security to local forces ahead of a 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of combat troops.

newt

In US politics...

Newt Gingrich is urging conservatives to get behind Mitt Romney.

The APs Diane Kepley reports.

nba

In the NBA...

Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points, Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his return from a cut hand, and the New York Knicks snapped an NBA-record, 13-game postseason losing streak by beating the Miami Heat 89-87 in Game 4 of their first-round series.

Elsewhere, the 76ers move closer to pulling off an upset of the Bulls with another win, 89-82, over the top seed in East.

ice

In the NHL today

The eighth-seeded LA Kings finished an improbable four-game sweep of the St. Louis Blues with a 3-1 victory, advancing to the conference finals for just the second time in club history.

Weather ... May 7

possible thunderstorms north and center cloudy skies in the south Highs....32-33

Current Temps:

Taipei: 24

Taichung: 26

Gaoxiong: 28

9AM Outro

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