20120510 3pm

3PM Intro

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

Small Cabinet Reshuffle Expected

First Taiwan news... The Cabinet resigned this morning in a formality before President Ma Ying-jeou starts his second four-year term on May 20. Premier Sean Chen led the resignations. He and most of his colleagues are expected to be reappointed after Ma's second term begins. Chen said people can expect what he called some "very small adjustments" to the current line-up. Chen noted some cabinet members have indicated they have committments to return to universities for teaching posts ... while others had indicated after Chen took over on February 6th that they would not continue into Ma's second term. Chen said otherwise ... he hopes to see everyone back on the job and hard at work after the 20th. When asked by media about who might not be returning ... Chen said he'll make those announcements after speaking with the president. (jm)

7 Lawmakers Visit Disputed South China Sea Area

Seven legislators across party lines flew to the Dongsha Islands in the South China Sea today as part of efforts to highlight Taiwan's sovereignty amid growing tensions in the disputed area. The trip came on the heels of a visit in late April by several other lawmakers to Taiping Island. The latest trip is being led by DPP Legislator Chen Tan-sun, a co-convener of the Legislature's Foreign and National Defense Committee. DPP legislative convener Cai Huang-lang said tensions in the South China Sea have been escalating recently, the group wanted to reassert Taiwan's claim to the region through the visit. Cai said the group through its visit also looks to help boost the morale of military and coast guard personnel stationed on the islands. Cai exchanged sharp words in the legislature with a KMT colleague yesterday over a proposal for President Ma to visit the region. Taiwan controls Dongsha, the largest island in the South China Sea, as well as Taiping Island, the largest island in the Spratlys. (jm)

roadside bomb

in world news... A roadside bomb hit troops escorting UN observers near the Syrian city of Deraa. Six of them were injured and the UN in New York is warning that such attacks imperil the future of the monitoring mission. Mission chief Major General Robert Mood was in the convoy but escaped unharmed along with 11 other observers. UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirsky says the buried device was close to a checkpoint... Nesirky says the mission chief is concerned...

mob figure

in crime news from the U.S... A couple of mob figures have escaped conviction in the 15-year old killing of a police officer. AP correspondent Warren Levinson reports.

weather

Taiwan weather forecast for tonight according to the Central Weather Bureau, thundershowers likely island-wide tonight with lows north, center and south respectively: 21, 24 and 26. At the moment Taipei is rain and 23, Taichung rain and 28, Gauhsiung a current temp of 32.

3PM Outro

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