20120511 10am

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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 down 14 points from yesterday's close this morning as 7,470 on turnover of 1.568-billion N-T dollars. ---------- The Cabinet resigned yesterday - paving the way for a minor reshuffle by Premier Sean Chen. A new reshuffled Cabinet is expected to be announced by May 19-th -- the eve of President Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration for his second term in office. According to the Premier ... his current Cabinet lineup will be basically the "new Cabinet" for Ma's second term, as most of the Cabinet members will remain in their posts. However .. some members are expected to return to their faculty positions in universities. No information concerning possible changes has been released. ------------ Transport Minister Mao Zhi-guo says infrastructure improvements in the Xue-shan Tunnel will be completed within two weeks. The improvements are aimed at addressing safety concerns raised after Monday's fatal traffic accident in the tunnel. According to Mao .... the tunnel's smoke ventilation system will be repaired. The system failed to function properly in Monday's accident that left two people dead and more than 30 others injured. Questions were raised over the adequacy of the tunnel's safety measures, as thick smoke was able to get into the escape shafts because the access doors did not close automatically. --------- Outgoing Vice President Vincent Siew was decorated with the Order of Chong Cheng with Grand Cordon yesterday --which he described as the "perfect ending" to his 50-year career in public service. Siew - who received the medal from President Ma Ying-jeou - said it was a great honor to receive the decoration and thanked Ma for giving him the utmost trust and respect over the last four years. The medal was created in 1980 to honor people who have made contributions to the implementation of Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People.

syria

The United Nations Security Council has condemned car bomb attacks that killed at least 55 people and wounded almost 400 other in the Syrian capital of Damascus yesterday. The council urged all sides to "immediately and comprehensively" implement the peace plan for Syria. Syrian officials claim "foreign-backed terrorists" carried out the twin suicide car-bomb attack. The bombs exploded near a military intelligence building during the morning rush hour.

bomber

The man who got inside al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula and got the underwear bomb out of Yemen carried a British passport. Priscilla Huff has an update:

dissident

Authorities in the hometown of blind activist Chen Guangcheng have notched up restrictions on members of his extended family while he awaits permission in Beijing to travel abroad under an agreement between China and the U.S. Chen says his brother and sister-in-law have been placed under house arrest, his nephew is in police detention, and several other relatives face some form of restriction on their movements in their village in Shandong province. Chen's flight from abusive house arrest in Shandong and into the protection of U.S. diplomats has embarrassed the central government. The move last month triggered a diplomatic standoff that was resolved with an agreement between the two governments for Chen to travel to the U.S. to study.

hacking

The former media chief of British Prime Minister David Cameron is denying ever hearing an inappropriate conversation between politicians and News International personnel. From London, Catherine Drew reports. Meanwhile ... Coulson is also denying playing any part in News Corp's attempts to buy broadcaster BskyB. Coulson can not be asked directly about the bid because he is on police bail over the matter.

WEATHER AM .....

cloudy skies and showers in the north w/ a high of 26 - and cloudy skies, rain and possible afternoon thunder showers in the center and south w/ a high of 29 in the center and a high of 30 down south Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 24 Taichung -- 26 Gaoxiong -- 29

10AM EZ News Outro

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