20120511 7pm

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7PM EZ News Intro

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

Outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N2 bird flu confirmed in Yunlin

Agriculture authorities today confirmed an outbreak of a highly pathogenic form of the H5N2 avian influenza virus at a farm in Yunlin county, where nearly 4,000 chickens have died over the past four days. This is the sixth H5N2 case recorded in Taiwan so far this year, and the fifth involving a highly pathogenic strain. All remaining 14,000 chickens on the farm will be culled to prevent the virus from spreading. None of the potentially infected chickens have entered the market because movement in and out of the farm has been restricted since the unusually high number of deaths was first noticed. The department has requested the military dispatch chemical soldiers to help disinfect the area within a 3 kilometer radius of the farm. No similar infection has been discovered on other chicken farms in the county. (EG)

Taiwanese woman receives prestigious Japanese decoration

A Taiwanese entrepreneur was decorated by the Japanese government today for her efforts to promote relations between Taiwan and Japan for more than two decades. Tsai Xue-ni, the first Taiwanese woman to receive The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, was cited for her efforts to push for exchanges between Taiwan and Japan's Ryukyu Islands. Taiwan's envoy to Japan said that Tsai helped poor families in Ryukyu. Tsai is president of the Sino-Ryukyuan Cultural and Economic Association and a national policy advisor to President Ma Ying-jeou. Ma called her "the number one civil diplomat," andsaid she deserves the honor because of her philanthropic acts in both Japan and Taiwan. The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 to honor people who have made distinguished contributions to Japan in various fields, including international relations and the promotion of Japanese culture. Earlier this month, Tsai also received a gold medal from the Japanese Red Cross Society, becoming the only non-Japanese person to be granted the award this year. (EG)

Syria

The head of Syria's main opposition group sasy yesterday's twin suicide car bombings that killed 55 people in Damascus appeared to be the work of al-Qaida forces he said were linked to the regime of President Bashar Assad. Paris-based Burhan Ghalioun, chief of the opposition Syrian National Council, also said the cease-fire brokered by U.N. envoy Kofi Annan was ``in crisis'' because it lacks teeth. Ghalioun said there would be ``no peaceful solution'' to the violence in Syria without ``a threat of force against those who don't implement the plan.'' He said``Assad feels that he can run away from implementing all of his obligations without any consequences'' Yesterday's bombings fueled fears of a rising Islamic militant element among the forces seeking to oust Assad and dealt a further blow to international efforts to end the bloodshed. Assad's government blamed the blasts on armed terrorists it says are driving the uprising.

Bank

Global financial stocks have been hit by news America's biggest bank, JP Morgan Chase, made a surprise $2bn trading loss. Olly Barratt reports.

HK

Hong Kong's first-quarter economic growth stalled as exports shrank amid slumping global trade, and the government warned of further risks because of Europe's sovereign debt crisis. The economy eked out growth of 0.4 percent in the first three months of 2012. That's down from 3 percent growth in the previous quarter. Exports shrank by 5.7 percent, as shipments to the U.S. and European Union dipped further while those to Asian markets ``slackened distinctly.'' The government said the decline came alongside a broader trend of declining exports among Asian countries, particularly for raw materials used to make goods shipped to advanced markets, where demand was ``subdued.'' Inflation eased to 5.2 percent in the quarter as food prices and housing rents rose at a slower rate and global food and commodity prices cooled. Consumer price inflation is expected to taper off further in the coming months

Weather

Central weather bureau forecasters say it's going to be partly cloudy islandwide tonight, with chances of rain in the north, thundershowers in the center and south. Lows tonight will be 25 up north, 27 in the center, and 29 in southern Taiwan. Tomorrow, again partly cloudy conditions, with more sun possible in the south. Highs then will hit 29 up north, 31 south and center. Right now it's 25 in Taipei, 28 in Taizhong, and 28 in Gaoxiong.

7PM EZ News Outro

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