20120514 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.

Two opposition parties to propose recall of president

The main opposition DPP and its ally, the Taiwan Solidarity Union plan to initiate a proposal to recall President Ma Ying-jeou. The ruling KMT immediately responded that the move is a political ploy and an abuse of legislative procedure. The two opposition parties submitted their proposal, and want the Legislature's Procedure Committee to deal with it tomorrow. DPP caucus whip Ke Jian-min said recalling a president is difficult according to the constitution, which gives heads of state leeway to do whatever they want, which Ke says is bad for the nation. He added that the proposal is aimed at sending a serious warning to President Ma that his first term ends with a recall. He went on to say that the motion will also let future generations know that this was the will of the people and it will remain on the record of the Legislature. (EG)

Foreign Minister Says Housing Allowance for Diplomats to Be Adjusted

Foreign Minister Timothy Yang today said that a hike in housing allowances for diplomats stationed abroad is being considered for safety reasons. The announcement comes about a month after the killing of a Taiwanese embassy employee in the Dominican Republic. Julia Ou - a second secretary at the Republic of China Embassy in the Caribbean country - was found dead in her apartment on April 17th. Speaking at a legislative committee meeting ... Yang said insufficient housing allowance is closely related to the reason Taiwan diplomats are forced to seek housing in less safe areas outside the main cities in which they are stationed. Yang said he's calling for a task force to evaluate the housing situation of Taiwan's diplomats stationed abroad ... and that an increase in housing allowance could be considered. During the committee meeting at which Yang spoke ... lawmakers passed a motion calling for an increase in housing allowances for diplomats stationed in nine foreign cities considered to be higher risk. (jm)

Myanmar

Myanmar tightened security for an official visit by Korean President Lee Myung-bak today, the first by a South Korean leader since an assassination attempt by North Korean commandos nearly 30 years ago. Lee flew first to the capital to meet with Myanmar's President Thein Sein as part of a two-day visit that is expected to strengthen ties between the countries. The South Korean president is the latest dignitary to visit Myanmar as it transitions from a military dictatorship to a fledgling democracy and opens its massive investment potential to the eager international community. Lee plans to discuss how to increase economic ties and cooperation in energy, the development of natural resources and other sectors. Lee is to meet opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi tomorrow.

EU

European Union foreign ministers are debating whether to boycott this year's European soccer championship matches played in Ukraine to protest alleged abuse of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. When Tymoshenko launched a hunger strike last month after saying she was beaten by prison officials, several European leaders vowed to shun Ukraine during Euro 2012 in protest, but critics have warned that boycotting the matches would mean mixing sports with politics and could do more harm than good. Officials said no formal decision on the move was expected at today's meeting. Instead, the 27 ministers are expected to agree to jointly decide on any future moves regarding Ukraine.

Iran

The U.N. nuclear agency has started new talks with Iran aimed at getting access to what it suspects was the site of secret tests to make nuclear arms. The International Atomic Energy Agency thinks the site at Iran's Parchin military facility was used to test explosives needed to set off a nuclear charge. Iran denies this and all suggestions it wants such weapons. A senior IAEA official says the agency's priority remains clarifying the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear activities. The agency has for months been refused access to the site and to officials the IAEA suspects could have been involved in such activities.

India

India's inflation accelerated to a worse than expected 7.2 percent in April, on rising food and manufacturing prices March inflation was 6.9 percent. The government revised February inflation to 7.4 percent from an earlier estimate of 7.0 percent. The data reinforces the conundrum facing India's central bank, which is under pressure to cut rates to boost growth despite persistent inflation. Food prices rose 10.5 percent in April from a year ago. Inflation for manufactured products quickened to 5.1 percent in April from 4.9 in March. Many economists expect prices to rise even more as electricity tariff hikes get passed on to consumers. The government may raise subsidized petrol and diesel prices to ease India's fiscal deficit _ a move that would also stoke inflation.

Weather

Central Weather Bureau forecasters say it's going to be partly clear islandwide tonight, with lows of 24 up north to 26 down south. Tomorrow will start off somewhat cloudy, and will see occasional thundershowers in the afternoon. Highs then will peak at 33 across Taiwan. Right now it's 30 in Taipei, 30 in Taizhong, and 30 in Gaoxiong.

7PM EZ News Outro

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