20120516 9am

9AM Intro

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

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

Deputy Economics Minister - Huang Rong-qiu - has been sworn in as Tai-Power's new chairman. Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony yesterday ... Huang said he will work to reform and improve the efficiency of state-run company and do his utmost to "pull the company together and fight with all the staff in these bad times." The appointment comes as Taiwan's sole power supplier is under investigation for corruption. Officials from the Agency Against Corruption searched the offices of state-run generator yesterday. The move is part of an investigation into corruption surrounding a 2007 procurement case at the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. Prosecutors say Tai-Power employees who oversaw and handled the 440-million N-T dollar procurement case allegedly failed to conduct themselves in accordance with the terms of the Government Procurement Act. The deputy head of Tai-Power's Department of Nuclear Engineering was released on bail of 2-million N-T dollars earlier this morning. --------------- President Ma Ying-jeou says his administration is continuing efforts to resolve issues surrounding U-S beef imports - and hopes trade talks between the two countries can soon resume. Speaking yesterday during a meeting with Governor Steve Beshear of the U-S state of Kentucky .... Ma also expressed his hope that Taiwan can join the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement within eight years. According to Ma ... only by joining the pact will Taiwan be able to increase integration with the regional economies and avoid being marginalized. Talks between Taiwan and the U-S under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement have been stalled since 2007 due to the issue of U-S beef imports. ------------ The Taoyuan County Environmental Protection Bureau has demanded Fu Xun Fiber Industries suspend operations for allegedly discharging waste water into the ocean. The move follows charges the company's waste water is responsible for turning sea water black. Bureau officials say the factory in Guan-yin Township does not have sufficient equipment to process waste water. The bureau has handed over evidence associated with the factory's alleged involvement in forging its water discharge records to the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office.

merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande agreed yesterday to spend the coming weeks discussing proposals for generating economic growth in Europe, a first step to bridging their differences over how to tackle the eurozone debt crisis. They talked up their commitment to building a solid relationship after an election campaign in which Merkel backed then-President Nicolas Sarkozy. Hollande has criticized Merkel's austerity-led approach to the continent's debt troubles and called for more policies geared toward boosting economic growth as opposed to just cutting government spending. During his campaign, he also called for the European budget-discipline pact pushed by Merkel to be renegotiated.

afghan command

The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan may leave his post early next year. The AP's Sagar Meghani reports.

sebelius

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington says Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius should not have been invited to speak this Friday at a Georgetown University awards ceremony. The APs Steve Coleman reports.

plane

Indonesian special forces have found the voice-and-data recorder of a new Russian passenger jet that slammed into a jagged, mist-shrouded cliff on a dormant volcano. The ``black box'' could help explain the cause of the deadly crash of the Sukhoi Superjet 100, which had been on a short demonstration flight for potential buyers. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 _ Russia's first passenger jet model since the fall of the Soviet Union two decades ago _ was being demonstrated for potential buyers when it roared into Mount Salak at 480 mph on May 9. All 45 people on board were killed.

WEATHER AM .....

cloudy skies and possible afternoon thunder showers islandwide Highs.... 27 in the Taipei area ... 29 in Taichong.....31 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 27 Taichung -- 27 Gaoxiong -- 29

9AM Outro

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