20120521 10am

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10AM EZ News Intro

Good morning ... it's 10 o'clock and I'm Gavin Phipps w/ EZ News

10AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

The Tai-Ex opened up 24.47-points this morning from Friday's close at 7,175.66 on turnover of 1.54-billion U-S dollars. -------- President Ma Ying-jeou reaffirmed his conviction to the "one Republic of China, two areas" policy yesterday during his inaugural address -- saying maintaining the status quo is effective in building mutual trust. Ma added his principles of "no unification, no independence and no armed conflict" are acceptable to both Taiwan and China .... and that he expects to foster closer cross-strait ties during his second term in office. However .. he dismissed the need for the immediate signing of a formal cross-strait peace accord -- saying such a move was not urgent. Meanwhile .... Members of the main opposition D-P-P have slammed President Ma Ying-jeou's inaugural address - saying he still owes the people of Taiwan an apology. According to acting party chairwoman - Chen Chu - Ma not only failed apologize - for what she charged to be - his failed polices - but also chose to ignore thousands of protestors who took the streets to voice their discontent with his administration. And Former D-P-P chairman - Xu Xin-liang - has began a one-man protest in front of the Legislative Yuan -- and is threatening to go on an indefinite hunger strike if President Ma Ying-jeou fails to respond to public grievances. ---------- Heavy rains caused major flooding in parts of Tainan City yesterday - leaving one 75-year-old woman dead and another missing. The body of the woman was found in a ditch near her chicken farm in city's Ren-de District after flood waters subsided. Fire Department officials are still searching for another woman - who was reported missing yesterday morning. The Central Weather Bureau says accumulated rainfall in the Tainan and Gaoxiong areas yesterday stood at 27-centimeters.

Afghanistan ...

In International news ... U-S President Barack Obama has warned of "hard days ahead" at a NATO summit on Afghanistan in Chicago - but says it is vital the alliance stay together as it transitions out of the country. The A-Ps Mark Smith reports.

Lybia ..

Lockerbie bomber - Abdelbaset al-Megrahi - has died at his home in Libya. He is the only person ever convicted over the 1988 Lockerbie bombing above Scotland which killed 270 people. Olly Barratt reports .. al-Megrahi is set to be buried later today.

Iran ....

The head of the United Nations nuclear agency flew to Tehran Sunday on a mission that - if successful - could finally lift the veil on whether Iran is seeking atomic arms. The visit could also strengthen Iran's negotiating hand in crucial nuclear talks with six world powers slated for later this week.

Italy ..

An earthquake in northern Italy has killed at least seven people and caused serious damage to buildings in several towns. The magnitude 6 quake struck just north of the city of Bologna. Late yesterday -- a magnitude-5.1 aftershock hit the same region --- causing more buildings to collapse. Thousands of people left homeless by the earthquake are spending the night in shelters. Sunday's quake was the worst to hit the country since 2009.

Gibb ..

Bee Gees' singer Robin Gibb has died following a lengthy battle with cancer at the age of 62. He had been battling colon and liver cancer.

WEATHER AM .....

Looking at the weather across Taiwan ... We can expect ..... cloudy skies over much of the island - w/ a high of 28 in the Taipei area - 29 in Taichong and 30 in Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 26 Taichung -- 28 Gaoxiong -- 28

10AM EZ News Outro

That was EZ News at 10 on ICRT w/ me Gavin Phipps ....