20120521 7pm

Click here to download the EZ News audio file

7PM EZ News Intro

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

President On U.S. beef Issue

A day after taking office for a second term, President Ma Ying-jeou has reiterated that Taiwan has to resolve the issues of U.S. beef imports before bilateral trade talks can move forward. Ma said that the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, or TIFA, is a good platform for trade talks and that he hopes the two sides can resume trade negotiations as soon as possible. However, meeting with a U.S. congressional delegation led by Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ma said the resolution of the U.S. beef dispute is a prerequisite, as it is currently blocking the talks. He was referring to Taiwan's current ban on imports of U.S. beef containing residue of ractopamine, a leanness enhancer that is banned in many countries, including Taiwan. (jm)

Taiwanese lawmakers call for full WHO membership

Two lawmakers voiced Taiwan's hope of becoming a full member of the World Health Organization. Su Ching-chuan of the KMT and Lin Shih-chia of the TSU are in Geneva as part of Taiwan's delegation to attend the annual World Health Assembly. During a welcome reception held by Taiwan's representative office in the Swiss city, the two called for full WHO membership for Taiwan. Lin reiterated that Taiwan is not a part of China, and said the best way for Taiwan to participate in the WHO would be as a full member. Su asked Taiwan's allies to support Taiwan's bid for full membership in more international organizations. This is the fourth year that Taiwan is attending the WHA since it was first invited to participate as an observer under the name of Chinese Taipei in 2009. (EG)

Syria

Street battles between pro- and anti-Syrian groups in the Lebanese capital killed two people and wounded 15 as the spiraling conflict in neighboring Syria spilled across the border. Some Beirut residents kept their children home from school following the fighting, which was among the worst the Lebanese capital has seen in four years. Gunmen fired rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns in battles that lasted more than four hours. The violence in a predominantly Sunni neighborhood erupted hours after an anti-Syrian cleric and his bodyguard were shot dead at a checkpoint in northern Lebanon, an incident that instantly spiked tensions. Authorities braced for the possibility of more violence the north, where the cleric and his bodyguard are going to be buried. Lebanon and Syria share a complex web of political and sectarian ties and rivalries, which can easily turn violent. Last week, clashes sparked by the Syrian crisis killed at least eight people and wounded dozens in the northern city of Tripoli.

Yemen

In Yemen, officials say the death toll from a suicide bombing at a military parade rehearsal in the capital Sanaa has risen to 38 troops. The military officials say the bombing near Sanaa's presidential palace is one of the deadliest attacks in the city in months. They said the attacker was a soldier taking part in the drill, lining up with fellow troops at a main square in the capital.

Italy

Residents of a quake-struck area of northeast Italy continue to feel aftershocks following a magnitude-6.0 earthquake that killed seven people and toppled centuries-old buildings. Officials are still assessing the damage a day after the strongest quake in hundreds of years hit the area. The regional president said that civil protection crews are checking government buildings, schools, businesses, homes, churches and other cultural heritage sites to evaluate the exact scale of damage and rebuilding costs. Premier Mario Monti, in Chicago for the NATO summit, is returning to Italy before the meeting ends because of the quake.

Malaysia

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and one of his senior allies have been summoned to court to face charges of participating in an illegal street protest Both men were among tens of thousands of people who demonstrated in Kuala Lumpur demanding more electoral transparency ahead of national polls expected within the next few months. Anwar and his People's Justice Party's No. 2 leader, Azmin Ali, received notices to appear in court on accusations of violating the Peaceful Assembly Act The court-issued notices indicated they would be charged with crimes that carry a maximum fine of over 3000 US dollars, and loss of their Parliament seats if convicted. It was not clear whether they would face other charges under the act that provide for jail terms of several months. The rally was held last month to pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak's ruling coalition to overhaul what the opposition and many political activists call biased electoral policies that have enabled the coalition to remain in power since 1957.

Weather

Central Weather Bureau forecasters say it's going to be partly cloudy islandwide tonight, with lows of 22 in the north and center, 25 in the south. Tomorrow, more clouds in the sky across Taiwan, with highs peaking at 29 in the north, 30 midisland, and 32 in southern parts of the country. Right now, it's 24 in Taipei, 27 in Taizhong, and 28 in Gaoxiong.

7PM EZ News Outro

That's EZ News at 7. I'm _____