20120523 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 down 72.64-point this morning from yesterday's close -- at 7,202.25 on turnover of 2.27-billion N-T dollars. --------- Former President Chen Shui-bian was escorted from the Taipei Prison to the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou earlier this morning for another medical check-up. Doctors will carry out checks of his prostate and heart. It is the third time since March that Chen has been allowed to leave the Taipei Prison for medical checks. Today's check-up comes less than a month after he received treatment Taoyuan General Hospital. --------- The Taiwan Solidarity Union's Lin Shi-jia walked out of the World Health Assembly in Geneva yesterday - after staging a silent protest in the visitor area. Lin entered the area wearing a T-shirt printed with the words "Taiwan is Taiwan, not China" during a speech by assembly Secretary-General - Margaret Zhan. According to the T-S-U lawmaker - she was immediately asked to leave the venue and had her visitor credentials confiscated by security staff. Lin is not part of the island's official delegation. -------- The head of the Atomic Energy Council says there are no immediate plans to suspend construction of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. According to Cai Chun-hong ... although project has encountered several difficulties, they are not serious enough to require an immediate halt to construction. The statement comes amid concern the facility in New Taipei City does meet some safety requirements. However .. according to Cai once these measures are reinforced, disasters such as the nuclear meltdown that hit Japan following the March 11-th earthquake and tsunami will not occur.

Egypt ...

In international news ... Egyptians are preparing to head to the polls later today ---- in their first free presidential election. The election comes 15 months after the ouster of president - Hosni Mubarak - in the Arab Spring uprising. Fifty million people are eligible to cast ballots. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces -- which assumed presidential powers in February of last year - has promised a fair and free poll followed by civilian rule.

Iran ...

Ahead of international talks in Baghdad ---- the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says he's reached a deal with Iran in regards the inspection of its nuclear sites. The move comes as the Obama administration continues to demand Iran to demonstrate to the world that its nuclear program is peaceful.

Europe ..

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development is warning that the eurozone crisis is the single biggest threat to the global economy. According to the organization ... the economy of the 17 nations that use the euro will shrink by 0.1-per cent this year - but will rebound next year. Meanwhile ... A key bloc of the European parliament is urging Greece to remain in the eurozone. Ahead of the G-8 summit - German Chancellor Angela Merkel - has indicated that Greece could possibly hold a referendum on its participation in the euro --- when fresh elections are held on June 17-th.

Lebanon ..

The kidnapping of 13 Lebanese Shia pilgrims in Syria has sparked angry protests in Beirut. The kidnappings have raised concern that Lebanon could be further dragged into the unrest in Syria - as Lebanon remains deeply divided over support and opposition to the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. The pilgrims were returning through Syria after touring Iranian holy sites.

US ...

A U-S Airways passenger is undergoing psychological evaluation after claiming she had a surgically implanted explosive device. The French citizen - who was originally from Cameroon - was on board a flight from Paris to Charlotte in the U-S state of North Carolina. Two F-15 fighters were scrambled to escort the Boeing 767 to the closest airport in the state of Maine. There were 179 passengers and nine crew members on board and the flight.

Argentina ...

Officials in Argentina have found explosives at a theatre in the capital, Buenos Aires, where Colombia's former President - Alvaro Uribe - is due to make a speech later today. Security personnel found the explosive device hidden in a lamp. Officials said the bomb would have been triggered by a mobile phone. The device was found during a routine inspection.

NASA ....

The head of NASA has hailed a "new era" in space exploration --- after the launch of the first cargo delivery to the international space station by a private company. The launch system was built by California-based firm SpaceX.

WEATHER AM .....

Looking at the weather across Taiwan ... We can expect ..... partly cloudy skies and a high of around 31 islandwide. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- Taichung -- Gaoxiong --

10AM EZ News Outro

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