20120525 9am

9AM Intro

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

9AM TAIWAN NEWS ....

Eight-time Grand Slam singles champion Andre Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf arrived in Taiwan last night for a series of exhibition matches. The tennis starts were welcomed by more than 150 fans at Taoyuan International Airport. Speaking to reporters ... Agassi said it was a great feeling to be back in Taiwan. Graf said she hopes to have a good time and looks forward to tasting Taiwanese food. Agassi, and Graf will host coaching classes in Taipei today -- and be joined by Martina Hingis and Goran Ivanisevic to play a series of exhibition matches at the Taipei Arena tomorrow. ---------- The Financial Supervisory Commission has rejected an application by a subsidiary of AXA SA, Europe's second-largest insurer, to establish a branch in Taiwan. It is the first time the island's main financial regulator has rejected an application by a foreign insurer. F-S-C officials say it rejected the application due to the Bermuda-based insurer's failure to obtain approval documents from Bermudan authorities. The France-based AXA SA first established a branch in Taiwan under the name of National Mutual Life Insurance -- but sold its entire business to Aegon Life Insurance Taiwan in 2001. -------- Culture Minister - Long Ying-tai - says her office hopes to hold a forum with China to discuss what she has called - "necessary changes to cultural policies in an increasingly globalized and changing world." According to Long .... she hopes to hold talks with Beijing aimed at bringing about a forward-looking cultural forum spanning the Taiwan Strait. Long says the two sides can discuss whether a "completely different approach" to cultural policies is needed - and will also work to ensure that the ECFA agreement on the protection of intellectual property rights is being carried out.

egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood quickly staked a claim yesterday for its candidate to advance to a runoff vote, saying its exit polls showed him leading in Egypt's landmark presidential election to succeed ousted leader Hosni Mubarak. As vote-counting began, exit polls suggest the Brotherhood's Mohammed Morsi is ahead of the pack of 13 candidates. The reliability of the various exit surveys is not known, and a few hours after the end of two days of voting, only a tiny percentage of the ballots have been counted. There are five prominent candidates, but none is expected to win outright in the first round. A run-off between the two leading contenders will be held June 16-17.

senate

The U.S. Senate is making clear its unhappiness with Pakistan's treatment of a doctor who worked with the US to get Osama bin Laden. The APs Jerry Bodlander reports

obama

In US politics... After weeks of painting Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney as a job-slashing corporate raider, the Obama campaign plans to broaden its focus to Romney's time as Massachusetts governor, arguing his policies hurt the state. The move marks a sharp strategy shift from the campaign's recent focus on Romney's time as a private equity executive at Bain Capital in a bid to cast him as more concerned with the wealthy than the middle class. The Obama team's approach on Romney's work at Bain has faced some criticism. According to new polls of the key 2012 swing states, Obama leads Romney in Florida, Ohio and Virginia, although Obama's advantage has narrowed in recent months.

britain

Supporters of independence for Scotland will today launch what they say is the biggest grassroots campaign in Scottish history, a move that could result in the demise of a 305-year-old union with England and the breakup of Britain. Seeking to tap into a cocktail of historical rivalry, opposing political tastes, and a perception that the British parliament in London does not nurture Scotland's national interests, the "Yes Scotland" campaign says it wants to win a referendum on independence in 2014 and for the country to become fully independent by 2016. If successful, such a move could create serious problems for Britain -

biz

In business news... Warren Buffett says his company is likely to buy more newspapers in the next few years, and Berkshire Hathaway will not try to influence the editorial policies of any of them.

WEATHER AM .....

partly cloudy skies in the north w/ a high of 33 in the Taipei area .... clear skies in the center and south w/ a high of 33 in both Taichong and Gaoxiong. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 27 Taichung -- 27 Gaoxiong -- 28

9AM Outro

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