20120601 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 96.14 points this morning from yesterday's close - at 7,205.36 on turnover of 2.68-billion N-T. ------ Premier Sean Chen has named former Deputy Finance Minister Zhang Sheng-ho as the new head of the Ministry of Finance. However .. the appointment is pending approval by President Ma Ying-jeou. Meanwhile .... The Executive Yuan has submitted a revised version of the capital gains tax plan for review. The move followed a meeting yesterday between Premier Sean Chen and K-M-T lawmakers. The K-M-T's original proposal - which was drafted on Monday - had come under fire from tax reform groups. The K-M-T's legislative caucus is set to finalize this version later today. -------- Electricity rates are set to rise today - as summer price kick-in. The higher summer rates are in effect from June thru September. Households that use more than 110-kilowatt hours of electricity per month will see an increase of between 0.34 and 1.13 N-T -- or an average of 20-per cent. This means an a monthly average increase of about 150 N-T. The next rate hike - which will be the first stage of a three stage permanent rate hike - will take place on June 10-th. That hike is expected to raise electricity bills by another 24 N-T per month. ------------ Vice Economics Minister Francis Liang says Trade and Investment Framework Agreement talks with the United States could resume by year's end if the government can resolve the on-going U-S beef import dispute. The statement come a day after the American Institute in Taiwan said the issue of the import of U-S beef products containing ractopamine is the "only factor hindering" a resumption of the talks. TIFA talks have been stalled since 2007.

Syria ..

In international news .... U-S Secretary of State - Hillary Clinton - has slammed Russia policy towards Syria -- saying it will contribute to a potential civil war. Clinton's comments came after Russia and China renewed their opposition to tougher United Nations Security Council action against the government of Bashar al-Assad. The Free Syrian Army has given Syrian government forces until noon today to adhere to a U-N peace plan - but it remains to be seen what action the F-L-A will take if pro-Assad forces refuse. Meanwhile ... The Syrian government has blamed rebel fighters for last Friday's massacre in Houla. That claim contradicts eye witnesses account - who blamed pro-government militia.

Egypt ...

Egypt's state of emergency has ended after 31 years. The law gave security forces sweeping powers to detain suspects and try them in special courts. It has been in place without interruption since the assassination of President Anwar Sadat in 1981. Lifting the law was a key demand of activists in last year's uprising against President Hosni Mubarak.

Somalia ...

African Union and Somali government forces have captured a town that served as a strategic militant base in the south of the country. Officials say the Islamist - al-Shabab - group abandoned the town without a fight as troops approached. The town is believed to be only 115-kilometers from al-Shabab's headquarters. However ... despite facing pressure on a number of military fronts, the group still controls much of Somalia.

US ...

A judge has decleared a mistrial in the case against former US presidential candidate John Edwards - who faced charges of misuse of campaign funds. The judge made the ruling after a jury remained deadlock on most of the charges against Edwards. The Justice Department is unlikely to retry Edwards.

UK ....

Britain's culture minister has been grilled by the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics. Charles de Ledesma explains ....

Canada ..

Canadian authorities say a porn actor wanted in connection with a grisly murder may have fled the country. Police are looking for the actor connection with the murder and dismemberment of a man. He later posted body parts to political party offices in Ottawa and the torso was found in a suitcase behind his Montreal flat. Investigators believe they have a video that shows the suspect committing the murder. Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper has reported he may have travelled to France.

WEATHER AM .....

Looking at the weather across Taiwan ... We can expect ..... mostly cloudy skies and showers in the north .... mostly cloudy skies in the center -- and cloudy skies w/ possible thunder showers in the south. Current Temperatures .... Taipei -- 25 Taichung -- 29 Gaoxiong -- 31

10AM EZ News Outro

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