EZ News 06/27/25

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 12-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,504 on turnover of $4.8-billion N-T. Cabinet passes plan to develop central Taiwan smart manufacturing hub Premier Cho Jung-tai instructed the Ministry of Economic Affairs to work closely with local governments based on a draft plan to transform central Taiwan into a smart manufacturing hub. The premier issued the instruction during a weekly Cabinet meeting, at which a draft plan to turn central Taiwan into a global hub of smart manufacturing with existing industries and new businesses was approved. The Cabinet says machinery and precision manufacturing industries in Taichung will be transformed through the introduction of artificial intelligence to improve production efficiency and integration of the supply chain. A-I is also expected to also help the metal manufacturing business in Changhua to reduce production costs, improve energy efficiency (效率) and make operations more environmentally friendly. While technologies will be introduced in Nantou and Yunlin to improve efficiency in production and distribution of their respective agricultural and aquacultural products. Construction on Taichung MRT Blue Line begins Construction of the Taichung M-R-T's Blue Line has gotten underway at a groundbreaking ceremony. The city government has said the 24.7-kilometer line is scheduled for completion in 2034. Taichung Mayor Lu Shiow-yen says the 20 station Blue Line will run from the East District to the Port of Taichung, with future extensions planned to the Mountain Line and Coastal Line areas. The line will intersect the Green Line at City Hall, forming what Lu called a "golden cross" - a project she described (形容) as central Taiwan's most significant infrastructure development over the next decade. Ukraine Claims Russian Sumy Advance Halted Ukrainian forces claim to have stopped Russia’s advance into the northern Sumy region, stabilizing the front line near the border. Ukraine’s top military commander said on Thursday that this success (成功) has prevented Russia from redeploying 50,000 troops, including elite units, to other areas. Russian officials have not commented on the claim. Fighting continues along the 1,000-kilometer front line, with Ukraine relying on drones to counter Russia’s slow but costly advances. In Donetsk, Russia claims to have captured two villages as part of its offensive. Both sides are also launching long-range drone strikes, causing injuries and damage across multiple regions. US Sec of Defense Berates Press as New Details on Iran Bombing Emerge US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth berated the press as Anti-Trump during a briefing on Thursday, but offered no new details on the extent of the damage caused by US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. This comes after a classified preliminary assessment by US intelligence was leaked (洩漏) to the media - suggesting the damage may not amount to complete obliteration as the President claims. Toni Waterman has more from Washington. UK Steps Back from NAfrica Energy Project The United Kingdom is stepping back from funding a project to transmit power generated by North Africa’s winds and sun via underwater cables and is pivoting instead to projects seen as less risky. The country’s Energy Security Department said on Thursday it planned to step back from the $33 billion project due to a “high level of inherent risk, related to both delivery and security.” Xlinks said the project would provide an equivalent of 8% of Britain’s current electricity needs, or roughly 7 million homes. British officials plan to focus on other wind and solar projects to meet their goal to generate (產生) all of the country's energy from renewable sources by 2030. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn