The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at

40,883 on turnover of 11-billion N-T.

The market lost ground on Monday, as investors reacted to a decline on Wall

Streeet at the end of last week and opted to shun big tech stocks.

With analysts saying the decline cames as the market is pulling back from

recent record highs and moving into consolidation mode.

Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi says the government would welcome a

direct call between U-S President Donald Trump and President Lai Ching-te.

The statement comes as Chen told reporters that Trump's recent remarks that

arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China and he was

still undecided on new arms ​sales to the island.

Trump also appeared to suggest that he was seeking to speak with Lai about

the issue - albeit (雖然，儘管) without actually naming him.

According to Chen, Trump's remarks had "caused some unnecessary concern" in

Taiwan, despite the ​government believing that "nothing has changed."

The deputy foreign minister is also stressing that the government is seeking

confirmation from Washington about whether Trump wants to speak to Lai and is

also using all available channels to understand what the U-S side is actually

thinking.

Taiwan students have won eight awards at this year's Robofest World

Competition - which took place at the Lawrence Technological University in

Michigan.

They bagged two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze at the international

robotics competition.

Dozens of Taiwanese elementary, junior high, and senior high school students

competed against teams from 25 countries.

Taiwan's representative office in Chicago has presented congratulatory

messages to the award-winning students, commending (讚揚) their dedication

(奉獻、投注（時間、精力等）) and encouraging them to continue striving for excellence in

their future endeavors.

The Israeli military has intercepted boats in international waters off the

coast of Cyprus, part of a flotilla attempting to break Israel's naval

blockade of Gaza.

More than 50 vessels departed from Turkey last week.

Organizers say the boats were intercepted Monday 250 nautical miles from

Gaza's shores.

Cypriot authorities confirmed the interceptions on Monday took place outside

its territorial waters.

Israel's Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a provocation (挑釁) while Turkey

condemned the intervention as piracy.

The blockade has been in effect since 2007, restricting movement in and out

of Gaza.

Previous attempts to breach the blockade have failed.

Organizers hope to draw attention to Gaza's living conditions.

Tanzania’s President held investment talks in Dar es Salaam amid growing

regional competition over a refinery project’s location (地點).

Isaac Lukando reports.

A ship carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico and Uruguay has arrived in

Havana to help ease Cuba’s spiriling crises.

The ship, which left from a Mexican port, includes food and personal hygiene

items, according to a government statement.

Cuba’s food industry minister says the aid arrives during a time of great

economic hardship, worsened by the U.S. blockade.

The aid will prioritize children, the elderly, and vulnerable (易受影響的，易受傷害的)

families.

Cuba’s economic and electric crises have deepened this year after the U.S.

invaded Venezuela in January, halting (停頓) critical oil shipments.

A severe gas shortage and widespread blackouts continue across the island.

That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____.

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