The Tai-Ex opened down 51-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

24,468 on turnover of 6.5-billion N-T.

The market closed higher on Wednesday, as artificial intelligence-related

stocks were in focus ahead of the release of Nvidia's quarterly earnings

report.

Analysts says investors are upbeat about A-I development and that resulted in

them picking up AI-related stocks, led by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing.

Two-time Olympic badminton gold medalist Lee Yang says he will do his utmost

to "make Taiwanese sports stronger."

The statement comes after it was announced that Lee will head the

newly-upgraded Ministry of Sports.

The ministry is slated to be officially established next month.

According to Lee, accepting the new position means a lot and also comes with

greater responsibility.

Lee announced his retirement from professional badminton in December of last

year.

The government has said the Ministry of Sports will be responsible for the

development of the sports industry and the promotion of competitive and

recreational sports (休閒運動).

And,

A delegation of French Polynesian politicians (政治人物) is making its first

visit to Taiwan in nearly 40 years.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the seven-member delegation is

visiting Taiwan until Saturday.

The delegation will visit several government agencies, including the Ministry

of Education, Council of Indigenous Peoples and Ministry of Agriculture.

The group will also visit the Ita Thao tribe at Sun Moon Lake in Nantou and

travel to the Ocean Affairs Council in Kaohsiung.

US President Donald Trump is expected to chair a meeting today focused on a

post-war Gaza plan - that's according to special envoy Steve Witkoff.

It comes as Israel intensifies a land offensive around Gaza City and images

of starving children continue to emerge (出現，露出).

Toni Waterman has more.

Israeli drone strikes on a southern suburb of Damascus have killed eight

soldiers and wounded others.

Syria's Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes, calling them a violation of

international law and a breach of sovereignty.

The Israeli military has not commented on the strikes.

Since the fall of Bashar Assad, Israel has carried out hundreds of airstrikes

in Syria.

Israel's defense minister says the country's forces will remain indefinitely

(無限期) in a security zone to protect settlements.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that the

strikes hit a point linking Damascus with the southern province of Sweida.

Mexico says its postal service is suspending package shipments to the United

States, following similar steps taken by countries from the European Union

and elsewhere.

The announcement on Wednesday comes ahead of the Trump administration's end

to an exemption to tariffs on low-value packages this week.

Mexico's postal service will temporarily halt deliveries as officials seek

clarity on the new rules.

The exemption allowed packages worth less than $800 to enter the U.S.

duty-free.

Mexico is in talks with U.S. authorities to resume (恢復) services.

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

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