The Tai-Ex opened up 273-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

19,966 on turnover of $13.1-billion N-T.

The market once again ended the trading at a new record high on Thursday - as

it neared the 19,700-point mark on the back of strong investor interest in

the electronics sector.

The electronics index drove the market's gains - finishing up 1.51-per cent -

while the semiconductor sub-index closed the day up 2.91-per cent.

All of Taiwan's cities and counties have now introduced temporary bans on the

use of chili and curry powder in school lunches amid concerns over the

presence of banned industrial dyes.

The move comes after the Food and Drug Administration announced that a total

of 15 shipments of chili powder imported from China were found to contain

Sudan dyes during test carried out February 9 through March 2.

That has resulted in the recall of a total of 122,588-kilograms of chili

powder and related food products, including curry powder.

Health Minister Hsueh Jui-yuan says he respects the local government's

decision to temporarily ban the use of chili and curry powder in school

lunches - and says that investigation into the distribution (分發) of the

problematic substances wil be completed in about a month.

US President Joe Biden will announce in his State of the Union speech that US

forces will create a temporary port on Gaza's coast to increase humanitarian

aid deliveries.

Biden has been under pressure from within his own party to do more to

alleviate (減輕) the suffering of Palestinians stuck in the Gaza Strip.

Nick Harper reports from Washington.

Britain says it's providing 10-thousand drones to arm Ukraine in its fight

against Russia.

U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps made the announcement Thursday during a

visit with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

The investment includes $160 million of new funding on top of $256 million

previously committed for drones.

The weaponry will include 1,000 kamikaze (自殺式的) drones and models that

target ships.

Ukrainian sea drones reportedly sank another Russian warship in the Black Sea

this week, the latest in a series of strikes that has crippled Moscow’s

naval capability.

Cole Brauer became the first American woman to race nonstop around the world

by herself when she arrived Thursday in A Coruna, Spain.

The 29-year-old is one of more than a dozen sailors competing in the Global

Solo Challenge.

Brauer was the youngest and only woman in the group that set sail (啟航) in

October from A Coruna.

The race took Brauer around Africa's Cape of Good Hope and past Australia.

The race took her 130 days to complete.

That was the I.C.R.T. news,

Check in again tomorrow for our simplified version of the news, uploaded

every day in the afternoon.

Enjoy the rest of your day, I'm _____.

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