The Tai-Ex opened down 179-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

20,353 on turnover of 3.7-billion N-T.

The market closed sharply lower on Monday with export-oriented tech stocks in

focus as the New Taiwan dollar continued its rapid appreciation (上漲)

against the U-S dollar, which raised concerns over large foreign exchange

losses.

The Food and Drug Administration is defending its decision to not strengthen

random inspections for ractopamine in pork products despite detecting

residues of the leanness-enhancer in imported pork from Australia

It's the first time that ractopamine has been found in imported pork since

the ban on it was lifted in 2021.

According to the F-D-A, a shipment of 22.99 metric tons of pork items from

Australia tested positive for 0.001-parts per million of ractopamine - and

that figure is well within the F-D-A's standards for ractopamine limits.

The F-D-A says random inspections for qualified products will not be

strengthened - as all products that qualify for importation will not harm

human health even they are consumed (吃，喝) every day or for a lifetime.

The Central Weather Administration's Seismological Center says Monday

evening's magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck about 33-kilometers off the

coast of Hualien City was the "main shock" in a series of quakes in the area.

The magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck at 6:53PM and was felt across much

of the island.

However, prior to that, six other earthquakes of greater than magnitude of 4

occurred in the same area.

Seismological Center director Wu Jien-fu says the quakes were all part of the

same series (系列) and that a magnitude 5.5 temblor that struck at 6:09PM was

a "foreshock" to 5.9 magnitude quake.

According to Wu, aftershocks in the magnitudes of between 5 and 5.5 range

could occur in the coming three days.

US president Donald Trump says he plans to reopen the notorious Alcatraz

prison in the San Francisco Bay to house what he called "America's most

ruthless and violent Offenders."

Local officials immediately criticized the plan as unfeasible (不可行的).

Ira Spitzer reports from San Francisco.

The premier of Alberta says she will hold a referendum next year on the

energy rich province separating from Canada if citizens gather the required

number of signatures on a petition.

Speaking on a livestream address, Danielle Smith said she personally does not

support the province leaving Canada and expressed hope of a “path forward”

for a strong and sovereign Alberta within a united Canada.

Smith accused previous federal Liberal governments of introducing different

legislations that hamstring Alberta’s ability to produce and export oil,

which she said has cost the province billions of dollars.

The announcement comes just one week after Prime Minister Mark Carney led the

Liberal Party to a fourth consecutive (連續的) federal government.

It also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada

with tariffs and talk of the country becoming the 51st state.

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

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn