**Tai-Ex opening **

The Tai-Ex opened down 9-points this morning from yesterday's close, at

16,610 on turnover of $2.5-billion N-T.

**Work Halted at Taipei Construction Site After Tilting **

Work has been halted at a Taipei construction site, after nearby residential

buildings began to tilt (傾斜), and one partially collapsed into the ground.

The damage began last night, as Taipei city police and firefighters received

reports of 5 to 6 apartment buildings adjacent to the construction site in

Zhong-shan District, tilting to one side.

Through the night and into this morning, nearly 200 households were evacuated

as a precaution, affecting over 350 residents.

There were also reports that the 1st floor of one of the buildings has

already collapsed down into the ground, as other buildings showed cracks on

the walls, bent metal window covers, and broken glass.

Kee Tai Properties states that it will not shirk its responsibilities and will

provide plans to aid affected residents.

(NS)

**ASEAN Touts Peace but Little Progress **

Indonesian President Joko Widodo called for establishing southeast Asia as a

theatre of peace and inclusiveness (包容性) in his closing remarks at the

ASEAN summit in Jakarta.

But the bloc is widely seen to have failed in solving critical issues

including tensions in the South China Sea and conflict in Myanmar.

Patrick Fok reports.

**Mali Islamic Insurgent Attacks Leave Dozens Dead **

Two attacks by Islamic insurgents in the restive north of Mali have killed 49

civilians and 15 government soldiers.

The provisional death toll given by the country’s military junta was read on

state television.

A passenger boat near the city of Timbuktu on the Niger River and a Malian

military position in Bamba further downstream in the Gao region were

targeted.

The statement said the attacks have been claimed by Islamic extremist

insurgent group JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with

(與…結盟) al-Qaida.

**UN Report Gives Grim Picture of Gender Equality **

The United Nations says in a report that the U.N. goal of achieving gender

equality by 2030 is impossible to achieve because of deeply rooted biases

against women around the world in health, education, employment and the halls

of power.

UN Women and the U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in “The

Gender Snapshot 2023” report launched Thursday that “active resistance to

gender equality and chronic under-investment are key factors in slow progress

and, in some cases, reversals (倒退) of gains already made.”

It also pointed to “unequal access to sexual and reproductive health,

unequal political representation, economic disparities and a lack of legal

protection."

The report assessing the progress for women in achieving the 17 U,N. goals

for 2030 warned hat the continuing failure to make the achievement of gender

equality a priority will put the achievement of all 17 goals “in peril.”

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 _____.

--

Hosting provided by SoundOn