The Tai-Ex opened up 52-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 22,767

on turnover of $5.8-billion N-T.

Shares in Taiwan closed lower Thursday as heavyweights across the board came

under pressure to push down the broader market after a mixed performance of

the U.S. markets overnight,.

Market sentiment weakened amid growing fears that the U.S. Federal Reserve

will slow down its pace in a rate-cut cycle following the return to the

presidency of Donald Trump, who has threatened to raise tariffs when he takes

office in January, which could boost inflation.

The Childcare Policy Alliance is calling on the government to establish

universal affordable childcare and more flexible parental leave systems…

…to help boost Taiwan's low birth rates.

The NGO argued that the existing childcare allowance is inadequate for

long-term childcare expenses and often pressures women to leave the

workforce, as it doesn't fully support the costs associated with (與 相關聯)

quality childcare.

It also emphasized that flexible leave policies encourage more men to

participate in childcare, which could help counter traditional gender roles

and promote a "dual income, dual childcare" model.

The alliance critiqued the government' s current policies, including the

rigid 30-day minimum parental leave block, which is too rigid for parents

needing to take leave on an ad-hoc basis.

The UN's aid agency in Gaza is facing its '"darkest hour", according to its

top official.

Philippe Lazzarini says the situation in the strip has become "dystopian",

and urged member states to increase spending on UNRWA.

Sally Patterson reports from New York, where the United Nations is

headquartered.

The Philippine navy has transported food and other supplies to a territorial

ship outpost in a shoal in the South China Sea without any confrontation with

Chinese forces guarding the area.

The Philippine delivery of supplies and military personnel to the Second

Thomas Shoal was the third such trip without any violent clash since July,

when Chinese and Philippine diplomats signed a rare deal to halt a spike in

violent confrontations (對抗).

It’s the first known agreement by China with any one rival claimant country

in a specific shoal in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in

its entirety.

The Philippines occupied the shoal by permanently beaching a navy ship in its

shallows in 1999, prompting China, which also claims it, to surround the

atoll with its coast guard and naval forces in what has been a continuing

territorial standoff.

The ancient Roman Colosseum will be the venue of gladiator fights for the

first time in two millennia under a $1.5 million sponsorship deal with

Airbnb.

Under the deal announced by Airbnb and the Colosseum on Wednesday, the

sponsorship by the short-term rental giant will cover the renewal of an

educational program inside the ancient Roman amphitheater (露天劇場) covering

the history of the structure and gladiators.

Eight of the platform’s users and their plus-ones will be able to

participate in faux gladiator fights after the Colosseum’s closing time on

May 7-8, taking the same underground route used by gladiators in ancient Rome

to reach the arena.

The “gladiators” will be chosen from the applicants by lottery.

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

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