The Tai-Ex opened up 73-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 28,098

on turnover of $5.9-billion N-T.

The market joined other regional indexes and lost ground on Thursday, despite

Wall Street closing higher after the U-S Federal Reserve opted to cut

interest rates.

While some leading tech companies saw sharp declines after Oracle, a

bellwether in the artificial intelligence sector, reported weaker than

expected earnings - which dented investor sentiment.

The Cabinet says it's finalized proposals to create two new agencies to

strengthen services for children, families and seniors.

The proposals will now be sent to the Legislature for review.

Under the proposals, a Long-term Care and Social Development Agency will be

created to handle matters related to the elderly, people with disabilities,

women.

That agency will also oversee (監督) the National Pension system.

While a Child and Family Support Agency will be established to oversee

policies related to the welfare of minors and to provide support for families

with children.

The Cabinet says both new agencies will be under the supervision of the

Ministry of Health.

According to Health Minister Shih Chung-liang, the proposed Long-term Care

and Social Development Agency is being designed to address Taiwan's rapidly

aging society and declining birthrate.

Thailandˇs Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul received royal permission

today to dissolve (解散) Parliament, setting up general elections early next

year.

The election for the House of Representatives would be held 45 to 60 days

after the Royal Decree, a period while Anutin will head a caretaker

government with limited powers and cannot approve a new budget.

Anutin posted on his Facebook late Thursday that ¨Iˇd like to return power

to the people.〃

The move comes at a tricky political moment, as Thailand is engaged in

large-scale combat with Cambodia over long-disputed border claims.

About two dozen people were reported killed in the fighting this week, while

hundreds of thousands have been displaced on both sides.

Anutin has been prime minister for just three months, succeeding Paetongtarn

Shinawatra, who served only a year in office.

Legal observers are raising questions over Donald Trump's golden visa scheme

(方案), in which foreign nationals can pay a million dollars to begin the

path to US citizenship.

Mitch McCann reports:

A Canadian Conservative lawmaker has defected from his party and joined Prime

Minister Mark Carneyˇs governing Liberals.

The move by Michael Ma leaves the Liberal Party just short of a simple

majority of the seats in Parliament.

Ma, who represents MarkhamUnionville, is the second Canadian Conservative

lawmaker to join Carneyˇs Liberals in just over a month.

Ma said he entered politics ¨to focus on solutions, not division (分歧)〃.

The move puts the Liberals one shy of a majority government and being able to

pass any bill without the support of an opposition party.

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

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