def read_tc_properties() -> dict[str, str]:
    """
    Read the .testcontainers.properties for settings. (see the Java implementation for details)
    Currently we only support the ~/.testcontainers.properties but may extend to per-project variables later.

    :return: the merged properties from the sources.
    """
    tc_files = [item for item in [TC_GLOBAL] if exists(item)]
    if not tc_files:
        return {}
    settings: dict[str, str] = {}

    for file in tc_files:
        with open(file) as contents:
            tuples = [line.split("=") for line in contents.readlines() if "=" in line]
            settings = {**settings, **{item[0].strip(): item[1].strip() for item in tuples}}
    return settings

    Read the .testcontainers.properties for settings. (see the Java implementation for details)
    Currently we only support the ~/.testcontainers.properties but may extend to per-project variables later.

    :return: the merged properties from the sources.
    
core/testcontainers/core/config.py