Measured not in money, but in trees, flowers and restored ecosystems, its returns show that nature can be the most rewarding long-term investment. “Sowing a single seed is enough to plant hope,” said 60-year-old Kuo Chun-yin (郭俊銀), founder of Bank of Flowers and Trees (花樹銀行). Bank of Flowers and Trees founder Kuo Chun-yin poses for a photograph in Changhua County’s Dacun Township on Monday. This philosophy crystallized during a 2007 family cycling tour when he witnessed a Buddhist monk silently planting trees along the South Link Highway. Today, however, the campus of Bank of Flowers and Trees is nearly at full capacity, with over 10,000 trees representing more than 400 species, Kuo said.

Nvidia touts India deals at AI summitAI IMPACT SUMMIT: Nvidia plans to work with local partners to build India’s largest gigawatt-scale AI factory and deploy top-end processors as part of a US$2bn investmentAFP, NEW DELHIUS artificial intelligence (AI) chip titan Nvidia Corp unveiled tie-ups with Indian computing firms yesterday as tech companies rushed to announce deals and investments at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. A visitor walks past a display at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on Tuesday. Nvidia said it was also working with other Indian AI infrastructure players such as Yotta Data Services Pvt Ltd, which will deploy more than 20,000 top-end Nvidia Blackwell processors as part of a US$2 billion investment. Dozens of world leaders and ministerial delegations have come to India for the summit to discuss the opportunities and threats, from job losses to misinformation, that AI poses. Nick Patience, practice lead for AI at tech research group Futurum, said that nonbinding declarations could still “set the tone for what acceptable AI governance looks like.”However, “the largest AI companies deploy capabilities at a pace that makes 18-month legislative cycles look glacial,” Patience said.

Top Patek Philippe timepieces drive second-hand tradeBloombergUltra-high-end Patek Philippe timepieces made from precious metals are driving a sustained recovery in the used watch market. Patek Philippe watches were the biggest gainers in the latest Bloomberg Subdial Watch Index, which tracks the 50 most-traded watches by transaction value. They included a 26-place jump for the white gold Patek Philippe Nautilus Perpetual Calendar, while the Patek Philippe Rose Gold Travel Time Chronograph returned to the benchmark. Along with the Patek Philippe model, the Rolex Lady DateJust Bimetal also made it back into the index. Meanwhile, a separate index tracking pre-owned Patek Philippe prices has gained 18 percent since the start of last year, compared with a 10 percent rise in the Rolex index, according to Subdial.

Tesla not planning to cut pricesNEW IMPORTS: Car dealer PG Union Corp said it would consider introducing US-made models such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Stellantis’ RAM 1500 to Taiwan Tesla Taiwan yesterday said that it does not plan to cut its car prices in the wake of Washington and Taipei signing the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade on Thursday to eliminate tariffs on US-made cars. On the other hand, Mercedes-Benz Taiwan said it is planning to lower the price of its five models imported from the US after the zero tariff comes into effect. Tesla in a statement said it has no plan to adjust the prices of the US-made Model 3, Model S and Model X as tariffs are not the only factor the automaker uses to determine pricing policies.

Fed officials say boost from AI could raise neutral rateBloombergSome US Federal Reserve officials have begun suggesting in recent days that productivity growth from artificial intelligence (AI) could mean higher interest rates, a view that would put them at odds with US President Donald Trump’s administration and its nominee to lead the US central bank. “Demand for capital would rise because of the strong business investment required to take advantage of the technology, putting upward pressures on interest rates,” he said. Several Fed officials see that as close to neutral for the economy, and have cited that as a reason to slow or stop rate cuts. “Maybe it raises the neutral rate a little bit,” she said. “We need to be a little humble about what we think the impact on the neutral rate will be.”

UK manufacturers struggle under high energy billsAFP, ELTON, EnglandMolten glass drops through chutes before being blown into bottles at manufacturer Encirc Ltd’s northwest England plant, where intensive operations are under strain from exorbitant energy prices weighing on Britain’s heavy industry. Britain has some of the highest energy prices in Europe, driven by its reliance on natural gas and the costs of transitioning to renewables, which are passed on to bills. Operations at the plant are under strain from exorbitant energy prices weighing on Britain’s heavy industry, the company said. Photo: AFPThe country’s industrial electricity prices were also the steepest in Europe in 2024, according to the latest government data. At Encirc’s Elton factory, where bottles clatter along the conveyor belts to be filled and labelled, executives say energy prices are inseparable from the push to decarbonize.

Nepal wrap up T20 World Cup campaign with a winReutersNepal on Tuesday beat Scotland by seven wickets in a Men’s T20 World Cup Group C dead rubber in Mumbai, Indai, as the Himalayan side signed off from the tournament with a memorable victory. Nepal’s Dipendra Singh Airee plays a shot against Scotland in their Men’s T20 World Cup match in Mumbai, India, on Tuesday. “In the last World Cup, we didn’t win a single match, so that’s why this win is very important for us,” he added. The Scotland spinner took three swift wickets to leave Nepal wobbling at 98-3. The way he’s come out and played, he’s changed the whole tempo of the game,” Scotland skipper Richie Berrington said.

Bowlers, selectors panned after Aussie exitAFP, SYDNEYCritics yesterday hammered Australia’s bowling lineup and selection “stuff-ups” after the country’s shock Men’s T20 World Cup exit in the group stages. The 2021 champions were knocked out of the World Cup in Sri Lanka on Tuesday. Australia captain Mitchell Marsh plays a shot against Sri Lanka in their Men’s T20 World Cup match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, on Monday. Photo: APThe washout gave each side one point and left Australia unable to catch up. We really weren’t prepared enough for this particular World Cup, and we probably deserve what we’ve got at this stage,” he said.

Serhou Guirassy guides Dortmund past AtalantaAFP, DORTMUND, GermanySerhou Guirassy on Tuesday scored a goal and laid on another as Borussia Dortmund beat Atalanta BC 2-0 at home in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff. Despite a late arrival delaying kickoff and just one recognized centerback, Dortmund controlled the match from start to finish. “It was a perfect start, but a weird evening,” Guirassy told Amazon Prime. With three minutes gone, the Guinean nodded in a Julian Ryerson cross to give Dortmund the lead on three minutes. Dortmund doubled their lead just before halftime when Guirassy delivered a pass across the face of goal for Beier to tap home.

Real Madrid edge SL Benfica 1-0ALLEGED RACIST ABUSE: Vinicius Junior argued with Gianluca Prestianni, after which he complained to the referee, who halted the match for 10 minutesAFP, LISBONVinicius Junior on Tuesday scored a sensational goal to earn Real Madrid a 1-0 UEFA Champions League playoff first-leg victory at SL Benfica in a match marred by apparent racist abuse aimed at the Brazilian. Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Vinicius told his teammates that Prestianni called him a “monkey.”Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, left, scores against SL Benfica in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters“Vini is doing good, calm,” Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa told Movistar. Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made a fine save to keep out Fredrik Aursnes’ deflected effort from distance as Benfica held their own. When the game eventually resumed, Vinicius was jeered by Benfica supporters, and three times denied by Trubin in the minutes that followed.

Carlos Alcaraz battles into second roundAFP, DOHACarlos Alcaraz on Tuesday made a triumphant return to action following his Australian Open success as he beat Arthur Rinderknech 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in the first round in Doha. Nobody wants to play against him in the first round,” Alcaraz said. I’m happy that I stayed calm and positive, and played great tennis.”Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz returns to Arthur Rinderknech of France in their Qatar Open men’s singles match in Doha on Tuesday. 1 is to face another Frenchman in the second round, 60th-ranked Valentin Royer. Rublev booked his place in the second round with a straightforward 6-4, 6-3 victory over Dutchman Jesper de Jong.

Doue inspires PSG comeback win in MonacoAFP, MONACOParis Saint-Germain on Tuesday recovered from a shambolic start as Desire Doue inspired a comeback from two goals down to beat AS Monaco 3-2 in the principality in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League playoff. Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue, front, scores against AS Monaco in their UEFA Champions League playoff first leg at Stade Louis II in Monaco on Tuesday. Yet his withdrawal really turned out to be a blessing, as Doue entered the fray and had a devastating impact. We are pleased because the most important thing in games like these is just to win,” Doue told Canal Plus. PSG will hope to finish off the tie next week, with the winners facing either Barcelona or Chelsea in the next round.

Military to hold drills at Taitung river next monthWAR GAMES: The drills along the Taimali River are a continuation of the military’s shift to live-fire exercises that emphasize realistic, location-specific trainingBy Lo Tien-pin and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe military is to hold live-fire drills along the Taimali River (太麻里溪) in Taitung County’s Taimali Township (太麻里) next month for the first time in three decades, a source said yesterday. Photo: Tu Chien-jung, Taipei TimesThe main focus of the Tianma Exercise would be live-fire training with anti-armor missiles, primarily the new TOW-2B RF systems, the source said. The military broke with tradition in August last year by conducting live-fire drills for the first time as part of a combat-oriented defense exercise at Taichung’s Dajia River (大甲溪), underscoring an increasing emphasis on realistic, location-specific training. The Harpoon missiles carried by the Feng Chia are evidently the RGM-84L Harpoon Block II variant, military analyst Mei Fu-hsing (梅復興) said. “The RGM-84L Harpoon Block II offers enhanced target discrimination in complex geographic environments,” he said.

Do not overdo it with eye drops: ophthalmologistBy Lin Chih-yi and Fion Khan / Staff reporter, with staff writer and CNADo not use eye drops indiscriminately, as the wrong kind could damage the cornea, a doctor warned on Tuesday. Many people stay up late over the Lunar New Year holiday binge-watching television or playing video games, and often use eye drops to relieve dry or sore eyes, Tri-Service General Hospital ophthalmologist Tai Ming-cheng (戴明正) said. While some eye drops claim to provide a refreshing sensation and temporary relief, long-term or daily use is not recommended, he said. Meanwhile, a doctor on Monday advised people to stay moisturized, get plenty of sleep and avoid certain foods to prevent skin conditions commonly seen during the holidays. Those with a history of seborrheic dermatitis should use anti-dandruff shampoo, she added.

Beware scratch-off ticket addiction, a doctor warnsBy Chiu Chih-jou and William Hetherington / Staff reporter, with staff writerPeople who find it difficult to stop buying scratch-off lottery tickets during the Lunar New Year holiday should be aware of the signs of gambling addition, a doctor said on Tuesday. During the holiday, many people purchase scratch-off tickets in the belief that the holiday is an auspicious time to try their luck. Huang also urged parents to be cautious about buying scratch-off tickets with their children during the holiday, as their values are largely shaped through learning and imitation. “Most people with gambling addiction lack insight into their condition. Huang advised those exhibiting signs of addiction to seek professional help early to prevent problems from worsening.