Amazon’s US$200bn AI plan sends its shares fallingBloombergAmazon.com Inc shares dropped after the company announced plans to spend US$200 billion this year on data centers, chips and other equipment, sparking concern that its colossal bet on artificial intelligence (AI) might not pay off in the long run. The spending would weigh on profits, with Amazon forecasting operating income of US$16.5 billion to US$21.5 billion this quarter. Amazon shares fell about 10 percent in extended trading after closing at US$222.69 in New York. AWS revenue rose 24 percent to US$35.6 billion — the biggest quarterly growth in more than three years, the company said in a statement. However, the bulk of the US$200 billion would finance Amazon’s effort to meet demand for computing power from AI customers, Jassy said.

Tokyo Electron revises up profit outlook after AI surgeBloombergTokyo Electron Ltd yesterday raised its full-year outlook even after its quarterly profit missed estimates and said it sees a surge in spending by chipmakers eager to ride an artificial intelligence (AI) spending wave. Demand for equipment to make DRAM — from high-bandwidth memory to conventional chips — is especially strong, with that trend likely to last for several years, Tokyo Electron said. The Tokyo Electron Ltd. (TEL) booth at the Semicon Japan exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. For the quarter ending December, Tokyo Electron posted an operating profit of ￥116.14 billion compared with average analysts’ estimate of ￥158.6 billion. Tokyo Electron, which counts Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) and Samsung Electronics Co as its customers, has benefited from growing appetite for advanced chipmaking equipment.

Taiwan defense doubts raised in US’ CRS reportBy Fion Khan / Staff writer, with CNAThe partisan standoff over President William Lai’s (賴清德) proposed defense budget has raised questions about the nation’s ability to adequately fund its own defense, the US Congressional Research Service (CRS) said in a report released on Tuesday. The report, titled Taiwan: Defense and Military Issues, said the government has increased its defense budget at an average annual rate of 5 percent from 2019 to 2023, with about 2.5 percent of its GDP spent on defense in 2024. Photo: ReutersHowever, Taiwan faces domestic challenges in realizing its defense goals, as policymakers disagree over how best to deter China, the report added. Meanwhile, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has undergone a decades-long modernization program focused on developing the capabilities needed to annex Taiwan, the report said. Taiwan has certain advantages, such as US political and military support, and its geography, the report said.

The DPP won Penghu only after a KMT member quit the party to run as an independent, splitting the vote. The only local election where the DPP won in a landslide was in 2014, following the Sunflower movement, which moved the political center of gravity closer to the pan-green camp. On the plus side for the DPP, KMT Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) has little electoral experience, unlike her formidable predecessor, Eric Chu (朱立倫) in 2022. DPP candidates will need to resist the temptation to focus too much on attacking her. The press will put the KMT candidates on the defensive all on their own every time she makes a controversial comment.

Salt and alcohol linked to strokes at holiday gatheringsBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNADoctors on Thursday warned that the combination of sodium, alcohol and fluctuations of sympathetic nerves from social interaction could cause a cerebral hemorrhage and urged people to drink rationally during Lunar New Year gatherings. However, a reaction in blood pressure to high-sodium soups or sauces can be instantaneous, and typically reaches an apex in a matter of hours, Chiang said. People think that consuming alcohol can reduce blood pressure, but in fact, the body has a two-stage reaction, he said. Blood pressure is more likely to increase under these conditions, in addition to consuming high-sodium meals and sleeping less, Chiang said. Many people who experience accidents do not know they have hypertension or have a hemangioma, and the first time they are made aware of such conditions is during company events or social gatherings, Chiang said.

Doping chiefs vow to probe ‘penis injection’ claimsAFP, MILAN, ItalyAnti-doping chiefs at the Winter Olympics on Thursday said that they they would investigate bizarre claims that Olympic ski jumpers are injecting hyaluronic acid into their penises to get a competitive advantage. The claims, first reported in the German media, are based on the theory that adjustments to ski jumpers’ body suits, especially around the groin, can create the effect of a sail that can add meters to a jump. Two Norwegians were given three-month suspensions last year after the team was found to have adjusted the seams of their suits around the crotch area at the World Ski Championships. Norway’s Marius Lindvik competes in the ski jumping men’s World Cup large hill event in Willingen, Germany, on Saturday last week. Such injections are not medically indicated and are associated with risks,” he added.

Taiwan unveils World Baseball Classic rosterStaff writer, with CNATeam Taiwan has announced its 30-man roster for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC), which includes two Taiwanese-American players set to suit up for the first time. The roster, unveiled yesterday and captained by 2024 WBC Premier Most Valuable Player Chen Chieh-hsien, consists of 16 pitchers, three catchers and 11 position players, including four outfielders. Stuart Fairchild of the Atlanta Braves doubles against the Washington Nationals in their MLB game in Atlanta, Georgia, on May 14 last year. Photo: APBoth players were born to Taiwanese mothers and would be making their international debuts for Taiwan. Also on the roster are two fireballers playing in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball — Gu Lin Ruei-yang and Hsu Jo-hsi, the best local pitchers in Taiwan’s Chinese Professional Baseball League in 2024 and last year respectively.

Lookman scores on debut as Atletico rout Betis 5-0AP, MADRIDAdemola Lookman on Thursday scored on his Atletico Madrid debut in a 5-0 rout of Real Betis Balompie that sent Diego Simeone’s team to the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. Atletico Madrid’s Ademola Lookman, left, scores against Real Betis Balompie in their Copa del Rey quarter-final in Seville, Spain, on Thursday. “He came to help us and hopefully we can help him so he can continue to improve,” Atletico head coach Diego Simeone said of Lookman. “We have to enjoy these new player and hope that they help us like they did tonight.”Mexico midfielder Obed Vargas also made his Atletico debut after being signed from the Seattle Sounders. Atletico and Betis are to meet again tomorrow in La Liga, with Atletico the hosts.

Cold front to hit Taiwan today: CWAStaff writer, with CNAA cold front is expected to affect Taiwan from today, bringing a chance of snowfall in northern mountainous areas above 1,000 meters over the weekend, according to the Central Weather Administration (CWA). CWA forecaster Cheng Chieh-jen (鄭傑仁) said the cold air mass will lower temperatures nationwide, with daytime highs forecast at 16-17°C in northern Taiwan and Yilan County in the northeast, 20-23°C in central and eastern areas, and around 27°C in the south. Photo: Taipei TimesMeanwhile, rainfall is expected in coastal areas of Keelung, Yilan and in mountainous areas of Greater Taipei today, with localized heavy showers in some parts. The cold front is expected to ease slightly from Monday, with daytime highs rising to 16-17°C in northern Taiwan, and 20-22°C in central and southern areas, the forecaster said. Temperatures are forecast to rise further on Tuesday as the cold air continues to weaken, Cheng said, while noting that another cold air system could arrive in Taiwan the following day, though its intensity remains uncertain and will require further observation.

TSMC to hold first board meeting in Japan, sources saysStaff writer, with CNATaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) has scheduled a board meeting in Kumamoto, Japan, on Monday, marking the first time the world's largest contract chipmaker would hold such a meeting in the country, a source close to the event said yesterday. National Development Council Minister Yeh Chun-hsien (葉俊顯), who represents the government as an institutional board director of TSMC, would travel to Kumamoto to attend the meeting, said the source, who asked to remain anonymous. The board meeting was planned by the company after TSMC chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) yesterday met with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the source said. TSMC's updated plans would bring its total investment in the second fab to US$17 billion, up from US$12.2 billion, the Yomiuri Shimbun reported.

Food safety procedures a necessary expenseBy Chang Shang-yang 張商陽Beginning on July 1, large-scale food and beverage operators would be brought under a new framework requiring them to use only washed and graded eggs. Recent public debate has largely focused on rising costs, but food safety has never been a cost-free choice. When incidents occur, the cost is borne by both consumers and the public health system — and the resulting costs far exceed the expense of consistently implementing basic food safety procedures from the start. The cost of using washed and graded eggs is not an added burden — it is work that should have been completed as an integral part of food safety from the start. What is lacking is not a proper method for handling eggs, but a professional attitude that treats food safety measures as a necessary cost.

Estonia town stuck between two worldsAFP, NARVA, EstoniaTwo medieval fortresses face each other across the Narva River separating Estonia from Russia on Europe’s eastern edge. The Narva Castle, right, the Ivangorod Fortress, left, and the “Friendship Bridge” in Narva, Estonia, are pictured on Jan. 15. The changes, combined with high unemployment, soaring energy bills, a collapse in ties with Russia and fear of conflict, have heightened tensions in the border town. “It’s compounded by the constant talk of war, war, war, war, war. Vladimir Aret, a 32-year-old hotel manager and member of the town council, said many in Narva felt caught between two worlds.

Israel shifting argument on death toll to civilian-to-militant ratioBy Ben Reiff / The GuardianIsrael’s official and unofficial spokespeople are in damage control mode after a senior military official last week admitted that Israel accepts the death toll published by Gaza’s health ministry, which currently stands at more than 70,000. Adding credibility to their denials were prominent media outlets around the world that often described Gaza’s health ministry as “Hamas-run,” thereby encouraging readers and viewers to treat the death toll with suspicion. In truth, the reliability of the official death toll should never have been in doubt. As such, several external investigations of the published data found that it stood up to scrutiny. Indeed, various scientific studies conducted throughout the war have estimated that the true death toll from Israel’s onslaught might have gone well beyond 100,000.

India recognizes the People’s Republic of China (PRC) as a country, not the Republic of China (ROC) on Taiwan. My interest in this part of the world increased, especially after I visited Taiwan for the first time last year. My understanding of Taiwan continued to evolve. I had to dig deeper, as my research topic — comparing the democratic resilience of India and Taiwan in the context of the geopolitical situation — demanded. I was cleared to enter Taiwan from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport by Taiwan’s customs authorities.

Architect aims to rebuild quake-hit Turkey churchAP, ANTAKYA, TurkeyArchitect Buse Ceren Gul is on a mission: Restore a 166-year-old Greek Orthodox church that was long a beacon of her hometown’s multicultural past. After years of planning, campaigning and fundraising, Gul’s team recently uncovered St. Paul’s Church from the rubble that reached up to 5m. The ruins of St. Paul’s Church in Antakya, Turkey, on Wednesday. Architect Buse Ceren Gul speaks to the Associated Press in Antakya, Turkey, on Wednesday. The street is home to the Greek Orthodox St. Paul’s Church, which belongs to an Arabic-speaking community.