Indonesian rescuers locate wreckage of missing aircraftReuters, JAKARTAIndonesian authorities yesterday said they had located the wreckage of a fisheries surveillance plane that went missing in South Sulawesi province near a fog-covered mountain, but were still searching for the 11 people on board. The ATR 42-500 turboprop owned by aviation group Indonesia Air Transport lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday at about 1:30pm around the Maros region in South Sulawesi. Members of the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) rescue team conduct a search operation around Mount Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi province, Indonesia, on Saturday. The aircraft had been heading to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, after departing from Yogyakarta province before contact was lost. Yesterday morning, local rescuers found the wreckage in different locations around Mount Bulusaraung in the Maros region, said Andi Sultan, an official at South Sulawesi’s rescue agency.

Trump wants ‘Board of Peace’ members to payBloombergUS President Donald Trump is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion. Several European nations have been invited to join the peace board, according to people familiar with the matter. The peace board would hold regular non-voting meetings with its executive board. Trump would also have the power to remove a member, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of member states. “The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman,” the charter says.

Syrian army extends hold in northESCALATION: The SDF had agreed to withdraw from Aleppo, but accused the Syrian government of breaking previous agreements as clashes erupted between themAFP, DEIR HAFER, SyriaSyria’s army has seized swathes of the country’s north, dislodging Kurdish forces from territory over which they held effective autonomy for more than a decade. People welcome Syrian army troops following the withdrawal of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Maskanah, Syria, on Saturday. “The Syrian army controls the strategic city of Tabqa in the Raqqa countryside, including the Euphrates Dam, which is the largest dam in Syria,” Syrian Minister of Information Hamza Almustafa was quoted by the official SANA news agency as saying. However, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said they had “taken the necessary measures to restore security and stability” in Tabqa. Syria’s army said four soldiers had been killed, while Kurdish forces reported several fighters dead.

S Korea seeks favorable chip terms with US: officialReuters, SEOULSouth Korea would seek favorable terms for US tariffs on imports of memory chips, a presidential office spokesperson told a news conference yesterday. South Korean Minister of Trade, Industry and Resources Kim Jung-kwan on Saturday said US tariffs on some advanced computing chips would have a limited impact on South Korean companies. Photo: BloombergSouth Korea’s Samsung Electronics Co and SK Hynix Inc are among the world’s biggest producers of memory chips. Under an accord with South Korea announced in July last year, the US would charge a 15 percent tariff on most goods from the country, while sparing, for now, imports of chips. “If they don’t build in America, the tariff is likely to be 100 percent,” Lutnick told CNBC.

Yuanta forecasts nation’s GDP to grow 5.3 percent, following Taiwan-US dealBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterTaiwan’s GDP is forecast to grow 5.3 percent year-on-year this year, as the nation’s non-electronics industries are expected to benefit from the latest Taiwan-US trade deal, which lowers US tariffs on Taiwanese goods to 15 percent from 20 percent, Yuanta Securities Investment Consulting Co (元大投顧) said in a report. Yuanta’s forecast is higher than a market consensus of 3.8 percent growth forecast, the report issued on Friday said. The latest trade deal aligns Taiwan’s tariff rates with those of its major trading partners such as Japan and South Korea, and is lower than the current US tariff rates on China, Yuanta said. In addition, TSMC’s upward revision of this year’s AI shipment growth forecast from 33 percent to 43 percent is expected to add an additional 4 percentage points to Taiwan’s export growth this year, thereby boosting this year’s GDP growth by 0.64 percentage points, it said. Meanwhile, the US’ semiconductor tariffs under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 pose no substantial negative impact on Taiwan’s economy, while reducing uncertainty about US future policies on semiconductor tariffs, Yuanta said.

Chinese customs restrict Nvidia chips‘BASICALLY A BAN’: Sources said the wording governing H200 imports from officials was severe, but added that the regulations might change if the situation evolves Chinese customs authorities told customs agents this week that Nvidia Corp’s H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips are not permitted to enter China, three people briefed on the matter said. Chinese government officials also summoned domestic technology companies to meetings on Tuesday, at which they were explicitly instructed not to purchase the chips unless necessary, two of the people and a third source said. “The wording from the officials is so severe that it is basically a ban for now, though this might change in the future should things evolve,” one of the people said. The H200, Nvidia’s second-most powerful AI chip, is one

US$250bn credit to help firms raise funds: expertsA BOOST: The mechanism could help smaller companies obtain lower borrowing costs, making it easier for big firms like TSMC to expand overseas, an economist saidStaff writer, with CNAA US$250 billion credit guarantee the government has agreed to in a tariff deal with the US is expected to help enterprises raise funds to facilitate their investments in the US, experts said. As part of the deal, Taiwanese semiconductor, electronics manufacturing service, artificial intelligence and energy companies would invest US$250 billion directly in the US. The government has pledged to provide up to US$250 billion in credit guarantees to financial institutions to support US-bound investments by companies in the semiconductor and information and communication technology sectors. The government’s credit guarantee is feasible, as Taiwan already operates similar mechanisms to support domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, Lo said. Executive Yuan spokesperson Michelle Lee (李慧芝) on Friday wrote on social media that the credit guarantee aims to help enterprises extend their reach globally and does not mean the government would carelessly throw the money around.

Gasoline, diesel prices at pumps to rise this weekBy Chen Cheng-hui / Staff reporterThe nation’s two refiners yesterday said they would raise gasoline prices by NT$0.8 per liter and diesel prices by NT$0.9 a liter this week, after lowering prices for both by NT$0.2 per liter each the previous week. Effective today, gasoline prices at CPC and Formosa stations are to increase to NT$27.2, NT$28.7 and NT$30.7 per liter for 92, 95 and 98-octane unleaded gasoline respectively, the companies said. The price of premium diesel is to rise to NT$25.7 per liter at CPC stations and NT$25.5 at Formosa pumps, they said. Brent crude oil futures — the international oil benchmark — last week rose 1.25 percent to settle at US$64.13 per barrel on the Intercontinental Exchange. West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures — the US oil benchmark — gained 0.54 percent to US$59.44 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Micron to pay US$1.8bn for fab siteKEEPING UP: The acquisition of a cleanroom in Taiwan would enable Micron to increase production in a market where demand continues to outpace supply, a Micron official saidBloombergMicron Technology Inc has signed a letter of intent to buy a fabrication site in Taiwan from Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp (力積電) for US$1.8 billion to expand its production of memory chips. Micron would take control of the P5 site in Miaoli County’s Tongluo Township (銅鑼) and plans to ramp up DRAM production in phases after the transaction closes in the second quarter, the company said in a statement on Saturday. The acquisition includes an existing 12 inch fab cleanroom of 27,871m2 and would further position Micron to address growing global demand for memory solutions, the company said. Micron would also assist Powerchip in enhancing its existing specialty DRAM process technologies at the P3 site in Hsinchu County, it said. The investment is part of Micron’s global expansion as it seeks to meet continued demand for memory chips.

Real Madrid overcome fans’ boos to win matchAFP, MADRIDAngry Real Madrid fans on Saturday jeered their own team before they went on to beat Levante 2-0 in Spanish La Liga to record new coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s first win at the helm. Real Madrid’s Raul Asencio, front, celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during their Spanish La Liga match against Levante in Madrid on Saturday. Mbappe had the best chance of a flat first half against the team in 19th in La Liga. “Today was a very important day, playing in front of our fans, we wanted to turn around the situation,” Asencio told Real Madrid TV. The loss leaves Villarreal eight points behind leaders Barcelona and damaged their chances of competing for a first-ever La Liga title.

Al-Attiyah and Benevides are winners in DakarAFP, YANBU, Saudi ArabiaQatar’s Nasser al-Attiyah on Saturday secured his sixth Dakar Rally car title in Saudi Arabia with Luciano Benavides scraping home by two seconds to claim the motorbike title. The Dacia Sandriders’ Nasser al-Attiyah celebrates after winning the Dakar Rally in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. With Belgian codriver Fabian Lurquin, al-Attiyah took control of the overall standings early on in the motorsport marathon. Luciano Benavides, center, celebrates after winning the Dakar Rally motorbike title in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. Earlier, Argentina’s Luciano Benavides took the bike honors by a mere two seconds.

Alcaraz, Sabalenka win Melbourne openersAFP, MELBOURNETop-ranked Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka yesterday launched their Australian Open title bids with straight-sets wins, but there was no fairytale for 45-year-old Venus Williams. Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his Australian Open men’s singles first-round match against Australia’s Adam Walton in Melbourne yesterday. Photo: AFPAlcaraz, who is desperate to win the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam of all four majors, plays Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann next. Sabalenka began her bid for a third Australian Open title in four years with a patchy start before coming good in the second set. The seven-time major champion was the oldest woman to play in the history of the Australian Open.

Lin Chun-yi bags first title of this yearGOLD MEDAL GLORY: Lin defeated Indonesia’s Jonatan Christie 21-10, 21-18 in a speedy 38 minutes, recording his second consecutive victory against the IndonesianStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese badminton player Lin Chun-yi yesterday won the men’s singles final of the India Open, surging past world No. 4 Jonatan Christie of Indonesia in straight games to win his first title since 2024. Lin most recently beat Christie at the China Masters in Shenzhen in September last year. Taiwan’s Lin Chun-yi celebrates on the podium after winning the men’s singles competition at the India Open 2026 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Arena in New Delhi yesterday. At last year’s China Master’s, Lin missed out on his first Super 750 title with a 21-11, 21-15 loss to China’s Weng Hongyang in the final.

Cold can threaten hearingBy Chiu Chih-jou / Staff ReporterCold weather not only increases the risk of cardiovascular incidents but also the risk of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), also known as sudden deafness or ear stroke, a doctor warned. Wu said the person at first thought it was caused by a common cold or water in the ear after a bath, but the condition persisted, so they sought treatment and were diagnosed with severe SSNHL. Their hearing has improved with treatment and with hearing aids. Recovery rates follow a “rule of thirds” — one-third of patients recover completely, one-third recover partially and one-third see almost no improvement, Wu said, adding that as it involves inner ear damage, so if no recovery occurs, hearing loss might be permanent. It is common for patients to have sudden hearing loss, tinnitus, a feeling of ear fullness or pressure or even vertigo following a sharp decline in temperature during the night or early morning, he said.

Two US ships transit through Taiwan StraitBy Fang Wei-li / Staff reporterThe US’ Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer the USS John Finn and Pathfinder-class oceanographic survey ship USNS Mary Sears on Friday and Saturday sailed through the Taiwan Strait, the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said. “USS John Finn and Pathfinder-class survey ship USNS Mary Sears conducted a routine Taiwan Strait transit Jan. 16 to 17 through waters where high-seas freedoms of navigation and overflight apply in accordance with international law. “The transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. The international community’s navigational rights and freedoms in the Taiwan Strait should not be limited. Photo: Screen grab from USS Finn’s Facebook pageThis is the fourth time during US President Donald Trump’s second term that a US warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait.