Pistons clinch playoffs berth, first from the East‘POINT OF EMPHASIS’: Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said that his team prepared for the game by ‘trying to figure out how our defense can create that chaos’AFP, LOS ANGELESThe Detroit Pistons beat the Golden State Warriors 115-101 on Friday to become the first Eastern Conference team to clinch an NBA playoffs berth. The Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren dunks during their NBA game against the Golden State Warriors at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan, on Friday. The Houston Rockets’ Kevin Durant reacts during their NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks at Toyota Center in Houston, Texas, on Friday. Alperen Sengun added 15 points, nine rebounds and 10 assists as Houston bolstered their playoffs bid after back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Lakers. Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 21 points to lead the Hawks, who slipped to seventh place in the East.

The woman was quoted as saying that she was chased by three dogs and then bitten, causing multiple lacerations across the body. Street surveillance camera footage shows a woman escape with a bike after being attacked by dogs in Changhua County’s Pitou Township on March 11. A review of surveillance footage in recent days showed that just one day before the incident, a young man had also been chased and bitten by dogs in the same community. Family members of the woman have reported the incident to the police, and authorities were assisting with retrieving surveillance footage and gathering information from the neighborhood to determine what happened, the police said. The county government added that it has stepped up patrols in the area where the woman was attacked and would capture the dogs if they are spotted.

Pilots rout Alvark to make the EASL finalStaff writer, with CNAThe Taoyuan Pauian Pilots, defending champions of Taiwan’s P.League+, on Friday secured their second straight berth in the East Asia Super League (EASL) championship game by trouncing Alvark Tokyo 102-76 at Studio City Event Center in Macau. The Taoyuan Pauian Pilots William Artino, second left, controls the ball during their East Asia Super League semi-final against Alvark Tokyo at Studio City Event Center in Macau on Friday. Photo: CNA“It means a lot,” said Artino, who joined the Pilots in the off-season last year. The Pilots were dominant throughout the game close to the basket, outscoring Tokyo 70-18 inside the paint and outrebounding their opponent 62-33. Through two games in the EASL playoffs, the Pilots have leaned on their dominance inside to overcome their struggles from beyond the arc.

F1’s Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley exitsAFP, PARISAudi, who are just two races into their Formula One journey, have parted company with team principal Jonathan Wheatley “with immediate effect,” the German team said on Friday. Photo: AFP“Due to personal reasons, Jonathan Wheatley will depart the team with immediate effect,” Audi said in a statement. “The team thanks Jonathan for his contribution to the project and wishes him the best for his future endeavors. Then-Audi team principal Jonathan Wheatley attends pre-season testing at Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir on Feb. 11. Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll released a statement on Friday that underlined Newey’s importance to the team and denied the speculation surrounding Wheatley.

Officials did not misuse vehicles, prosecutors sayNO PROSECUTION: Former Control Yuan secretary-general Lee Chun-yi covered his vehicle’s expenses, Taipei prosecutors saidBy Liu Yung-yun and Jason Pan / Staff reportersTaipei prosecutors on Friday said they would not prosecute Control Yuan officials who were accused of alleged misuse of official vehicles for personal business. TVBS News in May last year reported that Lee used a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon. Then-Control Yuan secretary-general Lee Chun-yi attends a meeting in Taipei on Jan. 21 last year. Prosecutors said their probe also detected no misuse in cases of Control Yuan members Su, Wang, Lin Yu-jung (林郁容), Tien Chiu-chin (田秋堇) and Lin Sheng-feng (林盛豐). All the Control Yuan members had covered their own expenses and did not gain personal benefits, and there was no breach of trust, they said.

Sporting strategy of Gulf nations rocked by warAFP, NICOSIAAbout 80,000 fans were hoping to see Lionel Messi take on Lamine Yamal in Doha, while thousands more were gearing up for the Formula One grand prix in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, but the war in the Middle East had other plans. The Gulf countries have invested vast sums of money in bringing global sporting events to their shores as they try to diversify their hydrocarbon-dependent economies and improve their images abroad. Photo: AFPSince the start of the war last month, dozens of events due to be held in the Gulf have been canceled or postponed. Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, one of the sporting world’s crown jewels and a climactic moment for the country’s strategy. However, if there is chaos, or a “more hardline” Iranian government, organizing major events in the Gulf would be “extremely difficult,” he said.

Taiwan not ready for nuclear: groupsBy Su Chin-feng / Staff reporter, with CNARestarting the use of nuclear power in Taiwan would pass the nuclear waste problem to the next generation and is not in line with environmental justice, several anti-nuclear groups said yesterday, citing the country’s proneness to natural disasters and the lack of a nuclear waste disposal site. Taiwan in May last year ended operations of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County, the last active nuclear facility in the nation. Nuclear safety, nuclear waste disposal and public consensus are the three key factors to be considered by the commission, Lai said. Taiwan is not well-suited for nuclear power plants, given its frequent earthquakes, typhoons and fragile geology, he said. A fire at the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant last March underscores the need to take nuclear safety seriously,” he added.

Taiwanese officials shown 1st F-16V jet due this yearStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese officials were shown the first of 66 F-16V fighter jets purchased by Taiwan from the United States, the Ministry of National Defense said yesterday, adding the aircraft has completed an initial flight test and is expected to be delivered later this year. A delegation led by Deputy Minister of National Defense Hsu Szu-chien (徐斯儉) visited Lockheed Martin’s F-16 C/D Block 70 (also known as F-16V) assembly line in South Carolina on March 16 to view the aircraft. The jet will undergo a final acceptance flight in the US before being delivered to Taiwan, the ministry said. The photo was released by the Ministry of National Defense yesterday. The ministry said it will continue working with the US through existing security cooperation mechanisms to speed up delivery of the aircraft.

Ministry urged to improve oversight on fly ash, wasteBy Jake Chung / Staff writer, with CNAControl Yuan member Tien Chiu-chin (田秋菫) yesterday urged the Ministry of Environment to improve oversight on fly ash and reduce dioxin levels in it, citing an investigation into residual toxins and public concern over waste management. The probe was launched following media reports in 2024 on residual dioxin and heavy metals in fly ash as well as calls to reduce waste at the source, Tien said. She said her investigation found that Taiwan generated more than 180,000 tonnes of fly ash at municipal waste incinerators between 2011 and 2024. Photo: Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei TimesLess than 10 percent of that could be reused due to high levels of dioxins and heavy metals, she said. She also raised concerns about fly ash washing, which transfers contaminants such as dioxins, heavy metals, chloride, perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), and brominated flame retardants into wastewater.

Deaths from fall injuries becoming more prevalentBy Lee I-chia / Staff reporterFall injuries have become the second-biggest cause of accidental deaths in Taiwan and about one in six people people aged 65 years or older has reported accidental falls, the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) said last week, as it offered tips to help elderly people prevent fall injuries. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s 2024 deaths statistics, fall injuries ranked second among the leading causes of accidental deaths. The HPA added that its 2021 National Health Interview Survey found that on average one in six older people have reported accidental falls, with one in 12 seeking treatment for fall injuries. First, family members should “proactively ask and assess risks” — asking older family members if they have fallen or have difficulty walking lately. HPA Director-General Shen Ching-fen (沈靜芬) recommended older people and their families visit the HPA official website’s fall prevention Web site.

EDITORIAL: The ‘smoke-free’ Taipei City visionTaipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) in January announced a new initiative aimed at limiting smoking in public spaces in the city. Under the “smoke-free city” plan, people would only be able to smoke in designated smoking areas or rooms established by the city government. The goal of a smoke-free Taipei is commendable, but expecting it to be fully realized by the end of the year is perhaps over-ambitious. Taipei’s “smoke-free city” plan is an important opportunity. A smoke-free Taipei is attainable, but cannot be rushed.

Singapore Airlines adding four more flights to TaipeiINCREASED CAPACITY: The flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays would leave Singapore in the morning and Taipei in the afternoon Singapore Airlines is adding four supplementary flights to Taipei per week until May to meet increased tourist and business travel demand, the carrier said on Friday. The addition would raise the number of weekly flights it operates to Taipei to 18, Singapore Airlines Taiwan general manager Timothy Ouyang (歐陽漢源) said. The airline has recorded a steady rise in tourist and business travel to and from Taipei, and aims to provide more flexible travel arrangements for passengers, said Ouyang, who assumed the post in July last year. From now until Saturday next week, four additional flights would depart from Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, FridayBy Shelley Shan

S Korean auto parts factory fire injures at least 55AP, SEOULA fire at an auto parts factory in South Korea’s central city of Daejeon injured at least 55 people yesterday, with officials warning the toll could rise. Black smoke rises from an auto parts plant in Daejeon, South Korea, yesterday. He said the fire destroyed a factory building that firefighters were unable to enter because of concerns it could collapse. Some people were injured when they jumped from the building to escape, while others suffered from smoke inhalation, Nam said. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for the full mobilization of personnel and equipment to contain the fire and support rescue operations.

Trump threatens Cuba as island’s power crisis deepensNationwide blackouts and strains on daily life could force major economic reforms in HavanaBy Ruaridh Nicoll / The Guardian, HavanaJust a few hours after a nationwide electricity blackout struck Cuba, US President Donald Trump hinted at an even darker future for the island’s rulers. The country’s entire electricity system had collapsed on Monday afternoon, leaving about 10 million people without power. “Trump says aloud the things for which historians used to have to uncover evidence,” she added. “The government of the Republic of Cuba is only now authorizing what could have been implemented four years ago. The New York Times reported on Monday that US negotiators were demanding the resignation of the Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Colombo refused ground access to US planesAFP, COLOMBOSri Lanka refused permission to the US to station two of its warplanes at a civilian airport in the island’s south early this month, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said yesterday. Sri Lanka was drawn into the consequences of the war when US forces torpedoed an Iranian frigate off its coast this month. “We were still considering the Iranian request to bring the three ships to Colombo from March 9 to 13. The US torpedoed one of the Iranian ships, IRIS Dena, just off the island’s southern coast on March 4, killing at least 84 sailors. Sri Lanka maintains close ties with both the US, its main export market, and Iran, the main buyer of Sri Lankan tea.