The amendment, proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Chen Yu-jen (陳玉珍), would allow the establishment of free-trade zones on designated outlying islands. Procedures required for urban renewal projects and environmental impact assessment inside the free-trade zones would be streamlined, while rules governing the establishment and management of free-trade zones would be set by the local governments of outlying islands, the draft says. An official familiar with cross-strait issues said on condition of anonymity that such a matter should be handled based on the cross-strait act. The MAC in a report to the legislature last year said the Offshore Islands Development Act stipulates that the National Development Council and governments of the outlying islands should jointly assess if the islands are equipped with the infrastructure necessary to build a free-trade zone. Under the regulations, any approval for Chinese-invested businesses to set up in free-trade zones or parks must comply with Article 73 and other provisions of cross-strait act, it said.

“Thankfully shots went in and gave us a lot of momentum.”The Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, center, guards the Utah Jazz’s Keyonte George during their NBA game in San Francisco on Saturday. Green also returned to action, but was ejected minutes into the second quarter when he received two quick technical fouls for arguing with officials. Green apparently thought there should have been a three-second call and was ejected with two minutes, 25 seconds left in the second quarter. “We won the game, that’s all we care about, that’s all he cares about,” Stephen Curry said. The Warriors need Green to be smart with his emotions, Kerr said.

EVA pilot suspended for striking first officerStaff writer, with CNAEVA Airways on Saturday said that it had suspended a pilot and opened an investigation after he allegedly lost his temper and punched the first officer several times as their plane was taxiing before takeoff at Los Angeles International Airport. After alerting the pilot several times without response, the first officer manually applied the brakes in accordance with standard operating procedure. Aircraft operated by EVA Airways Corp are pictured at Taipei International Airport (Songshan airport) in an undated photograph. Photo: Taipei TimesThe pilot responded by punching the first officer at least four times, the report said, leaving him with swelling and bruising on the back of one hand. Once the investigation is completed, the pilot, who is currently on flight suspension, would be referred to the airline’s disciplinary review board for further review, EVA Air said.

Braves win twice in Lin Chih-chieh’s returnStaff writer, with CNAThe Taipei Fubon Braves last night defeated the Yankey Ark Professional Basketball Team 126-105 at the Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium, a day after they trounced the Tainan TSG GhostHawks 124-86 in veteran Lin Chih-chieh’s first game of his final season. The Taipei Fubon Braves’ Lin Chih-chieh shoots toward the basket in their P.League+ game against the Yankey Ark Professional Basketball Team at Taipei Heping Basketball Gymnasium last night. Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei TimesOn Saturday, three Braves scored more than 20 points, led by Troy Gillenwater’s 24. Singletary sustained a season-ending foot injury in January 2024 and left the team before his return was announced last month. Lin scored five points, with five rebounds and five assists.

Cold weather to be upon the land once again todayBy Tang Shih-ming / Staff reporter, with CNAA strong continental cold air mass and radiative cooling sent temperatures plunging across Taiwan early yesterday, with the lowest recorded temperature in low-lying areas down to 4.8°C in Hsinchu County’s Guansi Township (關西), the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. A Central Weather Administration chart shows the weather forecast for this week. The red line represents northern Taiwan, the orange line central Taiwan, the yellow line southern Taiwan and the green line eastern Taiwan. Another strong continental cold air mass is forecast to move south from today into tomorrow, driving temperatures down. Brief showers are expected in areas north of Taoyuan, as well as northeastern and eastern Taiwan, the CWA said.

Joe Root, Harry Brook tame Australia in rain-hit AshesAFP, SYDNEYJoe Root and Harry Brook yesterday tamed Australia’s all-pace attack with an unbroken 154-run stand to rescue England and give them the upper hand after a rain-hit day one of the fifth and final Ashes Test. England’s Joe Root hits a shot on day one of the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. “We’re in very good position, obviously three down at the end of the end of play,” said Brook. It was the first time in 138 years that the hosts have not played a frontline spinner during a Sydney Test. “Hate doing it,” Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

Man sentenced for threatening mayorStaff writer, with CNAA Keelung man has been sentenced to two months in prison for threatening to kill Keelung Mayor George Hsieh (謝國樑) over a water issue with his home. Upon reaching the hotline representative, Chang threatened Hsieh by name, before going on to warn: “If you come bother me again where I live, I’ll go to Keelung City Hall and start killing people. If you have the guts, you can sue me.”The Keelung District Court is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Lin Chia-tung, Taipei TimesThe hotline worker notified the police, while Chang, who was later brought in for questioning, admitted to having threatened the mayor. The court sentenced Chang to two months’ imprisonment, commutable to a fine of NT$60,000, significantly less than the maximum two-year prison sentence allowed under the law.

Okamoto signs 4-year deal with Blue JaysAP, TORONTOInfielder Kazuma Okamoto and the Toronto Blue Jays have agreed to a US$60 million, four-year contract, two people familiar with the negotiations said on Saturday. He homered off Colorado’s Kyle Freeland to help Japan beat the US 3-2 in the 2023 World Baseball Classic final. Under the MLB’s posting agreement with Nippon Professional Baseball, the Blue Jays would owe the Giants a posting fee of US$10,875,000. After coming within two outs of their first World Series title since 1993, the Blue Jays have made significant additions to the roster. Right-hander Shane Bieber also exercised a US$16 million player option for this season rather than become a free agent.

Panama-flagged cargo ship refloated off HualienStaff writer, with CNAA Panama-flagged bulk carrier that ran aground off Hualien County on New Year’s Day was successfully refloated on Saturday and towed into Hualien Port, with no oil pollution detected, authorities said yesterday. After passing hull inspections, the vessel, CSE Prosperity Express, was refloated by two tugboats under coast guard escort and safely berthed at Wharf No. 22 at around 8 pm, the Maritime Port Bureau said. No oil leakage was observed during or after the operation, despite the ship carrying more than 200 metric tons of residual fuel. The Panama-flagged bulk carrier, CSE Prosperity Express, is pictured off Hualien County on Saturday.

Osaka wins after Raducanu pulls out of the United CupStaff writer, with AFP, PERTH, AustraliaFour-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka yesterday got her season off to a winning start for Japan in the United Cup, after the UK’s Emma Raducanu pulled out of their singles clash with a fitness issue, while in Brisbane, Taiwan’s Latisha Chan and Wu Fang-hsien crashed out of the women’s doubles. Osaka was too strong for reserve and 276th-ranked Katie Swan, winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 as Raducanu watched from the sidelines. Katie Swan of the UK returns to Naomi Osaka of Japan during their United Cup match in Perth, Australia, yesterday. Also on Saturday, in Sydney, Zhang Zhizhen led China to a 2-1 win over Belgium to begin their tournament, and despite Norway’s Casper Ruud stunning Australian No. 1 Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-3, the hosts prevailed 2-1.

Flights and shipping affected by Chinese drillsTrips for more than 100,000 international and domestic air travelers could be disrupted as China launches a military exercise around Taiwan today, Taiwan’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) said yesterday. The exercise could affect nearly 900 flights scheduled to enter the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) during the exercise window, it added. A notice issued by the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration showed there would be seven temporary zones around the Taiwan Strait which would be used for live-fire exercises, lasting from 8am to 6pm today. All aircraft are prohibited from entering during exercise, it says. Taipei FIR has 14 international air routes andBy Shelley Shan

KMT chair accuses US think tank of working with DPPBy Lin Hsin-han, Chen Yun and William Hetherington / Staff reporters, with staff writerChinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) yesterday accused a US think tank of being “in cooperation with the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) rumormongering” following its claim that she echoes the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) narrative. Cheng criticized the report’s claim, saying that it is “in coordination with the DPP’s rumormongering supply chain.”Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun, center, speaks to reporters in Taipei yesterday. Photo: George Tsorng, Taipei TimeShe also took aim at Lai, who is chairman of the DPP. “The source of your national security crisis is your mistaken cross-strait policy, not the KMT,” she said, addressing Lai. “No wonder a US think tank identified Cheng’s remarks during the exercises as echoing CCP narratives.”

Littler storms to second successive world dart titleReuters, LONDONEngland’s Luke Littler on Saturday thrashed Dutchman Gian van Veen to win the PDC World Darts title for the second successive year in front of a raucous Alexandra Palace crowd. The 18-year-old dropped the first set in the best-of-13-set showdown, but hit back to stamp his authority on Van Veen who had no answer to Littler’s relentless scoring. Luke Littler kisses the trophy after winning the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace in London on Saturday. The 23-year-old Van Veen beat Anderson to reach his first world championship final and initially looked dangerous. Having come from behind in the first set to take it after Littler missed a double, Van Veen then went 2-0 ahead in the second set with checkouts of 145 and 127.

Former president Chen Shui-bian’s show canceledBy Cheng Shu-ting, Wang Chun-chung and Jason Pan / Staff reportersFormer president Chen Shui-bian’s (陳水扁) political talk show on a local cable TV channel was canceled before its first airing yesterday, as authorities cited possible contraventions of medical parole. The interview-based program was scheduled to premiere on Mirror TV’s YouTube channel and be broadcast at 10am every Sunday. After Mirror TV advertised the new program on its YouTube channel in the past few days, the cancelation came as a surprise, Chen wrote yesterday morning on his Facebook page as he apologized for “having to disappoint everyone.”Former president Chen Shui-bian is pictured in an undated photograph. Photo: Screen grab from Chen’s Facebook pageAlthough the National Communications Commission green-lighted it, “Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) ordered that the program be canceled,” Chen wrote, adding that otherwise he would be “sent back to prison.”The Ministry of Justice’s Agency of Corrections Director Lin Hsien-ming (林憲銘) told him about the order in a phone call, Chen said. Chen, 75, has been out on medical parole since Jan. 5, 2015, after serving more than six years of a 20-year sentence, a consolidated term stemming from multiple corruption-related convictions involving actions during his two terms as president from 2000 to 2008.

TikTok users in Taiwan up significantly last yearSCREEN TIME: Users’ preference varied from age group to age group, from TV to apps to streaming services, with certain apps seeing their highest numbers to dateBy Shelley Shan / Staff ReporterAbout 73 percent of people aged 16 to 25 reported having used TikTok last year, up from 24 percent in 2019, according to a survey by the National Communications Commission. The TikTok logo is seen in this illustration taken on 2022. Photo: ReutersWhile last year’s survey showed that more than 95 percent of respondents reported having watched content on YouTube, the same as in previous years, it showed that 47.5 percent of respondents reported having viewed content on TikTok as well, up from 18.7 percent in 2019. About 21 percent of the respondents accessed the content on Xiaohongshu (小紅書, known asRedNote), up from 17 percent in 2024. Past surveys showed that 45.1 percent of viewers aged 16 or above watched streaming content in 2019, a 14.3 percent jump from 2017.