S Korea ends breeding of bears and extraction of bileBy Kim Hyung-Jin / AP, SEOULSouth Korea on Thursday formally ended its dwindling yet much-criticized bear bile farming industry, although about 200 bears are still kept in pens and raised for their gallbladders. The change is in line with a revised animal rights protection law that imposes up to two or five years of prison sentences on violators. South Korea is one of the few countries that allow farming to extract bile from bears, mostly Asiatic black bears known as moon bears, for traditional medicine or as food, as it is believed to boost vitality and stamina. A bear looks out from a cage at a bear farm in Dangjin, South Korea, on Jan. 24, 2014. The ban is part of a broader 2022 agreement among officials, farmers and animal rights campaigners to prohibit bear bile farming beginning this year.

Chinese homeschool students embrace freer youthBy Mary Yang / AFP, SHANGHAIFourteen-year-old Estella spends her weekdays studying Spanish, rock climbing or learning acupuncture in her living room as part of her homeschooling since she left China’s grueling public school system. Estella, 14, a homeschooled student, attends a Spanish class in her home in Shanghai on Nov. 25 last year. Just 6,000 Chinese children were homeschooled in 2017, according to the non-profit 21st Century Education Research Institute. In Shanghai, Estella’s school day ended at 5pm, and she often spent around four hours a night on homework. Experts say Chinese people are increasingly questioning the value of traditionally prized degrees from elite universities in an oversaturated market.

The evocative photographs appear in Fell’s latest book, The Twilight Years of Taiwan’s Sugar Railways, which offers a fascinating glimpse into a vanished past and rural Taiwan in the 1990s. “Taiwan in Time” ran a two-part series in 2024 about the rise and fall of Taiwan’s sugar railways, (“The sugar express,” Sept. 8, 2024 and “The sugar rail reaches its peak and goes downhill,” Sept. 15, 2024). ‘EXTRAORDINARY’ RAILWAYEstablished in 1907 during the Japanese colonial era, the majority of Taiwan’s sugar railways ran on a narrow 762mm-gauge railroad. A Diema locomotive prepares to depart Xinying Sugar Factory with a train of sugar sack vans during the 1994-1995 sugarcane season. At its peak, the sugar railway surpassed the reach of the TRA — boasting a larger fleet and more daily train movements during sugar season, Fell writes.

Paris sees first derby in almost 36 yearsAFP, PARISFor the first time in almost 36 years, a Parisian derby will be played in French soccer’s top flight when reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain FC take on the nouveau riche Paris Football Club (PFC) today. That was on Feb. 25, 1990, when Moroccan midfielder Aziz Bouderbala scored a brace as Racing Paris 1 beat PSG 2-1 at the Parc des Princes home that they shared. The Parc des Princes stadium, center, which hosts the Paris Saint-Germain soccer team, and the Jean Bouin stadium, right, which hosts the Paris FC soccer team, are pictured in Paris on July 11, 2023. The 48,000-capacity Parc des Princes was sold out for derby matches in those days — although interest quickly waned. It would not be the first derby between PSG and PFC — who began life as a single entity.

Kolkata release Mustafizur Rahman after BCCI requestReutersKolkata Knight Riders have released fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh after being told to do so by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian Premier League (IPL) team said yesterday amid growing tensions between the countries. Mustafizur Rahman bowls during an Indian Premier League cricket match in Chennai, India, on May 21 last year. “Due to recent developments going on all across, the BCCI has instructed the franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Indian news agency ANI. Later yesterday, Kolkata confirmed Mustafizur had been released. “BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the team added in a statement.

Wawrinka farewell tour begins with Cup victoryAP, PERTH, AustraliaStan Wawrinka’s 40-year-old legs did not let him down over three-plus hours in his first singles match of a farewell tour yesterday. Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Wawrinka beat Arthur Rinderknech of France, who is ranked 29th to Wawrinka’s 157th, 5-7, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (5). Wawrinka last month announced that this year would be his last on the ATP tour. Stan Wawrinka returns to Arthur Rinderknech during the United Cup day two match between Switzerland and France in Perth, Australia, yesterday. The United Cup is among a number of tournaments being played over the next two weeks in Australia ahead of the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on Jan. 18.

‘Battle of the Sexes’ unnecessary for women: SwiatekAFP, SYDNEYSix-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek yesterday said she saw little point to the “Battle of the Sexes” match and that women’s tennis has nothing more to prove. Iga Swiatek gestures during a practice session ahead of the United Cup tennis tournament in Sydney on Friday. Photo: AFPIt bore little resemblance to the era-defining 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” encounter between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs. 2 Swiatek said in Sydney, where she opens her season at the United Cup. “I think actually events like this one, United Cup, brings tennis together, and WTA fans and ATP fans can watch this event with so much excitement,” she said.

Bucks defeat Hornets in final secondsBOUNCING BACK: Antetokounmpo had just returned from an eight-game injury absence last month, leading the Milwaukee Bucks to their third win in four gamesAFP, LOS ANGELESGiannis Antetokounmpo threw down the game-winning dunk with 4.7 seconds remaining to lift the Milwaukee Bucks to a 122-121 victory over the Charlotte Hornets and grab a slice of NBA history on Friday. The Bucks trailed by as many as 16 on their home floor, but Antetokounmpo scored 12 of his 30 points in the final quarter to help seal the win in a frantic finish that saw five lead changes in the final 45.7 seconds. The Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo dunks in the final seconds of their NBA basketball game against the Charlotte Hornets in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday. Pascal Siakam scored 23 points for the Pacers, who trailed the entire second half on the way to an 11th straight defeat. Johnson scored 18 points with 10 rebounds and 11 assists, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu added 23 points apiece for the Hawks.

Rangers beat Panthers in outdoor Miami ice hockeyAP, MIAMISend the New York Rangers outdoors, and they become unbeatable. Alexis Lafreniere had three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots for the Rangers, who improved to 6-0-0 in outdoor games. Florida Panthers goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky walks to the ice prior to the Winter Classic ice hockey game against the New York Rangers in Miami on Friday. The 17°C at game time was the second-warmest of any of the NHL’s 44 outdoor games that have counted in the standings. The Panthers came with a “Miami Vice” theme, wearing white suits, pastel shirts and even showing up in Ferraris instead of a bus.

Quake measuring 6.5 rattles Mexico City, beach resortAFP, SAN MARCOS, MexicoA magnitude 6.5 earthquake on Friday rattled Mexico’s capital and a tourist hotspot on the Pacific coast, killing at least two people and causing moderate damage in a small town near the epicenter. It was felt about 400km away to the north in Mexico City, where alarms sent people rushing into the street for safety, disrupting a holiday weekend. Members of the Civil Protection and soldiers inspect a damaged house after an earthquake in San Marcos, Mexico, on Friday. Twelve others were injured, city Mayor Clara Brugada wrote on social media, but there were no reports of major damage in the country’s largest city. The center of Mexico City is built on the muddy subsoil of what was once the bed of a lake, making it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes.

Teen arrested over alleged trash can arson at MRT stationStaff writer, with CNAA 15-year-old boy was taken in for questioning yesterday after allegedly setting fire to a trash can at Dingxi MRT Station in New Taipei City earlier in the day, police said. According to the Yonghe Precinct of the New Taipei City Police Department, the incident occurred around 7:55 am when the suspect allegedly threw lit tissue paper into a station trash can, causing it to smolder. Trash cans at Dingxi MRT Station in New Taipei City are pictured yesterday. Photo copied by Cheng Ching-yi, Taipei TimesPolice said that officers from the Taipei City Police Department's Zhongshan Precinct later traced the suspect and intercepted him at Yuanshan MRT Station in Taipei. TRTC said the act endangered operational safety and could result in a fine ranging from NT$10,000 (US$318) to NT$1 million under the Mass Rapid Transit Act (大眾捷運法).

Venus Williams handed Australian Open wildcardAFP, MELBOURNESeven-time major singles champion Venus Williams was handed a wildcard to the Australian Open aged 45 yesterday, becoming the oldest woman ever to play at the season-opening Grand Slam. “I’m excited to be back in Australia and looking forward to competing during the Australian summer,” Williams said. She was an Australian Open singles finalist in 2003 and 2017. She would become the oldest woman to play at the Australian Open since Japan’s Kimiko Date, who was 44 when she lost in the first round in 2015. Williams, a four-time Australian Open doubles champion, is set to begin her preparations for the Jan. 18 to Feb. 1 tournament at the Auckland Classic next week, having returned to the circuit at the US Open last year after a 16-month break.

Legislators pass motion condemning the premierBy Liu Wan-lin and Sam Garcia / Staff reporter, with staff writerThe Legislative Yuan yesterday passed a motion condemning Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰). The motion, proposed by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP), said that the premier should bear full responsibility for the Cabinet’s overall performance. Legislators hold up placards stating their respective stances during a vote at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Photo: CNA“National interests are always above party interests, and party interests should never supersede the interests of the public,” it said. The motion was passed with 55 votes in favor and 48 votes against.

Ministry sets up emergency response sitesBy Esme Yeh / Staff reporterThe Ministry of Environment has announced the establishment of three environmental emergency response sites in Hualien, Nantou and Kinmen counties, which are expected to expedite emergency response to chemical emergencies. Chemicals Administration Director-General Tsai Meng-yu (蔡孟裕) on Tuesday said the three response sites were set up mainly to overcome challenges like geographical limitations and climate impact. The name and logo of the Ministry of Environment are pictured at its headquarters in Taipei in an undated photograph. Counting the three newly established sites, there are a total of 13 such environmental emergency response units nationwide, and each has a technical team consisting of four personnel with professional disaster response training, Tsai said. The leaders of the teams in Hualien, Nantou and Kinmen counties have seven to 20 years of disaster response experience with extensive hands-on knowledge, he added.

Ko urges passage of bill to assist reproductionBACK IN PUBLIC: The former party chairman, awaiting a verdict following his corruption trial, took time to push for a reproductive health act amendmentStaff writer, with CNAFormer Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) visited lawmakers of different parties yesterday to push for the passage of an amendment to the Assisted Reproduction Act (人工生殖法). It was the first time that Ko, a former Taipei mayor, appeared at the Legislative Yuan since being released on NT$70 million (US$2.2 million) bail in September last year in a corruption case. Former chairman of the Taiwan People’s Party Ko Wen-je, second left, interacts with Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus whip Ker Chien-ming, second right during a visit to the DPP caucus at the Legislative Yuan in Taipei yesterday. Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) caucus whip Fu Kun-chi, second right, holds hands with former Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) chairman Ko Wen-je, second left, and TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang, right, at the Legislative Yuan yesterday. Ko, who maintained that he was not guilty during the trial, is scheduled to receive a verdict on March 26.