Street cricket in Pakistan comes to life after darkAFP, KARACHI, PakistanAfter midnight during Ramadan, makeshift floodlights transform a central Karachi basketball court into an urban cricket arena, where dozens of young Pakistani men chase taped-up tennis balls zipping through the night air. “After the Taraweeh [special Ramadan prayers], people crave entertainment, so that is why many play cricket,” batsman Waqas Danish said. “They play all night, because some people can’t wake up for breakfast if they sleep.”A cricketer bowls during a tape-ball night cricket tournament in Karachi, Pakistan, on Tuesday last week. From legendary all-rounder Wasim Akram to modern-day pace star Shaheen Shah Afridi, many of Pakistan’s top players credit street cricket as a positive influence on their techniques. “In cricket there is a saying: ‘Watch the ball’ — it doesn’t matter if it is a tennis ball or a taped ball or a hard ball,” Pakistan national youth coach Mohammad Masroor said.

China’s economic growth acceleratesREBOUND IN CONSUMPTION: China posted the fastest quarterly growth over the past year at 4.5 percent, but it still faces pressures amid an uncertain economic environmentAP, BEIJINGChina’s economic growth accelerated in the latest quarter as consumers flocked back to shops and restaurants following the abrupt end of anti-virus controls in the country. Analysts initially pegged economic growth to be about 4 percent. However, while consumption and retail sales have grown, other economic indicators with weaker growth, such as industrial output and fixed-asset investments, indicate an uneven recovery. Investors are expected to scrutinize China’s first-quarter economic data for indicators of recovery following years of harsh lockdowns and a crackdown on industries such as technology and real estate. Last year’s GDP growth fell to 3 percent, hampered by anti-virus controls that caused snap lockdowns and kept millions at home, sometimes for weeks on end.

‘ROC’ name invites China invasionBy Lai Fu-shun 賴福順Taiwan today cannot use its true national name. Instead, as a nation, Taiwan is referred to as the Republic of China (ROC). If US military forces were stationed in Taiwan, China would certainly invade. The most effective way to confront China is to have a large number of US troops stationed in Taiwan. The name “ROC” encourages China to invade while blocking US troops at the door.

Taiwan to set up second representative office in ItalyEXPANSION: Aside from establishing a representative office in Milan to serve Taiwanese expatriates in northern Italy, the nation is to set up an office in Montreal, CanadaBy Liu Tzu-hsuan / Staff reporterTaiwan is preparing to set up a representative office in Milan to provide services to overseas Taiwanese in northern Italy and deepen exchanges with the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. It would be Taiwan’s second representative office in Italy after Rome. Photo: ReutersThe new representative office would also offer consular and emergency services to Taiwanese expatriates living and working in the eight administrative regions in northern Italy: Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Liguria, Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Trentino-Alto Adige. The new office is to be called Ufficio di Rappresentanza di Taipei in Italia — Ufficio di Milano, or the Taipei Representative Office in Italy — Milan Office, it said. The ministry in December last year said Taiwan would also set up an economic and cultural office in Montreal, Canada, which is to become operational this summer.

Arsenal can handle title stress, Arteta vows after drawAFP, LONDONArsenal’s bid to win the English Premier League for the first time since 2004 is in danger of imploding, but manager Mikel Arteta remains adamant the leaders can cope with the pressure of the title race. Arteta’s side blew a two-goal lead for a second successive game as West Ham United hit back to snatch a 2-2 draw at the London Stadium on Sunday. Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, left, reacts after missing a chance to score from the penalty spot during their English Premier League match against West Ham United in London on Sunday. When you drop your level so quickly the game is there for the opponent.”Before the summit meeting with City, Arsenal host Southampton on Friday. We gave them hope and credit to West Ham, they took it,” he said.

‘Monetizing hate’: Unease as misinformation swirls on TwitterAFP, WASHINGTONWhen the iconic US diaper company Huggies was swamped with false pedophilia allegations last month, the conspiracy was traced to a once-banned influencer reinstated to Twitter by Elon Musk. Brown said that the list was incomplete and the actual number of restored accounts could be higher. Anti-LGBTQ+ narratives — including the false claim that the community “grooms” children — have spiked on the platform, according to the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH). Imran Ahmed, chief executive at CCDH, said “Twitter is monetizing hate at an unprecedented rate.” Just five Twitter accounts peddling the “grooming” narrative generate up to US$6.4 million in annual advertising revenue, according to CCDH’s research. But dozens of “misinformation super-spreaders” have purchased the blue tick and are inundating the platform with falsehoods, according to the watchdog NewsGuard.

EDITORIAL: Probe highlights China trade risksChina last week said that it was investigating what it called Taiwan’s “trade barriers,” which supposedly affect more than 2,400 Chinese imports spanning from agricultural products and textiles to minerals and petrochemicals. Because the probe could last until Jan. 12 next year — one day before Taiwan’s presidential election — there are concerns that China might use the trade barriers issue for political leverage. Any government regulations or policies that hinder international trade — such as tariffs, subsidies, quotas, and import and export licenses — could be considered trade barriers. Because Beijing’s suspensions of Taiwanese goods are often arbitrary and abrupt, Taiwanese businesses should consider the grave risks of maintaining China as a major export market. As it would take time for businesses to develop new foreign markets, the government should establish a task force to address China’s trade barriers investigation and offer guidance to domestic industries.

Oil posts its fourth weekly gain, as IEA forecasts price riseBloombergOil on Friday rose for the fourth straight week, supported by signs of a tightening global market that have the International Energy Agency (IEA) warning of higher prices ahead. West Texas Intermediate for May delivery rose 0.44 percent to close at US$82.52 per barrel, rising 2.25 percent weekly to post its longest run of weekly advances since June last year. Brent crude for May delivery increased 0.26 percent to US$86.31 per barrel, gaining 1.4 percent for the week. The latest OPEC+ cuts threaten to boost oil prices for consumers already facing high inflation, the IEA said in its monthly outlook on Friday. Recent data show that China imported the most oil in three years last month, underpinned by record Russian flows.

China’s dubious population dataBy Yi Fuxian 易富賢At a recent news conference, Chinese Premier Li Qiang (李強) said that the country’s demographic dividend has not disappeared, even though the population is declining. For 2000, the bureau reported that there were 17.7 million births — a figure that aligns perfectly with the 17.5 million first graders in 2006. There are several reasons that Chinese demographic data are unreliable. For starters, China’s local governments have a strong incentive to inflate population figures. It could also compound China’s demographic woes by reducing fertility.

Europe ramps up stance on ChinaReuters, BEIJINGEuropean foreign policy officials yesterday sought to present a tough stance against China’s threats against Taiwan, after comments by French President Emmanuel Macron drew a backlash for being perceived as weak. German Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock, addressing the issue at a news conference in Beijing alongside Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Gang (秦剛), said any attempt by China to control Taiwan would be unacceptable and would have serious repercussions for Europe. German Minister of Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock speaks at a joint news conference with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Qin Gang in Beijing yesterday. “The European Union’s position [on Taiwan] is consistent and clear,” Borrell said in his prepared remarks. “President Xi’s visit to Moscow has demonstrated that no other country has a bigger influence on Russia than China,” Baerbock said.

Apple ‘at heart of’ US-China selective decoupling‘ALL BETS ARE OFF’: The US is not aiming for a total decoupling, US Representative Mike Gallagher said, but added that things would change if China attacked Taiwan Apple Inc and Walt Disney Co are among US businesses that would face the steepest challenges in a “selective decoupling” from China, a key US lawmaker said after a series of meetings with executives and experts in Hollywood and Silicon Valley last week. US Representative Mike Gallagher, the chairman of a US House of Representatives committee focused on US-China competition, met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and Disney CEO Bob Iger as part of a three-day trip through California to learn more about how companies are navigating the tensions between the world’s two largest economies. “Apple’s at the heart of what is

Coffee-powered Bopanna becomes oldest Masters champReutersCoffee connoisseur Rohan Bopanna on Saturday credited the special Indian blends he consumes on Tour for his success after the 43-year-old became the oldest ATP Masters 1000 champion by winning the men’s doubles title at the BNP Paribas Open. The biggest thing is to make sure you recover well after matches and that’s really helped me,” Bopanna said. Bopanna beat the record held by former partner Daniel Nestor and said that taking care of his body had paid off. Some days I tell Matt I maybe just practiced 20 minutes, but I’d rather rest the body and be ready for our matches,” Bopanna said. Indian doubles great Mahesh Bhupathi hailed former playing partner Bopanna’s longevity and ability to peak late in his career.

‘Suicide drone’ to be tested in July for potential useStaff writer, with CNAA domestically developed “suicide drone,” also known as a loitering munition, would be tested and evaluated in July, and could enter mass production next year, Taiwan’s weapons developer said on Wednesday. The yet-to-be-named drone was among nine drone models unveiled by the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on Tuesday. The drone has been dubbed the “Taiwanese switchblade” by Chinese-language media, due to its similarity to the US-made AeroVironment Switchblade 300, which has been used by Ukraine in counterattacks during Russia’s invasion. A domestically developed loitering munition, or “suicide drone,” similar to the US-made AeroVironment Switchblade 300, is pictured at the Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology on Tuesday. A manufacturing project and a program to train drone pilots are being planned by the navy, Minister of National Defense Chiu Kuo-chen (邱國正) said.

‘Tip fatigue’ in US raises questions about practiceBy Lea Dauple / AFP, WASHINGTONTo tip, or not to tip? “Either way, you feel guilty,” said Matt Schottland, 41, in downtown Washington, a salad and a fruit juice in hand. A card reader displays tip options at a store in Washington on Friday. In response, experts warn of the risk of “tip fatigue,” a scenario in which Americans, overworked and hit by inflation, would no longer know where to tip, or how much. As a result, “trying to figure out like, when to tip, when not to tip, what is the appropriate tip, is it like always 20 percent now?

Bankers urge Silicon Valley Bank buyoutDOMINO EFFECT FEARED: The collapse of start-up-focused SVB could affect its regional peers, some executives said, calling on financial authorities to protect unisured deposits Some financial industry executives and investors were on Saturday growing increasingly concerned that the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) could have a domino effect on other US regional banks if regulators did not find a buyer over the weekend to protect uninsured deposits. Start-up-focused lender SVB Financial Group on Friday became the largest bank to fail since the 2008 global financial crisis, roiling markets and leaving billions of US dollars belonging to companies and investors stranded. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC), which was appointed receiver, was trying to find another bank over the weekend that was willing to merge with