EU might demand Google breakupReutersEU antitrust regulators might order Alphabet Inc’s Google to sell a part of its advertising-technology business, a source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday. However, frustration has been mounting after Google failed to address competition concerns, the source said. The commission and Google did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Google is the most dominant digital advertising platform in the world with a 28 percent market share of global ad revenue, research firm Insider Intelligence said. Google’s dominance in online advertising has been increasingly questioned over the past few years.

All talk, no dialogue on Asia securityBy Richard MaudeThe International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s largest security conference, earlier this month wrapped up its annual meeting in Singapore. In his speech at the conference, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also emphasized bilateral dialogue, especially between military leaders. The second takeaway from the conference concerns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: while the war preoccupies the US and its close partners, Southeast Asia remains indifferent. India was notably absent, with the defense minister skipping the event yet again. However, it would be a mistake to equate a strong showing of alignment between the US and its Indo-Pacific and European allies at Shangri-La with the broader mood in Southeast Asia.

TTL begins hiking prices of Taiwan Beer productsStaff writer, with CNAThe prices of some Taiwan Beer products would be raised over the summer to reflect higher international raw material prices, Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp (TTL, 台灣菸酒) said yesterday. Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corp’s Chienkuo Brewery in Taipei is pictured on Feb. 6, 2021. TTL said that it had not raised Taiwan Beer prices in more than 20 years. The company said that many imported beer brands increased their prices last year in light of higher raw material costs. In terms of its other products, TTL said the price of its rice wine — which it sells at a loss — would remain the same, due to its widespread use as a cooking ingredient.

Taiwanese cyclist wins silver in Asian road championshipsStaff writer, with CNATaiwanese road cyclist Tu Chih-hao on Saturday won a silver medal in the men’s elite individual time trial at the Asian Road Cycling Championships in Thailand. The silver medal also earned Tu a slot in the upcoming Hangzhou Asian Games, which is to be held in China from September to October. Taiwanese road cyclist Tu Chih-hao warms up on a bicycle in an undated photograph. Photo: CNA“I’m definitely happy to clinch a berth in the Asian Games, but you always want to win as an athlete,” Tu said in a statement. “The gold medalist performed very well in Europe, too, so I have nothing to say about losing to him, but I want to get my revenge at the Asian Games,” he added.

Divided US Fed expected to pause interest rate hikeAFP, WASHINGTONThe US Federal Reserve is widely expected to pause its campaign of interest rate increases on Wednesday to give policymakers more time to assess the economic affect of existing hikes and recent banking stresses. The Fed has raised its benchmark lending rate by 5 percentage points since March last year, lifting it to 5.00 to 5.25 percent. While most major banks predict a pause, there are still some notable outliers who expect the Fed to hike rates by another quarter of a percentage point. “We are maintaining our call for a 25bp [basis points] rate hike next week — though admittedly it is a close call,” Citigroup Inc economists wrote in an investor note. This would mean the Fed could leave the door open for an additional rate hike if needed, possibly as early as next month, analysts said.

More BRICS or Chinese checkers? Ideally, BRICS should have balanced itself against Chinese hegemony by reviving the spirit of India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA), which predated BRICS. As in the SCO, and so in BRICS, India understands that it could be isolated. While promoting Africa, South Africa is itself not supporting African preferences. The push for setting criteria is actually a battle to choose partners that would be more amenable to current BRICS members.

US-China dialogue is still possibleBy Paul Lin 林保華US President Joe Biden has been in politics for 50 years, and he is putting that experience toward organizing a united front to take on China and Russia. Will US-China relations change? One of the reasons was that Chinese Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu (李尚福) was sanctioned by the US government in 2018 for buying Russian weapons. After the recent two incidents, the US has been acting cautiously to avoid any trouble, with the hope that Beijing and Washington can restart a dialogue. The third confrontation was in a US-China exchange carried out earlier this month.

EDITORIAL: Preschool drugging unacceptableEight preschool children at a private preschool in New Taipei City’s Banciao District (板橋) have tested positive for barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Prosecutors in the past few days have questioned teachers at the school, who parents accused of drugging their children. The incident sparked a massive public outcry, not only toward the school, but also toward the Taipei City Government, with many saying its response to the incident was too slow. After the news conferences drew public attention, the New Taipei City Department of Health on Monday conducted drug tests at the preschool. The emergency services in New Taipei City were blamed for responding too slowly.

Kipyegon and Girma star in night of world recordsAFP, PARISKenya’s Faith Kipyegon made it two world records in a week after delivering a masterclass in the women’s 5,000m at the Paris Diamond League meeting on Friday, while Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma smashed the 19-year-old record in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase. However, it was Kipyegon who stole the show just seven days after shattering the women’s world record in the 1,500m in Florence. When I saw that it was a world record I was so surprised. I just wanted to improve on my personal best, the world record was not my plan,” she said. The 22-year-old Norwegian, already the world record holder for 1,500m indoors, clocked 7:54.10 in an incredible display in the seldom-run event, which is not an acknowledged Olympic or world distance.

Nigeria’s start-up king seeks unicornsAFP, PARISIyinoluwa Aboyeji might not have the personal wealth of Elon Musk or Mark Zuckerberg, but his level of success as an African entrepreneur bears comparison with any Silicon Valley tech titan. By most counts, Africa has produced only seven unicorns compared with more than 700 in the US. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, cofounder of fintech firm Flutterwave and training platform Andela, poses for a photograph in Lagos, Nigeria, on Tuesday. I played well.”His Future Africa firm, one of the continent’s biggest start-up funds, is preparing to launch a new round of investing. The global economic downturn has seriously hampered African tech start-ups.

Djokovic into 7th Roland Garros finalSHE IS BACK: After an 18-month break, Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei reached the French Open women’s doubles final for the first time in nearly 10 years with new partner Wang XinyuAFP, PARISNovak Djokovic on Friday reached his seventh final at Roland Garros in dramatic circumstances when world No. Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz during their men’s singles match at Roland Garros in Paris on Friday. That’s the truth.”Ruud thrashed Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 to make his third Grand Slam final in his past five tournaments. He was runner-up to Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last year and then lost to Alcaraz in the US Open final. “I know anything can happen so I just try to enjoy and push my partner to do everything on the court,” she told Roland Garros, jokingly.

Ko says he will ask China about ‘1992 consensus’Staff writer, with CNAChina has never clearly stated its interpretation of the so-called “1992 consensus,” Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) said, adding that he would ask Beijing to do so if he is elected. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je speaks to reporters in Kaohsiung yesterday. Photo: Lee Hui-chou, Taipei TimesThe Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) rejects the “1992 consensus,” saying that agreeing to it implies acceptance of China’s claim over Taiwan. “The problem is that China itself has not made clear its definition of the ‘1992 consensus,’” Ko said in the interview, adding that if he is elected president, he will ask Beijing to give a clear, official interpretation of the consensus. Asked how Taiwan and China could peacefully coexist, Ko said it was important to remember that “the current China is not how China will be forever.”“China will change,” Ko said.

ProLogium to continue expanding, CEO saysStaff writer, with CNAElectric vehicle (EV) battery maker ProLogium Technology Co (輝能科技) would continue to expand its operations in Taiwan despite announcing it would build a new “gigafactory” in France, company founder and chief executive officer Vincent Yang (楊思枏) said yesterday. “It is clear that we are rooted in Taiwan, and [we are] expanding overseas on a foundation built in Taiwan,” Yang told a news conference cohosted by the French Office in Taipei. ProLogium Technology Co chief executive officer Vincent Yang holds a battery made by the company at an event in Taipei yesterday. He declined to provide details on the subsidies to be provided by the French government, saying talks on the issue were still being finalized. Francois Cotier, director of Business France Taiwan, later told reporters that France welcomes Taiwanese investment in the nation, especially investment focused on biotechnology, e-mobility and other advanced technologies.

Cultivate talent based on abilityBy Lin Cheng-wu 林政武The keynote speech by Nvidia Corp cofounder and CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) at National Taiwan University’s (NTU) commencement ceremony has prompted reflection on several issues. Even though there are multiple avenues of admission to high schools, the Comprehensive Assessment Program for Junior-High School Students has remained the key to entering top-ranking institutions. A student with three types of intelligence tends to be more popular and would feel like a fish in water. Parents in Taiwan believe that if their child wants to be an athlete, it is highly unlikely that they would become a superstar. Parents want their children to study hard because it is the most common path and seems safer.

Hot Cheetos get a loaded origin story, one that’s worth the crunch‘Flamin Hot’ is a winning tale of perseverance, family love, proud heritage and blue-collar success, told with a winkBy Mark Kennedy / APFlamin’ Hot Cheetos get an origin story worthy of any Marvel superhero with Hulu’s totally engrossing Flamin’ Hot. You’ll wish Flamin’ Hot was accurate because it’s a winning tale of perseverance, family love, proud heritage and blue-collar success, told with a wink, some Cheetos dust and a ton of love by Eva Longoria, in her directorial debut. From left, Brice Gonzalez, Annie Gonzalez, Jesse Garcia and Hunter Jones in a scene from Flamin’ Hot. Jesse Garcia, left, and Dennis Haysbert in a scene from Flamin’ Hot. That’s a lot of stuff to put in a bag of chips, even if it’s all made up.