Posts by Liam Redmond
Japan mulls taxing small parcels as Shein, Temu expand
Published Tue, May 20, 2025 · 01:02 PM [TOKYO] Japan is mulling a review of tax exemptions for small parcels including those shipped from China, joining a slew of governments stepping up scrutiny over a duty-free channel used by Shein and PDD Holdings’ Temu. A government tax experts group last week discussed problems related to…
Read MorePut down that chicken nugget — microplastics in junk food may be making you depressed
More like discomfort food. A collection of four papers — published Tuesday in the journal Brain Medicine — reports a disturbing link between microplastics, ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and mental health. Shocking new research suggests some of your favorite foods may be giving your brain a not-so-happy meal. Getty Images/iStockphoto UPFs — which are considered unhealthy…
Read MoreMark Vientos’ power becoming too ‘on and off’ for Mets
BOSTON — Contact hasn’t been Mark Vientos’ problem lately as much as driving the ball. The Mets third baseman/DH began Monday a respectable 16-for-54 (.296) in May, but with only two extra-base hits for the month. Vientos homered against the Cubs on May 11 and followed with a double the next night against the Pirates.…
Read MoreAsia: Markets rebound to track Wall Street up as China cuts rates
[HONG KONG] Asian markets rose on Tuesday as investor sentiment returned following the previous day’s US rating-fuelled losses, with sentiment also boosted after China cut interest rates to historic lows. The rally tracked advances on Wall Street, where the initial selloff sparked by Moody’s removal of Washington’s triple-A grade soon gave way to a push…
Read MoreJuan Soto is ‘very, very glum’ inside Mets’ clubhouse: Michael Kay
Juan Soto is “glum” around the Mets’ clubhouse and he wanted to return to the Yankees last offseason before signing a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, Yanks’ broadcaster Michael Kay claimed on his radio show on Monday. Soto has faced intense scrutiny after his less-than-stellar return to The Bronx over the weekend,…
Read MoreChina banks cut deposit rates to aid margins, drive spending
MAJOR Chinese banks cut deposit rates again, in the latest efforts to preserve their shrinking profitability and drive consumers to spend more amid a flagging economy. Lenders including the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China and China Merchants Bank trimmed rates across maturities on Tuesday…
Read MoreCATL rises in Hong Kong trading debut in world’s top listing in 2025
[HONG KONG] Contemporary Amperex Technology Co Limited (CATL) rose in its Hong Kong trading debut after the Chinese battery giant wrapped up the world’s biggest listing this year by raising HK$35.7 billion (S$5.9 billion) despite being blacklisted by the Pentagon and grinding through geopolitical storms. Shares of CATL, as the largest maker of electric vehicle…
Read MoreCATL’s strong Hong Kong debut boosts outlook for Chinese companies’ fundraising
[HONG KONG] Shares in CATL closed 16 per cent higher on their Hong Kong debut on Tuesday (May 20) after the Chinese electric vehicle battery giant raised US$4.6 billion in the world’s largest listing this year, boosting prospects for equity sales by Chinese companies. CATL’s strong debut came despite heightened market uncertainty, a Chinese economic…
Read MoreFrench pizza chef confesses to killing recluse man, then chopping and cooking his body in pot of vegetables
A French restaurant owner confessed to killing a recluse man during a botched robbery, then chopping up his body and cooking parts of it in a pot of vegetables to try to cover up his tracks, according to a report. Philippe Schneider, 69, and his partner Nathalie Caboubassy, 45, are both on trial for their…
Read MoreNippon Steel boosts investment pledge for proposed US Steel deal
Trump has ordered another CFIUS review of the national security implications of the combination of both companies Published Tue, May 20, 2025 · 09:47 AM [NEW YORK] Nippon Steel has bolstered its pledge to invest in United States Steel in the event that US President Donald Trump approves the Japanese company’s proposed US$14.1 billion takeover,…
Read MoreChina lowers benchmark lending rates for first time since October
Published Tue, May 20, 2025 · 09:30 AM [SHANGHAI] China cut benchmark lending rates for the first time since October on Tuesday, after Beijing announced sweeping monetary easing measures earlier this month to support the broad economy. The one-year loan prime rate (LPR) was lowered by 10 basis points to 3.0 per cent from 3.1…
Read MoreChina’s central bank cuts two key rates to historic lows
[BEIJING] China’s central bank on Tuesday (May 20) cut two key interest rates to historic lows, as Beijing battles to stimulate its economy amid seesaw trade tensions with the US. Beijing and Washington have been locked in a bruising trade war but last week agreed to slash sweeping tariffs on each other’s goods for 90…
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