Latest news with #MrNiceGuy
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
The Irish Independent's View: EU must abandon soft diplomacy in face of Donald Trump's shock tactics
When even in trade, it's all about shock and awe, there is little sense in using one's indoor voice. So, as hopes of a tariffs trade deal between Washington and Brussels firm up, it was not too remarkable to hear the EU has readied a 'trade retaliation' range of options against Mr Trump. These may be triggered at any moment, at the first sign of any new shenanigans. In the event of things going sideways, the countermeasures can be set off without protracted wrangling among member states. The move allows for tariffs of up to 30pc on €93bn worth of US imports to the EU to take effect on August 7. Sources within the bloc suggest there can be no more Mr Nice Guy. 'Our first, second and third priorities are to get to a negotiated outcome, but we will not hesitate to use all tools available to us in case a deal is blocked or not upheld,' one diplomat said. If reports are correct, a deal that would levy 15pc 'reciprocal' tariffs on most EU exports to the US is close to being signed. Should there be a breakdown, however, and Mr Trump follows through on his threat to raise tariffs to 30pc from August 1, the bloc is now primed to strike back. There is some speculation that there may be good news for Ireland, with talk that the deal would waive tariffs on some products, including aircraft, spirits and medical devices. But pharmaceuticals could still be hit. Former UK prime minister Benjamin Disraeli once said that 'it destroys one's nerves to be amiable every day to the same human being'. ADVERTISEMENT But to date, Donald Trump hasn't taxed himself unduly by being overly nice to his allies. And given his penchant for routinely changing his mind, it is as well to prepare for the worst while working for the best. With this in mind, ministers Paschal Donohoe and Jack Chambers have said they would revise their plans to spend an additional €9.4bn on Budget day, should Mr Trump drop the hammer. Whatever happens, it is obvious transatlantic relations are transformed. It was no accident that European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen was in China when she announced: 'All instruments remain on the table until we have a satisfactory result,' referring to the US standoff. She also made plain that the EU's relationship with China stands on its own merits, and is independent of the actions or the issues it has with others. Mr Trump has sought to reshape America's global role, weaken globalisation and pile the pressure on allies, chiefly Europe.
New Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Jackie Chan mourns loss of Singapore-born food critic Chua Lam
HONG KONG: Renowned Singapore-born food critic, TV personality, and former film producer Chua Lam has died at the age of 83. AsiaOne reported yesterday that his death was announced on his Facebook and Weibo pages on 27 June, with the posts reading: "Our beloved Mr Chua Lam passed away peacefully at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on 25 June 2025, accompanied by relatives and friends. In accordance with his wishes, no ceremony will be held, and his body has been cremated. Thank you all for your concern for Mr Chua." Martial arts icon Jackie Chan was among several celebrities who paid tribute to Chua, who produced several of Chan's films, including City Hunter (1993), Crime Story (1993), Thunderbolt (1995), and Mr Nice Guy (1997). Calling Chua his "half-master" on Facebook, the 71-year-old wrote about the "fresh and inspiring" stories the former shared with him, Sammo Hung, and Yuen Biao while filming in Europe. "I was on the set when I heard the news my 'half-master' had passed away," he said. "The first thing that surfaced in my mind were the times we filmed together overseas. Back then, he taught me many meaningful lessons, and it wasn't until later in life that I started to slowly understand. "I recall him saying how our time on Earth is about learning how to live, how to die, and how to survive." Chan added: And the most important thing in life depends on whether you're happy or not. I know that he lived a free-spirited and joyful life, which is most important." Benny Se Teo, founder of restaurant chain Eighteen Chefs, wrote on Instagram: "A towering figure in the culinary world, Chua's wit, unapologetic palate and lifelong passion for food shaped the way many, including myself, see and taste the world. He wasn't just a gourmand, he was a storyteller whose insights and irreverent charm left a lasting legacy across Asia's food scene." The Singaporean chef also described Chua as "a flavour that lingers". Hong Kong director Patrick Kong posted on his Instagram Story that he had grown up reading Chua's books and learned "what a tasteful life is" from him. Hong Kong-based French actress and patissier Amanda Strang wrote: "To my mentor, my master, thank you for inspiring my culinary journey. Because of you, I've learned so much about cuisine and the connections it fosters between people." She added that losing Chua was "deeply painful" and that he will be "dearly missed". Born in Singapore, Chua was the brother of Chua Liang, 91, the former principal of Nanyang Girls' High School, and the late TV drama producer Chua Swan, according to The Straits Times. He was married to former film producer Cheung King-Man, who died in 2023. Chua moved to Hong Kong in 1963, where he worked with film houses Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. He was also a food columnist for Oriental Daily and Next Media, and had over 150 books to his name. In 1989, he co-hosted The Celebrity Talk Show with science fiction writer Ni Kuang and songwriter James Wong, interviewing personalities such as Maggie Cheung, Chow Yun-Fat, Leslie Cheung, and Joey Wong. Chua was also the last living member of the Four Great Talents of Hong Kong, a title he shared with James Wong, Ni Kuang, and martial arts writer Louis Cha.
AsiaOne
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
From Jackie Chan to Eighteen Chefs' Benny Se Teo: Tributes pour in after death of Singapore-born food critic Chua Lam, Lifestyle News
Renowned food critic, TV personality and former film producer Chua Lam has died at the age of 83. The news was announced on his Facebook and Weibo pages yesterday (June 27), with the posts reading: "Our beloved Mr Chua Lam passed away peacefully at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on June 25, 2025, accompanied by relatives and friends. "In accordance with his wishes, no ceremony will be held, and his body has been cremated. "Thank you all for your concern for Mr Chua." Jackie Chan was one of several celebrities who have paid tribute to Chua Lam, who produced several of the former's films including City Hunter (1993), Crime Story (1993), Thunderbolt (1995) and Mr Nice Guy (1997). Calling Chua Lam his "half-master" on Facebook, the 71-year-old wrote of the "fresh and inspiring" stories the former shared with him, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao while filming in Europe. "I was on the set when I heard the news my 'half-master' had passed away," he continued. "The first thing that surfaced in my mind were the times we filmed together overseas. "Back then, he taught me many meaningful lessons, and it wasn't until later in life that I started to slowly understand. I recall him saying how our time on earth is about learning how to live, how to die, and how to survive. "And the most important thing in life depends on whether you're happy or not. I know that he lived a free-spirited and joyful life, which is most important." Benny Se Teo, local founder of restaurant chain Eighteen Chefs, wrote on Instagram: "A towering figure in the culinary world... Chua's wit, unapologetic palate and lifelong passion for food shaped the way many including myself see and taste the world. "He wasn't just a gourmand, he was a storyteller whose insights and irreverent charm left a lasting legacy across Asia's food scene." The Singaporean chef also called Chua Lam "a flavour that lingers". [embed] Hong Kong director Patrick Kong posted in his Instagram Story that he had grown up reading Chua Lam's books, and learnt "what a tasteful life is" from him. Hong Kong-based French actress and patissier Amanda Strang wrote: "To my mentor, my master, thank you for inspiring my culinary journey. Because of you, I've learnt so much about cuisine and the connections it fosters between people." She added that losing Chua Lam is "deeply painful" and that he will be "dearly missed". Born in Singapore, Chua Lam was the brother of Chua Liang, 91, former principal of Nanyang Girls' High School, and late TV drama producer Chua Swan, according to The Straits Times. He was married to former film producer Cheung King-man, who died in 2023. Chua Lam moved to Hong Kong in 1963, where he worked with film houses Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. He was also a food columnist for Oriental Daily and Next Media, and had over 150 books to his name. He co-hosted The Celebrity Talk Show with science fiction writer Ni Kuang and songwriter James Wong in 1989, interviewing the likes of Maggie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung, Joey Wang and more. Chua Lam was also the last living member of the Four Great Talents of Hong Kong, a title he shared with James, Ni Kuang and martial arts writer Louis Cha. drimac@
AsiaOne
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
From Jackie Chan to Eighteen Chefs' Benny Se Teo: Tributes pour in after death of Singapore-born food critic Chua Lam, Entertainment News
Renowned food critic, TV personality and former film producer Chua Lam has died at the age of 83. The news was announced on his Facebook and Weibo pages yesterday (June 27), with the posts reading: "Our beloved Mr Chua Lam passed away peacefully at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital on June 25, 2025, accompanied by relatives and friends. "In accordance with his wishes, no ceremony will be held, and his body has been cremated. "Thank you all for your concern for Mr Chua." Jackie Chan was one of several celebrities who have paid tribute to Chua Lam, who produced several of the former's films including City Hunter (1993), Crime Story (1993), Thunderbolt (1995) and Mr Nice Guy (1997). Calling Chua Lam his "half-master" on Facebook, the 71-year-old wrote of the "fresh and inspiring" stories the former shared with him, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao while filming in Europe. "I was on the set when I heard the news my 'half-master' had passed away," he continued. "The first thing that surfaced in my mind were the times we filmed together overseas. "Back then, he taught me many meaningful lessons, and it wasn't until later in life that I started to slowly understand. I recall him saying how our time on earth is about learning how to live, how to die, and how to survive. "And the most important thing in life depends on whether you're happy or not. I know that he lived a free-spirited and joyful life, which is most important." Benny Se Teo, local founder of restaurant chain Eighteen Chefs, wrote on Instagram: "A towering figure in the culinary world... Chua's wit, unapologetic palate and lifelong passion for food shaped the way many including myself see and taste the world. "He wasn't just a gourmand, he was a storyteller whose insights and irreverent charm left a lasting legacy across Asia's food scene." The Singaporean chef also called Chua Lam "a flavour that lingers". [embed] Hong Kong director Patrick Kong posted in his Instagram Story that he had grown up reading Chua Lam's books, and learnt "what a tasteful life is" from him. Hong Kong-based French actress and patissier Amanda Strang wrote: "To my mentor, my master, thank you for inspiring my culinary journey. Because of you, I've learnt so much about cuisine and the connections it fosters between people." She added that losing Chua Lam is "deeply painful" and that he will be "dearly missed". Born in Singapore, Chua Lam was the brother of Chua Liang, 91, former principal of Nanyang Girls' High School, and late TV drama producer Chua Swan, according to The Straits Times. He was married to former film producer Cheung King-man, who died in 2023. Chua Lam moved to Hong Kong in 1963, where he worked with film houses Shaw Brothers and Golden Harvest. He was also a food columnist for Oriental Daily and Next Media, and had over 150 books to his name. He co-hosted The Celebrity Talk Show with science fiction writer Ni Kuang and songwriter James Wong in 1989, interviewing the likes of Maggie Cheung, Chow Yun-fat, Leslie Cheung, Joey Wang and more. Chua Lam was also the last living member of the Four Great Talents of Hong Kong, a title he shared with James, Ni Kuang and martial arts writer Louis Cha. drimac@
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PCE Posts Highest Monthly Percentage Move in Four Years
The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), are out for the month of April. Results were positive across the board — eyebrow-raisingly so, in some cases. In fact, these figures have been strong enough to cut in half the pre-market plummet on the major indexes once President Trump posted 'No more Mr Nice Guy' in his trade negotiations with China. At this hour, the Dow is -114 points, the S&P 500 is -18, the Nasdaq -45 and the small-cap Russell 2000 is -10 points currently. The Dow, for instance, had fallen -244 points on the president's latest Truth Social post. Bond yields, on the other hand, are ticking up early today: +4.44% on the 10-year, +3.93% on the 2-year and +4.95% on the 30-year bond. Personal Income for April reached its highest single-month level in four years: +0.8% — well above the +0.3% expected and even above the upwardly revised +0.7% for March. We now see income growth in 2025 among the highest in many years, averaging +0.65% over the past four months. Consumer Spending, however, was in-line with expectations at +0.2% — half a point lower than the prior month's +0.7%. This is good news in terms of demonstrating economic strength amid plenty of murkiness among outlooks, though not exactly a feather in the cap for those who'd like to see the Fed lower interest rates. The PCE Index, month over month, was also as expected at +0.1%, up from the 0.0% reported the previous month. Year over year, +2.1% PCE is down 10 basis points (bps) from estimates. This also represents a low water mark last seen back in September of last year. Core PCE month over month — stripping out volatile food and energy costs — was identical to the overall headline: +0.1%, following 0.0% the prior month. Year over year, core PCE dropped to +2.5%, 10 bps below estimates and 20 bps beneath the upwardly revised +2.7% for March. Again considering our current environment, starting with early April's opening salvo into the latest global trade war, Advanced Retail Inventories are steady and benign: -0.1% on headline, in-line with expectations and -0.1% reported a month ago. Advanced Wholesale Inventories was flat for April, down from the +0.4% seen in the March report. Perhaps it will take some more distance from tariff Ground Zero to see how the new trade realities manifest in these reports. After all, these numbers are all subject to future revisions, and most of the tariff threats have yet been put on pause. But for now, it's tough to find a complaint; things appear to be working on the more macro-level. Advanced Trade Balance in Goods for April came in well below expectations: -$87.6 billion, the lowest since September of 2023. Analysts had expected -$147 billion, following a slight trimming to -$162 billion the previous month. This is the first advance trade deficit sub-12 digits since October of last year. At first blush, one would have to assume this has to do with the trade impact. Then again, as we see in the other data reflecting tariffs and trade, much of the grist has yet to meet the mill. But if this does prove to be a resonant part of our new trade scenario, it's certainly a welcome one. Once the opening bell sounds on this final trading day for the week, the Chicago Business Barometer (PMI) for May is expected, as is final Consumer Sentiment, also for May. The former is expected to improve somewhat, though still come in sub-50, which is the tipping point between growth and loss. The latter is forecast to remain steady just over this 50 precipice. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
