Latest news with #TaoWang
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What's the safest helmet?
The science is clear: helmets save lives and reduce the risk of traumatic brain injuries. But picking the best helmet for a specific sport can get tricky, with so many different designs and materials to choose from. Take the game of cricket, for example. Its rules may be complex, but the risks are straightforward. A team's bowler hurls a leather covered, hard cork ball towards the opposing batter at speeds averaging 80 mph, while successful hits send the projectile towards a field of 10 other players. While not particularly popular in most of the United States yet, it remains one of the world's most watched competitive sports. The most recent Cricket World Cup held in 2023 set multiple broadcasting records, with an estimated 518 million people in India alone watching on TV. Factor in all the people playing on amateur, school, and minor league teams, and that adds up to plenty of chances for disastrous head injuries without the proper protection. So what helmet works best, and why? According to a research team at China's Chongqing Jiaotong University, the answer is clear after enlisting the help of computational simulations–but it still likely depends on your skill level. Their findings were published on July 15 in the journal AIP Advances. Researchers focused on helmets constructed with three types of materials—a strong plastic called Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), aluminum composites, and fiberglass alloys. While pricier helmets are often constructed from aluminum composites and fiberglass alloys, those made from strong plastics like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and other polymers tend to be more popular. 'These materials are not only light, but also have high energy absorption characteristics,' study co-author Tao Wang explained in a statement. That doesn't mean they are necessarily the best choice, however. To determine their performance comparisons, Wang and colleagues designed a virtual testing program based on precisely measured models of not just each helmet's geometry, but the cranial structure they are designed to protect. They then ran multiple simulations to monitor how a cricket ball's impact against each helmet variant distributed stress and strain across and into cerebral tissue. After analyzing the data, Wang's team determined that a player's best selection frequently depends on their level of play. When it comes to training or recreational sports, ABS helmets are often sufficient protection. However, that changes for more experienced players and professional athletes. Once reaching that elite status, the safer options are fiberglass or aluminum. While the latter is more brittle, it's better at evenly distributing stress across the head's surface, lowering the risk of traumatic injury. Wang cautioned that these model-driven rules don't necessarily translate across every sport beyond cricket. It's vital that coaches, players, and helmet designers factor in their specific game's various possibilities, such as a ball's interaction with gravity, rebound potential, angle, and more. 'Each sport should be checked individually, because loading conditions are different in different sports,' Wang said. Despite this, the study reinforces the importance of continued research into helmet improvements and sports-related injuries. Meanwhile, when it comes to selecting protection before heading out onto a field, one rule remains constant: almost any helmet is better than nothing.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
China gets worst 2025 growth forecast yet with UBS downgrade
(Bloomberg) — UBS Group AG (UBS) added to a series of growth downgrades for China with the most pessimistic forecast among major banks, predicting the economy will expand just 3.4% this year as US tariffs choke exports. How Did This Suburb Figure Out Mass Transit? The Secret Formula for Faster Trains Even Oslo Has an Air Quality Problem NYC Tourist Helicopter Crashes in Hudson River, Killing Six Lisbon Mayor Wants Companies to Help Fix City's Housing Shortage The Swiss bank, which previously saw growth in 2025 at 4%, maintained its estimate for next year at 3%. Both forecasts are the lowest of all projections for the economy compiled by Bloomberg. 'The tariff shock poses unprecedented challenges to China's exports and will set forth major adjustment in the domestic economy as well,' UBS economists including Tao Wang wrote in a note Tuesday. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Citigroup Inc. (C) are among global banks that cut their outlook for China in recent days, with most economists doubting Beijing can achieve the official target of around 5% growth this year. Assuming current tariff increases stay in place, they will likely drag down growth in China's gross domestic product by more than 2 percentage points despite additional stimulus expected from Beijing, according to UBS. The economists conceded their view has 'high margins of error' due to the 'extremely large uncertainty' surrounding the eventual tariff rates. Exports to the US are expected to fall by two-thirds in the coming quarters and total overseas shipments may drop by 10% in dollar terms this year, they added. 'We think some of China's other trading partners may also raise tariffs on Chinese goods in the coming months, but likely only on specific products and not in similar magnitudes as the US tariffs,' the UBS analysts said. China's economy likely held up well in the first quarter before the biggest tariff hikes came into force. Last month's exports in dollar terms far exceeded forecasts and soared 12.4% from a year earlier, reversing a decline of 3% in February. What Bloomberg Economics Says... 'With the trade war with the US escalating sharply, the economy will face stronger headwinds. We expect policymakers to expedite stimulus.' — Chang Shu and David Qu. For full analysis, click here Analysts broadly expect the negative impact of the levies to become evident in the coming months, after President Donald Trump raised total tariffs slapped this year on most Chinese goods to 145%. Cargo volumes handled by Chinese ports are already slowing in April. They peaked in the last week of March, which may represent a high point for Chinese trade if the dispute with the US escalates. The Chinese government is likely to add fiscal stimulus worth up to 2 percentage points of GDP to bolster growth, with a focus on expanding domestic demand and helping businesses and households fend off the tariff shock, according to UBS. It expects the People's Bank of China ( to cut policy rates and the amount of cash lenders must keep in reserve starting as soon as this month. The economists see at least 30-40 basis points of rate cuts. —With assistance from James Mayger. (Updates with export, cargo data starting in ninth paragraph.) The Beauty Salon Recession Indicator Trump Is Firing the Wrong People, on Purpose GM's Mary Barra Has to Make a $35 Billion EV Bet Work in Trump's America Cheap Consumer Goods Are the American Dream, Actually World Travelers Are Rethinking Vacation Plans to the US ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. By subscribing, you are agreeing to Yahoo's Terms and Privacy Policy Sign in to access your portfolio
Gulf Business
07-04-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Hong Kong shares suffer steepest decline since 1997
Hong Kong stocks suffered their biggest drop since 1997 on Monday after Beijing hit back at US tariffs with its own trade levies, deepening market turmoil amid fears of a widening trade war. China's sovereign wealth fund stepped in to stabilise local shares. The Hang Seng index slumped 13.2 per cent, marking its sharpest one-day decline since 1997. Tech, solar, banking and online retail stocks plunged, as investors rapidly dumped anything tied to global growth and trade. China's CSI300 blue-chip index fell 7 per cent after Central Huijin, the so-called 'national team' of state-backed investors, announced in the afternoon session it had increased holdings of Chinese stocks to support market stability. Trading volumes in ETFs linked to the CSI300 index surged. The yuan slipped to its weakest level since January, while Chinese bonds rallied sharply. Facing US tariffs of over 50 per cent, China retaliated on Friday with additional levies on American imports. The intensifying standoff between the world's two biggest economies now threatens to disrupt global trade flows, dent Chinese corporate earnings, and further slow global demand – at a time when China is already facing sluggish growth. 'I think the impact of this shock is going to be quite significant,' said Tao Wang, chief China economist at UBS, during a call with investors. 'It was challenging to achieve the government's growth target to start with. And now it's even more challenging.' Trading volumes were elevated, especially as Chinese markets were closed on Friday, when selling pressure spiked in the US and other global financial centres. The Hang Seng Tech Index plummeted 17 per cent – its worst single-day performance since records began. The index is now down 27 per cent over the past month and close to its level at the start of the year before the DeepSeek-driven rally. 'The Asia move this morning is partly a catch-up from Friday for markets… so I wouldn't say there's been a disproportionate move today – it's a blanket risk-off,' said Ben Bennett, head of investment strategy for Asia at LGIM in Hong Kong. Mainland indexes tracking solar firms and household appliance makers each lost around 10 per cent. Selling also hit oil and gas stocks hard, as recession fears battered oil prices, with pressure seen across sectors from EVs to cloud computing. The Hang Seng volatility index surged to its highest level since March 2022. Hong Kong-listed shares of HSBC tumbled 15 per cent, while Standard Chartered fell 16 per cent. With no signs of a backdown from the White House, investor focus has shifted to Beijing for measures that could support Chinese exporters and boost the domestic economy. 'Beijing will have little option now but to accelerate domestic consumption, so more measures to stimulate demand are expected,' said Steven Luk, CEO of FountainCap Research & Investment. 'We are not degrossing but looking to take advantage of the selloff by buying names with more exposure to domestic demand.' Shares in online giants Alibaba and Tencent dropped 18 per cent and 12.5 per cent, respectively.
New York Times
05-03-2025
- Business
- New York Times
China's Economic Plan Is Light on Detail as Trade War Intensifies
For months, China has promised to help its people spend more to turn the economy around, while taking few concrete measures. On Wednesday, the country's top leaders pledged to 'vigorously' boost spending but once again offered limited details and little money to back it up. The government's budget and annual work report, released on the most important day in China's political calendar, during the meeting in Beijing called the National People's Congress, set an optimistic target of 5 percent growth but gave scant indication of how the economy would get there without another surge in exports this year. China's reliance on trade for growth faces fresh challenges as the United States and many other countries have raised tariffs on Chinese goods. 'The headwinds remain very strong on growth: The property market hasn't stabilized and consumer confidence remains low,' said Tao Wang, chief China economist at UBS. 'Now we have a fresh wave of tariffs and who knows what else will come. Policy needs to do the heavy lifting.' Here are some key takeaways from China's budget — and what it means for one of the world's biggest economies. Beijing to consumers: Spend, spend, spend! China is one of the few places in the world with deflation, an economic condition in which many prices are falling. That might sound appealing to Americans struggling with hefty bills for groceries and other expenses, but it can be a crippling problem: Many companies and households have seen their earnings shrink in recent years. Deflation also raises the cost of debt payments and encourages consumers to put off purchases on the expectation of prices being lower in the future. China's leadership acknowledged this on Wednesday, when it set its target for consumer inflation at 2 percent, the lowest rate in two decades. To reverse falling prices and achieve that target, it needs to get households to feel richer. One way is to expand the country's social safety net. Officials said that they would raise minimum basic old age pensions by $2.75 per person each month, a token amount that experts said was too modest. They promised child care subsidies and more services for the elderly, two major burdens for households, without giving any details. There was also a mention of improving wages. The government wants to entice people to buy things like home appliances and smartphones, go to the movies and eat out. Some cities, like Shanghai, have handed out vouchers for discounts as high as 30 percent for catering, tourism and sports. But China's leaders did not announce nationwide vouchers on Wednesday. Instead, they focused on more subsidies for consumers who want to trade in their old cars, appliances and even rice cookers. The government also targeted the creation of 12 million urban jobs to keep unemployment around 5.5 percent. More companies like DeepSeek, please. The blistering success of the homegrown artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek has delivered a dose of national pride and awakened the government to the power of its private sector. China's top leader, Xi Jinping, signaled last month a pause in his yearslong crackdown on the tech sector when he met with Jack Ma, the country's most prominent entrepreneur who had been sidelined for four years. On Wednesday, the government said it would prioritize tech innovation. The push is part of Mr. Xi's ambition to make China technologically self-sufficient, rivaling the United States. It also part of a broader realization that China's tech sector is a critical factor in Beijing's drive to bolster consumption and create more jobs. Days after Mr. Xi met with Mr. Ma and other corporate chieftains, telling them to 'help promote common prosperity,' two of the country's biggest employers, the delivery companies Meituan and announced that they would pay social security benefits to many of their riders. China's government has less money to go around. For most of the past four decades, China's national and local governments rode an ever-rising tide of tax revenue. The money helped them pay for an extensive bullet train network, enormous industrial subsidies and a rapid military buildup. Those days are over. Deflation is gnawing at the government's financial base and beginning to erode its ability to undertake big projects. The Ministry of Finance's budget included a series of disclosures showing that tax revenue last year was considerably weaker than expected. The result is that China's budget deficit is widening. The biggest money spinner for the national government is the value-added tax, a kind of sales tax that is collected on practically every transaction in China. Revenue from that tax unexpectedly tumbled 3.9 percent last year, almost 8 percent less than the ministry had planned, according to the budget. The ministry nonetheless predicted that revenue from the value-added tax would recover this year, growing 3.8 percent.
