Supermarket chain Iceland has filed a trademark application for its well-known “King Prawn Rings,” urging rival supermarkets to stop selling similar products. Iceland, headquartered in Flintshire, claims it has faced increasing imitation since introducing its prawn rings in 1991.

In a bold open letter shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Iceland called out major competitors Aldi, Tesco, Lidl, and Asda, accusing them of selling “copy crustaceans.” The letter cheekily asserted, “The King Prawn Ring is ours, and we won’t be letting you off the hook.”

Lidl humorously responded, “Here was us thinking it was a classic 1970s party dish.”

Iceland’s letter, signed by “Iceland Foods,” warned other retailers to cease selling prawn rings, especially ahead of Christmas. The chain emphasized its intent to pursue legal action if competitors don’t comply, declaring, “Our lawyers are more than ready to dive into legal waters.”

The prawn ring battle has sparked social media buzz, with consumers eagerly watching how rival supermarkets will respond to Iceland’s trademark claim.

China’s central bank, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), has launched a significant package of measures aimed at revitalizing its struggling economy. PBOC Governor Pan Gongsheng announced plans to lower borrowing costs and allow banks to expand lending to stimulate economic activity.

With recent economic data raising concerns that China may miss its 5% growth target this year, the central bank will cut the reserve requirement ratio (RRR)—the amount of cash banks must hold in reserve—by half a percentage point, releasing around 1 trillion yuan ($142 billion) into the economy. Additional cuts may follow later in the year.

The package also addresses China’s property market crisis by cutting interest rates for existing mortgages and reducing minimum down payments for all homes to 15%.

Asian stock markets responded positively to the news, seeing a boost after Mr. Pan’s announcement, which came during a rare joint press conference with officials from two other financial regulators.

The US government is set to ban certain hardware and software made in China and Russia from American cars, trucks, and buses, citing national security risks. Officials are concerned that technology used for autonomous driving and vehicle network connectivity could be exploited by foreign adversaries to “remotely manipulate cars on American roads.”

Though current use of Chinese or Russian-made software in US vehicles is minimal, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo stressed the importance of taking “targeted, proactive” measures. She highlighted how modern cars, equipped with cameras, microphones, GPS tracking, and internet connections, could be vulnerable to cyberattacks, posing a significant risk to national security and the privacy of US citizens.

China’s Foreign Ministry responded by criticizing the move, accusing the US of unfairly broadening the definition of national security to discriminate against Chinese companies. Lin Jian, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry, urged the US to adhere to market principles and create a fair business environment for Chinese firms.

The proposal, which is now open for public comment, is part of broader efforts by the Biden administration to reduce China’s role in the US automotive supply chain. This includes raising tariffs on electric vehicles and batteries, as well as banning Chinese-made cargo cranes over similar cybersecurity concerns.