Tobias

Linyi authorities addressed controversy around a restaurant initially fined ¥450,000 for posting a video of “Toad Soup” made from regulated Asiatic toads. After an investigation launched in February and a notice of penalty in March, regulators withdrew the fine on May 12th following the owner’s appeal and video removal. However, on July 11th, the owner claimed regulators ignored her appeals and filed a lawsuit. She contends “Hama” (toad) regionally refers to legal species, highlighting ambiguity, while officials state they are reviewing the enforcement actions.

A California mother left her 1-year-old and 2-year-old sons in her hybrid car during a lip injection procedure in 38°C heat. The intended 20-minute appointment took 2.5 hours. Despite her claim of activating air conditioning, the vehicle’s auto-shutoff system deactivated after one hour. Upon return, the infant was unresponsive and later died, while the older child survived. Charged with homicide, Hernandez remains jailed. Safety experts stress that temperatures inside sealed cars rapidly reach lethal levels in summer heat, causing heatstroke quickly.

JD.com and Shanghai delivery riders reached a landmark agreement, brokered by the trade union, guaranteeing full-time riders a minimum income of 5,000 RMB/month for their first three months and hourly rates of at least 25 RMB for contract workers. Key provisions include daily work hour caps at 11 hours with rest reminders, algorithm adjustments to extend delivery times in challenging conditions, speed limits of 25 km/h, provision of 50,000 smart helmets, and work suspensions during extreme weather. (94 words)

Viral claims of DeepSeek’s usage collapsing from 50% to 3% are misleading. Data shows its peak was 6-7% on platforms like Poe, now near 3%—a 50% drop, not from 50%. Reports ignore its strategic shift: usage surged 20x via embedded third-party services (Tencent, Baidu, devices) despite direct API traffic dip. Prioritizing AGI research over commercial optimization, DeepSeek’s future hinges on next-gen models, not cherry-picked stats. (98 words)

TikTok creator “The Jungle Pups” claimed ownership of a unique £20,000, 24-karat gold Labubu figurine, betting on its rising value. Her viral video sparked skepticism over authenticity. She showcased magnet tests and a “gold detector,” and later revealed rare emerald, diamond, and pink diamond variants to bolster her claims. However, attempts to verify these gemstones with a suspicious “gem detector,” which beeped like a common phone ringtone, fueled online mockery and disbelief. Her efforts highlighted the blend of digital spectacle, luxury culture, and satirical content.

**CNBC, July 11:** China cracked down on 3,008 fraudulent accounts impersonating state entities like news outlets, government agencies, and SOEs for false advertising, counterfeit sales, and disrupting public order. Enforcement targeted fake news (e.g., “Dynamic News”), forged education bodies (e.g., “Anhui Education Exam”), unauthorized tourism ambassadors (e.g., “Rizhao Cultural Tourism”), and fake postal services (e.g., “Postal Selections”). Platforms must boost verification and reporting systems amid ongoing regulatory pressure. (99 Words)

Analysts boosted AMD’s stock to ‘buy’ with a $200 target, citing its MI350 AI chips as a strong Nvidia competitor. Increased optimism centers on the MI350’s performance rivaling Nvidia’s Blackwell and higher-than-expected pricing, with the MI355 model now projected to sell for $25,000. HSBC significantly raised AMD’s projected 2026 AI chip revenue to $15.1 billion (up from $9.6B). The positive outlook drove AMD’s stock up 4.15% recently.

**Concise English Summary (100 words):**

Apple plans early 2026 launches of affordable devices to boost demand. Updates include refreshed entry-level iPads and iPad Air (featuring M4 chip) around March/April, an M5 iPad Pro in October, and the budget iPhone 17e with A19 chip—signaling annual refreshes for entry-tier iPhones. MacBook Pro (14-inch/16-inch) M5 models and new MacBook Airs, initially delayed, are now slated for H1 2026. Apple will also debut its first new Mac external display since 2022. A postponed smart home hub may release by mid-2026, dependent on Siri’s overhaul. Overall strategy extends momentum from fall 2024 product introductions.

**Zurich China paid a landmark $40 million settlement** for a product liability claim. A US child suffered permanent injuries in 2022 after swallowing a button battery from a defective Chinese-manufactured air conditioner remote insured by Zurich. As the excess layer insurer, Zurich settled the original $125.2M lawsuit to avoid a potentially higher US jury verdict. Completed in June 2025 (~¥141M), the payment impacted profits but left the insurer financially sound. This record settlement starkly highlights the catastrophic liability risks in markets like the US and the need for robust safety and tailored insurance for exporters.

Here’s the concise English summary (94 words):

The Pentagon acquires a $400 million strategic stake in Mountain Pass Materials, becoming the largest shareholder in America’s sole integrated rare earth producer. Securing 15% ownership via convertible preferred shares, the deal includes price-protected 10-year supply agreements and potential future investments to strengthen domestic mineral supply chains. Concurrently, Mountain Pass announced plans to build a rare earth magnet plant by 2028, expanding capacity to 10,000 tons annually for EV and defense needs. The transaction, supported by $1.15 billion in strategic funding from Wall Street banks, aims to solidify U.S. critical mineral independence.