Tobias

Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle jeans ad is generating controversy for its perceived sexualization, racial insensitivity, and allusions to eugenics, despite supporting a charitable cause. While some praise it as anti-“woke,” neither Sweeney nor American Eagle have responded to criticisms. Despite the backlash, Sweeney’s endorsements, including past collaborations with Dr. Squatch and HeyDude, demonstrate her significant influence driving sales and boosting brand value: American Eagle’s stock surged 17% after the campaign launch. Her “Sydney Sweeney Effect” underscores her power in advertising despite controversy.

At the China Digital Entertainment Congress (CDEC) in Shanghai, Huawei highlighted HarmonyOS 5 and its impact on the gaming industry. HarmonyOS now powers over 10 million devices, with over 6,500 HarmonyOS games available. Fueled by technological advancements and content integration, China’s game market is booming, generating significant revenue both domestically and overseas. HarmonyOS’s architecture, performance, and openness are promoting high-quality game development. Huawei is empowering developers with AI, interconnectivity, and optimized performance via the Ark Engine, also expanding globally and supporting mini-games, with 8 million registered developers.

Rumors circulated online suggesting Google would resume full services in mainland China on September 1st. However, Google’s official Weibo account quickly denied these claims, stating the information was “not true.” Google withdrew its search services from mainland China in 2010 but maintains a presence with offices and an AI research center. In February 2025, China’s SAMR launched an anti-monopoly investigation into Google, potentially focusing on the Android ecosystem.

ChinaJoy 2025 featured Huawei’s Gaming Center, highlighting over 50 HarmonyOS games, including popular titles like “Honor of Kings” and “NBA 2K Showdown.” The 1,000㎡ HarmonyOS gaming zone showcased advancements like a 21% responsiveness improvement in optimized games and innovative “Tap-to-Play” multiplayer features, enabling quick file sharing and offline gaming. Demonstrations included car console gaming and AI-powered game assistants, emphasizing speed, intelligence, and cross-device integration within the HarmonyOS ecosystem.

Sharp is developing a VR haptic glove to enhance virtual reality immersion by simulating tactile feedback and textures. The prototype, expected to cost around $760 USD, uses independent vibration modules on each fingertip. These modules aim to replicate the sensation of touching various materials. However, Sharp cautions that the project is in early stages and may face potential setbacks, including possible discontinuation of development and related products.

A multi-billion dollar inheritance dispute over the Wahaha empire has begun in Hong Kong, with Zong Fuli reportedly facing an initial setback in court. However, this is just the first stage of a larger legal battle, with a significant lawsuit filed against Zong Fuli in Hangzhou. The case involves individuals claiming to be her half-siblings seeking asset preservation. Zong Fuli is represented by Stevenson, Wong & Co., the same firm that successfully defended Stephen Chow in a previous high-profile profit-sharing case.

Gree Electric has denied online rumors alleging executives colluded with an overseas investor, identified as Zhang Mouli, to commit fraud. Gree asserts an internal investigation found no evidence of improper dealings and condemns the claims as fabricated and defamatory due to lack of preemptive verification. The company has reported the article to the police, initiated legal action to protect its reputation and that of its executives, and advises business partners to engage directly with Gree to prevent potential fraud. The original article is no longer available online.

NVIDIA quietly added InnoScience, a Chinese GaN manufacturer, to its list of 800V DC power architecture partners, making it the sole Chinese supplier. This triggered a surge in InnoScience’s stock price in Hong Kong. InnoScience confirmed the collaboration, noting its GaN technology’s role, but cautioned that it’s still in the testing phase without concrete orders. InnoScience, the world’s first IDM mass-producing 8-inch GaN wafers, leads in GaN discrete device shipments, serving various sectors, including EVs and data centers.

Microsoft has expanded its .NET bug bounty program, increasing the top reward to $40,000 for critical vulnerabilities in .NET and ASP.NET Core. The program now encompasses a wider range of technologies and offers tiered rewards based on the severity of the vulnerability, incentivizing researchers to focus on the most damaging flaws, like Remote Code Execution (RCE) and Elevation of Privilege (EoP). This move reflects Microsoft’s commitment to proactive security and leveraging external talent to identify weaknesses.

BYD has officially named its first fleet of eight transport vessels, marking a significant step in establishing a global logistics network. Seven ships are operational, with “Jinan” entering sea trials. The standardized design of vessels like “Pioneer 1,” “Shenzhen,” and “Zhengzhou” promises streamlined costs and efficient operations. This dedicated fleet addresses international logistics challenges amid BYD’s surging overseas EV sales and leverages domestic manufacturing hubs, signaling its commitment to global market leadership.