Tobias

U.S. beef prices are soaring to record highs due to trade tariffs, drought, and rising feed costs, potentially leading to the most expensive burgers in history. Ground beef prices surged to $13.49 per kilogram in June, a 12% increase year-over-year. Steak prices are also rising. A new 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, effective August 1st, will further inflate prices, potentially raising the total tax burden on Brazilian beef to 76%. Some businesses are reducing patty sizes to cope with the increased costs.

Pang Dong Lai, a Chinese retailer known for its exceptional customer service and quality control, plans to enter the infant formula market. Founder Yu Donglai announced the initiative on Douyin, aiming to focus on food safety and quality of life. The news has generated significant excitement among Chinese consumers, particularly expectant mothers who expressed hope for a reliable domestic alternative. Pang Dong Lai, with 13 stores and a central kitchen, generated nearly 17 billion yuan in sales in 2024.

A 48-year-old Thai man suffered a bizarre accident after rear-ending a pickup truck. The impact sent him headfirst into the truck bed, landing directly on a durian

Team Broadcasts (“Tuan Bo”), a rising trend on Chinese live streaming platforms, involves multiple hosts, often female, sharing a single broadcast. This format allows hosts to leverage collective charisma, skills, and audience reach.

Xiaomi enthusiasts await CEO Lei Jun’s annual address; however, the timing is uncertain. Redmi’s Wang Teng suggests Lei needs a break after a busy June. Lei’s annual speeches since 2020 have been highly anticipated, with last year’s focusing on the challenges of Xiaomi’s entry into the electric vehicle market. He attributed the success of the Xiaomi SU7 to collective courage.

BGI Genomics CEO Yin Ye’s predictions of humans living to 150 and Gen Z having limitless lifespans have sparked debate. A resurfaced video reveals Yin’s concern over the inaccessibility of advanced medical treatments due to high costs. He advocates for drastically reducing these costs to ensure equitable access to precision medicine, even in underserved regions. He also discussed the “overflow effect,” arguing that initial adoption by the wealthy will eventually lead to universal access to medical technologies, preparing society for extended lifespans.

Mohe, China’s “Arctic,” experienced unprecedented heat this summer, forcing hotels to install air conditioning. The Songying and Blueberry Hotels both chose Haier Smart Home brands, Haier and Leader respectively, to cool their properties. Songying valued Haier’s reliability, while Blueberry targeted younger guests with Leader’s stylish design and smart features. Haier’s strong logistics and service network enabled quick delivery and installation in this remote region, fueling a 300% sales increase in Northeast China and making it the fastest-growing brand in the industry.

Automakers promote ADAS, but experts stress these Level 2 systems are driver *aids*, not autonomous replacements. Drivers must remain engaged, bearing responsibility for accidents unless product defects are proven. Simulations revealed ADAS failures in critical scenarios: only 47% of vehicles avoided a highway collision with a truck obstruction at night, and only 58% stopped for a child darting into the road. V2X integration is seen as the future beyond current L2 limitations.

In 2018, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang proposed a collaboration with Samsung encompassing HBM, advanced process node development, and CUDA advancement. Reportedly rejected due to Samsung’s internal challenges, this decision allowed Nvidia to partner with SK Hynix for HBM, a lucrative alliance that saw SK Hynix’s share price surge. Meanwhile, Samsung now lags in HBM production and the AI chip foundry market, dominated by TSMC for Nvidia’s chips. Samsung is now trying to catch up, aiming for HBM4 contracts.

The Quark Health LLM has become the first domestic AI model in China to pass written evaluations for 12 core medical disciplines at the Chief Physician level. Integrated into Quark’s AI search, this “Chief Physician-level AI doctor” provides advanced diagnostic assistance. The LLM, built on Tongyi Qianwen, excels in complex medical challenges due to its “slow-thinking” abilities mimicking experienced physicians’ reasoning. With support from medical experts and a robust data system, Quark’s AI search platform is widely used by medical students.