Tobias

Julian LeFay, a key figure behind *The Elder Scrolls* franchise, has died at 59 after a battle with cancer. His studio, OnceLost Games, announced his passing shortly after he retired to spend time with family. LeFay was the lead engineer on *Arena* and *Daggerfall*, shaping the series’ core mechanics. He later co-founded OnceLost Games, developing *The Wayward Realms*. Bethesda’s Todd Howard expressed deep sorrow, acknowledging LeFay’s vital role in building the studio.

At the 2025 OpenAtom conference, Huawei’s Zhang Xiaofeng highlighted OpenHarmony’s progress in community growth (over 9,000 contributors), technological advancements, and industry adoption with over 1,200 compatible products. OpenHarmony supports diverse sectors, from finance to transportation. Customized OS distributions like “YiHong” are driving digital transformation. Integration of HarmonyOS in government and enterprise office applications is accelerating, promoting efficient office experiences. Zhang Xiaofeng called for increased collaboration to build a thriving OpenHarmony ecosystem.

Neuralink, Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface company, plans a major expansion, aiming to implant BCI chips in 20,000 patients annually by 2031, generating $1 billion in revenue. The company intends to establish five clinics in six years, developing “Telepathy,” “Blindsight,” and “Deep” implants for communication, vision restoration, and neurological disorder treatment. US approval for “Telepathy” is expected by 2029, with “Blindsight” launching in 2030. Neuralink, valued at $9 billion, has secured $1.3 billion in funding.

China’s Ministry of Public Security is increasing oversight of ADAS technologies amid growing adoption. New regulations and stricter scrutiny of automakers’ marketing claims are expected. The focus is on enhanced automaker accountability, refined legal frameworks for Level 0-2 ADAS, and public awareness campaigns emphasizing driver responsibility. Authorities will collaborate to clarify “human-machine co-driving” definitions and safety standards. The core message is that drivers are responsible for vehicle safety as current systems are not fully autonomous, and “hands-off, eyes-off” behavior carries risks.

The U.S. EPA is reportedly drafting a document to ease restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, claiming prior scientific conclusions were flawed and emissions are harmless, arguing that limitations harm human well-being. This move has sparked controversy. The potential shift echoes skepticism in the Chinese scientific community, with one academician recalling doubts raised in 2021 about Western commitment to emissions reduction, suggesting potential divergence in global climate action strategies.

WeChat Pay QR codes are now integrated into UnionPay’s Cloud QuickPass (Yunshanfu) system in China, allowing users to make payments by scanning WeChat Pay’s QR codes directly through the Cloud QuickPass app. This integration streamlines the payment process and simplifies expense tracking. With over 500 million users, Cloud QuickPass, developed collaboratively, supports various mobile payment services and enhances accessibility within the Chinese digital economy by also connecting to other e-commerce platforms. UnionPay aims to further collaborate with Tenpay and Alipay to improve user convenience.

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.