Tobias

A potential ban on gasoline-powered vehicles for ride-hailing in Beijing, allegedly effective July 20th, has sparked significant reactions. News of the policy, attributed to the China Urban Public Transportation Association, caused EV drivers to rejoice while gasoline car drivers expressed concerns over vehicle depreciation and loans. The used car market reportedly saw a drop in prices for gasoline-powered ride-hailing vehicles.

A 9 Air (九元航空) flight, AQ1441, scheduled to fly from Guangzhou to Guangzhou in 90 minutes sparked online amusement. While initially listed with impossible timings, the flight actually occurred on July 19th, and customer service clarified it was a test flight. The airline, a low-cost carrier based in Guangzhou, claimed that any decision for formal route planning needs futher decisions. The event highlights the interplay between innovation, resource management and transparency within China’s competitive aviation sector.

Following Zong Qinghou’s death, Wahaha Group, led by Zong Fuli, faces challenges amid public attention on the inheritance of Zong Qinghou’s vast estate. Scrutiny focuses on Zong Fuli’s management and whether the Zong family can effectively lead the beverage company forward.

A Sam’s Club shopper in Guangzhou encountered a barcode issue while purchasing Orion snacks. This follows the introduction of a low-sugar Orion Choco Pie, which sparked debate among members questioning the store’s exclusivity due to readily available products. The low-sugar Choco Pie has since been removed from the online app with unclear reasons. Some argue that Sam’s Club needs to offer unique value justifying its membership fee to maintain its appeal.

A recent graduate in China claims a company threatened to blacklist him after he rejected a job offer due to a late salary payment and long commute. The company’s HR representative allegedly accused him of lacking integrity for applying to multiple positions. Legal experts suggest that publicly disseminating information about his actions could constitute a breach of his rights. Analysts emphasize that job seekers are entitled to apply for multiple positions and reject offers before signing a contract. The graduate could report the company to the police or pursue legal action.

A man in Hubei Province, China, was sentenced to five years in prison and fined 50,000 RMB for extorting restaurants by planting ants in his meals. Rong, unemployed since 2019, began the scam in 2022, targeting establishments in public locations and demanding compensation to avoid negative publicity. He received 71,661 RMB from 283 instances. The court convicted Rong of extortion, citing the substantial amount obtained and the adverse impact on public perception. He must also return the illegally gained funds.

Wahaha’s succession, particularly Zong Fuli’s strategy, is a hot topic in China. Questions arose about her choice of Pepperdine University, with some deeming it an inferior choice compared to Ivy League schools. Pepperdine defended its business program as a flagship offering with strong networking opportunities, citing successful alumni and top rankings. Zong’s business school is recognized for entrepreneurship and its EMBA program consistently ranks globally.

Fortune China’s 2025 China 500 list reveals State Grid as the revenue leader at $548.4 billion, followed by PetroChina and Sinopec. ICBC is the most profitable. The top ten most profitable include TSMC, Tencent, Alibaba, and Ping An. Tencent’s net profit surged over 65% in 2024. These ten companies accounted for 41% of the total profits of all listed companies.

A Bilibili content creator, Tangzhu Lee, completed the “Saitama Workout” from *One-Punch Man* for 1,000 consecutive days, documenting his journey to nearly 800,000 subscribers. The workout consists of 100 push-ups, sit-ups, squats, and a 10km run daily. On the final day, Lee completed a 100km run followed by 1,000 repetitions of each exercise. The feat garnered attention from the manga’s original creators and significant online buzz, highlighting the influence of fandom and viral challenges.

CAICT’s AI Institute launched security benchmark testing for code-generating LLMs, assessing risks and capabilities using a dataset of 15,000+ test cases across nine languages and various attack methods. The initial assessment of 15 Chinese models (3B-671B parameters) revealed varied security levels, with most exhibiting medium risk. Models showed weaknesses in scenarios involving malicious intent, highlighting vulnerabilities to cyberattacks. CAICT plans to expand testing to international models and develop mitigation tools, aiming to promote a secure LLM ecosystem.