Markets

China’s electronic information manufacturing sector saw an 11.1% year-over-year increase in added value in H1 2025. While mobile phone production declined, smartphone and IC output rose. Exports grew overall, with IC exports surging 20.6% to 167.8 billion units. Revenue reached 8.04 trillion yuan, up 9.4%, and profits totaled 302.4 billion yuan, a 3.5% increase. The profit margin also improved, indicating increased sector efficiency.

In Q2 2025, SK Hynix surpassed Samsung as the leading memory manufacturer, reporting ₩21.8 trillion in sales versus Samsung’s ₩21.2 trillion. This shift is driven by high demand for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) fueled by the AI boom. SK Hynix benefited from its HBM partnership with Nvidia, while Samsung’s HBM shipment share declined. Samsung anticipates potential price declines for its HBM3E but expects rising DRAM prices to offset the impact. Both SK Hynix and Micron are increasing HBM3E production, intensifying market competition.

A Mixue Bingcheng store in Hefei, China, received a complaint regarding lemon seeds in its lemonade, causing a bitter taste. Market regulators are involved, with the customer requesting seed removal prior to serving. While lemon slices are freshly cut on-site, employees avoid direct contact with the pulp for hygiene reasons, making seed removal difficult. Officials stated that the seeds do not pose a food safety risk. Mixue Bingcheng is known for its affordable offerings, with iced lemon water priced around 4 yuan.

A video of white mushrooms growing on a mango has gone viral, prompting online discussion. The mango’s owner consumed the fruit, reporting no taste difference. An expert identified the fungus as *Schizophyllum commune*, or split gill mushroom, likely growing due to surface carbonization and the fruit’s nutrients. While the owner ate the mango itself, the fungus was discarded. Experts advise against consuming such fungi due to safety concerns.

An 88-year-old Russian inventor, identified as Lapeznikov, died in the Kirov region while testing his homemade helicopter. Video suggests a structural failure occurred during takeoff, causing a detached rotor blade to strike his head. Despite being rushed to a hospital, he died from his injuries. Lapeznikov, a former lumber company driver and self-taught designer, had reportedly built and flown five aircraft previously, fulfilling his lifelong dream of flight.

Zhang Zetian, “Sister Milk Tea,” is trending online after sharing hiking photos. Known for her Cambridge MBA and role as an investor and mother, she embodies a modern “powerhouse” image. Recent activities include hiking in Bhutan with entrepreneur Yang Tianzhen and providing refreshments to construction workers at JD.com’s Shenzhen headquarters, earning praise for her kindness. Zhang rose to fame in 2015 and married JD.com founder Richard Liu.

A recent crash test between a Chenglong truck and a Li Auto i8 has sparked controversy. Li Auto executives proposed a live rematch after the test results were questioned. Dongfeng Liuzhou Motor, Chenglong’s manufacturer, responded, emphasizing their dual role in commercial and passenger vehicles and revealing their unawareness of the initial test. Videos suggesting Chenglong dealerships were seeking a driver for a rematch also surfaced.

In 2020, Zhang Shuqing, a Chinese woman from Qingdao, acquired Ie Island, a 700,000-square-meter uninhabited island in Okinawa, Japan. While ownership transfer completed in 2021, there are no immediate development plans. Zhang is considering the island as a legacy for her children. A landing strip is being built, possibly for company retreats hinting at future business potential, perhaps in tourism. The island, with clear waters and historical remnants, welcomes visitors. Its strategic location in the East China Sea, near coral reefs, adds to its appeal.

T-Mobile US, Inc. finalized exchange offers for Array Digital Infrastructure’s senior notes, linked to their May 2024 Securities Purchase Agreement. The offers involved exchanging old Array notes due in 2033, 2069, and 2070 for new T-Mobile USA notes with matching terms. Concurrent consent solicitations amended indentures tied to the old notes. As of August 1, 2025, the exchange was completed, with settlement expected around August 5, 2025. D.F. King & Co., Inc. managed the exchange process. The transaction is a debt restructuring, with no cash proceeds received by T-Mobile.

China’s CAC is implementing a “license-and-display” system for online news, requiring platforms like Tencent and Douyin to identify licensed providers. Over 13,500 public accounts now display a red “V” insignia. The CAC aims to regulate online content, cracking down on illegal activities while potentially incentivizing licensed accounts with traffic support. Websites and platforms are also visibly displaying licensing information as part of this initiative.