Markets

HMD Global recalibrates US strategy due to geopolitical trade pressures, signaling an operational pullback from the hypercompetitive smartphone market. The Finnish company confirms scaling down US operations while committing to honor warranties through global support. This strategic shift aligns with HMD’s accelerated brand transition ahead of its Nokia licensing expiry in 2026. Evidence includes discontinued online sales and restricted inventory, though analysts note minimal financial impact given HMD’s European/Indian foothold. The move reflects strategic prioritization toward regions with stronger margin potential and fewer trade frictions.

Charles Zhang and Nobel laureate David Gross discussed physics and AI hype. Gross clarified the 2024 Physics Nobel (John Hopfield) recognized neuroscience work using physics models, not direct AI. He emphasized: “AI is not science; it is a tool.” Gross criticized excessive AI hype, noting it lacks true creativity. He predicted AI would displace people skilled in “just talk[ing] a good game,” not scientists. Zhang agreed about the prevalent hype and fervor surrounding AI. (87 words)

At BiliBili World 2024, Korean cosplayer @Yasal delivered a meticulously crafted showcase of “Brown Dust 2,” drawing acclaim but facing regulatory issues requiring operational adjustments. She urged positive fan engagement, highlighting the event’s evolution into a premier cultural expo supporting the creator economy since 2017.

Jay Chou ignited social media by launching a Douyin account as “Student Jay,” amassing over 10 million followers in 24 hours with no content posted. His AI-powered first video attracted 18.7 million likes. Concurrently, he altered his Kuaishou bio from “only official platform” to “first Chinese social media account.” Analysts interpret these moves as a strategic shift in allegiances within China’s competitive short-video market, leveraging Chou’s star power for platform user acquisition wars. His Douyin followers now exceed 19.5 million.

A 66-year-old Chinese retiree, Ms. Wang, spent over 2 million yuan ($275k) on excessive online shopping, filling two apartments floor-to-ceiling with unopened parcels. Living alone, her hoarding created severe clutter, disrupting her living space and causing sanitation issues affecting neighbors. Despite community intervention attempts, the behavior persisted, with new purchases even filling a second rented apartment. She claims overspending stems partly from loneliness and aiming to deter loan requests by appearing broke after moving to a cheaper home. This case highlights mental health and isolation challenges within China’s aging population.

A viral home security camera video captured repeated collisions at a hazardous intersection, sparking road safety debates. The footage, recorded by an Ezviz camera overlooking a residential crossroads, showed multiple incidents involving cars, trucks, cyclists, and scooters over time. Analysts identified a common failure of users from all vehicle types to slow down and check traffic before entering the junction. The footage is widely seen as compelling evidence demonstrating the urgent need for traffic-calming infrastructure changes at that location.

**Summary:**
Panzhihua, Sichuan residents face safety risks due to 70cm-high guardrails blocking bus stop access at Nongnonggou, forcing passengers to climb or walk on the road. Elderly commuters are particularly endangered. Officials attribute the issue to poor inter-agency coordination during concurrent infrastructure upgrades. The public transport company confirmed rerouting the bus stop by July 15 to ensure safety, citing lessons for synchronized urban planning.(98 words)

On July 4, 2025, Seward, Nebraska opened the world’s largest time capsule, buried in 1975 and certified by Guinness. Housing 1970s Americana like thousands of personal letters, “pet rocks,” a motorcycle, and a pristine yellow Chevrolet Vega, items inside were surprisingly well-preserved. Created by Harold Davisson (d. 1999) with a special ventilation system, the capsule contained messages from 3,000 individuals. Davisson’s daughter oversaw the opening, revealing a unique tangible link to mid-70s American life.

China’s Ministry of Public Security developed a specialized drone system for police traffic management. Key features include universal drone compatibility, automated violation data transmission to command centers, autonomous patrols with predefined routes, and real-time AI detection of 16 traffic offenses (over 80% accuracy). Piloted in cities like Dalian and Suzhou, it currently detects about 237 daily violations, achieving 82.7% recognition. Future enhancements are planned.

Rhythm Pharmaceuticals presented strong clinical data at ENDO 2025 for its obesity drugs targeting acquired hypothalamic obesity. The Phase 3 TRANSCEND trial showed setmelanotide achieved a robust 19.8% placebo-adjusted BMI reduction, consistent across ages and genders, including significant effects when combined with GLP-1 therapies (25.1% reduction). Pediatric patients had a 26.2% BMI decrease. The Phase 2 SIGNAL trial showed oral bivamelagon achieved dose-dependent BMI reductions, up to 9.3%, while placebo groups gained weight. This signals breakthrough potential in a condition with limited treatments.