Markets

JD.com has launched “Integrity Cooperation Guidelines” to combat corruption. The e-commerce giant prohibits commercial bribery and outlines strict ethical principles for its partners. The guidelines ban business with dismissed employees and restrict former employees’ interactions for a year. To further promote transparency, JD.com has established a $1.4 million reward fund for whistleblowers reporting corrupt activities.

The State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in China issued a compliance advisory for online retailers preparing for the “6.18” shopping event. The guidelines emphasize fair competition, consumer rights, and preventing unfair practices like data-driven price discrimination and fake reviews. Key areas include regulating promotional conduct, live-streaming marketing, advertising content, and consumer dispute resolution, targeting deceptive practices and ensuring product quality.

Encore Enterprises acquired a Class B medical office building in Dallas for $7 million, demonstrating resilience in a challenging market. The financing comes from Cadence Bank, marking a new partnership. The acquired property at 16980 N. Dallas Parkway will also become Encore’s new headquarters, expanding its portfolio to 27 properties.

A new, unregistered Changan sedan crashed on the Shenhai Expressway in China, rear-ending a Toyota. Footage showed the Changan failing to brake in time. Surprisingly, the drivers were siblings; the sister had just bought the Changan and was following her brother. The sister was fined for failing to maintain a safe distance. The incident went viral, sparking humorous online comments about sibling relationships.

A customer using a Chinese navigation app reported a problematic hotel booking experience. Despite a confirmed reservation and payment for an Atour Hotel in Hangzhou, the room wasn’t available upon arrival. The customer faced extra costs and poor customer service, receiving an inadequate refund and compensation. The app displayed misleading booking information and provided vague responses when questioned. The incident raises concerns about platform accountability in China’s online travel market.

Freightos and Forward Air Corporation are expanding their partnership, enabling digital bookings for LTL and linehaul trucking on the 7LFreight by WebCargo platform. This integration offers forwarders access to Forward’s extensive network across North America and Mexico, streamlining bookings and improving overall logistics efficiency, with plans to add digital payment and cartage services.

NBA star Victor Wembanyama is reportedly in a 10-day silent retreat at Shaolin Temple. Images show the 7’4″ phenom with a shaved head and Buddhist robes. The temple confirmed his arrival and spiritual practice, while his entourage departed. This has sparked online buzz and speculation about the timing of this transformative experience amidst his burgeoning career and cultural exploration in China.

China launched a pilot program (2025-2027) for smart elderly care robots, jointly announced by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The program targets home, community, and institutional care, focusing on assistive robots, companionship, and health promotion. It emphasizes standardized frameworks, rigorous testing, and collaborative R&D to improve safety and usability, with outcomes showcased to promote robotic elder care solutions for the aging population.

Former Xbox VP Peter Moore revealed Microsoft’s preference for a cloud-based gaming strategy, mirroring Netflix’s model. He suggests Microsoft would have skipped consoles entirely, prioritizing content aggregation via streaming. The Activision Blizzard acquisition signals this shift towards multi-platform expansion. Despite this, Microsoft recognizes the continued demand for consoles like the Switch and will likely maintain hardware development alongside its evolving, broader ecosystem.

Dassault Systèmes announced the total number of outstanding shares and voting rights as of May 31, 2025, as required by French financial regulations. The company reports 1,340,826,964 outstanding shares and 2,014,017,258 voting rights. This information provides transparency for investors. Dassault Systèmes, established in 1981, is a key technology company driving progress through its 3DEXPERIENCE platform.