Markets

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.

Altiplano Metals partners with Andes Core Mining to ramp up development at the Santa Beatriz copper-gold-iron mine in Chile. A two-year agreement focuses on underground mine development, with operations starting in July and ore processing in September. Initial production targets are 3,000 tons per month, scaling to 5,000 tons within six months. This aims to maximize supply to Altiplano’s El Peñón processing facility. Development includes a 75m ramp to access the Santa Beatriz vein. Potential economic/technical risks exist due to the absence of a feasibility study.

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.

E3 Lithium (TSXV: ETL) has filed its NI 43-101 technical report for the Garrington District lithium project, confirming previous resource estimates of 5.0 Mt LCE Measured and Indicated, and 0.3 Mt LCE Inferred. The report, reviewed by qualified experts, is accessible on the company’s website and SEDAR+. E3 Lithium also granted stock options to VP Rob Knowles, exercisable at $0.81. E3 Lithium holds significant lithium resources in Alberta and Saskatchewan, as detailed in their technical reports.

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.

Alfa Laval’s Q2 2025 earnings reveal a mixed performance. Order intake fell 14% YoY, but organic growth in net sales increased by 2%. Adjusted EBITA rose 2% to SEK 3.0 billion, with a margin of 17.8%. EPS increased to SEK 4.87. Cash flow from operating activities decreased. The company finalized the acquisition of Fives’ cryogenic business. Management anticipates slightly higher demand in Q3.

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.