At 8 a.m., here are the latest news: Sam's Club customer service responds to the sale of a 2-kilogram block of ice for 22.8 yuan; An infertile couple successfully conceives using AI technology; A Delta Air Lines passenger plane in the United States makes an emergency landing due to a portable battery catching fire.

Going public in progress

Dayang Motor

36Kr learned that Dayang Motor has issued an announcement stating that the company is currently planning to issue shares overseas (H shares) and list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company is discussing the specific implementation work of this H-share issuance and listing with relevant intermediary institutions, and the relevant details have not been finalized.

Top 3 Big News

Sam's Club customer service responds to the sale of 2-kilogram ice cubes for $22.8: The melting rate can be reduced by 20%

Recently, some consumers have reported that the pricing of "Nongfu Spring Pure and Practical Ice" launched by Sam's Club is too high. The 2-kilogram package is sold for $22.8. After some calculations, it was found that freezing 2 kilograms of ice cubes requires four 500-milliliter bottles of Nongfu Spring bottled water. $22.8 is equivalent to a price of about $5.7 per bottle of water.

On July 7, a staff member from Sam's Club customer service center introduced that this product is a customized item exclusively supplied to Sam's Club by Nongfu Spring. The pricing is determined through negotiations between the purchasing department and the supplier. The staff member also stated that the ice cubes are made using a special technology, with a 24 - to 32 - hour ultra - low - speed slow freezing process. Compared with the ordinary running - water ice - making process, the melting rate of these ice cubes can be reduced by 20% in the same environment, so they are more suitable for long - term cold preservation scenarios in summer. (Jiupai News)

Global First: Infertile Couple Conceives with AI Technology

It is reported that a couple in the United States has been trying in vitro fertilization (IVF) multiple times over the years but all attempts ended in failure because the husband suffers from a rare condition of azoospermia. Traditional treatment methods require testicular surgery and repeated aspiration, which are painful and risky.

The "STAR System" developed by the Reproductive Center at Columbia University has brought a turning point. This system combines AI and high - resolution photography technology. In just one hour, it can capture more than 8 million microscopic images from the husband's semen sample, which is "almost empty", and successfully find several "invisible" healthy sperm. Dr. Williams, the director, said that this is more difficult than finding a needle in ten football fields. Traditional techniques can only find one sperm in two days, while the STAR system only takes one hour. It can also accurately locate and automatically extract sperm, eliminating the process that may damage the sperm and greatly improving the success rate. (Xiaoxiang Morning Post)

Delta Air Lines Flight Makes Emergency Landing in Florida Due to Portable Battery Fire

On July 7 local time, a Delta Air Lines passenger plane made an emergency landing in Fort Myers, Florida, because a passenger's portable battery caught fire. A Delta Air Lines spokesperson said that a fire broke out on Flight 1334, which was flying from Atlanta, Georgia, to Fort Lauderdale - Hollywood International Airport in Florida. The flight attendants quickly extinguished the flames that were suspected to be caused by a personal battery fire. Delta Air Lines said that there was residual smoke inside the plane. Out of caution, the airline declared an emergency, and then the plane diverted to Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida, following the procedures. The flight carried 185 passengers and 6 crew members and landed safely at 8:48 local time. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it was investigating the incident. (CCTV News)

Large Companies/ Major Events

Yu Chengdong Responds to Allegations of Sleeping While Driving: He Was Looking at His Phone and Has Turned Himself in and Paid the Fine

At the "Enjoy World Brand Night" event held on the evening of July 8th, Yu Chengdong of Huawei took the stage to share his thoughts. He responded to the recent incident where he was allegedly photographed "sleeping while driving".

Yu Chengdong said, "Some time ago, I was driving and someone took a photo of me. They said I was sleeping while driving. It was early in the morning. How could I possibly be sleeping? I was actually looking down at my phone." "Someone in a new M9 beside me was saying hello. I thought it was a Huawei employee. The wind was strong when I rolled down the window and I couldn't hear clearly. Who would have thought that he posted it online saying I was sleeping. Then I turned myself in. It was my first time going to the police station, paying a fine and getting points deducted. It was truly my first time." (Kuaikeji)

Haidilao Responds to Waiters Wearing Tipping QR Codes on Their Chest

On July 8th, Haidilao responded to the issue of waiters wearing tipping QR codes on their chest. Netizens have different opinions. Those who oppose it express their resistance to the spread of the tipping culture, while supporters believe that it is a voluntary mechanism that has an incentive effect. Earlier, Haidilao's customer service responded that they didn't know much about this situation at present. A videographer went to the relevant store on the evening of the 8th to verify the situation on the spot and recorded the in - store scene. The video shows that the waiters in the store are indeed wearing name tags with tipping QR codes. The store staff said that the name tags have always been there, and it's up to the customers' mood to tip. It doesn't matter if they don't. The name tags on the chest are real - name ones. (Midu Finance)

Apple said that Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams will retire from the company later this year.

Apple said on Tuesday that Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams, who has worked at the company for 27 years, will retire later this year. In a press release, Apple said that current operations head Sabih Khan will take over most of the duties of the chief operating officer later this month. For the remainder of Williams' time at the company, he will continue to lead Apple's design team, Apple Watch, and health-related projects and report to Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook. (Sina Finance)

A new company in which Amprius subscribed nearly 200 million yuan issued a simple cancellation announcement just 13 days after its registration

Amprius, the involved battery cell supplier in the power bank recall incident, is about to cancel its new company that was registered just 13 days ago. On July 8, the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System showed that Xinpai New Energy (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. issued a simple cancellation announcement on July 2. The deadline for the announcement period is July 21. After this recall incident, on June 20, Amprius (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. newly registered Xinpai New Energy (Wuxi) Co., Ltd. The business scope of this company covers battery manufacturing, battery sales, sales of battery accessories, sales of electronic products, etc. Among them, Amprius Wuxi Company, as the major shareholder, subscribed capital contribution of 199.7 million yuan, holding about 99.85% of the shares, and there is no paid - in information yet. (Jiemian News)

Former employee of Mixue Bingcheng apologizes after exposing "using feet to turn off the direct drinking water faucet": It was just for fun when I filmed it last year

On July 7th, a video posted by a netizen who claimed to have worked at Mixue Bingcheng attracted attention. In the video, a man kicked the faucet of a direct drinking water bucket with his foot in an attempt to turn it off. Currently, the above video has been deleted, and the person involved issued an apology letter, stating that on that evening when they were closing the store, he discarded the tea soup in the thermal bucket as required by the company. At that time, on a whim and thinking it would be fun, he wanted to film a video for a laugh and didn't think much about it at all.

On the afternoon of July 7th, a reporter called Mixue Bingcheng's customer service hotline. The customer service staff said that they had recorded the reported situation and would feedback it to the relevant departments of the company for verification. (Jimu News, Zonglan News)

Mobile Phone Activation Volume in the Chinese Market in the Second Quarter: Chinese Manufacturers Occupy the Top Four Spots

36Kr learned that data from an authoritative market research institution in the supply chain shows that in the second quarter of 2025 (W14 - W26), Xiaomi ranked first in the new mobile phone activation volume in the Chinese market with a share of 16.63%, with an activation volume of 1.14176 million units, a year - on - year increase of 7.39%. vivo, OPPO, and Huawei ranked second to fourth respectively. After Apple continuously introduced price - cut measures, the activation volume of new phones in the second quarter was 1.10379 million units, with a market share of 16.08%, ranking fifth.

Consumers claim their refund orders are queued up to the 180,000th place, Romoss responds

Recently, Romoss has been deeply embroiled in controversies due to the power bank recall issue and the notice of suspension of production. Reporters saw on social platforms that some consumers' refund progress has been queued up to the 180,000th place, and the refund period is 15 - 30 working days.

The reporter called the local market supervision and administration bureau as a consumer to inquire about how to apply for a refund after the Romoss store was closed. The staff member said that consumers can click on the "Customer Service" at the bottom - left corner of the order to contact and solve the problem. The reporter said that some consumers had done so, but it was a machine that replied to the messages and they couldn't reach the human customer service. The staff member said that they would report this situation to Romoss. Subsequently, the reporter received a call from Romoss customer service. The customer service said that there are human customer services, and consumers can communicate with the customer service through the order, and a special person will handle it later. Regarding the issue that some consumers' refund progress has been queued up to more than 100,000th place, she said that indeed many people need refunds, and the refund usually takes 15 - 30 working days. "We transfer money in large batches after the review is completed." (Jimu News)

Samsung's Operating Profit Plunges 56%, and Cooperation with NVIDIA Encounters Hurdles

Due to the slowdown in the sales of Samsung Electronics' artificial intelligence chips in the United States and China, the company's operating profit in the second quarter decreased by 55.94% year-on-year, falling short of market expectations.

According to the performance data released by Samsung Electronics on July 8 local time, the company's operating profit in the second quarter of this year decreased by 55.94% year-on-year to 4.6 trillion won (approximately 23.99 billion yuan), calculated on a consolidated financial statements basis. Sales decreased by 0.09% year-on-year and 6.49% quarter-on-quarter to 74 trillion won. (Observer.com)

12306 Responds to Online Seat Exchange Application for High - speed Trains: 12306 Does Not Have the "Online Seat Exchange" Function

Recently, the topic "Seat F on high - speed trains is the most popular" has sparked heated discussions on social platforms. Some netizens shared that "when there are still few people in seats A, B, and C on some trains, almost all the seats in the row of F are occupied." Some other netizens also shared on social platforms tutorials on how to use third - party ticketing platforms to achieve "online seat exchange".

The reporter saw on a certain third - party platform that there is indeed an option of "online seat exchange" in the section of purchasing train tickets. An official customer service representative of 12306 stated that 12306 does not have the "online seat exchange" function, and seat exchange can only be achieved through ticket rescheduling. Another customer service representative said that all so - called "online seat exchanges" on third - party platforms are completed through ticket rescheduling. "In fact, your ticket has changed when you exchange seats." (China News Service)

Hainan Airlines Responds to "Two Passengers Boarded the Wrong Plane Just Before the Cabin Door Closed"

Recently, a netizen posted a video saying that on Hainan Airlines Flight HU7359 from Guiyang Longdongbao Airport to Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport, just as the cabin door was about to close, passengers were suddenly informed that some passengers had boarded the wrong plane. On July 8, Hainan Airlines issued a statement in response: Recently, some netizens reported that passengers on our flight boarded the wrong plane. After verification, during the stopover of Flight HU7359 (Sanya - Guiyang - Lanzhou) at Guiyang Longdongbao Airport on July 7, passengers whose destination was Guiyang failed to disembark in time. The flight attendants identified the situation immediately and properly arranged for the relevant passengers to disembark. The incident was handled in a timely manner and did not affect the flight operation. (Sanxiang City Express, Guangming Net)

Sony Announces Suspension of Xperia Smartphone Sales Due to Power Issues

On July 8th, Sony Corporation stated that it has suspended the shipment and in - store sales of its latest smartphone, the Xperia 1 VII, due to issues such as unexpected shutdowns, restarts, or failure to boot in some models. Currently, Sony is investigating the cause of the power problems in the phones and has reminded users to back up all necessary data during this period. This SIM - free version smartphone was launched last month and retails for 204,600 yen (approximately $1,400) at Sony's official store. Last week, Japanese mobile carriers NTT Docomo and KDDI had already announced the suspension of sales of the Xperia 1 VII. Currently, Sony has suspended sales in countries and regions such as Japan and Singapore. (Jiemian News)

GAC Fiat Chrysler Declares Bankruptcy

The administrator of GAC Fiat Chrysler released a message. Based on the company's debt situation, audit report, asset appraisal report, etc., GAC Fiat Chrysler is unable to pay off its due debts, and its assets are insufficient to pay off all its debts. It also does not meet the conditions for reorganization or settlement. Therefore, GAC Fiat Chrysler is declared bankrupt. (Yicai Global)

Agency: Cumulative revenue from AirPods will exceed $100 billion in 2026

Market research firm Counterpoint Research pointed out in a report that driven by a diversified product portfolio and continuous product improvements, Apple's revenue from AirPods is expected to increase by 2.4% year-on-year by 2026, surpassing cumulative revenue of $100 billion. (Caixin Press)

ByteDance Denies That Oracle and Others Will Acquire TikTok's US Business

On July 8th Beijing time, there were reports that ByteDance had agreed to sell TikTok's US business to a US consortium led by Oracle while retaining a minority stake. In response, ByteDance stated that this information was false. It is understood that this deal aims to meet the requirements of the US "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" and address the US side's concerns about data security. The deal still needs to be approved by the governments of both China and the United States. Currently, the final deadline set by the US government is September 17th. (Yicai Global)

Newmont to Lay Off at Least 10% of Employees at Merian Mine in Suriname

Newmont, the world's largest listed gold mining company, announced on Friday that it will lay off 10% to 15% of its employees at the Merian mine in Suriname, citing a decline in production. "Since 2021, the gold production at the Merian mine has decreased by 48%, while the operating costs have increased by 50%. These challenges have put pressure on the long - term sustainability of the mine's operations," Newmont said in a press release. According to the company, there are currently about 1,550 employees at the Merian mine. (Sina Finance)

Intel to Lay Off Over 500 Employees in Oregon, Further Advancing Layoff Plan

Intel will cut more than 500 jobs in Oregon as part of its layoff plan. The plan is expected to ultimately affect about 20% of its employees. Intel said in a regulatory filing that the layoff plan in Oregon will start on July 15 at its plants in Aloha and Hillsboro. It is expected that this layoff will permanently cut about 529 employees. Previously, Intel announced the layoff of 107 employees at its Santa Clara headquarters in California. (Sina Finance)

4399 and Others Establish Xiaojiuyuan Catering Management Company in Guangzhou

36Kr learned that, according to the Aiqicha App, recently, Guangzhou Xiaojiuyuan Catering Management Co., Ltd. was established. The legal representative is Qin Jingwen, and the registered capital is 50,000 yuan. Its business scope includes catering management, supply chain management services, artificial intelligence basic software development, and wholesale of fresh vegetables. The equity penetration chart shows that the company is jointly held by Guangzhou 4399 Information Technology Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of 4399's affiliated company, 4399 Network Co., Ltd., and others.

US President Trump Talks Again About the August 1st Deadline for Tariff Negotiations

On July 7 local time, US President Trump said at a White House dinner while receiving Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the August 1st deadline has been set, but it's not 100% certain. If a country puts forward a different plan, he will be open to other ideas. (CCTV News)

Trump: "Reciprocal Tariffs" to Take Effect on August 1st

On July 8th local time, US President Trump posted on the social media platform "Truth Social" that according to the letters sent to various countries on the 7th and those to be sent in the coming period, the tariffs will take effect on August 1st, 2025. "The date remains unchanged and will not change in the future." (CCTV News)

Paccar Recalls 56,575 Vehicles in the United States

On July 8th, according to the disclosure of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in the United States, Paccar is recalling 56,575 vehicles in the country. The rear brake lights, high and low beam headlights, reverse lights, and turn signals of these vehicles may fail to light up properly. (Jiemian News)

French President Macron Pays a State Visit to the UK for the First Time in 17 Years

On July 8 local time, French President Emmanuel Macron began a three-day state visit to the United Kingdom. This is the first visit to the UK by a French president since 2008 and the first visit to the UK by a leader of an EU country since the UK officially "Brexited". Prince William, the Prince of Wales, and his wife, Kate, the Princess of Wales, went to RAF Northolt to welcome Macron and his wife. According to the plan, Macron will deliver a speech in the UK Parliament on the 8th. On the 10th, the France-UK Summit chaired by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will be held at Downing Street. (CCTV News)

National Meteorological Center Cancels Yellow Heat Warning

The National Meteorological Center canceled the yellow heat warning at 18:00 on July 8. As the scope of high - temperature weather has significantly shrunk and its intensity has weakened, the yellow heat warning is lifted. However, it is expected that during the daytime on July 9, there will still be high - temperature weather above 35°C in southern Hebei, central and western Shandong, eastern Henan, northern Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, central and northern Guangxi, and the southern Xinjiang Basin. Among them, there will be high - temperature weather above 37°C in some areas of western Shandong, eastern Henan, eastern and western Hubei, the southern Xinjiang Basin, and the Turpan Basin. (Jiemian News)

Organization: Proportion of Female Executives in South Korea's Top 500 Enterprises Exceeds 8% for the First Time

On July 8th, the corporate analysis and research institution Leaders Index released a report showing that, based on the first quarter of this year, the number of female executives in South Korea's top 500 revenue - ranked enterprises reached 1,210, accounting for 8.1% of the total executives, breaking through the 8% mark for the first time. Compared with 505 (3.8%) in 2019, the number has more than tripled in six years. (Jiemian News)

Porsche's Global Sales Down 6% in the First Half of the Year, Sales in China Down 28%

German luxury sports car manufacturer Porsche reported a decline in global sales in the first half of this year on Tuesday. In particular, sales in the Chinese market dropped by 28%. Globally, Porsche's sales fell 6% to 146,391 vehicles, but in North America, its largest market, sales increased by 10%. "This growth is mainly due to the increased product supply in the market and the price protection brought about by the increased import tariffs in the first half of this year," Porsche said in a statement. Porsche added that 36% of the cars delivered in the first half of this year were electric vehicles, a 14.5% increase from last year. (Sina Finance)

The Cutting - Edge of AI

OpenAI Restricts Employees' Access to New Products and Upgrades Security System to Guard Against Corporate Espionage

It is reported that OpenAI has recently comprehensively upgraded its security system to prevent corporate espionage. The upgraded security measures include an "information isolation" policy, aiming to restrict employees' access to sensitive algorithms and new products.

In addition, OpenAI has also isolated proprietary technologies in offline computer systems, implemented biometric access control (including fingerprint recognition) in the office area, and adopted an "opt-out by default" internet access policy, requiring all external connections to obtain explicit permission. The report also states that OpenAI has enhanced the physical security level of its data centers and expanded its cybersecurity team. (Financial Times)

Meta Poaches from Apple: A Core Engineering Manager at Apple Decides to Switch Jobs and Join

On July 8th, it was reported that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is poaching AI talents from competitors with high salaries, and a core engineering manager at Apple has decided to switch jobs and join Meta.

It is reported that Ruoming Pang, who was in charge of Apple's foundational model team, has switched from Apple to Meta. He used to manage a team of about 100 employees at Apple, and the team was dedicated to the research and development of Apple's large language models. (Kuaikeji)

Report: Alibaba Cloud Rated as an "AI Cloud Leader"

36Kr learned that on July 8th, international market research firm Omdia released its latest generative AI report. The report shows that Alibaba Cloud has been rated as a "leader" in the AI cloud market and is the only Chinese technology company on the list. The Omdia report points out that Alibaba Cloud has been rated at the highest "Advanced" level in seven major dimensions, including model capabilities, AI infrastructure, development platforms, and developer ecosystems. Thanks to Tongyi Qianwen, its large - scale model, and its extensive market implementation, it has been named a "Top" Asia - Pacific foundation model provider.

Compiled | Qiuxia