Articles in this Cluster
02-02-2026
China has executed four members of the Bai family mafia, a notorious dynasty involved in scam centers in Myanmar. The executions are part of China's crackdown on organized crime groups operating in Southeast Asia. The Bai family, along with other families like the Mings, controlled the border town of Laukkaing in Myanmar, running casinos, red-light districts, and cyberscam operations. The Chinese authorities have been taking action against these groups, with 11 members of the Ming family executed last week. The Bai family's activities led to the deaths of six Chinese citizens and multiple injuries. The crackdown is seen as a message of deterrence to would-be scammers, with hundreds of thousands of people trafficked to run online scams in Myanmar and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Entities: China, Myanmar, Bai family, Ming family, Laukkaing • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
China's factory activity grew at its fastest pace since October in January, according to a private survey by RatingDog and S&P Global, with the seasonally-adjusted China General Manufacturing PMI rising to 50.3 from 50.1 in December. This growth was driven by increased production and front-loaded shipments ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. However, business confidence slipped to a nine-month low due to concerns over rising costs. The private survey's reading was better than the official survey, which showed manufacturing activity contracting in January. Economists remain cautious about China's economic growth, citing persistent deflationary pressures and a deepening property slump.
Entities: China, RatingDog, S&P Global, Lunar New Year, Yao Yu • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
A report by Chainalysis found that Chinese-language money laundering networks moved $16.1 billion in illicit funds through cryptocurrency transactions in 2025, accounting for about 20% of the global crypto crime market. These networks primarily operate through Telegram channels, known as 'guarantee' platforms, which act as marketing hubs for launderers and vendors. The networks have become increasingly based in Southeast Asia as China tightens enforcement. The report identified six main techniques used by these networks to launder funds, often relying on stablecoins like USDT and USDC to maintain a stable value. Experts warn that these networks are sophisticated and well-resourced, making them difficult to capture.
Entities: Chainalysis, Chinese-language money laundering networks, CMLNs, Telegram, Andrew Fierman • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
China's leader, Xi Jinping, has emphasized the need for the country to dominate artificial intelligence (A.I.) while maintaining control over the technology to prevent it from disrupting society. China's tech industry is being pushed to develop A.I. systems quickly while complying with a complex set of regulations. The government is seeking to balance innovation with control, and companies are facing challenges in meeting the regulatory requirements. The regulations focus on information control, data protection, and preventing the spread of illegal information. Chinese companies are also being required to provide details about their algorithms and keep officials updated as the technology evolves.
Entities: Xi Jinping, China, Chinese Communist Party, Zhipu AI, Hong Kong • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
China's AI labs, including Zhipu AI and MiniMax, are racing to release new AI models before the Lunar New Year, with Zhipu AI set to launch the fifth iteration of its GLM model series, GLM-5, and MiniMax releasing an updated version of its M2 model with coding-focused enhancements. The festival has become a key period for these companies to establish visibility, with more firms expected to follow Alibaba and Moonshot with model releases.
Entities: China, Zhipu AI, MiniMax, Alibaba, Moonshot • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
The job market for Hong Kong university graduates has hit a five-year low, with a 55% plunge in new hires in 2025 compared to the previous year. The average monthly salary for new hires rose by only 0.5% to HK$20,961. A veteran human resources consultant attributed the decline in entry-level jobs to the rise of artificial intelligence and uncertain economic outlook. The number of job vacancies has been declining since 2024, with a 22% drop from 2023. The situation is the worst since 2021, when the city was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Entities: Hong Kong, Joint Institution Job Information System, Covid-19 pandemic, artificial intelligence, Hong Kong university graduates • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
China's Commercial Aircraft Corporation (Comac) is accelerating the development of its widebody C929 airliner, potentially ahead of schedule. The C929 is a rival to Boeing's 787 and Airbus's A350 families. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is working closely with Comac, assessing designs and offering feedback, which could speed up certification. Preliminary wind tunnel tests have started, indicating an accelerated pace. Further progress is expected to be revealed at the Singapore Airshow.
Entities: Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), C929 airliner, Boeing 787, Airbus A350 • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
Liang Jie, a renowned computer vision scientist, has returned to China after spending years in North America. Liang made significant contributions to Microsoft's technologies, including the Windows Media Video Player and Blu-ray discs. He later became a professor in Canada and developed an intelligent sensor system for elderly care. Liang has joined the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) as a chair professor at its School of Electronic Science and Technology. His return to China is seen as a significant boost to the country's technological advancements.
Entities: Liang Jie, China, North America, Microsoft, Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
02-02-2026
The Straits Times' property market/sector news page aggregates various articles related to the property market. Recent articles discuss a man asking HDB to repossess his flat to reduce his ex-wife's share, the LimBrothers saga involving Melvin Lim and Grayce Tan, Hong Kong's bid-rigging probe, and China's reported drop of the 'three red lines' policy that sparked a property crisis. Other articles cover Hong Kong home prices rising for the first time in four years, private home prices in Singapore rising at a gentler pace, and the use of bait property listings by some agents.
Entities: Melvin Lim, Grayce Tan, Hong Kong, China, HDB • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
