Articles in this Cluster
15-01-2026
A labour rights organisation, China Labor Watch (CLW), has accused a Chinese factory that manufactures Labubu dolls for Pop Mart of exploiting its workers. The factory, Shunjia Toys Co Ltd, allegedly made employees work excessive overtime, sign incomplete contracts, and denied them paid leave. CLW conducted an investigation involving 51 interviews with factory employees and found labour issues including illegal overtime hours and lack of safety training. Pop Mart has stated it is investigating the claims and will take action if the allegations are true. CLW has urged Pop Mart to compensate affected workers and ensure compliance with labour laws.
Entities: China Labor Watch, Pop Mart, Shunjia Toys Co Ltd, Labubu, Guangdong • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
A viral Chinese mobile app called 'Are You Dead?' or 'Sileme' in Mandarin, which alerts emergency contacts if a user doesn't check in every 48 hours, is changing its name to 'Demumu' due to international media attention. The app, designed for people living alone, has seen significant growth overseas after being featured in foreign media outlets like BBC and AFP. Users have expressed surprise and some disappointment at the rebranding, suggesting that the original name contributed to its virality. The app's new name, 'Demumu', was already used for its international version.
Entities: Are You Dead?, Sileme, Demumu, China, Apple's App Store • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The U.S. used an aircraft painted like a civilian plane to attack an alleged drug-smuggling boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people. Pentagon officials defended the use of the aircraft, stating it was due to the quick nature of the operation, not an attempt to mislead the targets. The strike has raised concerns among experts and lawmakers about potential violations of the law of war, specifically the crime of perfidy. Sen. Richard Blumenthal expressed severe doubts about the legality of the operation, and experts warned that such tactics could put other civilians at risk.
Entities: United States, Venezuela, Pentagon, CBS News, The New York Times • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The article argues that Japan's problem is not having too many foreigners, but rather too few. It challenges the narrative that the country is overrun by ill-mannered migrant workers, misbehaving tourists, and opportunistic foreign investors, suggesting that this narrative is perpetuated by populist politicians. The article posits that Japan's real issue is its low number of foreign workers and investors, which is a hindrance to its economy. The piece encourages Japan to rethink its stance on immigration and foreign investment to address its economic challenges.
Entities: Japan, Donald Trump, The Economist, Maria Corina Machado, France • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The article discusses France's ongoing political and economic struggles, particularly its failure to pass a budget for 2026, highlighting its huge budget deficit of over 5% of GDP. It contrasts France's situation with other European countries like Italy, Greece, and Spain, which have successfully brought down their budget deficits. The article criticizes France's collective political uselessness and inability to address its financial issues, suggesting a broader problem of political paralysis.
Entities: France, Italy, Greece, Spain, EU • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: critique
15-01-2026
The US Department of State has announced that it will suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries, effective January 21, 2026, as part of the Trump administration's continued crackdown on immigration. The decision is aimed at preventing the abuse of America's immigration system by those who would exploit the generosity of the American people. The affected countries include Iran, Russia, Afghanistan, Somalia, Thailand, and Brazil, among others. The suspension does not impact short-term visas, such as those for the 2026 men's football World Cup. The move is expected to affect nearly half of all legal immigrants to the United States, with approximately 315,000 legal immigrants potentially being turned away over the next year.
Entities: US Department of State, Trump administration, Iran, Russia, Afghanistan • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The FBI searched the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson as part of an investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of taking home classified information. Natanson had her phone, two laptops, and a Garmin watch seized. The Justice Department said the search was related to an investigation into Aurelio Perez-Lugones, a system engineer and information technology specialist for a government contractor in Maryland, who was charged with unlawful retention of national defense information. First Amendment groups expressed alarm at the search, saying it could chill investigative journalism. The Washington Post said it was monitoring and reviewing the situation.
Entities: FBI, Washington Post, Hannah Natanson, Pentagon, Aurelio Perez-Lugones • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has conducted test flights of China's C919 airliner, a crucial step towards acquiring Western safety certification. The test flights, carried out by EASA pilots in November, were part of ongoing exchanges between the C919's manufacturer, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), and the European regulator. The C919 is China's home-grown narrowbody jet, competing with industry leaders Boeing and Airbus. The certification process has been delayed, but recent test flights and increased exchanges between Comac and EASA indicate progress.
Entities: China, C919 airliner, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (Comac), Boeing • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
Nexperia, a Dutch chipmaker owned by Chinese company Wingtech Technology, is embroiled in a court battle in the Netherlands over control of the company. The Enterprise Chamber, a special Dutch court handling corporate disputes, held a seven-hour hearing to determine whether to order a formal investigation into alleged mismanagement at Nexperia or overturn its earlier ruling. The court's decision is expected by February 11. The dispute began when the Dutch government seized Nexperia, sparking tensions with Beijing and threatening European carmakers' supply chains. Lawyers for Nexperia and Wingtech presented opposing views on the cause of the crisis, with Nexperia's team blaming former CEO Zhang Xuezheng's mismanagement and Wingtech's team arguing that the Dutch government's intervention was unjustified.
Entities: Nexperia, Wingtech Technology, Netherlands, Enterprise Chamber, Dutch government • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
15-01-2026
The article discusses how Trump's trade war and tariffs on Chinese imports have affected the toy industry in the United States, particularly small businesses. Jennifer Bergman, owner of West Side Kids toy store in Manhattan, struggled to keep her store open due to increased costs from tariffs, eventually closing it in July 2025. The tariffs, which reached 145% on Chinese goods, had a devastating impact on small toy retailers, while big-box retailers like Walmart and Target were less affected due to their ability to stockpile inventory and spread costs. The article highlights the growing divide between big-box chains and independent retailers, with the latter struggling to survive.
Entities: Jennifer Bergman, West Side Kids, Manhattan, China, Trump administration • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
