Articles in this Cluster
16-02-2026
China has announced that UK and Canadian nationals will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from February 17. The policy, initially in effect until December 31, aims to facilitate people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. The move follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official visit to China last month, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to relax travel rules. The change is expected to benefit hundreds of thousands of British people, with around 620,000 traveling to China in 2024. While the agreement is seen as a positive step for businesses, critics argue that it overlooks human rights and national security concerns.
Entities: China, UK, Canada, Sir Keir Starmer, Xi Jinping • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
ByteDance, the Chinese technology giant, has pledged to curb its AI video-making tool, Seedance, after Disney threatened legal action over copyright infringement. Seedance's latest version has been used to create realistic videos featuring copyrighted characters from Marvel, Star Wars, and other franchises. Disney accused ByteDance of supplying Seedance with a 'pirated library' of its copyrighted characters, committing a 'virtual smash-and-grab' of their intellectual property. ByteDance has agreed to strengthen safeguards to prevent unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users. The move follows criticism from other Hollywood studios and organizations, including the Motion Picture Association and actors' union Sag-Aftra.
Entities: ByteDance, Disney, Seedance, Marvel, Star Wars • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
American speedskater Jordan Stolz won his second Olympic gold medal in the 500-meter event at the Milan Cortina Winter Games, becoming the first American to win two gold medals in the sport since 1980. Stolz previously won gold in the 1,000-meter event, marking the first American medal in that race since 2010. He will compete in two more events and has expressed confidence in his performance. Stolz is a record-holder in speedskating and a two-time world champion at the 1,000-meter distance. He skates professionally for the Dutch team Albert Heijn Zaanlander and hopes to help popularize speedskating in the US.
Entities: Jordan Stolz, Milan, Cortina, Winter Olympics, CBS News • Tone: positive • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
American skier Lindsey Vonn has undergone her fourth surgery after breaking her left leg in a crash during the Winter Olympics in Italy. Vonn announced on social media that the surgery was successful and she has been cleared to return to the United States. She expressed her love for skiing and her determination to return to the sport, stating that 'the ride was worth the fall.' Vonn had come out of retirement to compete in the Milan Cortina Games despite a previous ACL injury. She emphasized her willingness to take risks and push herself to achieve her goals, and asked for support rather than sympathy. Vonn's crash and subsequent surgeries have drawn attention and support from fans and the skiing community.
Entities: Lindsey Vonn, United States, Italy, Winter Olympics, Colorado • Tone: positive • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The Olympic curling committee issued a warning to Canada after a heated altercation between Canadian curler Marc Kennedy and Swedish curler Oskar Eriksson during their match at the Winter Olympics. Eriksson accused Kennedy of 'double touching' a stone, which Kennedy denied, using expletives. The committee spoke with Canadian officials and warned them that any further inappropriate language would result in additional sanctions. The incident highlighted the tension and competitiveness of the sport, with both teams emphasizing the importance of fair play.
Entities: Marc Kennedy, Oskar Eriksson, Sweden, Canada, World Curling Committee • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
ByteDance is strengthening safeguards on its AI video tool, Seedance 2.0, following backlash from Hollywood studios over alleged copyright violations. The tool allows users to create realistic videos based on text prompts, but has been used to create content featuring copyrighted characters and celebrity likenesses. The Motion Picture Association (MPA) and studios like Disney and Paramount Skydance have accused ByteDance of widespread unauthorized use of content and issued cease-and-desist letters. ByteDance has stated that it respects intellectual property rights and is taking steps to prevent unauthorized use.
Entities: ByteDance, Seedance 2.0, Hollywood, Motion Picture Association (MPA), Disney • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
China is shifting from being a country known for stealing foreign ideas to one that wants to protect its own intellectual property. The country's courts are flooded with IP cases, and officials are cracking down on counterfeit goods, such as fake 'Labubu' dolls. China is taking steps to safeguard its own innovations and brands, marking a significant change in its approach to intellectual property.
Entities: China, Labubu, Pop Mart, Lafufus, Shanghai • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the challenges faced by China's graduates in the job market, with many opting for the civil service exam due to its perceived stability and security. The number of students taking the graduate-admissions tests has plummeted, while the number of applicants for the civil service exam has surged. Tutors like Mr. Wang are witnessing a shift in demand, with top talent flocking to prepare for the civil service exam. The trend is driven by the desire for certainty and job security in a competitive job market.
Entities: China, Mr. Wang, graduate-admissions tests, civil service exam, Hong Kong • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the potential risks faced by private-equity firms that have heavily invested in the software industry, particularly with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). During the 2010s, private-equity funds invested heavily in technology firms, attracted by the recurring revenue generated by enterprise software subscriptions. However, the article suggests that this leveraged bet on the software industry may soon cause big trouble, potentially due to the impact of AI on the industry.
Entities: private-equity firms, software industry, artificial intelligence, enterprise software, technology firms • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses China's increasing activities in the Arctic region, including a significant expedition by its ice-breaking ship Xuelong 2 and the first scheduled transit of a Chinese-operated container ship from China to Europe via the Arctic without using icebreakers. China's close cooperation with Russia in the region is alarming many, as it highlights China's growing presence and influence in the Arctic. The article suggests that China's actions in the Arctic are significant and warrant attention from the international community.
Entities: China, Arctic, Russia, Xuelong 2, Northern Sea Route • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the recent sweeping military purge in China under Xi Jinping's leadership, and how the opacity surrounding Chinese elite politics has led to a resurgence of 'Pekingology', the practice of scrutinizing wording and images to decode Chinese politics. The article references Roderick MacFarquhar, a late scholar of Maoist China, who wrote about the importance of analyzing photographs and wording to understand Chinese politics during the Cold War era. The author notes that Xi Jinping's rule has made elite politics even more opaque, prompting analysts to revisit old methods of analysis. The article touches on the challenges of understanding China's political landscape and the renewed relevance of Pekingology in the current era.
Entities: Xi Jinping, China, Roderick MacFarquhar, Pekingology, Maoist China • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with traditional Chinese medicine, specifically acupuncture. A company from Tianjin has developed a brainwave-controlled glove-like gadget that can perform acupuncture on a user's hands, aiming to aid in the recovery of stroke victims. The product is undergoing clinical trials at hospitals in Tianjin. This development highlights China's efforts to modernize its traditional medical practices through technology.
Entities: Acupuncture, Artificial Intelligence, Tianjin, China, Traditional Chinese medicine • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the boom in China's concert scene since the pandemic, with a focus on the Xi Shi Music Festival in Zhuji, Zhejiang province. The festival, which attracts tens of thousands of young people from across China, has seen a significant increase in attendance, with over 133,000 visitors staying overnight during this year's event, a 29% increase from the previous year. The article suggests that this surge in popularity is driven by young people's desire for experiences and live events after years of pandemic restrictions.
Entities: Xi Shi, Zhuji, Zhejiang province, China, Xi Shi Music Festival • Tone: positive • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
The article discusses the growing trend of foreigners seeking medical care in China, citing a British woman's positive experience at a Beijing public hospital. The woman, Amie, shared her story online, sparking a wave of similar testimonials from other foreigners who have received affordable and efficient medical treatment in China. The article highlights the contrast between China's often-criticized medical system and the positive experiences of foreigners who have accessed its healthcare services.
Entities: China, Amie, Britain, Beijing, Chinese social media • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
Two skiers were killed and another injured in an avalanche on the Italian side of Mont Blanc near the French-Swiss border. The avalanche occurred on a popular freeride route called Couloir Vesses in Courmayeur's upper Val Veny. Recent snowstorms have created hazardous conditions in the Italian Alps, with 13 backcountry skiers, climbers, and hikers dying in the week ending Feb. 8, a record toll. Authorities stressed that competition sites for the Winter Olympics remain safe and well-maintained.
Entities: Mont Blanc, Italian Alps, Courmayeur, Couloir Vesses, Val Veny • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
North Korea has completed a new housing district in Pyongyang for families of soldiers killed while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The move is seen as an effort by leader Kim Jong Un to honor the war dead and bolster internal unity. State media photos showed Kim Jong Un visiting the homes of some of the families with his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, and pledging to repay the 'young martyrs.' The construction comes as North Korea prepares to open a major ruling party congress later this month, where Kim is expected to announce his major goals in domestic and foreign policy. South Korea's National Intelligence Service estimated that 6,000 North Korean troops have been killed or wounded during their deployment in the war.
Entities: North Korea, Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un, Russia, Ukraine • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
Italian Alpine skier Federica Brignone made a stunning comeback at the 2026 Winter Olympics by winning her second gold medal in the giant slalom event, despite suffering a severe injury just a year prior. Brignone, 35, had fractured her left leg and torn her ACL in April 2025, casting doubt on her participation in the Games. However, she returned to competition a month ago and won the super-G event just days before her giant slalom victory. Brignone dominated the competition, finishing the two runs in 2 minutes, 13.50 seconds, over six-tenths of a second ahead of the silver medalists. Her impressive performance was praised by fellow skier Mikaela Shiffrin, who called it 'impressive and incredible.'
Entities: Federica Brignone, 2026 Winter Olympics, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, Olympia delle Tofane • Tone: positive • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
A fireworks shop blast in Jiangsu province, eastern China, on the first day of the Lunar New Year holiday resulted in 8 deaths and 2 minor injuries. The Ministry of Emergency Management held an emergency meeting, warning officials to prevent similar incidents by strengthening supervision of fireworks production, transport, sales, and use. The blast occurred after a villager improperly set off fireworks near the store, and those responsible have been taken into custody.
Entities: Ministry of Emergency Management, Jiangsu province, China, Lunar New Year, Dongan village • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
Renowned neuroscientist Arthur Konnerth has left Germany to join the Shenzhen Bay Laboratory (SZBL) in China on a full-time basis. Konnerth, a recipient of the prestigious Brain Prize, is known for pioneering brain imaging techniques and has made significant contributions to the understanding of how the brain processes information. His research focuses on the fundamental mechanisms of learning and memory, and he has developed techniques such as the in vitro brain slice patch-clamp recording method and an imaging method that enables scientists to watch entire networks of brain cells in action. Konnerth's work has laid the foundation for modern slice electrophysiology and has been widely adopted by the scientific community.
Entities: Arthur Konnerth, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, China, Germany, Brain Prize • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: positive • Intent: inform
16-02-2026
UBS SDIC Fund Management, a joint venture between Swiss bank UBS and state-owned SDIC Group, is facing backlash from over 200,000 Chinese retail investors after changing the valuation benchmark for its silver fund without prior notice. The change, made on February 2, caused losses to increase from a perceived 17% to 31.5% due to a silver price crash on January 30. Investors filed complaints against the fund manager, who later set up a task force and unveiled a tiered compensation plan for affected investors.
Entities: UBS SDIC Fund Management, UBS, SDIC Group, China, Shanghai • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
