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Recordati’s Chinese subsidiary has filed to deregister, ending supply of osilodrostat — the only oral drug for Cushing’s syndrome on the Chinese market — less than a year after its commercial launch. The withdrawal highlights structural problems in China’s rare‑disease market: high prices, thin sales, uncertain reimbursement and weak incentives for suppliers, all of which risk interrupting care for vulnerable patients.

Nie Weiping, celebrated in China as the "Go Sage," was farewelled at Babaoshan in Beijing on 18 January, where colleagues, friends and fans braved snow to pay their respects. His funeral underscores his role in popularising weiqi in China and marks the passing of a generation that symbolised the country's rise in the sport.

Two soldiers in uniform assisted an elderly man who had collapsed from disorientation and muscle weakness, providing first aid and ensuring he reached hospital before quietly leaving. The man’s wife later sought out the unit to thank them, saying that seeing the uniform made her feel reassured — a moment that highlights public trust in the military and wider questions about civilian emergency services.

A China military outlet published footage of a young serviceman's first homecoming, showing his mother in tears. While emotionally simple, the story illustrates Beijing's ongoing use of family-focused narratives to bolster military morale, recruitment, and domestic legitimacy amid demographic and political pressures.

Iraq has assumed full control of the al‑Asad airbase after U.S. forces withdrew, a move that underscores Baghdad’s effort to reclaim sovereignty over military sites and reflects a continued U.S. retrenchment. The transfer tests Iraqi security capabilities and carries implications for regional balance and future U.S. operational approaches in the Middle East.

Denmark has invited the United States to join military exercises in Greenland as NATO countries increase their Arctic presence. Copenhagen is expanding its northern defences and seeking allied cooperation amid heightened strategic competition in the region.

Chinese state media reported that Donald Trump offered permanent seats on a proposed “Peace Committee” to countries for $1 billion each. The claim, if true, raises legal and ethical questions about pay‑for‑access diplomacy and would challenge norms underpinning established international institutions.

NASA has moved the Artemis II SLS rocket and Orion crew capsule to Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad, entering the final and most intensive phase of pre‑launch work for the United States’ first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The mission — the first crewed flight for both SLS and Orion and carrying four astronauts — is scheduled no earlier than February 6 and faces significant technical and schedule risks during upcoming integrated tests.

NASA has transferred the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft for Artemis II to the Kennedy Space Center launch pad, entering a critical phase of integrated testing before a crewed lunar flyby not earlier than 6 February. The mission—carrying four astronauts—will be the first crewed flight for both SLS and Orion and is a pivotal step toward future lunar landings and sustained operations.

NASA moved the Artemis II rocket and crewed Orion spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center’s launch pad on 17 January, marking a key preparation phase ahead of the first crewed lunar flyby in the Artemis programme. The pad transfer signals hardware readiness but ushers in a period of final integrated testing and schedule risk ahead of launch.

Memory module prices in China have surged sharply in early 2026, with daily volatility and near-doubling in some segments driven by AI, data-centre demand and seasonal restocking. The spike threatens to raise consumer electronics prices, squeeze OEM margins and invite heavy capital spending that could sow future overcapacity risks.

Elon Musk has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for up to $134 billion, arguing his early funding and non‑financial contributions were wrongfully captured when OpenAI shifted toward a commercial model. The case raises novel legal questions about the enforceability of founding missions and will test how courts value founder contributions when nonprofits convert to profit-seeking entities. The dispute comes as OpenAI begins testing ads in ChatGPT to generate new revenue streams.

On 17 January 2026 two Chinese launch vehicles — a Long March 3B and the privately built Gushenxing-2 — failed in separate missions, highlighting a launch‑capacity bottleneck that threatens commercial space ambitions. The twin setbacks renew focus on the technical challenge of reusable rockets, the need for steady satellite‑constellation demand, and the role of regulation in shaping industry growth.

Chinese and U.S. AI strategies are showing meaningful divergence, shaped by different technical philosophies, civilisational values and policy choices. Export controls and governance gaps increase the risk of fragmented standards; embedding ethics and human control into AI systems is urgent to prevent harmful outcomes.

Nio reported that its newly launched ES8 surpassed 50,000 deliveries 120 days after deliveries began, averaging about 417 vehicles per day. The rapid ramp underscores solid early demand in the premium SUV segment but raises questions about sustainability amid fierce competition and margin pressures.

He Jiaolong, a Xinjiang county official who became well known for using short videos and livestreaming to promote local tourism and agricultural products, has died, prompting national mourning. Her approach — combining formal education, digital marketing and grassroots commitment — exemplifies a broader Chinese strategy to use technology and returning talent for rural revitalization, while exposing risks of personality-driven development.

Elon Musk has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for up to $134 billion, alleging that his early funding and organizational contributions were unfairly appropriated when OpenAI commercialised. The case raises a pivotal legal question about whether nonprofit mission commitments create enforceable restitution claims when an organisation restructures to accept private capital.

Cambodia has formally protested Thai military measures — notably barbed wire placed in the Temoda area of Bosa province — saying they breach a December 2025 joint declaration and hinder refugee returns. Phnom Penh has urged Thailand to implement agreements in good faith and warned that armed actions cannot alter borders, while Bangkok has not yet replied.

A nine-member PhD-led medical team at the PLA’s 80th Group Army Hospital is fusing frontline training and applied research to overhaul battlefield trauma care. Their work—ranging from 3D-printed fracture planning to sensor-driven psychological monitoring—is shortening treatment times and improving casualty survival under austere, combat-like conditions.

On January 15 the People’s Armed Police promoted 35 senior enlisted personnel to its highest non-commissioned rank, highlighting decorated NCOs from aviation, naval electromechanical and communications units. The ceremony signals Beijing’s ongoing push to professionalise its paramilitary forces, retain technical talent and bolster mid-level leadership to support both internal security and modern operational demands.