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SenseTime has open‑sourced Sense Nova‑MARS, a multimodal Agentic VLM available in 8B and 32B parameter sizes that the company says can plan actions, call tools and deeply fuse dynamic visual reasoning with image‑text search. The move democratizes access to execution‑oriented multimodal models, accelerating research and product integration while raising safety and governance questions about agentic AI.

Yushu Technology’s founder Wang Xingxing argued that the company or group that builds a large-scale AI model tailored to robots will become the leading global AI and robotics firm. The remark underscores a wider industry shift toward embodied, multimodal foundation models that fuse perception and action, but success requires massive embodied data, hardware–software integration and viable commercial deployments.

Geely has accelerated efforts to internalise AI by appointing Yin Qi as chairman of both its smart‑driving unit Qianli Technology and the big‑model company JiaYue Xingchen, which has just closed a B+ round topping ¥5 billion. The move aims to fuse in‑house foundational models with production vehicle terminals to boost proprietary ‘model content’ and fast‑track agent‑driven cockpits and assisted‑driving features.

A newly reported exoplanet candidate about 146 light‑years away is slightly larger than Earth and described in some outlets as an “ice‑bound” possible habitable world. While its size and proximity make it an attractive target for follow‑up, substantial observational work is needed to assess its true habitability.

Baoxinio issued a concise investor statement denying that it has purchased robots from Jack Technology, pushing back against circulating market rumours. The clarification illustrates how automation hype and social-media chatter can prompt listed firms to make rapid disclosures to steady investor sentiment. The denial does not preclude future automation projects; it mainly aims to correct the public record and limit speculative market moves.

Open-source tracking shows the US Air Force moved at least 42 heavy transport aircraft to the Middle East over eight days, primarily C-17s with one C-5M. The scale suggests significant logistics activity—reinforcement, prepositioning or contingency preparation—and signals US intent to reassure partners and deter adversaries while posing maintenance and readiness questions for its airlift fleet.

ByteDance’s CEO Liang Rubo has set an ambitious 2026 agenda, prioritising the Dola assistant and global talent incentives to secure a leading position in AI model capability. Alibaba and Tencent are rapidly countering with chips, cloud integrations and consumer promotions, turning early 2026 into an industry‑wide scramble across applications, silicon and datacentres.

Congress restored roughly $1.1 billion for the Boeing E‑7 Wedgetail AEW programme in the FY2026 NDAA drafts, undoing a White House proposal that would have reduced funding to under $100 million. The move reflects congressional wariness about relying solely on a new space‑based warning architecture and concerns about replacing the ageing E‑3 AWACS fleet.

Apple reported a record fiscal Q1 driven by iPhone 17 sales and a services business that exceeded $30 billion in a single quarter. Strong results mask strategic challenges: surging memory prices driven by AI infrastructure demand threaten gross margins, even as Apple pursues a device‑centric AI strategy built around partnerships and selective acquisitions.

China’s UN ambassador Fu Cong warned that military adventurism would plunge the Middle East into an unpredictable abyss, urging respect for sovereignty and non‑interference. Beijing called on the United States and other actors to exercise restraint and positioned itself as a potential constructive partner for regional stability.

President Trump is considering significant military strikes on Iran, including targeting leaders and nuclear facilities, while the U.S. has surged forces and deployed defensive systems to the Middle East. The deliberations follow failed negotiations with Tehran and raise the prospect of dangerous regional escalation and economic disruption.

Venezuela has created a National Office for Cyber Defence and Security to bolster protection of its cyberspace after a disruptive incident on January 3. The office will coordinate scientists and military research bodies, centralising cyber-defence efforts amid broader infrastructure vulnerabilities and geopolitical implications.

European governments have publicly rebuked U.S. talk of annexing Greenland, with France taking a conspicuous lead in signalling support for Denmark and Greenland. The dispute exposes a strategic dilemma: defend sovereignty and multilateral norms or avoid clashing with Washington and preserve the immediate utility of the transatlantic relationship.

Vice‑President Vance drew condemnation after likening wounded Senator Tammy Duckworth to a fictional character in a social‑media post following a contentious hearing on U.S. policy toward Venezuela. Duckworth, an Iraq veteran who lost limbs in combat, accused Vance of insulting disabled people to deflect from ties between interventionist policy and Chevron’s interests; politicians and the public criticized Vance’s rhetoric.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly blamed delayed U.S. weapons deliveries for ammunition shortages that he says contributed to Israeli military deaths in Gaza. The claim provoked a sharp rebuttal from a former Biden administration official and comes as Israel negotiates a new long-term U.S. aid package amid declining U.S. public support for further assistance.

China’s defence ministry publicly reprimanded several foreign defence contractors for producing animated videos showing Chinese naval vessels being sunk, calling the material "self‑indulgent" and telling makers "You wish!" A Swedish firm removed its clip after the ministry’s protest, underscoring the diplomatic sensitivities around defence marketing that portrays Chinese forces as adversaries.

China executed 11 people it said were linked to Myanmar‑based criminal groups, and pledged deeper international cooperation to combat telecom fraud and online gambling. The move underscores Beijing’s law‑and‑order approach to transnational crime, with implications for regional security cooperation and potential human‑rights scrutiny.

China and the UK agreed to develop a "long‑term, stable, comprehensive strategic partnership" after a meeting between Xi Jinping and Keir Starmer in Beijing. Beijing presented the outcome as a new, predictable framework for bilateral engagement, but the substance will be tested by future agreements and by how London balances ties with Washington and domestic scrutiny.

The Central Theater Command Ground Force publicly awarded Liu Laozhuang Company a first-class merit as the unit asserted its historical legacy while being tasked to pilot unmanned combat systems. The ceremony tied revolutionary sacrifice to contemporary modernization, signalling the PLA’s effort to blend morale-building with technological adaptation.

At the Tel Aviv Spark Innovation Summit (Jan 27–29, 2026) Israeli industry figures expressed optimism about deeper AI cooperation with China, citing complementary strengths: Israeli commercialisation and cybersecurity know‑how and Chinese scale. Opportunities are tangible in non‑sensitive commercial sectors, but geopolitical constraints and export controls will shape the depth and scope of collaboration.