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  • Jury selection for Luigi Mangione trial set for September

    Jury selection for Luigi Mangione trial set for September

    Manhattan federal court has established critical timelines for the impending trial of Luigi Mangione, the individual charged with the fatal shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024. During Friday’s proceedings, Judge Margaret Garnett announced that jury selection will commence on September 8th, though the actual trial start date hinges on a monumental decision regarding capital punishment.

    The judicial process faces a bifurcated timeline based on whether federal prosecutors secure death penalty authorization. US Attorney General Pam Bondi’s pursuit of maximum punishment could push trial proceedings to January 2027 if approved. Should the court deny capital prosecution, opening statements will begin considerably sooner on October 13th.

    Friday’s 90-minute hearing centered on contentious evidence admissibility challenges from defense attorneys. Legal representatives for Mangione contend that critical evidence—including a firearm and notebook—was unlawfully obtained during warrantless searches of his backpack following arrest at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s location. Prosecutors maintain Altoona Police Department conducted constitutionally compliant procedures during the search operation.

    Mangione, 27, maintains not guilty pleas against both federal murder charges and separate New York state accusations including second-degree murder and weapons violations. Notably, terrorism charges initially filed against the defendant have been formally dismissed. The state-level proceedings await trial date scheduling while federal courts advance with evidence resolution and trial preparation.

  • Xinjiang reports highest foreign trade growth in China

    Xinjiang reports highest foreign trade growth in China

    China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has emerged as the nation’s top-performing foreign trade hub, achieving unprecedented growth of 19.9% year-on-year in 2025. According to official data released by Urumqi Customs District, the region’s total import-export volume reached a historic 520.4 billion yuan ($74.7 billion), marking the highest growth rate among all Chinese provinces and autonomous regions.

    The export sector demonstrated particularly robust performance, surging 25% to 460.7 billion yuan, while imports experienced a moderate decline of 8.9% to 59.6 billion yuan. Over the comprehensive Five-Year Plan period from 2021 to 2025, Xinjiang’s cumulative foreign trade exceeded 1.71 trillion yuan, representing a remarkable 144.3% increase compared to the previous five-year cycle.

    Customs officials attribute this exceptional performance to strategic policy implementations throughout 2025. Deputy Director Li Qinghua highlighted that targeted measures to enhance port development and advance the China (Xinjiang) Pilot Free Trade Zone significantly optimized foreign trade structures. The region simultaneously accelerated smart port construction initiatives, creating a more efficient trade ecosystem.

    Xinjiang’s international trade network has expanded substantially, maintaining particularly strong economic ties with Belt and Road Initiative partner nations. Trade with these countries reached 458.4 billion yuan, constituting 88.1% of Xinjiang’s total foreign trade volume. Central Asian countries accounted for over half of this trade, while ASEAN markets witnessed explosive 98.3% growth to 67.4 billion yuan—crossing the 10% threshold of Xinjiang’s total trade for the first time.

    The region’s export composition has undergone significant transformation, with high-tech and high-value-added products driving growth. Mechanical and electrical product exports reached 186.5 billion yuan, while automobiles, automotive parts, electrical equipment, and electronic components demonstrated particularly strong performance. Advanced equipment related to new quality productive forces and green technology products including new energy vehicles and lithium batteries grew by approximately 70%.

    Agricultural exports also flourished, increasing 25.4% due to rising international demand for dried and fresh products such as walnuts and grapes.

    Private enterprises played a pivotal role in this success story, contributing 92.8% of Xinjiang’s total foreign trade volume. Their import-export value reached 482.7 billion yuan with 20.1% year-on-year growth. Notably, self-branded goods exports surged 40.3% to 52.11 billion yuan, with proprietary products accounting for significant portions of electrical equipment (33%), lithium batteries (81.1%), and textile machinery (25%) shipments.

    Chief Inspector Huang Qun confirmed that Urumqi Customs District will continue supporting private businesses through enhanced regulatory efficiency, targeted policy guidance, and responsive service improvements to sustain this growth trajectory.

  • Global research project on AI guardrails launched in Beijing

    Global research project on AI guardrails launched in Beijing

    A landmark international research initiative titled “Building Global Consensus on AI Guardrails” was formally inaugurated in Beijing on Friday, bringing together prominent scholars from China, the United States, and other nations. The project addresses the urgent need for coordinated global action to establish safeguards for responsible artificial intelligence development and deployment.

    Professor Jia Qingguo, Director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Understanding at Peking University, emphasized the critical nature of this endeavor in a video address. “Given our existing understanding of AI risks, the stakes are very high,” he stated. “We must address the challenges and risks AI poses to avoid ending up in a disaster unparalleled in history. Since AI is a global phenomenon, effective risk management presents significant challenges that demand international cooperation.”

    The ambitious project will develop a comprehensive policy and implementation blueprint that maps existing AI governance frameworks worldwide. Its primary objectives include identifying areas of convergence and divergence across different regulatory approaches and proposing concrete mechanisms to build global consensus on implementing responsible AI safeguards.

    Professor Wang Dong, Executive Director of the same institute, highlighted the current fragmentation in global AI governance. He noted persistent divisions among nations regarding risk assessment methodologies, technological boundaries, and governance implementation pathways. This research initiative aims to bridge these gaps through scholarly collaboration and evidence-based policy recommendations, creating a foundation for more harmonized international AI governance standards that balance innovation with ethical considerations and risk mitigation.

  • Austin signs Uruguay international winger Facundo Torres with designated player contract

    Austin signs Uruguay international winger Facundo Torres with designated player contract

    AUSTIN, Texas — In a significant move for the franchise, Austin FC has finalized the acquisition of Uruguayan international Facundo Torres on a designated player contract that will extend through the 2030 Major League Soccer season. The club officially announced the high-profile signing on Friday, securing the services of the dynamic winger from Brazilian powerhouse Palmeiras.

    The 25-year-old attacker brings an impressive offensive pedigree to Austin, having amassed a remarkable 47 goals and 25 assists across three productive seasons (2022-2024) with Orlando City SC. His most recent campaign with Palmeiras in 2025 yielded 10 goals and 6 assists, demonstrating consistent scoring prowess at the highest levels of South American football.

    While the financial specifics of the multi-year agreement remain undisclosed, club officials confirmed the contract includes an additional option for the 2031 season, potentially extending Torres’ tenure in the Texas capital for seven years. This long-term commitment represents a substantial investment in the player’s prime competitive years.

    Torres’ international credentials further enhance his value, with 22 senior appearances for Uruguay’s national team, including participation in World Cup qualifiers and Copa América tournaments. His experience in high-pressure matches will be invaluable to Austin’s ambitions.

    Austin FC Sporting Director Rodolfo Borrell expressed strong confidence in the acquisition, stating: ‘Facundo possesses proven attacking quality as evidenced by his exceptional goal contributions throughout his career. He arrives at an ideal age to immediately elevate our offensive capabilities as we push for success this season and beyond.’

    The signing represents a major statement of intent from Austin FC as they seek to strengthen their attacking options with a player entering his athletic prime, combining MLS experience with international pedigree.

  • Fury over five-year-old’s detention in US immigration crackdown

    Fury over five-year-old’s detention in US immigration crackdown

    A massive immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis has ignited fierce political controversy following the detention of a five-year-old child, Liam Conejo Ramos. The incident has created a stark divide between the Trump administration and Democratic leaders, with Vice President JD Vance defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ actions while local officials condemn what they describe as traumatic tactics.

    Vance confirmed Thursday that young Ramos was among those detained during widespread ICE operations targeting undocumented immigrants. The vice president asserted that federal agents acted appropriately, claiming the child’s father had abandoned him during an immigration sweep. “What are they supposed to do? Are they supposed to let a five-year-old child freeze to death?” Vance questioned during a press briefing.

    Democratic representatives have vehemently rejected this narrative. Texas Congressman Joaquin Castro branded Homeland Security authorities “sick liars,” noting that his office had been unable to locate the child reportedly held with his father in San Antonio, Texas. Former Vice President Kamala Harris expressed outrage, stating, “Liam Ramos is just a baby. He should be at home with his family, not used as bait by ICE.”

    The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement contradicting claims that agents targeted the child, explaining that ICE officers remained with Ramos for his safety after his father allegedly fled during an operation to arrest him. The department emphasized that parents are given options for removal with their children or placement with designated safe persons.

    This incident occurs within broader tensions surrounding ICE’s intensified enforcement activities. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the influx of approximately 3,000 federal agents as feeling like an “occupation,” while local school administrators reported at least four children from the same school district being detained this month by masked, armed agents without clear identification.

    The legal status of Ramos and his father remains complex. Their attorney, Marc Prokosch, clarified that while not US citizens, both had followed proper legal procedures in applying for asylum within Minneapolis—a designated sanctuary city where local police typically do not cooperate with federal immigration sweeps. Vance criticized such sanctuary policies, arguing they “turn up the temperature” and hinder federal operations.

    Meanwhile, Minnesota state authorities have sought a temporary restraining order against ICE operations, with a federal court hearing scheduled for Monday that could potentially pause the controversial sweeps.

  • Attorney fears for safety of Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine after army chief threats

    Attorney fears for safety of Ugandan opposition figure Bobi Wine after army chief threats

    KAMPALA, Uganda — The legal representative for Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine has issued an urgent appeal to the global community, demanding verifiable safety guarantees following what he describes as systematic threats from the nation’s highest military authority. Robert Amsterdam, attorney for the opposition figure, characterized the situation as critically dangerous in a formal statement distributed to international media outlets.

    The controversy centers on General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, son of President Yoweri Museveni and current head of Uganda’s armed forces, whose inflammatory social media rhetoric has targeted Wine repeatedly. The general has publicly referred to the opposition leader as both ‘baboon’ and ‘terrorist’ while claiming credit for the detention of over 2,000 supporters from Wine’s National Unity Platform (NUP). Most alarmingly, Kainerugaba asserted via Twitter that security forces had ‘killed 30 NUP terrorists’ without providing substantiating details.

    These developments occur against the backdrop of disputed electoral results that granted Museveni a seventh presidential term with 71.6% of votes, compared to Wine’s 24.7% share. The opposition has consistently rejected these figures as fraudulent, citing widespread irregularities including internet blackouts, malfunctioning voting technology, and alleged ballot stuffing in government strongholds.

    Wine currently remains in hiding, expressing legitimate fears for his physical safety despite official police statements that he faces no criminal charges. This contradiction highlights the apparent rift between Uganda’s civil law enforcement and military leadership regarding the treatment of political dissent.

    The situation escalated further with the recent arrest and terrorism charges against Muwanga Kivumbi, deputy president of Wine’s political party. Authorities accuse Kivumbi of orchestrating electoral violence in his constituency that resulted in seven fatalities—allegations he vehemently denies.

    Amsterdam emphasized that Kainerugaba’s statements cannot be dismissed as mere social media provocations, noting that as Uganda’s top military official, his words ‘carry the weight of state power and have operational significance.’ The attorney invoked international law obligations requiring the Ugandan government to prevent violence and protect those under threat.

    United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has concurrently appealed for restraint from all parties and respect for legal protocols and human rights standards. The international community now faces mounting pressure to intervene in what appears to be an increasingly volatile political climate in the East African nation.

  • Magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits southern Iran at 10km depth

    Magnitude 5.1 earthquake hits southern Iran at 10km depth

    A moderate earthquake registering 5.1 on the Richter scale struck southern Iran on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, according to seismic monitoring authorities. The seismic event occurred at precisely 3:18 PM UAE time, with the National Seismic Network of the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) confirming the tremor’s details.

    The United States Geological Survey (USGS), which maintains global seismic monitoring systems, reported the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Shallow-focus earthquakes typically generate more noticeable surface shaking compared to deeper seismic events of similar magnitude.

    The precise epicenter location within southern Iran’s seismically active regions has not been immediately specified in initial reports. The region sits within a complex tectonic zone where the Arabian and Eurasian plates converge, creating frequent seismic activity that periodically results in significant tremors.

    Initial reports indicate no immediate casualties or structural damage, though comprehensive assessment operations are typically conducted following seismic events of this magnitude. Iranian authorities have not issued any tsunami warnings following the tremor, which is standard procedure for inland earthquakes.

    Seismologists note that earthquakes of magnitude 5.0-5.9 are considered moderate and capable of causing damage to poorly constructed buildings, particularly in populated areas near the epicenter. The impact largely depends on numerous factors including local construction standards, population density, and specific geological conditions.

    This event marks the latest in Iran’s long history of seismic activity, as the country experiences frequent earthquakes due to its position along major fault lines. The National Seismic Network continues to monitor aftershocks, which commonly follow moderate seismic events.

  • Red Rock and City Meta Lab unveil a new integrated model for food security, technology and urban resilience

    Red Rock and City Meta Lab unveil a new integrated model for food security, technology and urban resilience

    In a groundbreaking partnership announced January 23, 2026, technology firm Red Rock and urban design specialists City Meta Lab have unveiled an innovative framework merging artificial intelligence, architectural intelligence, and food security systems. This collaboration represents a paradigm shift in how nations might address critical sustainability challenges through integrated technological solutions.

    The strategic alliance combines Red Rock’s proficiency in AI-driven systems, digital governance, and technological oversight with City Meta Lab’s internationally acclaimed expertise in architectural design, urban systems, and spatial innovation. Together, they are developing next-generation Food Security and Resilience Centers—comprehensive infrastructures designed for production, research, education, and institutional engagement.

    Unlike conventional agricultural or vertical farming initiatives, this model incorporates fully automated AI-supervised hydroponic production systems, advanced seed preservation and genetic safeguarding facilities, and centralized AI control centers. The infrastructure additionally features public-facing components dedicated to knowledge transfer and global cooperation.

    Red Rock’s chairman emphasized that food security has evolved beyond traditional agricultural concerns to encompass technological, architectural, and governance dimensions. The partnership aims to create systems that are resilient, transparent, and future-proof at national and institutional levels.

    City Meta Lab contributes an urban design vision that transforms technical infrastructure into accessible, symbolic spaces capable of hosting researchers, policymakers, and international delegations while maintaining operational efficiency.

    The initiative aligns with the United Arab Emirates’ long-term sustainability, innovation, and strategic autonomy priorities, potentially establishing the nation as a global reference for integrated infrastructure models. The collaboration supports phased implementation, allowing various entities to engage at different levels—from research and pilot programs to full-scale deployment.

    This partnership establishes a new benchmark for critical infrastructure development in an era characterized by artificial intelligence advancement and climate uncertainty, potentially offering replicable models for global adoption.

  • Partnering with China, embracing opportunities

    Partnering with China, embracing opportunities

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  • Chilean court extends detention of suspect accused of starting wildfire that killed 20

    Chilean court extends detention of suspect accused of starting wildfire that killed 20

    A Chilean court has ordered pretrial detention for a 39-year-old man allegedly responsible for igniting one of the catastrophic wildfires currently devastating central and southern Chile. The Guarantee Court of Concepción in Bio Bio region approved the prosecution’s request to detain the suspect until January 26th while investigations continue into the deadly blazes that have claimed at least 21 lives.

    The suspect, arrested Thursday night, stands accused of sparking the Trinitarias fire—the initial and largest among approximately fifteen uncontrolled wildfires that have raged since Sunday. Prosecution evidence indicates the disaster began when the man operated a malfunctioning wood-burning stove, sending embers into the surrounding forests of Bio Bio region, approximately 500 kilometers south of Santiago.

    Prosecutor Jorge Lorca presented compelling evidence including aerial reconnaissance footage and video documentation from a forestry company that allegedly connects the suspect to the fire’s origin. The Trinitarias fire subsequently merged with two additional blazes, creating a massive wall of flames that has consumed over 45,000 hectares (176 square miles) of land.

    The human toll continues to mount with 305 reported injuries, nearly 700 residents displaced to shelters, and over 2,300 homes destroyed. The towns of Penco and Lirquen have suffered particularly devastating losses, with search operations ongoing for additional victims in the Lirquen area.

    This wildfire event now surpasses the scale of Chile’s recent Valparaiso and Viña del Mar tragedy in total burned area, though the earlier fire resulted in higher fatalities. The current megafires continue to actively burn across multiple regions including Ñuble and La Araucania alongside the devastated Bio Bio zone.