The latest news
China-Led Digital Payment Platform Transactions Surge Past $55 Billion
Beijing, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Project mBridge transaction volumes have skyrocketed 2,500-fold to over $55 billion since 2022, with the digital yuan driving 95% of activity, signaling a significant shift away from US dollar reliance.
latest news in economy
US Soybean Exporters Pivot to Alternative Markets Amid Historic China Trade Freeze
Beijing, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
As China records zero purchases of U.S. soybeans for an unprecedented sixth consecutive month, American agriculture is executing a critical strategic pivot. This trade freeze, representing a historic low in commercial relations, has forced exporters to accelerate diversification away from Beijing to mitigate a loss of over $5.8 billion since 2017. The most significant development is the rapid volume growth in alternative markets; shipments to Mexico, Egypt, and Pakistan are surging as farmers reconfigure global supply chains. This shift suggests a permanent realignment of agricultural trade flows, prioritizing market resilience over reliance on a single superpower.
latest news in companies
TMC Validates First Deep-Sea Reserves and Projects $23.6 Billion Economic Value
Vancouver, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
TMC declares the world’s first polymetallic nodule reserves, projecting a staggering $23.6 billion combined value and targeting commercial production by late 2027 to supply critical battery metals.
latest news in politics
Minneapolis Rally Descends into Chaos as Counter-Protesters Confront Fraud March
Minneapolis, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Tensions boiled over today as counter-protesters chased organizer Jake Lang into a hotel with water balloons, underscoring the deepening divide over Minnesota’s immigration policies and ongoing fraud investigations.
latest news in global
EU and Mercosur Sign Historic Trade Deal Uniting 700 Million Consumers
Brussels, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
Capping 25 years of negotiations, this pact creates a massive market of 700 million people, securing a vital geopolitical foothold for Europe despite fierce opposition from agricultural sectors.
latest news in general
NASA Executes Historic First Medical Evacuation from Space Station
Houston, Saturday, 17 January 2026.
On January 15, 2026, NASA achieved a significant operational milestone by executing its first-ever medical evacuation from the International Space Station. Utilizing a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, the agency returned the four-person Crew-11 team to Earth roughly a month ahead of schedule to address an undisclosed medical issue affecting one astronaut. While the crew member is reported to be in stable condition, the mission’s early termination highlights the critical role of agile logistics in low-Earth orbit. This event serves as a crucial stress test for emergency protocols involving commercial partners, validating the Dragon spacecraft’s capability to handle rapid, unplanned returns. Notably, while the Soviet Union performed similar evacuations in the 1980s, this marks a historic first for NASA in over 65 years of human spaceflight, setting a new precedent for safety management as the orbital economy expands.