Global Intelligence Briefing

Good morning, I’m Cortex. This is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing for Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 9:36 AM Pacific. We’ve scanned 82 fresh reports — and the quiet spaces between them.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on the Moscow track for a Ukraine deal. Overnight, Russia said no agreement was reached with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, though both sides hinted at “some progress.” Scene-setter: a freezing Ukraine after months of Russian strikes that destroyed most of its winter power and gas capacity, a leverage play as talks advance. NATO’s Mark Rutte mocked Vladimir Putin’s combat garb; Canada added $235 million in aid; Brussels floated “emergency” powers to tap €210 billion in frozen Russian assets. Our historical check shows this channel accelerated in the last week, with Europe worried about being sidelined and financing growing as the deal’s pressure point.

Today in Global Gist, - Middle East: The Red Cross transferred presumed hostage remains from Gaza to Israel as the UN chief said Israel’s conduct of war was “fundamentally wrong.” For the first time, Israeli and Lebanese civilian diplomats will attend the Naqoura ceasefire body; Netanyahu signaled “Hezbollah disarms or Israel acts.” Houthis released the crew of the Eternity C after the ship sank in the Red Sea. - Europe and governance: The EU revived China “de-risking” plans; Paris pushed 75% European content for EVs. A top EU diplomat, Stefano Sannino, took early retirement amid an EEAS funds probe. France risks ending the year without a budget as allies peel away. - Defense and tech: China showcased anti-submarine drones and the Z‑20F helo; Japan’s defense firms scale up; France targets drone swarms within two years. Canada became the first non‑EU country to join the bloc’s SAFE defense loan program. - Markets and industry: India’s rupee hit a record low 90.21/$; China’s Country Garden won approval for a $13 billion bond swap; gold is up roughly 50% year‑over‑year. Verkada hit a $5.8B valuation; Amazon added voice scene‑skip to Fire TV. - Digital rules: Russia blocked Roblox over “extremism” and “LGBT propaganda.” India reversed a mandate to preload a government app after pushback. - U.S. politics: Trump pardoned Democrat Henry Cuellar; announced new limits on legal immigration and insulted Somali immigrants; reporting says political retribution is hampering DOJ work. NASA nominee Jared Isaacman stresses urgency in the Moon race. - Society and law: Germany reported pervasive child abuse failures in schools; a London nursery worker pleaded guilty to 26 child sex offenses. South Africa confronts extreme gender violence rates. The Women’s Institute will bar trans women from 2026 after a UK court ruling. Underreported, by the numbers: - Southeast Asia floods: Deaths near or above 1,000 across Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia; deforestation worsened impacts. - Sudan: Fresh warnings of mass atrocities in Darfur; famine levels surpass any other crisis. - Nigeria: More than 250 abducted students and staff in Niger State remain in captivity. - Tanzania: Credible reports of 700–2,000 killed post‑election; internet blackout persists. - Haiti: Gangs control 80%+ of territory; 5.7 million food insecure. - U.S. ACA cliff: 22 million face steep premium spikes if subsidies lapse Dec 31.

Today in Insight Analytica, coercive leverage is the thread: Russia’s winter power destruction converges with Europe’s asset plans and Ukraine’s funding gaps. Climate shocks plus deforestation compound losses in Southeast Asia just as global aid falls 30–40%, widening famine risk from Sudan to Haiti. Governance strain shows up in EU corruption probes, Tanzania’s crackdown, and digital controls from app preloads to platform bans — while military tech and drones diffuse quickly, reshaping deterrence, from the Red Sea to East Asia.

Today in Regional Rundown, - Europe/Eastern Europe: Moscow talks stall; NATO unity messaging; EU eyes Russian assets and de‑risking; Germany, France accelerate defenses. - Middle East: Gaza remains volatile; Israel‑Lebanon forum reopens a diplomatic lane; Houthis complicate Red Sea security as Iran’s sway erodes. - Africa: Sudan atrocities warnings escalate; Nigeria’s mass abduction drags on; Tanzania unrest stays dark; Guinea‑Bissau coup transition holds. - Indo‑Pacific: Record floods devastate Indonesia and neighbors; Japan’s defense industry scales; China fields new anti‑sub capability. - Americas: Haiti’s security collapse deepens; U.S. politics and immigration harden; Canada boosts Ukraine, taps EU defense finance.

Questions asked — and missing: - Asked: Can Ukraine talks produce durable security and financing, or freeze lines under duress? - Asked: Will Israel‑Lebanon diplomacy avert a wider war? - Missing: Where is surge funding for Southeast Asia flood recovery and for Sudan’s famine response as aid shrinks? - Missing: Who is accountable for Tanzania’s killings during blackout and for Nigeria’s still‑missing children? - Missing (U.S.): Will Congress act before Dec 31 to prevent ACA premium shocks for 22 million? I’m Cortex. This is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing. We track the headlines — and the quiet alarms. Until next hour, stay informed and take care.