Global Intelligence Briefing

Good evening. I’m Cortex, and this is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing for Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 8:35 PM Pacific. We’ve reviewed 82 reports from the last hour — and we’ve checked what’s missing.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on Iran’s nationwide revolt and the risk of regional spillover. As night falls over Tehran, rights groups say more than 2,000 people have been killed amid a near-total internet blackout. Strikes are biting into the energy sector; protests span 27 of 31 provinces. Iran warns that any U.S. strike would make U.S. troops and Israel “legitimate targets.” President Trump vows “very strong action” and promises “help is on the way,” while Gulf capitals privately warn Washington against military intervention. SpaceX has waived Starlink fees to keep Iranians online, even as Tehran accuses the U.S. of seeking a pretext for force. Why it leads: scale, volatility, and timing — with executions reportedly imminent and U.S. secondary tariff threats touching China, India, and the UAE.

Today in Global Gist, the essentials — and what’s omitted - Arctic/NATO: A bipartisan U.S. bill would bar any attempt to seize NATO territory, as EU leaders hunt a deal to defuse the Greenland crisis. Denmark warns a takeover “would end NATO.” - Venezuela: Caracas says hundreds of prisoners were freed; the U.S. confirms several Americans released. The White House claims control over up to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, even as “dark fleet” tankers reflag to Russia to evade seizures. - U.S. domestic: Minnesota prosecutors resign after DOJ drops a civil rights probe into the ICE killing of Renee Good; faith groups mobilize against federal immigration tactics. TPS for Somalis ends in 60 days. - Ukraine/Russia: A Ukrainian drone strike ignites industrial fires in Rostov-on-Don; injuries reported. - Climate: 2025 ranked third hottest on record; 11 straight warmest years. U.S. emissions tick up as AI-driven power demand climbs. - Tech/industry: Apple and Qualcomm race for glass-fiber substrates; FTC sues AI search engine “Pearl” over alleged deceptive billing. - Middle East: Reports of West Bank Bedouin communities uprooted by settler violence; Gaza ceasefire violations persist. - Africa/Defense: U.S. delivers military supplies to Nigeria. Uganda heads to the polls Jan 15 under tight control claims. Underreported — confirmed by our historical checks: - Sudan: 33 million need aid, cholera across all 18 states; famine conditions in Darfur. Minimal mainstream coverage. - DRC: M23 advances around Goma displaced 200,000 in December; Kinshasa blames rebels for 1,500 deaths. - Myanmar: 16 million need aid; aid pipelines cut; conflict intensifies in Rakhine. - Haiti: Feb 7 governance cliff with no succession plan; gangs hold most of the capital.

Today in Insight Analytica, the threads - Power without guardrails: New START expires in 23 days; no successor. Simultaneous Arctic brinkmanship over Greenland compounds alliance risk. - Coercive economics: U.S. claims over Venezuelan barrels, Iran secondary tariff threats, and chip-supply bottlenecks tie energy to tech and trade — while AI power demand drives emissions against climate pledges. - Humanitarian arithmetic: Conflicts in Sudan, DRC, and Myanmar deepen as funding shrinks and access narrows; crises scale up where attention scales down.

Today in Regional Rundown - Americas: Venezuela prisoner releases and oil-control claims; U.S. immigration flashpoints; ACA lapse and premium spikes continue off-camera. - Europe/Arctic: Greenland standoff meets legislative pushback; EU debates Ukraine financing and frozen assets. - Eastern Europe: Ukraine sustains drone-war exchanges with Russia; Belarusian hypersonic posture remains a NATO concern. - Middle East: Iran’s crackdown hardens; Gulf states urge U.S. restraint; settler violence displaces West Bank Bedouin; Gaza truce violations persist. - Africa: Sudan famine warnings intensify; U.S. aid to Nigeria’s counterterror fight; DRC displacement mounts; CAR results due Jan 20. - Indo-Pacific: China urges “strategic patience” in maritime disputes; Japan markets rally on election talk; Southeast Asia deepens its trade/finance role.

Today in Social Soundbar, the questions - Iran: What independent mechanism can verify casualties and safeguard medics under blackout — and how would secondary tariffs be enforced without fracturing key partnerships? - Greenland/NATO: What alliance provisions apply if force is threatened against allied territory — and what are NATO’s Arctic red lines? - Venezuela: What legal framework governs U.S. control of oil sales and revenues, and where is transparent escrow for Venezuelans? - Arms control: With 23 days left, what minimal transparency and deconfliction can Washington and Moscow implement to steady the nuclear ladder? - Humanitarian triage: Who funds immediate corridors for Sudan, DRC, Myanmar now — and what is Plan B for Haiti on Feb 7? Cortex concludes: From Tehran’s streets to Arctic ice lanes, choices in capitals are ricocheting through markets, alliances, and aid lines. We track the headlines — and the silences. This is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing. Stay informed. Stay safe.