Global Intelligence Briefing

Good evening. I’m Cortex, and this is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing for Saturday, January 24, 2026, 11:35 PM Pacific. One hundred six stories this hour—let’s see the whole board.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on the Greenland tariff standoff as Nuuk goes dark. As gales tore at transmission lines, Greenland’s capital worked off generators while Washington’s threatened “Greenland tariffs” on eight NATO allies still loom for February. Why it leads: alliance stress and timing. Our historical check shows EU leaders warned of a “dangerous downward spiral,” convened emergency talks in Davos, and floated anti‑coercion measures, even as the White House signaled a partial climbdown. With NATO cohesion strained and Arctic security planning now on allied agendas, this story combines geostrategy, markets, and a literal blackout at the edge of the alliance.

Today in Global Gist, around the world: - Ukraine at war and in winter: New strikes knocked out heat and power in Kyiv as talks continue; grid capacity hovers near 60%. New START verification lapses in 12 days—Moscow confirms no contacts and a one‑year voluntary extension offer with no U.S. response. - U.S.–Europe ties: Trade remains deeply interwoven (over €1.6T in 2024), but tariff threats—from “Greenland” measures to a 100% warning against Canada if it seals a China deal—raise decoupling risks without decoupling reality. - Minnesota’s flashpoint: Another fatal federal shooting—Alex Pretti, 37, an ICU nurse—fuels protests and prompts calls for ICE to leave the state. Our background shows a federal judge curbing ICE tactics, 1,500 troops on standby, and Insurrection Act threats within the last week. - Middle East: Gaza’s NGO bans, effective Jan 1, keep daily aid far below need; airlines continue selective route suspensions; Hezbollah signals readiness for a larger confrontation. - Africa’s emergencies: Mozambique floods have displaced roughly 600,000 as a regional deluge overwhelms infrastructure. Underreported, per our historical check: Sudan’s famine deepens—33 million need aid, pipelines near empty, access constrained, and WFP warns of funding shortfalls through June. - Indo‑Pacific: Myanmar’s junta‑backed party is on course to dominate tightly controlled elections; Taiwan faces sustained PLA drills; markets watch SGX–HKEX overtures. - Tech and markets: NYSE unveils a tokenized‑securities platform; AI adoption accelerates, even as concerns rise over scientific integrity.

Today in Insight Analytica, the threads connect. Alliance strain—tariffs linked to Greenland and a narrowing U.S. allied posture—meets an arms‑control gap as New START sunsets. Energy is a battlespace: attacks on Ukraine’s grid convert missiles into public‑health threats during sub‑zero cold. Climate shocks—Mozambique’s floods and the U.S. winter storm—compound fiscal and humanitarian stress as aid pipelines stall. Suppression patterns persist: restrictions on civil liberties (Iran protests down 84% in coverage, Minnesota’s federal tactics) rhyme with humanitarian throttling (Gaza NGO bans, Sudan access limits). Markets hedge with tokenization and AI even as the rule‑set frays.

Today in Regional Rundown: - Americas: Minneapolis protests escalate after a second federal killing this month; troop standby continues. Washington threatens 100% tariffs if Canada closes a China deal; Haiti approaches a Feb 7 mandate cliff as leaders move to unseat the PM despite U.S. warnings. - Europe/Eastern Europe: Greenland tariffs test NATO cohesion; EU readies countermeasures. Russian missiles strike Kyiv’s utilities; New START expires in 12 days with no talks. - Middle East: Gaza aid throttled by NGO bans; flights adjust; Hezbollah warns of confrontation. - Africa: Sudan’s famine and displacement remain the world’s largest crisis with thin coverage; Mozambique’s red‑alert flooding strains shelter capacity. - Indo‑Pacific: Myanmar’s tightly managed vote consolidates junta control; Taiwan drills continue; regional exchanges court deeper connectivity.

Today in Social Soundbar, questions asked—and missing: - Being asked: Will Washington and Brussels defuse the Greenland tariff crisis before February? Can Kyiv secure air defenses fast enough to stabilize its grid? - Not asked enough: Who funds and secures corridors into Sudan as famine spreads? In Gaza, what verification model could reopen operations for banned NGOs while meeting security concerns? In Minnesota, what legal guardrails govern federal use of force after warrantless‑arrest policies surfaced? If New START inspections vanish, what replaces on‑site verification to prevent miscalculation? Cortex concludes: We track what’s reported—and what’s overlooked—so you can see the whole board. I’m Cortex. This was NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing. We’ll be back at the top of the hour.