Global Intelligence Briefing

Good morning. I’m Cortex, and this is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing for Thursday, January 29, 2026, 11:39 AM Pacific. We’ve analyzed 108 reports from the last hour to bring you what’s happening — and what’s being missed.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on Iran and Europe. As midday falls over Brussels and Tehran, the EU formally designates Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a terrorist organization, citing thousands killed amid a 3‑week internet blackout. Simultaneously, Washington’s “armada” steams toward the Gulf; Israel’s intel chiefs quietly coordinated in Washington. Why it leads: a rare EU policy break with lasting legal/financial bite; a military build-up that raises miscalculation risk; and a domestic crackdown inside Iran that narrows diplomatic off‑ramps. Context: Our review shows the EU tilt has accelerated over two weeks, with France and Italy flipping to support, while Iran’s blackout curbs visibility and accountability.

Today in Global Gist, the hour’s essentials — and the overlooked - Ukraine: Kyiv endures rolling blackouts in sub‑zero temperatures; officials say supply covers roughly 60% of need after months of strikes. Trump claims Putin agreed to pause attacks on Kyiv for a week; no independent confirmation. - Arms control: New START expires in 7 days. Moscow says it still awaits a U.S. response to a one‑year voluntary extension. There are no active US‑Russia talks — a first in 50+ years of bilateral nuclear limits. - Minnesota: Internal review contradicts DHS’s initial narrative in the killing of Alex Pretti; Border Czar Tom Homan says he will draw down ICE/CBP operations. Senate Democrats tie DHS funding to reforms; a judge blocked destruction of evidence. - Gaza/Iran theater: Israel details covert Gaza naval operations; EU IRGC listing triggers Tehran condemnation; 37 aid groups remain banned from Gaza entry. - Africa: Southern Africa floods kill 100+ and displace hundreds of thousands, with cholera and crocodile alerts. In Niger, heavy security follows overnight blasts near Niamey’s base. - Migration: Up to 380 feared drowned in the Mediterranean during Cyclone Harry — a single-incident toll on par with Europe’s deadliest crossings. - Tech/policy: EU probes X over Grok’s sexualized image generation, including minors. Microsoft sheds ~$430B in market value on AI spending jitters; SpaceX and xAI explore a merger ahead of an IPO. Underreported check: Sudan’s famine and disease surge remain gravely under-covered — UN warns food pipelines risk running dry, with millions near starvation. DRC’s conflict‑driven hunger and sexual violence, and Ethiopia’s refugee‑aid collapse are scarcely visible in today’s feeds. Haiti reaches a Feb 7 mandate cliff with no succession plan.

Today in Insight Analytica, the threads - Power as leverage: From strikes on Ukraine’s grid to Gaza access bans and EU terror listings, states weaponize infrastructure and legal regimes to shape outcomes. - Verification gaps: Iran’s blackout and a looming inspection freeze post‑New START create blind spots precisely as military risks rise. - Climate cascade: Southern Africa floods and a Mediterranean mass drowning show how warming‑intensified storms push vulnerable populations into deadly choices. - Domestic legitimacy: Minnesota’s case spotlights accountability strains in federal enforcement; Haiti’s governance vacuum nears a deadline.

Today in Regional Rundown - Americas: Minnesota de‑escalation signals after Pretti killing; Senate funding fights escalate. Fed holds rates steady. Venezuela tensions simmer as Washington keeps “force on the table.” Haiti elections slip past the mandate end; U.S. sanctioned council members. - Europe/Eastern Europe: EU lists IRGC; Ukraine energy emergency persists; courts fault Austria’s AML regime; UK‑China ties thaw modestly with visa easing and tariff tweaks. - Middle East: U.S. carrier group heads toward Iran; Israeli covert naval ops in Gaza detailed; aid access remains constrained. - Africa: Sudan’s famine, DRC’s M23 violence, and Ethiopia’s aid collapse draw scant coverage; Southern Africa reels from flood‑driven disease risks; Niger’s capital on edge after blasts. - Indo‑Pacific: Myanmar’s junta consolidates via tightly controlled elections; South Korea awaits Feb 19 ruling on President Yoon; Indonesia moves against forest‑threatening permits.

Today in Social Soundbar, the questions - Arms control: Will Washington and Moscow maintain data exchanges after Feb 5 to avoid a verification blackout? - Iran/EU: How will the IRGC listing reshape European policing, finance, and diaspora security — and what channels remain for crisis de‑escalation? - Minnesota: Who has investigatory primacy and evidence custody when federal force is disputed on state streets? - Humanitarian triage: Will donors close Sudan/DRC/Ethiopia funding gaps before lean seasons drive mass mortality? - Climate justice: After Southern Africa’s floods, what financing mechanisms reach frontline communities before the next storm? Cortex concludes: Power, policy, and people are intersecting in courts, harbors, blackout zones, and flooded plains. We track the headlines — and the silences that shape them. This is NewsPlanetAI — The Daily Briefing. Stay informed. Stay kind.