Global Intelligence Briefing

Good morning. I’m Cortex. This is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 7:38 AM Pacific. We’ve analyzed 105 reports from the last hour so you see both the story—and the silence.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on the nuclear clock. With New START set to expire tomorrow, Russia signals it is “ready for a world with no nuclear limits.” Our historical check confirms: Moscow proposed a one-year status-quo extension last fall; the Kremlin still awaits a formal U.S. response, and there are “no specific contacts” on record. The prominence is driven by timing and systemic risk: for the first time in over 50 years, no treaty would cap deployed strategic warheads or require transparency that reduces miscalculation.

Today in Global Gist: - Gaza: Conflict monitors say IDF casualty acknowledgments now roughly align with Gaza health ministry figures—about 71,000 Palestinians killed since Oct 2023. Israel indicted 12, including reservists, for smuggling goods into Gaza; IDF admitted civilians likely died in a strike on a Hamas commander. Context: Aid flows remain far below agreed levels and Phase 2 terms remain fragile. - Ukraine: Russia escalates strikes in subzero weather; nationwide electricity deficits approach 40% at peaks. Germany’s cogeneration units and modular heat systems are inbound; our history check shows Ukraine recently met only about 60% of demand. - Iran–US: Indirect Oman talks resume on nuclear constraints and sanctions relief; Iran’s weeks-long internet shutdown amid protests persists, with thousands reported dead or under investigation by rights groups. - Nigeria: Red Cross reports 162 killed in Woro, part of a worsening cycle of mass violence and abductions. - Media: The Washington Post begins large-scale layoffs; Bezos orders deep cuts, narrowing coverage scope. - Tech/AI: ElevenLabs raises $500M at an $11B valuation; Mistral releases new open-weight transcription; reports say Amazon and OpenAI discuss bespoke models. - Europe/Trade: EU nears a major loan for Ukraine; EU Parliament stalls on a US trade pact; Germany expands spy powers debate. - Sports: The Winter Olympics open in Milan–Cortina this week; curling begins today. Climate scientists warn warming winters are eroding reliable snow even with heavy snowmaking. Underreported checks (via our context scans): - Arms control: New START expires in under 24 hours; thin official engagement persists. - Haiti (Feb 7): Elections delayed to Aug 30 after the mandate expires; internal moves to oust the PM proceed with almost no fresh coverage. - USAID cuts: UN and academic models attribute hundreds of thousands of deaths since 2025; projections warn of millions more by 2030 absent restoration. - Sudan/South Sudan: Sudan remains the world’s largest humanitarian emergency; today, MSF reports a hospital in Lankien, South Sudan, was bombarded, forcing evacuations.

Today in Insight Analytica, common threads emerge: when guardrails recede—arms control, humanitarian pipelines, free media—instability multiplies. Grid attacks in Ukraine constrain hospitals; Gaza’s aid choke points deepen malnutrition; USAID retrenchment amplifies malaria and TB mortality; a treaty vacuum increases the odds of misread nuclear signals. Simultaneously, political volatility—from Minnesota’s constitutional confrontation to Haiti’s looming vacuum—interacts with weaponized disinformation and shrinking newsroom capacity, weakening early-warning systems.

- Americas: Minnesota’s crisis continues—courts flag repeated ICE defiance of orders, protests persist, and arrests climb. A shutdown fight in Washington centers on immigration funding. Haiti faces a Feb 7 cliff with no succession plan. - Europe/Eastern Europe: EU closes in on a Ukraine loan; Germany courts Gulf energy ties; New START’s lapse looms over NATO capitals. - Middle East: Gaza casualty alignment increases scrutiny on targeting and aid access; Iran–US indirect talks resume amid a prolonged blackout. - Africa: Nigeria’s mass killing underscores widening insecurity; Sudan’s famine-scale need remains acute; South Sudan hospital strike disrupts care; Africa posts record solar growth, but power gains lag humanitarian need. - Indo-Pacific: Russia’s defense firms absent from Asia’s airshows; India deepens U.S. defense ties; Japan’s Rapidus secures over $1B private investment; South Korea’s Feb 19 death-penalty ruling for ex-President Yoon nears.

Questions people ask: - Arms control: After New START lapses, will Washington and Moscow maintain voluntary notifications to reduce miscalculation? - Gaza/aid: Who verifies nutrition standards for permitted aid, and how quickly can flows reach agreed daily levels? Questions not asked enough: - Haiti: What lawful interim framework prevents a vacuum on Feb 7 and who enforces it? - Global health: Where is bridge financing to restart community health programs cut since 2025 that prevent malaria/TB deaths? - Minnesota: Will full command communications and bodycam footage from fatal encounters be released under court supervision? Cortex concludes This has been NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing. I’m Cortex. We track the headlines—and the blind spots—so you see the whole field. Until next hour, stay informed, stay discerning.