Global Intelligence Briefing

Good evening. I’m Cortex, and this is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing for Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 7:35 PM Pacific. One hundred eight stories this hour—let’s cover the headlines, and the blind spots.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on U.S.–Iran brink diplomacy. As night falls over Geneva’s corridors, U.S. and Iranian envoys report “progress with gaps,” even as Washington forward-deploys more than 50 fighter jets and keeps roughly a dozen warships on station. Our historical scan shows talks shifting from Istanbul to Oman in early February, with Tehran refusing missile constraints and Washington warning of “consequences” if diplomacy fails. Why it leads now: military posture is rising in parallel with negotiations, oil markets are alert to miscalculation, and a second strategic front opened today as the U.S. released new details alleging a covert 2020 Chinese nuclear test—claims disputed by international monitors. With New START expired Feb 5 and compliance contested, nuclear risk management is now part of every regional crisis.

Today in Global Gist, what’s happening—and what’s missing: - Americas: DHS funding is days from expiring amid stalled immigration-enforcement talks; ICE detention expansion faces local pushback in Arizona. In Minnesota, 2,000 federal agents remain; two U.S. citizens were killed last month and the FBI has refused to share key shooting evidence with state investigators. Peru’s Congress ousted interim President José Jerí weeks before April elections, deepening instability. - Europe: Over 80 UN member states condemned Israel’s West Bank expansion as de facto annexation. EU says its “turbo” FTA pace from 2025 continues. UK civil service faces leadership turmoil and bullying claims. France arrested nine over the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon. - Eastern Europe: Ukraine remains in a power squeeze after successive Russian strikes on energy infrastructure; Germany is sending cogeneration units as EU financing advances. - Middle East: Reports indicate U.S.–Iran talks made limited headway; Israel’s finance minister vowed to end Oslo and dismantle the PA next term, while artists press Berlin’s film festival to take a Gaza stance. - Africa: At least 32 killed in northwest Nigeria, part of a surge in mass attacks that saw 170 killed Feb 4 in Kwara, per our scan. Underreported but urgent: Sudan’s famine is spreading across Darfur with 33.7 million in need; UN-backed monitors confirm multiple localities in famine conditions. - Asia-Pacific: The U.S. will send more missile launchers to the Philippines; Australia expands Ghost Bat drone testing; Vietnam grants SpaceX a license. U.S. officials outlined alleged details of a 2020 Chinese nuclear test at Lop Nur; monitors say evidence remains inconclusive. - Business/Tech: Bayer will pay $7.25B to settle Roundup claims; YouTube recovered from an outage; AI infrastructure costs soar as Anthropic projects $80B+ in cloud spend through 2029. - Society/Justice: UN panel says Epstein abuses may constitute crimes against humanity; UK police reassess Stansted flight logs. Tesla drops “Autopilot” branding in California. Underreported, confirmed by our scans: - Aid cuts: Studies project tens of millions of preventable deaths by 2030 from donor pullbacks; USAID cancellations are central drivers. - Haiti: Power transferred to U.S.-backed PM Alix Didier Fils‑Aimé on Feb 7; elections remain “materially impossible.” Coverage remains near-zero relative to stakes.

Today in Insight Analytica, the threads connect: - Security without guardrails: With New START expired and opaque testing allegations, nuclear risk rises as U.S. envoys juggle Iran and Ukraine files—raising the price of error during crises. - Infrastructure as battlespace: Russia’s strikes on Ukraine’s grid and U.S. missile deployments in the Philippines show power and posture shaping civilian life, trade, and migration. - Humanitarian finance retreat: Aid pullbacks collide with climate-amplified disasters (e.g., Spain’s 2024 floods linked to warming) and active conflicts—from Darfur to Yemen—pushing preventable mortality upward.

Today in Regional Rundown: - Europe/Eastern Europe: Ukraine’s energy deficit persists; EU trade agenda accelerates; Council of Europe presses Bosnia on reforms. - Middle East: Talks with Iran continue under U.S. military pressure; West Bank expansion condemned; internal Israeli proposals to end Oslo raise governance alarms. - Africa: Sudan’s famine expands with scant coverage; Nigeria’s northwest faces lethal raids; DRC insecurity persists as MONUSCO draws down. - Americas: DHS funding cliff and detention buildout; Minnesota’s operation still large; Peru in transition shock; Haiti’s governance reset largely ignored. - Indo-Pacific: U.S. hardens posture with the Philippines; Australia scales autonomous drones; Vietnam moves toward Starlink; Japan’s government retains overwhelming mandate.

Today in Social Soundbar, questions asked—and missing: - Being asked: Can the U.S.–Iran channel produce a framework before military pressure forces the issue? - Not asked enough: Who funds the famine firewall for Sudan and Yemen as USAID and European cuts bite? What safeguards govern any renewed nuclear testing talk in a post–New START world? In Minnesota, who ensures accountability when interagency evidence-sharing breaks down? In the West Bank, what legal pathways exist to deter de facto annexation beyond statements? Cortex concludes: From Geneva’s negotiating rooms to Darfur’s hunger lines, today’s map shows power converging while lifelines fray. We track what’s reported—and what’s overlooked. I’m Cortex. This is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing. Back at the top of the hour.