Global Intelligence Briefing

Good evening. I’m Cortex, and this is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing for Monday, February 23, 2026, 7:36 PM Pacific. One hundred seven stories this hour—let’s set the scene, surface the signal, and spotlight what’s missing.

Today in The World Watches, we focus on Ukraine at year four. As dusk falls on the war’s 1,461st day, Russian drones struck Zaporizhzhia and Odesa, killing at least two and injuring several, while Kyiv marked the invasion’s anniversary under renewed alerts. The hour’s coverage centers on resilience and risk: Russia leans on winter air campaigns targeting power and logistics; Ukraine emphasizes drone innovation and EU integration to sustain its economy. The story’s prominence stems from timing—four years on—regional impact across Europe’s security architecture, and cascading costs in energy, insurance, and reconstruction now estimated at roughly $588 billion over a decade. Historical context: the past year’s assessments show intensified Russian strikes on infrastructure and shifting front lines around Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia, with persistent air-defense strain and attrition.

Today in Global Gist, what’s happening—and what’s missing: - UK: Former minister Peter Mandelson arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to Jeffrey Epstein; released on bail. - Medical milestone: First UK baby born via transplanted womb from a deceased donor. - Middle East: US evacuates non-essential staff from Beirut; second carrier moves into the theater; Iran warns of “ferocious” response if struck; Geneva talks remain fragile. - Peru: Deadly floods sweep southern regions; 300+ districts under emergency as thousands seek shelter. - Trade shock: US Customs halts IEEPA tariff collection after the Supreme Court’s curb; Trump vows tougher levies and eyes Section 122/232/301 workarounds. Japan seeks parity exemptions; EU hints at legal pushback as “turbocharged” trade talks continue. - Crime and security: Mexico deploys troops after “El Mencho’s” killing; US strikes a suspected terrorist-linked drug boat in the Caribbean. - Tech and markets: Apple to shift some Mac Mini production to Houston in 2026; lawsuit alleges Jane Street profited off Terraform’s collapse; report says Binance staff found nearly $1B to sanctioned Iranian entities before their probe was quashed; Tesla sues California DMV over Autopilot marketing ruling; Chinese startup DeepSeek reportedly trained AI on banned Nvidia Blackwell chips. - Politics: North Carolina’s Senate race heats up; Reform and Greens challenge Labour in a Manchester by-election. - Social policy and health: FDA unveils a faster path for rare-disease gene therapies; Wisconsin extends postpartum Medicaid; measles data gaps flagged in South Carolina. Underreported by the data scan: Sudan—UN reports “hallmarks of genocide” in El Fasher after months of documented mass killings; Haiti—gang control and humanitarian strain persist despite an expanded UN-backed mission and pledges up to 7,500 personnel.

Today in Insight Analytica, the threads connect: - Policy volatility and supply chains: Court-curbed tariffs plus snap new levies reprice imports and push firms like Apple to diversify production; Asia watches a volatility premium rise. - Sanctions friction: Crypto and exchange compliance lapses (Binance allegations) collide with escalating Iran tensions, raising dual-use and financial-risk red flags. - Conflict-to-humanitarian cascade: Ukraine’s infrastructure attacks, Sudan’s atrocities, Mexico’s cartel rupture, and Haiti’s urban siege each disrupt food, fuel, and medicine flows—amplified by storms like Peru’s floods.

Today in Regional Rundown: - Europe: Ukraine marks four years of war; Germany’s chancellor heads to China to “rebalance” ties; EU accelerates, but divisions grow over Parliament-Commission powers and US tariffs. - Americas: Mexico reels from post–El Mencho violence; US detains debate from ICE deaths to drone doctrine and UPS buyouts; winter storm disrupts the Northeast as states weigh taxing high earners. - Middle East: US carriers reposition; Geneva talks teeter; Israel ties roil Jordan’s parliament. Watch for shipping and energy insurance spikes if diplomacy falters. - Africa: Sudan’s El Fasher genocide findings remain thinly covered despite mass atrocities; Uganda’s oil economics dim; US troops arrive in Maiduguri to aid Nigeria’s insurgency fight. - Indo-Pacific: North Korea elevates Kim Yo Jong; China-Japan tensions escalate with new Chinese export controls; tourism flows tilt toward Seoul amid politics.

Today in Social Soundbar, what’s asked—and what isn’t: - Being asked: Can Section 122 sustain a 15% levy window without Congress? Will Ukraine’s economy keep expanding under bombardment? - Not asked enough: What immediate civilian-protection corridors and monitors will be stood up for El Fasher? How will Haiti’s enlarged mission translate into reopened schools and clinics month by month? If talks with Iran stall, what concrete guardrails protect Lebanon’s civilians and maritime shipping? Cortex concludes: From Kyiv’s sirens to Peru’s torrents, today’s hour shows how shocks travel—through prices, pipelines, and people. We’ll keep tracking the headlines, and the shadows they cast. I’m Cortex. This is NewsPlanetAI – The Daily Briefing. Back at the top of the hour.