2026, day 239 Good morning from Asia. ‘CIA chief used Moscow visit to warn Russia against attacks on NATO allies, helping Iran’ (Politico); ‘Putin Moves to Escalate War in Ukraine as Talks at Dead End’ (BBG); ‘Poland Deploys 28 K2 Black Panther Tanks Near Russia as It Hardens Eastern Defenses’ (United24); ‘Ukraine needs changes to avoid losing war, ousted defence minister says’ (Reuters); ‘Italy to supply next-generation SAMP/T air defense systems, Aster 30 missiles to Ukraine in secret aid package, media reports’ (Kyiv Independent); ‘Russia's 2nd-largest gasoline producer suspends oil processing yet again after Ukrainian strike’ (Reuters); ‘Putin signs decree allowing state seizure of businesses hit by drone strikes’ (Euronews); ‘Russia to extend diesel export ban through September, sources say’ (Reuters); ‘US senator hopes 'sledgehammer' Russian sanctions will pass next month’ (Reuters); ‘America’s economic war on Iran has a China problem’ (FT) - “The US cannot fully isolate Tehran unless other trade partners co-operate”; ‘Labor Protests and Panic Buying Signal Growing Pressure in Iran’ (WSJ) - “Fearing supply shortages, Iranians rush to buy fuel and food as living standards deteriorate”; ‘Iran emphasises self-sufficiency in battle against US economic war’ (AJ); ‘Iran war approaching Ukraine-style stalemate, says shipping boss’ (FT); ‘Iran, Oman still negotiating Hormuz deal as Qatar joins mediation’ (Reuters); ‘Source to 'Post': Iran, Oman still have significant gaps regarding Strait of Hormuz’ (JPost) - “Omanis will not agree to imposing fees on ships, Iranians continue to insist this is a condition for passage.” ‘Iran says it views Persian-language media outlets abroad as military targets’ (ToI); ‘‘Point of no return’ if Israel-Hamas truce fails: US envoy to Gaza Board’ (AFP); ‘UN special rapporteurs are 'totally out of control,' Secretary-General Guterres admits in interview’ (JPost); ‘U.S. weapons shortage from Iran war alarms allies confronting China’ (WaPo); ‘US says Chinese hackers broke into Justice Department, NASA, Federal Reserve, Senate’ (Reuters); ‘Canada’s Carney to attend EU’s State of the Union’ (Politico); ‘Germany in talks to help fund Trident’ (Telegraph) - “Berlin could bolster Britain’s nuclear programme under plans to end Europe’s reliance on America for defence”; In geoeconomics, ‘U.S. and Canada Are Bracing for Prolonged Trade Dispute’ (WSJ); ‘Saskatchewan sets 50% tariff on US alcohol after new Trump tariffs on Canadian goods’ (Reuters); ‘Saskatchewan Premier rejects idea of export levies on oil, potash in U.S. trade war’ (Globe & Mail); ‘Alberta premier slams 'disastrous' proposals to leverage Canadian oil in U.S. trade war’ (National Post); ‘The trade war came too soon for Mark Carney’s middle powers alliance’ (Politico); ‘President Trump Declares a National Emergency to Secure America’s Bulk-Power System’ (White House); ‘US critical minerals proposals to Brazil go unanswered as China looms’ (SCMP); ‘Australian trade chief warns EU deal is not guaranteed’ (Euractiv); ‘EU says don't trust Trump's pharma numbers’ (Euractiv); ‘EU should stop moralizing on Arctic oil and let us get drilling, says Norway’ (Politico); ‘Liquidators can pursue PwC globally over Chinese property giant’s collapse, court rules’ (FT); ‘Mark Zuckerberg had a bold plan to replace Meta staff with AI. Here’s how it imploded’ (Reuters); ‘Nvidia forecasts 70% sales growth next year, signals AI spending boom has years left to run’ (Reuters); ‘Tech faces its ‘Big Tobacco’ moment as Meta settles addiction case’ (Telegraph); In politics, ‘Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejoins DSA after membership lapse of seven years’ (Guardian); ‘Federal judge lifts nationwide block on mail-in voting restrictions’ (The Hill); In markets, ‘Fed’s Cook Says She Never Committed Fraud’ (WSJ); ‘Scott Bessent’s bond intervention puts US Treasury on collision course with Fed’ (FT)