ITK Daily | February 28
Propaganda, Pennsylvania, Apple, Monica Lewinsky, Skiing, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
G20 finance ministers meet on world economy hit by crises, conflicts: AFP reports G20 finance ministers will meet Wednesday in Brazil, seeking ways to shore up a global economy whose nascent recovery is threatened by a raft of conflicts and crises, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
Russia warns of NATO war as Macron says troops may be sent to Ukraine: The Times reports the French president was rebuked by leaders across Europe after he suggested troops could be deployed to stop Putin attacking other countries.
‘Kremlin Leaks’: Files detail Putin’s €1 billion propaganda effort ahead of presidential vote: Leaked documents describe the Kremlin's concerted efforts to influence public opinion – using cinema, streaming series and TV programmes – to promote a narrative of Russian heroism, traditional values and loyalty towards President Vladimir Putin ahead of his March 15-17 bid for re-election. AFP
While the world was looking elsewhere, North Korea became a bigger threat: Kim Jong Un enlarged his nuclear arsenal and built ties to Russia, no longer aiming for reunification with South Korea. The US and its allies are alarmed. WSJ
North Korea sent more than 3m artillery shells to Russia, says Seoul: Nikkei reports Moscow seen continuing to help with Pyongyang's spy satellite program.
China flexes maritime muscle with bigger, tougher coast guard ships: Nikkei reports navy-style operations raise alarm in Taiwan, Japan and Philippines.
Nikkei: Thailand, US launch biggest post-COVID Cobra Gold exercises
The squawkus about AUKUS is getting louder: The strategic case for the Australia-UK-US pact is sound. But technical and political doubts are growing. Gideon Rachman
Japan's chip reboot: TSMC, Samsung, Micron pave way for silicon revival: After 20 'lost years,' subsidies help draw top-tier foreign chipmakers to invest. Nikkei
Bloomberg: If it’s not meat, don’t call it steak, France says
+ List of terms includes ‘fillet,’ ‘ribeye steak,’ ‘spare rib’
+ New rules will come into effect in three months in France
France-Morocco relations: Paris hints at a change in position on Western Sahara: Le Monde reports on a short visit to Rabat, the French foreign minister recognized the 'existential' dimension of the Saharan territory for Morocco, without endorsing Morocco's claim to sovereignty.
The sea, a place without borders, is under threat from geopolitical fragmentation: From the Bab al-Mandab Strait, under fire from the Houthi rebels, to the Black Sea, the China Sea, and the North Sea, international waters will play a key role in the new global geopolitics. Julien Bouissou
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Facing a Saturday deadline, Biden and congressional leaders sound optimistic on averting shutdown: WP reports lawmakers described the Oval Office meeting on federal spending as productive and intense but don’t seem any closer on a breakthrough to send more US aid to Ukraine.
As spending talks intensify, Johnson’s bind grows tighter: NYT reports four months into his job as the top leader in the House, Speaker Mike Johnson finds himself the odd man out in increasingly intense talks on how to fund the government and whether to continue aid to Ukraine.
Bloomberg: Oil heavyweights take aim at Biden’s LNG permitting freeze
+ Six groups join American Petroleum Institute to seek hearing
+ Move comes as Qatar announces plans for major new LNG project
Gas export pause could scramble Biden’s chances in Pennsylvania: Politico reports Democratic Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman both argued the pause could hurt their state.
Should Biden debate Trump? Alexi McCammond
The problem with America’s politico-entertainment complex: Why moderate to win power when life is cushier in opposition? Janan Ganesh
Bloomberg: Health, location data should be ‘off limits’ for AI, FTC chair says
+ Federal Trade Commission chair highlights agency AI focus
+ Agency is also scrutinizing Big Tech investments in AI
With pressure growing after IVF pause, Alabama GOP rushes to pass protections: WSJ reports lawmakers planned to get legislation to the governor by the end of the week.
With 'Texit,' some want to make Texas a country, again: AFP reports Texas, an independent country 200 years ago, now boasts a pocket of people who want that status back, advocating a separation they call Texit.
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Chipmakers seek more than $70 billion in federal subsidies: Gina Raimondo, the commerce secretary, said new investments would put the US on track to produce roughly 20% of the world’s most advanced logic chips by the end of the decade. NYT
Nvidia billionaire co-founder created a $70 million supercomputer at University of Florida. Then Ron DeSantis banned top AI experts from China Fortune
Why do Nvidia’s chips dominate the AI market? The firm has three big advantages. Economist
Nikkei: Intel aims to deliver chips for 100 million AI PCs by 2025
AI the new obsession for venture capital investing: AFP reports after the earthquake of ChatGPT's phenomenal success a year ago, Silicon Valley investors have gone into overdrive with artificial intelligence, looking for the newest blockbuster idea in an ocean of hype and overpromising.
Fortune: Apple pulls the plug on trying to create its own electric car after a decade, plans to reassign 2,000 workers to AI projects
Bloomberg: Apple to wind down electric car effort after decadelong odyssey
So long, Apple Car, we’ll never know what we missed: The tech giant’s decision to scrap its auto project brings everyone’s favorite Silicon Valley rumor to an anti-climatic but sadly predictable end. David Lee
Apple Vision Pro teardown: Japanese companies supply 40% of parts: Nikkei reports Sony's high-end display offers a new experience to headset device.
Klarna says its AI assistant does the work of 700 people after it laid off 700 people: FC reports the Swedish fintech, which was criticized for its handling of a dramatic staff reduction in 2022, is touting new efficiencies powered by OpenAI.
Klarna talks up chatbot’s success in customer service: Buy now, pay later group’s artificial intelligence assistant has had 2.3 million conversations in its first month. The Times
Zuckerberg discusses AI risks with Japan PM: AFP reports Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida while on a visit to Japan, with reports saying they discussed the risks of generative AI.
Google mired in controversy over AI chatbot push: The search company is betting on AI for its next big business, but the tech’s pitfalls are playing out in real time. WSJ
Female popes? Google’s amusing AI bias underscores a serious problem. Megan McArdle
Google is paying publishers to test an unreleased Gen AI platform: In exchange for a five-figure sum, publishers must use the tool to publish 3 stories per day. AdWeek
Amazon lobbyists to be barred from European parliament: FT reports the move comes after pressure from activist groups over transparency and working conditions at e-commerce group.
China's food delivery market explodes to $208bn as workers scrape by: Nikkei reports Meituan, Ele dot me employ a combined 10m, but conditions remain harsh for gig employees.
Levi’s wants you to rethink your denim shopping: Under a new chief executive, the brand known for jeans is aiming to be a full outfitter, working primarily through its own stores and e-commerce. NYT
WSJ: Macy’s to close 150 stores in latest turnaround bid
Kellogg CEO under fire for suggesting cereal as a money-saving dinner: WP reports the comments, which CEO Gary Pilnick made during an appearance last week on CNBC, soon began circulating on social media, where they struck a nerve with people, many of whom likened them to Marie Antoinette’s infamously heartless — and possibly misquoted — “let them eat cake” line.
Geneva Motor Show 2024: Luca de Meo advocates for an 'Airbus for small electric cars': Le Monde reports to facilitate the climate transition and reduce the price of electric vehicles, Renault's CEO emphasizes the necessity of alliances among manufacturers and supports a regulatory overhaul within the European Union.
Nikkei: Honda gives hydrogen cars another try with plug-in functionality
China’s electric vehicles are going to hit Detroit like a wrecking ball Robinson Meyer
How to become a ‘supercommunicator’: We can all learn the techniques for saying the right thing and connecting with others. The key is to make sure you’re having the same sort of conversation as the person you’re trying to reach. WSJ
*** Culture ***
Slut-shamed at 22, an icon at 50 — how Monica Lewinsky got her life back: Once the victim of a political scandal, the activist and writer is now the face of a major fashion campaign. The Times
How Notre-Dame Cathedral's wooden framework was rebuilt identically: Achieving the feat required architects to draw on archaeological, physical, and digital data compiled in record time by numerous scientific teams. Le Monde
*** Sport ***
The economics of skiing in America: How monopoly and price discrimination are transforming an industry. Economist
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
ITK Daily | February 28
