ITK Daily | April 15
Israel, Hush Money, Generative AI, Brogues, Scottie Scheffler, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Monday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
The night Iran’s missile spectacle rattled Israel: Tehran’s ‘Operation True Promise’ demonstrated aerial might that was visible to all, but fatal to none. FT
US details Pentagon’s role in defending Israel from Iranian attack WP
Analysis: Israel repelled Iran’s huge attack. But only with help from US and Arab partners. Working with partners, it fended off worst of Iranian strikes; what comes next will test powers in the Middle East and beyond. WSJ
How the US forged a fragile Middle Eastern alliance to repel Iran’s Israel attack: American-led effort was years in the making and hadn’t been battle-tested when Tehran launched missile and drone barrage against Israel. WSJ
The Times: Iran missile attack was ‘total failure’, says Lord Cameron
Was Israel’s defence against Iranian barrage a success? Think again: Even as the US disengages from the region, fear of a hostile Iran is no longer the central organizing principle for the Middle East. Roger Boyes
Strikes upend Israel’s belief about Iran’s willingness to fight it directly: NYT reports Israel had grown used to targeting Iranian officials without head-on retaliation from Iran, an assumption overturned by Iran’s attacks on Saturday.
‘We’re crazier than you realise’: Iran delivers its message with attack on Israel: Tehran believes calibrated missile and drone barrage is enough to restore deterrent and bolster image. FT
+ Israel has approved plans for ‘offensive and defensive’ responses to the attack from Iran on Saturday night but can’t agree on scale or timeline
Biden counsels Netanyahu to ‘slow things down’ after Iranian attack: WP reports administration officials said the U.S. would not join any response to Tehran’s assault, and suggested Israel ‘take the win’ and avoid escalation.
World leaders urge restraint as Israel weighs retaliation against Iran: WSJ reports Israel’s war cabinet has yet to say how it will respond to Iran’s assault. Far-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government have called for swift action.
Biden wanted to avoid a regional war. Now he’s got one. Hopes of containing the Gaza conflict ended with a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones aimed at Israel. WSJ
Biden keeps low profile after Iran’s Israel attack: Politico reports White House aides discussed a national address but feared the possibility it could potentially turn up the temperature when they want it turned down.
Race for AI supremacy in Middle East is measured in data centers: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are rushing to build infrastructure as they vie to become the regional tech superpower. Bloomberg
WP: Sudan marks grim anniversary of civil war in shadow of other conflicts
Sudan's year of war: Why there's no hope for a cease-fire: DW reports after a year of war, Sudan is dealing with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. As more local and international actors get involved, the outlook remains grim.
War in Sudan: Why over 8 million displaced people can’t go home: NYT reports the fighting between two generals leading rival military factions has now been going on for a year, leading to massacres, hunger, and a massive wave of people fleeing their homes.
How two feuding generals drove Sudan to the brink of starvation: As war reaches one-year mark, UN agencies warn that 700,000 Sudanese children could die from hunger in 2024. WSJ
France hosts conference on aid to war-torn Sudan: Le Mode reports the conference, held on the first anniversary of Sudan's civil war, features representatives from its neighbors, Gulf states and western powers, all brought together to collect donations for an underfunded UN humanitarian aid appeal.
End of an era in Singapore as prime minister set to step down after 20 years: WSJ reports Lee Hsien Loong’s deputy, Lawrence Wong, will lead the city-state, which has an outsize role economically, diplomatically and militarily.
Lee Hsien Loong to step down as Singapore prime minister in May: Nikkei reports the 51-year-old Wong to take over in city's first leadership change in 20 years.
Chinese sleeper cells: The Philippines announced an investigation into claims that Beijing has been operating covert “sleeper cells” in its territory and recruiting its own soldiers. The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was investigating online advertising for “part-time military consultants” from an organization whose servers are in China.
+ The advertisement, on Facebook and since removed.
How China’s nuclear ambitions have changed the world WJ Hennigan
Drones are crowding Ukraine’s skies, largely paralyzing battlefield WP
The ghost of Soviet Union returns to haunt Central Asia, Caucasus: Fear of Russian political meddling grows as its troops regain footing in Ukraine. Nikkei
Far Right’s ties to Russia sow rising alarm in Germany: NYT reports as cases proliferate, opponents fear the Alternative for Germany party is becoming a tool of Russian influence operations to undermine support for Ukraine.
Germany continues to prefer rapprochement to confrontation with China: Le Monde reports German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a visit intended to celebrate the economic ties between the two countries – a far cry from Berlin's promises of strategic change over recent months.
Scholz welcomes Chinese cars but urges 'fair' competition: DW reports while visiting Shanghai, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has argued that the European market must be open to Chinese cars. However, he said that competition must be fair.
UK rethinks AI legislation as alarm grows over potential risks: Government draws up regulatory blueprint while competition watchdog expresses ‘real concerns’ about industry. FT
‘Envy of the world’— US economy expected to keep powering higher: Economists lift their growth forecasts in latest Wall Street Journal survey. WSJ
*** US Politics + Elections ***
As Trump ponders VP contenders, he asks: Can they help me raise cash? NYT reports Donald Trump’s concerns about money may have entered his vice-presidential calculations, along with political considerations and which contenders he likes the look of.
The Hill: Trump attorney calls hush money case a ‘6-week-long media extravaganza’
Trump’s hush money trial strategy: Deny, delay and denigrate: WP reports the former president’s lawyers have focused on delaying all four criminal cases. New York is different in one key respect.
Trump tried everything to avoid a criminal trial. The day has arrived. WSJ reports the former president will spend weeks in a New York court fighting felony charges—and trying to limit the political damage as he runs for a second term.
As Trump goes on trial, Biden goes to Pennsylvania: NBC News reports Biden plans to attack Trump on the economy while the former president is in court, though abortion will still be his campaign's top message.
Democrats descend on Chicago as specter of ‘68 convention looms: Politico reports protests over Israel-Gaza war expected as party nominates President Joe Biden.
The South has few unionized auto plants. Workers say this one could be next. If a vote to join the UAW succeeds, a Volkswagen factory in Tennessee would be the South’s first auto plant to unionize via election since the 1940s. WP
Telecom fights price caps as US spends billions on internet access: As Washington readies for the largest burst of broadband funding in US history, AT&T, Verizon, and their allies are lobbying hard against lower prices for consumers. WP
To ban or not to ban TikTok, an American dilemma: For the US House of Representatives, which wants to shut it down or 'nationalize' it, the Chinese platform is a threat to American democracy. But its popularity with users puts Biden, just as it had Trump, in a difficult position. Frédéric Lemaître
Kevin McCarthy’s rebranding tour: The former speaker wants to shape how history remembers him — with some clever truth-bending and big omissions. Politico
Democracy dies behind paywalls: The case for making journalism free—at least during the 2024 election. Richard Stengel
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Where is artificial general intelligence? My grandfather’s guess is as good as yours: This excitement will follow all the other waves and become ‘just’ more software and more automation. Benedict Evans
The lawsuits that could shape the future of AI and copyright law: Artificial intelligence is quickly evolving, but copyright law is still playing catch-up. A lawyer breaks down three of the biggest cases to explain how the law is evolving with this technology. WSJ
Generative AI is a marvel. Is it also built on theft? The wonder-technology faces accusations of copyright infringement. Economist
Generative AI is changing the hiring calculus at these companies: With price tags of up to millions a year for a single use case, firms hope AI can deliver savings through reduced hiring needs. WSJ
Bloomberg: OpenAI taps ex-Amazon executive to head enterprise push in Japan
OpenAI seeks to collaborate with Japan's semiconductor industry: Nikkei reports ChatGPT operator opens first Asia office in Tokyo to expand B2B operations.
The rise of the chief AI officer: More companies are appointing staff to oversee the technology. What do these senior leaders actually do? FT
Samsung Electronics gets $6.4 billion for Texas chip plants: WSJ reports the expansion includes a second factory, an advanced chip-packaging facility and research-and-development capabilities.
Bloomberg: Apple faces worst iPhone slump since COVID as China rivals rise
Apple loses smartphone crown to Samsung as Chinese rivals gain ground: FT reports iPhone sales fall 10 percent in first quarter of 2024 while groups including Xiaomi and Transsion register huge growth.
+ Samsung shipped more than 60m smartphones. Apple only sold 50m, a 10% decrease over the same period last year.
+ Global smartphone sales grew by 8% overall.
What happened when a German car factory went all electric: Volkswagen’s plant in Zwickau stopped producing Golfs and switched to electric vehicles, illuminating the risks and opportunities for factory towns and cities. NYT
How Amazon became the largest private EV charging operator in the US: Bloomberg reports to install 17,000 delivery van chargers at 120 warehouses, the company had to be flexible, patient and spend a lot of money.
Asahi, Japan’s biggest brewer, said zero- and low-alcohol drinks would generate half of the company’s beverage sales as early as 2040.
Heinz hot pink ‘Barbiecue’ sauce is coming to grills this month: Bloomberg reports Barbie mania is not finished for the condiments specialist, whose limited-edition bottles will soon land in the UK and Spain. “Kenchup” could be next.
*** Culture ***
The US ambassador’s secret style mission: Jane Hartley holds the top foreign post, is pals with Obama and has a 1am online shopping habit. The Times
How Instagram made brogues fashionable again: The classic leather shoe is making a comeback, aided by social media and vintage resale sites. The Times
*** Sport ***
Scottie Scheffler’s game is pure, but his mind is his ‘superpower’ Barry Svrluga
Scottie Scheffler making Tiger Woods comparisons less far-fetched: The Tims reports the 27-year-old American’s unerring poise prevented a dramatic finish and gave him his second Masters title, cementing his status as the player to beat in golf
American pizazz meets the staid traditions of sumo: NYT reports at Madison Square Garden, New Yorkers got a rare look at an ancient Japanese sport, cheering and booing as though they were watching a Yankees game.
Paris will scrap the planned opening ceremony for the Olympics on the Seine river if it’s judged too risky, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Olympic track is going purple for the first time: Le Mode reports the rubber used for the athletic tracks is in a new color and uses a new generation of granules that are more elastic and cohesive, reducing energy loss and possibly improving performance.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
ITK Daily | April 15
