ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence.
Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
A new nuclear arms race looms: It will be harder to stop than the contest of the Cold War. Economist
Reuters: Gabon officers declare military coup, President Ali Bongo detained
Celebrations in Gabon after military officers announce seizure of power: CNN reports military officers in Gabon appeared on national television on Wednesday to declare they were seizing power, prompting celebrations and reports of gunfire on the streets of the capital.
Gabon President becomes latest Western military ally to fall in coup: WSJ reports takeovers proliferate as US and European-backed governments struggle to deliver prosperity and opportunities.
Gabon coup: President Ali Bongo under house arrest as military declares power grab: Commonwealth nation’s borders shut in what would be Africa’s tenth putsch in four years. The Times
Attempted coup in Gabon aims to remove President Ali Bongo from power and end 50-year dynasty: DW reports reading military figures in Gabon announced on Wednesday that they had placed President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest in a bid to remove him from power after 14 years. The attempted coup comes days after Bongo was re-elected as president for the third time – a role he inherited from his father, former president Omar Bongo.
Another coup in Africa topples Gabon’s president: Since 1990 two-thirds of coups in Africa have been in ex-French colonies. Economist
Map shows seven military coups in sub-Saharan Africa over two years WP
WP: Sudan’s war has no end in sight, as atrocities and abuses mount
VOA: Somali president says military operations against Al-Shabab will continue until 'final victory'
Pentagon bets on quick production of autonomous systems to counter China: Politico reports Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks will formally announce the initiative Monday.
Bloomberg: US approves first arms sale for Taiwan under program for nations
Reuters: US deploys B-1B bombers for separate drills with South Korea, Japan
North Korea launches missiles amid US drills with the South: DW reports the launches come as the United States and South Korea conduct military exercises that North Korea regards as a threat.
US Air Force expanding number of bases in Pacific over next decade: Defense One reports the exact number depends on how much money the service gets in the future.
Japan to woo ASEAN without US on open Indo-Pacific order: Nikkei reports in Biden's absence, Kishida to focus on common ground with Southeast Asia.
UK urged to share secrets with Tokyo and Seoul to counter China: BBC reports foreign affairs committee advises closer ties on AI, computing, and missiles.
BBC: Disengaging with China not credible, says James Cleverly
+ Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said it would not be ‘credible’ for the UK to disengage from China, after holding meetings with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng and foreign minister Wang Yi.
+ "It’s important to also recognize that we have to have a pragmatic, sensible working relationship with China because of the issues that affect us all around the globe." -- Foreign Secretary James Cleverly after meeting his Chinese counterpart in Beijing.
The UK ain't decoupling from China any time soon.
Raimondo’s China tour offers glimmer of hope to battered US businesses: ‘It feels like the machine has started again,’ says president of American Chamber of Commerce in China. WSJ
US engages in frank talks amid warnings China has become ‘uninvestible’ WP
US Commerce Secretary sells Disneyland and Starbucks to China, but will Beijing bite? ST
How to understand the US-China commercial relationship:
It is "Coffee vs. Chips."
Starbucks, no problems.
Micron Technology, mo’ problems.
Meta’s ‘biggest single takedown’ removes Chinese influence campaign: The campaign began at least four years ago and spanned thousands of accounts on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Substack and Chinese websites, Meta said. NYT
Politicians to Shein: Not so fast on US expansion: A group of state attorneys general urged the SEC to make the fast fashion company prove it doesn’t use forced labor if it files to go public. Politico
Reuters: Chinese cities ease mortgage rules in bid to revive property sector
ST: Japan PM Kishida eats ‘safe and delicious’ Fukushima fish
Japan has been transparent and open about Fukushima: Handling of water release contrasts with Chinese handling of COVID-19. Rahm Emanuel
Will Italy squander its €200bn opportunity? The country is receiving a windfall from the EU. But some doubt Rome’s ability to deliver an economic reboot. FT
Admit it, the French are better than us John Sturgis
Russia-Ukraine war: Day 554.
The Times: Russia suffers biggest drone attack since invasion
FT: US warns of ‘advancing’ arms talks between Russia and North Korea
+ Sean Penn captures the first Russian bombs dropping on Ukraine in new documentary 'Superpower'
ST: Canada’s PM Trudeau to visit Singapore next week to strengthen bilateral relations
No Labels preps playbook to select presidential candidates, broaden support: The group that’s preparing a potential third-party bid is seeking ways to grow grassroots before deciding whether to field candidates next year. WP
Blake Masters plans to enter race for Kyrsten Sinema’s Senate seat: WSJ reports Arizona is seen as one of the most competitive states in 2024.
+ Labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the US, with 67% of Americans approving of them, similar to the elevated level seen in recent years after more than a decade of rising support, according to Gallup.
Reviving America’s fading cities isn’t impossible Peter Coy
A California land mystery is solved. Now the political fight begins. Tech industry investors spent roughly $900 million buying land to build a dream city in a rural part of the Bay Area. It could be years, though, before they can do anything with it. NYT
A new study found that the waves along California’s coast have gotten significantly bigger since the 1970s, a phenomenon fueled by climate change that could lead to worsening coastline erosion. The study’s authors analyzed 90 years of seismic records — the same ones used to measure earthquakes — which can detect when two waves moving in opposite directions collide.
18%: Current vacancy rate in the US class A office space market.
X will again allow political advertising after it was suspended in 2019.
FBI makes a massive botnet infecting more than 700,000 computers uninstall itself: The Verge reports “Operation Duck Hunt” targeted Qakbot malware that remotely controls computers and sets them up for other attacks, like ransomware.
Google chases Microsoft, Amazon cloud market share with AI tools: WSJ reports Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian announces AI enhancements for corporate Gmail customers for $30 a month.
FT: UAE launches Arabic large language model in Gulf push into generative AI
The age of prediction — where will algorithms take us? An ambitious study explores the problems and paradoxes arising from the startling breakthroughs of AI. FT
Americans use AI more than ever, and they trust it less than ever: Research shows a marked decline in excitement about AI this year, and a rise in concern about its societal impact. FC
Visa, Mastercard prepare to raise credit-card fees: WSJ reports merchants could end up paying an extra $502 million annually in fees, according to a consulting firm.
IKEA tried getting rid of the maze. Shoppers wanted it back. Swedish retailer changes course, adds pathways to downtown locations where customers were originally expected to shop free-range. WSJ
Cotton got a rebrand 50 years ago. It’s proven to be successful: A new logo and a catchy song (you know the one) turned cotton from an agricultural commodity into ‘the fabric of our lives.’ FC
Nikkei: Toyota to build over 10m vehicles for first time this year
+ “The intellectual is, quite simply, a human being who has a pencil in his or her hand when reading a book.” -- George Steiner
Goodbye golf. The next big luxury amenity is a big wave surf pool: Someday, people could look out their windows and see surfers carving through picture-perfect barrels, hundreds of miles from the nearest ocean. FC
Ryan Reynolds has transformed Wrexham. Who will save Britain’s other struggling towns? Can the Hollywood takeover of a Welsh football club really be a model for regeneration? Politico
The betrayal of Wrexham AFC: Hollywood interference is hurting real fans. Richard Kelly
Back as USMNT coach, Gregg Berhalter names a veteran roster WP
45 years on NFL sidelines with the league’s most underrated offensive mind Zak Keefer
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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