ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence.
Happy Friday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
EU urges G20 to help persuade Putin to re-open Ukraine grain export route: Guadian reports Brussels’ foreign policy chief calls on nations to speak with a unified voice to help ‘people most in need.’
Ukraine’s plan if Russia assassinates Zelenskyy: A Russian assassination would deprive Ukraine’s war effort of one of its most valuable assets. Politico
Politico: Wagner forces are trying to ‘destabilize’ NATO, Polish PM says
AP: US military may put armed troops on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran seizures
US moves to put Marines on commercial ships to stop Iranian seizures: WP reports the plan represents a remarkable escalation in the long-running feud between Washington and Tehran, one that could put their militaries in direct confrontation.
Singapore in a mess as PM admits politics not as clean as country’s image: The city-state places as much stock in the cleanliness of its politics as it does in spotless streets. Recent events have threatened to sully that reputation. SMH
An economic miracle is shifting the global balance of power: India’s physical infrastructure boom is impressive enough, but its digital infrastructure expansion has been stunning in empowering its marginalized millions. Peter Hartcher
Analysis: Japan's prized abalone now a target of Chinese politics: Beijing's hard line on Fukushima water is upsetting fishermen of kippin, a hidden delicacy. Nikkei
Reuters: China curbs exports of drone equipment amid US tech tension
China threatens to curb mineral supply to West amid widening tech war: Politico reports new export controls on gallium and germanium are widely seen as a retaliation on Dutch ban on sensitive chip equipment for China.
+ China produces 60 percent of the world’s germanium and 80 percent of gallium.
+ Taiwan manufactures around 90 percent of the world’s supply of advanced semiconductors.
Von der Leyen blasts Beijing in Manila speech: Politico reports the Commission president is on a visit to the Philippines designed to boost trade and security links.
Bloomberg: Xi’s spent two days outside China in 2023 as problems mount
China found influence in Europe’s West — not East: While the EU now looks to de-risk from China, it’s important to remember that the greatest risk to unity rests in Western Europe. Andreea Brinza
2024 Republican candidates hone in on a common foe: China Reuters
Senator blocking US-Australia submarine deal has a good point: Roger Wicker is being constructively obstructionist by pointing out that America can’t build the boats it has promised its Pacific ally while keeping its own fleet strong. Hal Brands
+ The Department of Justice announced Thursday that two US Navy sailors in California have been arrested on espionage charges after allegedly spying on behalf of China.
Bloomberg: New Zealand to boost defense capability as China eyes Pacific
China’s latest problem, people don’t want to go there: As geopolitical tensions rise, fewer visitors are traveling to the world’s No. 2 economy, widening the East-West divide. WSJ
Rishi Sunak downplays green policies to court middle England: PM seeks to portray himself as ‘on the side of motorists’ but risks enraging environmentalists. FT
UK cost of cash: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the government will continue to stick with its plan to bring down inflation as the Bank of England raised interest rates to 5.25 percent.
Reuters: Bank of England raises borrowing costs to 15-year peak, signals rates to stay high
Politicians have to come clean about full net zero costs Lord Hammond of Runnymede
The Times: Emmanuel Macron blames children of single parents for French riots
In Africa's Sahel region, French companies stand firm despite increasingly hostile climate: After the multiple coups that shook Mali, Burkina Faso, and now Niger, companies are trying to maintain their presence in these countries – even if the security climate continues to deteriorate. Le Monde
Rags-to-riches female candidate shakes up Mexico presidential race: Xóchitl Gálvez, who sold tamales as a child, has sparred with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and given encouragement to a dispirited opposition. WSJ
Biden shores up Democratic support, but faces tight race against Trump: A New York Times/Siena College poll found that President Biden is on stronger footing than he was a year ago — but he is neck-and-neck in a possible rematch against Donald Trump.
Even Trump’s indictments haven’t shattered the deadlock between the parties. Here’s why Ronald Brownstein
Beer, barbecue, and a bus: Inside Ron DeSantis' awkward comeback effort: The Florida governor has stuck to his old talking points, and the focus on retail politics has been less than smooth. NBC News
‘This belongs in the Smithsonian’: Inside the meme video operation that swallowed Ron DeSantis’ campaign Semafor
No Labels to GOP donors: We are your anti-Trump alternative: NYT reports the bipartisan group sees an opportunity with donors who are disaffected with the leading candidates.
How the other half votes: The United States, part one Sabato's Crystal Ball
+ Just about 150 of the nation’s more than 3,100 counties cast half of the nation’s presidential vote in 2020.
+ Joe Biden won 126 of the 151 top half counties, while Donald Trump won 2,548 of the remaining 2,960 counties in the bottom half.
+ Trump’s wins among the top half of counties were concentrated among the smaller pieces of that group — Biden won all but one of the nearly 50 counties that cast 500,000 votes or more.
Venn Strategies registered to lobby for 7-Eleven on issues around electric vehicles and EV charging, amid the company’s push to develop its business in the EV charging space.
An unexpected twist in the saga of the rapping crypto couple Matt Stieb
L’Oréal CEO Nicolas Hieronimus to deliver keynote presentation at CES 2024: WWD reports the presentation marks the first keynote from a beauty company at the Consumer Electronics Show.
Inside the DIY race to replicate LK-99: Experts doubt claims that LK-99 is a room-temperature superconductor set to open up a future of levitating trains and quantum tech. Wired
Meta has started blocking access to news on Facebook and Instagram in Canada.
Apple sales hit longest slump since 2016: WSJ reports the tech giant’s revenue declined for the third consecutive quarter as sales of iPhones missed analyst estimates. But revenue in the services unit reached a record high.
Bloomberg: Apple faces longest sales slowdown in decades as iPhone slumps
Bloomberg: Apple surprises in China, sets India record despite sales slump
Inside Apple's India dream: Tech giant aims to move at least 20% of iPhone production to India as it accelerates away from China. Nikkei
WSJ: Amazon delivers strong profit
Reuters: Holiday travel boom here to stay, says Lufthansa
The real reason you’re having a hard time getting things done at the office: Working from home altered our brains. We need more office time to fix them. WSJ
Midwest emerges as return-to-office champ, soundly beating Northeast: Region's offices were twice as full as the Northeast, according to new research. Shorter commutes likely boosting visits. Bloomberg
One of America’s most famous streets is getting its biggest makeover since 1974 WP - Editorial
When Edward Hopper fell in love with Jo Nivison, she turned his life around: A brilliant show at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, MA, looks at the four summers Hopper spent in the seaside town with the painter he then married. WP
Tired of dating apps, some turn to ‘date-me docs’: Writers of the online text profiles, which can read like 1,000-word versions of the personal ads of yore, hope for a more meaningful connection than a swipe might allow. NYT
Consider every drop — manifestos for saving rivers, lakes and oceans: Three new books help recalibrate our relationship to the water that sustains us. FT
Saudi Arabia, football and faith’s role in a revolution The Athletic
Will the real US women’s soccer team please show up? Instead of cruising to a three-peat, a historic juggernaut is battling for survival. Everyone’s got an opinion why. Jason Gay
Canadian province Alberta cancels bid for 2030 Commonwealth Games BBC
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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