Ukraine, US Congress, Amazon, Nicolas Puech, Paris Olympics, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence for communications pros.
Happy Friday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
*** Globalization + Statecraft ***
EU leaders agree to open membership talks with Ukraine: NYT reports after a bruising trip to Washington, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine welcomed a breakthrough in securing support from his allies as the war drags on.
Putin shows his confidence in Ukraine: 'The solution will be negotiated or achieved by force': Le Monde reports for almost four hours, in front of journalists and citizens gathered in Moscow, Putin assured that his war aims had not changed. He also portrayed a Russia ready for a long confrontation with the West.
Inside Putin's carefully choreographed annual news conference BBC
+ @Itwitius: Finland/USA to sign a defense cooperation agreement next week. Will grant US military access to Finland's border with Russia. Finns were wedded to neutrality until Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now they're nervous.
Washington urges Israel to scale down its war in Gaza: NYT reports the call for a more targeted phase in the war appeared to be the most definitive effort yet by the United States to restrain Israel in its retaliation against Hamas for the attacks it led on Oct. 7.
+ CNN reported Wednesday night the US has intelligence indicating nearly half of the 29,000 munitions Israel has dropped on Gaza are so-called “dumb bombs.”
TST: Denmark, Germany say they arrested Hamas suspects planning Europe attacks
Xi's unification ambitions loom in Taiwan presidential vote: Nikkei reports the island finds itself caught between Chinese and American interests.
After Israel and Ukraine, Taiwan business leaders fear Taipei-Beijing tensions may trigger the next geopolitical conflict Fortune
NHK: Japan to provide rescue boats, drones to Malaysia under OSA security framework
Kishida reshuffles Cabinet amid party money scandal: NHK reports Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio is dealing with the fallout from a political money scandal. It involves a party faction once led by one of Kishida's predecessors, the late Abe Shinzo. Kishida is trying to find a way ahead, and as part of that, he has replaced four members of his cabinet.
India tops ranking for Japan manufacturers as China slips to 3rd: Nikkei reports Vietnam rises to 2nd in yearly survey of promising business destinations.
Will Apple's India production get tangled in charger rules? India has said it wants to adopt an EU rule requiring smartphones to have universal charging ports. That could hold up Apple's production plans. DW
Niger says all French troops will have left by December 22: Le Monde after relations between the two countries nosedived, France said it would withdraw all its troops by the end of the year. Nigerien media has reported that 80% of the French forces have already left.
Brazil’s congress weakens protection of indigenous lands, defying Lula: NYT reports lawmakers approved a law making it harder for Indigenous tribes to block deforestation, overriding a veto by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana meet to defuse tensions over oil-rich region: Le Monde reports Guyanese President Irfaan Ali emerged from the talks adamant that 'Guyana has all the right... to facilitate any investment, any partnership... in our sovereign space.'
Argentina’s security minister announces crackdown on protests: FT reports move comes as demonstrations are expected to grow as social groups react to new president Javier Milei’s austerity plans.
Médecins Sans Frontières, an aid group, suspended work in a hospital in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, after an armed group executed a patient outside an ambulance on Tuesday.
A world in disarray? A longtime diplomat says it’s worse than that: Richard Haass offers his perspective on the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and China’s outlook. WSJ
*** ITK Live ***
ITK WAS | School + Salon Dinner
Executive education and global economic training to start the new year at the ITK WAS | School + Salon Dinner.
Downtown Washington, DC
January 11, 2024
Starting at 1:30 pm ET
This event will explore the interconnected global business environment, focusing on business issues at the intersection of globalization, disruption, and politics.
ITK WAS will feature three 45-minute lectures and a salon dinner.
Limited to 12 sports, participants will gain improved geopolitical intelligence, communications confidence, and increased situational awareness.
For details and tickets, click here.
*** Politics + Elections ***
US Congress passes colossal 2024 defense budget: Le Monde the vast $886 billion defense budget bill includes measures to counter China in the Indo-Pacific, some military aid for Ukraine, a 5% pay rise for military personnel, and extends a controversial overseas surveillance tool.
+ Senate Democrats were been told they’ll take the weekend off but come back Monday for votes.
Atrocious: A new Pew Research poll finds just 33% of Americans approve of President Biden’s handling of his job, while 64% disapprove.
Prepping for Trump 2.0:
Time: Fears of a Trump win add urgency to effort to tighten surveillance laws
BBC: EU to open membership talks with Ukraine and Moldova
+ Congress has approved legislation that would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress.
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
CNBC: Intel unveils new AI chip to compete with Nvidia and AMD
VW spent $2B to build America a charging network. It’s ranked dead last. After “Dieselgate,” Volkswagen created an EV charging company to make amends. Does it matter that its chargers are faulty? WP
CNBC: GM’s Cruise laying off 900 employees, or 24% of its workforce
+ The layoffs, which mostly hit commercial operations and related corporate functions, comes one day after the robotaxi subsidiary dismissed nine “key leaders.”
+ The moves are fallout from the company’s response to the Oct. 2 incident in which a pedestrian was dragged 20 feet by a Cruise self-driving car after being hit by another vehicle.
+ Since the incident, the company has suspended all trips on public roads and halted production of a new robotaxi, among other moves.
Campari buys Courvoisier Cognac from Beam Suntory: FT reports deal valuing group at $1.32bn comes as global sales of the drink drop but CEO says downturn is ‘temporary.’
CNBC: Amazon courts sellers at China summit as Temu and Shein gain momentum
+ Amazon hosted a summit this week for China-based merchants, who make up a sizable contingent of the company’s third-party marketplace.
+ The company announced a new “innovation center” in Shenzhen, a hub for technology companies and cross-border e-commerce.
+ Amazon faces heightened competition from online retail upstarts Shein and Temu, which have ties to China.
*** Culture ***
Hermès heir plans to give half his $14 billion fortune to his gardener: Global News reports Nicolas Puech, the fifth-generation heir of Thierry Hermès, is reportedly planning to bequeath part of his massive wealth to his 51-year-old gardener, who he also intends to legally adopt.
Ghana's Afrisocks brighten up your feet and your day: Voted one of the world's funkiest socks by New York Magazine, Afrisocks bring African culture to your feet. DW
*** Sport ***
Mistrust looms over PGA Tour as deadline for Saudi deal nears: NYT reports rancor within the tour’s board could shape decisions about the final agreement and influence the sport for decades to come.
Alcoholism, ayahuasca, and the enlightenment of an NFL player The Athletic
Putin raises doubts Russians will participate as neutrals at Paris Olympics: AFP reports Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned the International Olympic Committee rules mandating Russian athletes compete at the Paris Olympics as neutrals.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
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