Happy Tuesday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Insight | On soft power.
Sitting in London Heathrow a few years back, I was observing a family from Norway. The kids dressed in Under Armour, the parents wore smart casuals from the GAP, and the entire crew was teched-out in designed-in-California Apple devices.
It was the all-American family living in Oslo.
US culture and aspirations have been influential in helping the US government secure partners and enhance alliances.
Full post here.
Despair as death toll rises above 35,000: The National reports, a week after an earthquake struck Turkey and Syria, sorrow and disbelief are turning to anger.
The Hill: US tells citizens to leave Russia immediately
Russian exodus stands to redefine the country for generations: WP reports since Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of thousands have left, including many men who don't want to fight. Some emigres oppose the war; others were driven by economic self-interest.
Bloomberg: For fear or money, consumer giants are staying in Russia
+ P&G, Unilever, and Colgate continued their operations after the invasion.
+ Companies at risk if the Kremlin adopts a ‘wartime economy.’
Italy’s Berlusconi attacks Ukraine’s Zelensky, sparking a storm in Rome: WSJ reports the Ukrainian president’s message at an Italian song contest has revived divisions over Rome’s support for Kyiv.
Bloomberg: Moldovan leader accuses Russia of ouster plot in security push
+ Sandu calls for heightened security and ‘maximum vigilance.’
+ Sandu reinforces the claim that Russia aims to overthrow the government.
Munich Security Conference starts Friday: VP Harris is attending, and Sec. State Blinken is said to be considering a meeting on the sidelines with Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat.
WP: Questions about high-altitude objects dominate the day at White House
+ One of the reasons more objects were being shot down, the Pentagon said, was because NORAD had adjusted its filters and radar capabilities “to look more discretely” for them.
I think Biden needs to address America from the Oval Office and explain all these unidentified object intercepts.
No doubt it's being discussed at the White House.
+ “What in the world is going on? Has the Biden administration just dialed the sensitivity of our radars all the way up?" -- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
CBC: Flying objects brought down over the past week may be linked, Trudeau says
+ 'Obviously, there is some sort of pattern in there,' PM says after Yukon visit
Understanding the UFO war Jeff Wise
Spy balloons aren’t China’s big threat to the US: Washington spends a trillion dollars a year on defense, but its military-industrial base can’t keep pace with Beijing’s. Jessica Karl
AP: US holds drills in South China Sea amid tensions with China
The Times: Iran leader visits China to make friends and squeeze out Saudis
Iranian President Raisi to visit China to shore up ties: Politico reports the two nations are opposed to the US-led Western domination of international affairs.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raissi to visit China to strengthen anti-Western axis: Le Monde reports though relations between the two countries are not idyllic, Iran is part of a network of alliances built by Beijing trying to counterbalance the hegemony of the United States.
Norway spy agency highlights Chinese investment risk in Arctic Bloomberg
Nikkei: Japan plans purchase of up to 500 US Tomahawk cruise missiles
The golden era of EU-Japan relations dawns: Brussels needs to keep its friends in the Indo-Pacific with truly compatible agendas close, particularly from a security point of view — and Japan is one of those allies. Jean De Ruyt
WP: Protesters descend on Jerusalem as Netanyahu seeks to weaken the courts
Netanyahu advances overhaul of top Israeli court, drawing thousands of protesters: WSJ reports workers went on a general strike Monday, and crowds rallied outside Parliament.
The journalist who loved spelling mistakes: Humor in the Norwegian Resistance. Paddy Gilmore
Europe sets rules for producing green hydrogen: WSJ reports the European Union issued regulations for what qualifies as renewable hydrogen under its clean-energy transition plan, shaping how companies are expected to invest billions of euros in the coming years.
French pension reform: Unions promise 'black day' on March 7: Le Monde reports the alliance of eight unions and five youth organizations has vowed to 'bring France to a standstill' if the government continues its plans to increase the legal retirement age.
House of Commons and the next general election: Stephen McPartland is the 21st MP elected as a Conservative in 2019 who is now standing down.
Not a good sign that MPs, the ultimate campaign insiders, think the Tories will keep the majority in the next general election.
It’s time for ‘reality-based’ politicians to start addressing Brexit Sam Leith
Brexit is costing the UK £1,000 per household, a Bank of England rate-setter has claimed.
Revealed: Secret cross-party summit held to confront failings of Brexit: Leading Brexiters and remainers, including Michael Gove and David Lammy, met for two-day ‘private discussion’ with diplomats and business leaders. Guardian
FT: US clears UK to keep exemption from foreign investment reviews
Freedom: Support for Scottish independence has fallen to lows not seen since October 2019.
Today: Biden addresses the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference.
Nikki Haley will launch her presidential campaign Wednesday in Charleston, SC.
AP: Haley faces ‘high-wire act’ in 2024 bid against Trump
Nikki Haley threw it all away Stuart Stevens
+ Stevens is a former Republican political consultant who has worked on many campaigns for federal and state office, including the presidential campaigns of Mitt Romney and George W. Bush.
Republican Sen. Tim Scott prepares for presidential run: WSJ reports the South Carolinian would join a 2024 primary field looking to wrest party mantle from Donald Trump.
The ‘CEO of anti-woke Inc.’ has his eye on the presidency: Vivek Ramaswamy leaves the boardroom for a barn in Iowa to test out his businessman-turned-culture-warrior brand on rural conservative voters. Politico
+ FL Governor Ron DeSantis said he would propose legislation that would bar the state and its local governments from using ESG criteria when issuing municipal bonds.
Bloomberg: Republicans are using China balloon drama to raise money for 2024
Who’s-toughest-on-China looms as a 2024 Republican campaign theme Jim Geraghty
Diversity among top Senate staffers is abysmal Paul N.D. Thornell
Electric vehicles need lithium. Here’s how they get it. WP
WP: Ford to build US battery plant with Chinese technology as political tensions rise
Ford to build battery plant in Michigan in drive with Chinese tech partner: Reuters reports Ford Motor Company announced plans to invest $3.5 billion to build an electric vehicle battery plant in Michigan, betting that making the batteries in the United States will help and Chinese partner CATL attract US customers to embrace a lower-cost technology pioneered in China.
+ Ford's plan to build the battery plant near Marshall, Michigan.
Reuters: In China, Tesla could win electric vehicle price battle – but lose the war
Toyota Motor Corporation to develop new Lexus EV for 2026: incoming president: Nikkei reports Koji Sato says company will first focus on making such cars for high-end market.
Reuters: Lyft is second horse in a one-horse town
Zoox ferried passengers in its fully autonomous vehicle on public roads for the first time.
Twilio is firing 17% of its employees.
Can we make the internet less power-thirsty? BBC
Bloomberg: Luggage brand Away is exploring options, including a sale
Caracal Insight from May 2019: No way is Away luggage worth a $1.4 billion valuation.
It is impossible for me to see how a bag company is worth a billion dollars.
I mean, it's a lightweight bag on wheels.
There is no panache, legacy, or style.
Sure, it is Instagram-friendly, affordable, and reliable, but a billion dollars?
Full post here.
Amazon chief vows to ‘go big’ on physical stores: FT reports Andy Jassy says ecommerce giant will double down on grocery despite recent stumbles.
Bloomberg: US crackdown seeks to push crypto back to the fringes of finance
+ Major firms now face challenges like securing bank relationships.
+ The industry is reeling after watchdogs’ public and private actions.
Why aren't we all rich yet? After all, 300 years of investing advice has basically given the same guidance. Merryn Somerset Webb
Welcome to the new normal for China’s big tech: What Tencent’s rebound says about the prospects for a once-unstoppable sector. Economist
Alibaba Group hacks go viral on Latin American TikTok: Influencers give tips on Chinese e-commerce and then sell their services to bargain hunters. ROW
We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto Dave Trott
Remote work is costing Manhattan more than $12 billion a year Bloomberg
The Invisible House in Joshua Tree, CA, is for sale and currently listed for $18,000,000.
Brown reinvents the Chief’s reading list: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. is reinventing the Chief’s reading list, posting an updated library of suggested books, podcasts, and other forms of information instead of a static list. Brown, in announcing the CSAF Leadership Library, said he wants it to change as “novel ideas are published, recorded, and debated.” Air + Space Forces Magazine
+ You can access the CSAF Leadership Library here.
Prescribing nature: The restorative power of a simple dose of outdoors: The health benefits of green or blue prescriptions are many, and there are calls to integrate them more into routine care. Guardian
Man U sale: Qatari investors are said to plan an offer for the Manchester United professional soccer team in the coming days.
Super Bowl LVII drew an average of 113 million viewers across TV and digital platforms, Fox Sports says.
The Athletic: Super Bowl grass: ‘I’m not going to lie: It’s the worst field I’ve ever played on’
What will the future of the Super Bowl look like? FOS
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry.
Caracal is here to help.
Caracal is a geopolitical business communications firm specializing in global business issues at the intersection of globalization, disruption, and politics.
Caracal believes that to be a world-class geopolitical business communicator, you need global street smarts coupled with holistic, high-frequency, and high-low communications.
To receive Caracal ITK Daily by email, subscribe here.
