Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Insight | What's your film school?
Ridley Scott, the English film director and producer, is known for his atmospheric and highly concentrated visual style.
Scott is a visionary director.
His films break the boundaries of style and genre.
Plus, he shot over 2,700 commercials.
The nature of shooting commercials was critical to his success in film.
Not only is advertising incredibly competitive, but Scott has called this experience his "film school."
Full post here.
WP: Brazilian judge orders arrest of senior security officials after riot, official says
Brazil’s authorities race to identify organizers of Brasília riot: NYT reports with more than 500 people arrested after supporters of Jair Bolsonaro ransacked Brazil’s seats of government, the authorities began to search for those who funded and aided the rioters.
Jair Bolsonaro plans return to Brazil as prosecutors seek to seize assets: FT reports the former president has faced calls for expulsion from Florida after riots by his supporters.
Three Amigos Summit: The US, Canada, and Mexico agreed to coordinate semiconductor manufacturing investments.
Rishi Sunak restores funding to UK-China center after Liz Truss cut: UK prime minister moves to bolster Great Britain-China Centre amid a wider push to improve know-how on Beijing. Politico
Japan and Europe draw closer over shared security concerns: Nikkei reports Kishida pursues defense cooperation on G7 tour amid threat from China and Russia.
Today: UK PM Rishi Sunak meets Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Downing Street.
US Marines to set up unit in Okinawa for defense of remote Japanese islands: TJT reports the United States will set up a rapid reaction unit of the Marine Corps in Okinawa Prefecture for the defense of remote islands in southwestern Japan, Japanese and US diplomatic sources have said.
Kishida and Biden to 'set course' for alliance in first talks in Washington: TJT reports just weeks after revamping Japan’s defense strategy, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will meet US President Joe Biden in Washington on Friday to “set the course” for the alliance this year as the two sides seek to expand military, economic and technological cooperation.
If China invades Taiwan, it’ll come at a high cost to the United States and both countries’ militaries, according to a new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
WP: Satellite images show crowds at China’s crematoriums as COVID surges
COVID will complicate China’s efforts to re-engage with the world: Foreign critics have seized on the country’s lack of transparency. Economist
+ A Chinese state-owned bank is offering people who deposit about $512,000 Western-made mRNA vaccine shots in a bid to lure wealthy clients.
Wild.
Space launches should withstand Chinese challenge, Pentagon mandate says: WSJ reports SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, and others prepare for next multibillion-dollar contract round—and its new requirements.
Beijing aims to corner another green energy market: hydrogen: Bloomberg reports as the world sprints to decarbonize, the next round of competition revolves around a device called an electrolyzer. Plug these into clean electricity such as solar power, and it’s possible to extract hydrogen from water without producing any planet-warming emissions.
Xi Jinping’s plan to reset China’s economy and win back friends: Amid a chaotic exit from COVID lockdowns, China is looking to reduce its international isolation and boost its growth rate. FT
What do we know about Kim Jong Un's daughter? The North Korean dictator has been seen in public with his daughter, giving rise to speculation that she might be his heir. DW
Malaysia pledges to invest in Indonesia’s new capital: AP reports Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim said Monday his country would invest in developing Indonesia’s new capital on Borneo island, which both nations share.
Can the Sydney Modern change how a ‘sporting nation’ sees itself? An extension to the Art Gallery of New South Wales brings 21st-century design to a city that has often had a love-hate relationship with future-forward art. NYT
Pentagon weighs sending Stryker combat vehicles to Ukraine: Politico reports if approved, the shipment would add to the number of armored infantry vehicles being sent to the front lines by multiple countries.
+ Ukrainians to train on Patriot missiles in US as soon as next week.
What Macron should have told Putin: Just as France’s failed Ruhr occupation in 1923 ended its hopes to remain ‘la grande nation,’ the invasion of Ukraine will likely finish off Russia’s. Robert Zaretsky
Macron government unveils plans to raise French retirement age to 64: FT reports Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne seeks to assuage union anger at reforms by vowing to increase the minimum pension.
It’s time for the French to work longer and retire later: A brewing pension reform fight highlights how Europe can no longer afford the easy ride boomers got. Lionel Laurent
In France, the Ile d'Aix adopts a 'demarketing' strategy to sound the alarm about overtourism: This small island in western France aims to preserve its territory and obtain financial aid to develop its tourist infrastructures. Le Monde
Constantine II: Greece's former and last king dies at 82: DW reports former King Constantine II, a cousin of Britain's King Charles III, ruled Greece before the country became a republic in 1974. Greek media reported he died of a stroke.
Can Ron DeSantis avoid meeting the press? The Florida governor easily won re-election despite little engagement with mainstream news outlets, another sign of partisan division ahead of the 2024 presidential race. NYT
CA-SEN: Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) jumped into the 2024 California Senate race.
Janet Yellen agreed to Joe Biden’s request to remain Treasury secretary.
+ The Fed chair is facing the most challenging environment in 40 years, Tudor Jones told CNBC.
+ Jamie Dimon told Fox Business US rate hikes may have to go beyond 5%, and there’s a 50% chance of them hitting 6%.
The World Bank warned that the global economy could enter a second recession, and downgraded its growth forecasts to 1.7% for this year and 2.7% in 2024, down from a previous estimate of 3% for both years.
In-N-Out Burgers is coming to Tennessee: Williamson County (Nashville Metro) will be the home of the burger chain’s eastern corporate hub. The company plans to invest $125.5 million to establish an office in Franklin, representing In-N-Out’s first expansion east of Texas.
‘You’re no longer in the auto business’: CES go-to show for auto industry LVRJ
+ Is CES becoming the new auto show?
Several top Rivian executives depart electric-vehicle startup: WSJ reports the departures of executives, including Rivian’s supply-chain head, have come amid the company missing 2022 production targets.
WP: There are TikTok bans in nearly two dozen states
Microsoft is weighing up investing $10 billion into OpenAI.
Coinbase will cut about 950 jobs, about 20% of the workforce.
Everything you’ve been told about passwords is a lie: Taking just one of these steps can improve your online security. But the real goal is killing passwords. WP
Bloomberg: Virgin Orbit slumps 22% after rocket fails to reach orbit
+ Mission suffered an unknown anomaly after launch from the plane
+ Shares of Branson-controlled firm plunge in early US trading
Virgin Orbit scrambles to establish why first UK satellite launch failed: Very public blow to British ambitions to be player in Europe’s ‘space race.’ FT
Teneo will buy its smaller rival Tulchan for 65 million pounds as it pushes to expand in Britain.
At 155 hours, Chicago congestion at No. 1 as traffic grows nationwide: WP reports Chicago-area drivers had the most hours wasted while sitting in congestion last year, with the average driver losing 155 hours to traffic — a jump of about 50 percent compared to 2021, according to INRIX’s global traffic scorecard released Tuesday.
Hans Zimmer: 40 years of music for movies: Hans Zimmer speaks with Lesley Stahl about scoring movies with a computer and piano keyboard. 60 Minutes
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin — A self-help manual to unleash the musical artist within: The celebrated record producer muses on what makes pop stars tick with grand but often frustrating statements. FT
Coachella 2023: Frank Ocean, Blackpink, and Bad Bunny to headline: Guardian reports Bad Bunny will be the first Latino artist and Blackpink the first all-female group to headline North America’s largest music festival.
The NFL booked a record $2.7 billion in sponsorship revenue in the 2022-23 season, led by deals in alcohol and tech, according to SponsorUnited.
Virginia has plans to lure the Washington Commanders across state lines: FOS reports Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) plans to pitch a new stadium to the Commanders’ next owner. The team’s headquarters and training facility is in Ashburn, Virginia.
The sports scandal almost nobody is talking about: UFC’s Dana White faces almost no consequences for publicly slapping his wife. Jemele Hill
American bowling is in a knock-down fight over new high-tech pins: Alley owners are replacing aging pinsetting equipment with systems that use bowling pins tethered to a string; tests show they are harder to topple. WSJ
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Founder + Team Principal @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
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.
