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India’s new railways project picks up speed: The Vande Bharat express is just one attempt to build capacity and demonstrate world-class public projects. John Reed
China likely to name US specialist as next ambassador to Washington: WSJ reports China is likely to nominate Xie Feng, a vice foreign minister, and a US specialist, as its new ambassador to Washington, according to people familiar with the matter, continuing a gradual tempering of the abrasive “Wolf Warrior” style that has defined Chinese diplomacy in recent years.
+ Expected appointment is part of a gradual effort by Beijing to dial back aggressive diplomacy and improve its global image.
Hmmm.
A US specialist?
Good luck to Xie Feng.
I live in the US and don't even understand it.
Is this the end of Wolf Warrior Diplomacy?
No.
🐺🇨🇳🐺
Caracal Insight | Less wolf. More panda. Views of China have grown more negative in recent years across many advanced economies, and unfavorable opinion has soared since 2020, a 14-country Pew Research Center survey shows. Currently, a majority in each of the surveyed countries has an unfavorable opinion of China. Full post from June 2021 here.
Xi Jinping — China's modern-day emperor: The last time a Chinese leader had this much unconstrained power, the result was widespread famine, economic ruin, and the deaths of millions of people. Ian Bremmer
Debt write-off shows China means business in Africa: While the West talks of democracy and human rights, Beijing speaks in dollars to tighten its influence on the continent — the latest move being a stake in Ethiopia. The Times
US, Japan to extend security cooperation to space: Move aims to bolster Japan’s new military strategy amid worries about China. WSJ
US sends anti-ship missiles to Japan as threat from China grows: Countries across the Asia Pacific are being forced to rethink their security strategies. Nowhere have the changes been greater than in Japan. The Times
Japan, US eye cooperation on counterstrike capabilities at 2+2: Nikkei reports the joint statement to cover missile and space defenses based on new security strategies.
UK and Japan to sign major defense deal as PM Kishida visits London: AFP reports UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida signed a "hugely significant" new defense agreement when the pair met in London on Wednesday, Downing Street said.
Japan and UK sign landmark defense cooperation treaty: Agreement allows militaries of both nations to be deployed to the other. Nikkei
AFP: Britain signs landmark defense pact with Japan in 'Indo-Pacific tilt'
Rishi Sunak has an image problem: Tories fear he’s just a bit ‘cringe’: MPs and aides fear voters are starting to pick up on Sunak’s sometimes awkward manner. Politico
British politics is still suffering from ‘long populism’: Sunak refuses to confront reality, just like his predecessors. Robert Shrimsley
King Charles will travel to France on March 27, his first state visit since becoming monarch.
The French secret service and its 'war chest' caught in the nets of the justice system: The French foreign intelligence service unwisely invested its hidden funds in shaky companies over the past few decades. The spy novel-like scandal, of which 'Le Monde' has revealed unpublished elements, led to the indictment of the former head DGSE. Le Monde
How Germany became Europe’s leading Big Tech trust buster: While EU regulators slowly roll out their own enforcement mechanism, Berlin is already holding gatekeepers to account. FT
Italians flock to London despite Brexit: The number of Italian-born people living in the UK has doubled from a decade ago, making them the most common foreign nationality in the capital. Bloomberg
Brut force: The winery in the middle of a war zone: The chaos of eastern Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on this Soviet-era winery, which once supplied more than half the country. Guardian
Bloomberg: Mexican president’s 28-minute monologue Had Biden, Trudeau staring at feet
+ Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dominates summit-ending news conference
+ Asked about migration, he discussed malaria, disability, crime
'Three Amigos' Summit: 'We see a move away from globalization and toward regionalization' AFP
North American leaders set aside tensions to focus on chips and migration: Leaders from US, Mexico, and Canada discuss ways to enhance economic cooperation at the Mexico City summit. FT
+ Joe Biden on Tuesday told Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he plans to travel to Canada in March.
Cherokee tribes turn to K Street to fulfill a 187-year-old promise for a seat in Congress: But they aren’t in agreement over who should get the largely ceremonial post. Politico
Bloomberg: Republicans bring back smoke-filled rooms on Capitol Hill
+ Members of Congress are permitted to smoke in their offices
+ First effort to reduce smoking in Capitol was in 1871
Can Kevin McCarthy still outlast the lettuce? The newly crowned speaker faces some of the same hurdles that tanked Liz Truss’ short tenure as British prime minister. Politico
Book excerpt: What Florida tells us about the future of US politics: If the United States’ demographic, political, and economic changes progress as we might by now expect, it may look a lot like the Sunshine State. Philip Bump
The party’s over for us. Where do we go now? Bret Stephens + David Brooks
+ 88% of the voting members in the new 118th Congress identify as Christian, according to Pew Research.
+ Thirteen voting members of the 118th Congress identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual – the highest number of openly LGB members in history, according to Pew Research.
How Montana took a hard right turn toward Christian nationalism: What happened to a state known for its political independence? NYT Magazine
CA-SEN: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) has told her fellow lawmakers she’s running for Senate in California, Politico reports.
‘I didn’t know if my mother was alive’: Joy and grief as Tigray reconnects to the world: The restoration of communications to the war-torn Ethiopian region after last month’s peace deal has ended two years of extreme and destructive isolation for Tigrayans. Guardian
Uganda’s worst ebola outbreak in two decades is over, WHO declares: NYT reports the virus spread to nine districts nationwide, infecting hundreds and killing dozens. Seven health workers were among those who died.
SAG Awards to stream live on Netflix beginning in 2024: The Wrap reports the 2023 broadcast will air live on the streamer’s YouTube channel, courtesy of a new multiyear partnership.
Hollywood’s next reckoning: Studios get real about runaway spending on streaming Variety
Hollywood bets moviegoers are ready to return to theaters: As fears about public gatherings fade, studios roll out franchises like Mission: Impossible and the Marvel universe to woo fans back. Bloomberg
Disney board names Nike veteran Mark Parker as new chair: FT reports Susan Arnold will step down after facing questions over handling of former CEO Bob Chapek’s departure.
The many forces fueling Tesla’s $860 billion tumble: Investors in Elon Musk’s day job are feeling a lot less excited about the future. Bloomberg
Bloomberg: Apple is working on adding touch screens to Macs in major turnabout
+ Steve Jobs famously decried the idea of touch displays for laptops
+ MacBook Pro with OLED poised to be the first touch-screen Mac
Your smart thermostat isn’t here to help you: But that doesn’t mean it’s useless. Ian Bogost
Why can't Tesla drive US oil demand lower? Plastics: US consumption of fossil fuels is heading toward records even amid the electric-car boom. Javier Blas
Shopify has culled meetings. Should other companies do the same? Global News
Uniqlo operator to boost annual pay in Japan by up to 40%: Nikkei reports Fast Retailing expects its labor costs in the country to rise by 15%.
What will it take to treat restaurant workers fairly? The truth is hard to swallow: World's best restaurant acknowledges the economics of exploiting workers. Chris Tomlinson
The secrets of the French 75, the world’s most elusive cocktail: Its ingredients keep evolving, its origins are a mystery. Two writers follow the clues in a cocktail detective story. FT
He divorced me on land—but I left my marriage on the river Florence Williams
Florence Williams joined a Brigadoon Monthly Call back in November 2021. The session was titled "Why nature makes us happier, healthier, and more creative." You can watch the conversation here.
+ @nytimes: Breaking News: Jeff Beck, one of the most skilled, admired, and influential guitarists in rock history, has died. He was 78.
The Golden Globes: Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” won for best dramatic film, while “The Banshees of Inisherin” won for best comedic or musical film.
AFP: 'Banshees,' 'Fabelmans,' and 'Everything Everywhere' rack up film nominations
Filmmaker ships his 1997 Ford Fiesta from France to US for one final journey: Dorian Degoutte, 31, an artist and film director from Vierzon, wanted to drive to Detroit in the car inherited from his grandfather. This would be a way to say goodbye to the vehicle that carried memories of fishing trips and laughter with Gerard Degoutte, a factory worker from Lyon. Phoebe Wall Howard
F1 wants women in the cockpit for first time since 1976: With its new academy, the racing league is inviting women to train for the grand prix. Bloomberg
The one-legged snowboarder who built an ingenious prosthetic for himself—and his opponents: After a horrific accident took his leg, Mike Schultz invented a high-tech artificial limb that action sport athletes quickly adopted. And now, to win gold at the Beijing Paralympics, he’ll have to beat them. GQ
The greatest ski films of all time, ranked: We asked pro skiers Cody Townsend and Glen Plake which classic ski movies they could watch repeatedly. Get ready to hunker down on the couch and revisit these throwback gems. Outside
How pro endurance athletes became the hardest-working creators on the internet: With grueling, inspiring stunts—a solo ride of the Tour de France route, a trail run from Mexico to Canada—endurance athletes are learning how to create real-time entertainment on social media. GQ
Trailer: Super League: The War for Football Apple TV
Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin discharged from the hospital: WSJ reports the development marks another positive update after he went into life-threatening cardiac arrest during an NFL game nine days ago.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Founder + Team Principal @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
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