Happy Saturday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Today: World Logic Day.
Indonesian president Widodo admits historical rights violations in the country: SCMP reports Indonesian President Joko Widodo has acknowledged gross human rights violations had occurred across the country in the past decades. Speaking on January 11, 2023, one day before Human Rights Watch released its annual world report, he also promised to compensate victims and prevent such abuses from happening again.
Australia and Papua New Guinea pledge new security pact saying interests are ‘intertwined’: Guardian reports in contrast with security deal between China and Solomon Islands, the Australia-PNG agreement will be ‘public and transparent,’ prime ministers vow.
In Dhaka, a prime minister’s ‘vendetta’ is shaping politics: With an election looming, Sheikh Hasina’s criticism of Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus is intensifying. FT
Saudi Arabia’s $500 billion bet to build a futuristic city in the desert CNBC
+ The UK economy unexpectedly grew by 0.1% in November, boosted by the World Cup.
Who’s afraid of Keir Starmer? Fraser Nelson
Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon hold private talks in Scotland: BBC reports The prime minister and Scotland's first minister have held "cordial" talks at a private meeting in Scotland. Rishi Sunak and Nicola Sturgeon met at a hotel in Inverness on Thursday night, following a series of engagements by the PM north of the border.
Macron will not ask Algeria for ‘forgiveness’ over colonization: ‘The word would break all the bonds,’ France president said in an interview. Politico
Why Macron is risking a wave of unrest over pensions Bloomberg
French pension reform: The mother of all social battles: A broad coalition is unhappy with President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, but it remains unclear if the left and trade unions are strong enough to present a united front. Gilles Paris
Sweden discovers biggest rare earths deposit in EU: FT reports the Lapland mine could help reduce Europe’s dependence on China imports.
Biden administration to ask Congress to approve F16 sale to Turkey: WSJ reports the deal depends on Ankara’s signoff to NATO expansion, administration officials say, and comes alongside an F-35 sale to Greece.
Why Olaf Scholz is reluctant to send battle tanks to Ukraine: Germany’s chancellor resists move for fear of provoking Vladimir Putin. FT
The war in Ukraine will be long. Is the west ready? Time could be on Russia’s side if the US and its allies don’t adjust to a prolonged conflict. WSJ
Cost of living: Argentina sees prices almost doubling last year: BBC reports Argentina saw prices almost double last year as the country's annual inflation rate hit its highest level in more than 30 years. Official figures show consumer prices jumped by 94.8% from 12 months to the end of December.
Reuters: Lula to purge Bolsonaro loyalists from Brazilian security forces after rampage
Reuters: Brazil's Lula predicts policies in place within 100 days, reassures markets
Can Lula put Brazilian democracy back together again? Many of the country’s institutions, from the military to the Supreme Court, are creaking under accusations of divided loyalties. FT
ConocoPhillips in talks to sell Venezuelan oil in US to recover billions it is owed: The Houston-based oil company has had preliminary discussions with Venezuela’s state oil firm, PdVSA. WSJ
‘Three Amigos’ summit over, the hard work of US, Mexico, and Canada policymaking begins LAT Editorial
Reuters: US strongly committed to Japan's defense, Biden tells Kishida, hails military boost
Biden and Kishida discuss Japan ‘stepping up’ security: AP reports President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks at the White House on Friday as Japan looks to build security cooperation with allies amid growing concerns about provocative Chinese and North Korean military action.
+ The Oval Office meeting and signing ceremony at NASA’s Washington headquarters capped a weeklong tour for Kishida that took him to five European and North American capitals for talks on his effort to beef up Japan’s security.
Biden and Kishida to bolster US-Japan alliance amid China’s growing power: The two leaders discussed tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia and plans for deterrence in Asia with US troops and missiles. NYT
Why Japan is the latest ally moving Biden’s way: Key countries finally boost defense commitments amid new threats and a new approach from Washington. Politico
US to begin ‘extraordinary measures’ to stay under debt limit: WSJ reports the Biden administration and House Republicans are preparing for a fight over how — and whether — to raise the current limit from $31.4 trillion. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen said failure to do so would cause "irreparable harm" to the economy.
Democrats wary as GOP House rebels wield more influence: Republican and Democratic critics alike say the new rules will allow a small group of lawmakers to grind the legislative process to a halt. WP
SOTU: Biden was invited to deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 7.
The cases for and against Trump Kellyanne Conway
IN-SEN: Republicans close to Mitch Daniels (R) say opposition from the Club for Growth is poised to push the former Indiana governor into the 2024 Senate race.
WV-SEN: West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) said that he is “seriously considering” running for Senate in 2024.
Bloomberg: Campaign to renew US spy powers faces bitter battle in Congress
+ Spying tool has scooped up data on Americans, prompting an outcry
+ Biden administration says Section 702 key to combating threats
With FBI search, US escalates global fight over Chinese police outposts: Beijing says the outposts aren’t doing police work, but Chinese state media reports say they “collect intelligence” and solve crimes far outside their jurisdiction. NYT
Want to deter China? Hold a tanker competition John D.W. Corley + Jon T. Thomas
Nouriel Roubini: 'We are entering the great stagflation': Inflation, trade war, global warming... The American economist, known for his pessimism, lists in his latest book the major threats facing economies in the coming years. Le Monde
A Q&A with Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum: The first World Economic Forum was held in 1971. Here’s how he sees the state of the world. WSJ
Just a few people crowned some of YouTube’s earliest hits: How “coolhunters” helped make YouTube into an internet sensation before the algorithms took over. Mark Bergen
YouTube tests new hub of free streaming channels: WSJ reports the tech company’s effort could rival Roku and Fox in the fast-growing area of the streaming business.
Hollywood released a record 599 adult-oriented, scripted TV shows last year, a 7% increase from 2021.
2023 SAG nominations Mashable
OTD: In 1952, NBC's long-running morning news program Today debuts with host Dave Garroway.
'Pokémon' series ends after 25 years and 1,200 episodes Le Monde
The dawning of the quantum age: It is time to consider the opportunities and risks of a new form of computing. FT - Editorial
Who killed Nokia? Nokia did. Quy Huy
The many, many reasons space travel is bad for the human body: Leaving Earth upends almost every system inside of us. WP
Even electric self-driving cars may have a climate change problem: MIT researchers say that the computers that power self-driving cars could have a large carbon footprint. WP
What if Tesla is…just a car company? Tesla’s aura as an elite tech disrupter dims as EV competitors multiply and improve their offerings. WSJ
Tesla cuts electric car prices across Europe and US to bolster demand: FT reports that prices fall to the lowest level in 2 years in response to falling supply chain costs.
Epitaph for an entrepreneur Steve Blank
CNET is quietly publishing entire articles generated by AI The Byte
Barry Diller explores sale of The Daily Beast: NYT reports the tech mogul’s company has hired Whisper Advisors, an advisory firm, to find potential buyers for the digital publication.
Saks Fifth Avenue wants to add a casino atop its flagship store: NYT reports the owner of the store unveiled plans for a casino in Midtown Manhattan, joining the race for one of three full-fledged gambling licenses in the city.
Tennessee Williams, JFK, and a suspected Nazi spy: The history behind Charleston’s Fort Sumter House: The iconic hotel-turned-condo is now sought-after for its ample water views and prime location. WSJ
Over 150 of the best buildings by American architects honored at the 2022 American Architecture Awards Archinext
It’s the coolest rock show in Ann Arbor. And almost everyone there is over 65. At the “Geezer Happy Hour,” the “silver tsunami” has been dancing for decades. NYT
OTD: In 1973, Elvis Presley's concert Aloha from Hawaii was broadcast live via satellite and sets the record as the most-watched broadcast by an individual entertainer in television history.
How much does our food tell us about who we are? Cheuk Kwan’s ‘Have You Eaten Yet?’ explores the global reach of Chinese food — and the shape of cultural identity. WP
Super Bowls 2023 ads: Fox, which will broadcast this year’s Super Bowl, said in September that it had sold 95% of its ad inventory, charging a record $7 million for a 30-second spot.
National Women's Soccer League: The NWSL has increased its salary cap by 25% to nearly $1.4 million and bumped up the available allocation money to $600,000 for the upcoming season.
+ The NWSL plans to add two teams for the 2024 season.
Manchester United will reportedly invite formal takeover bids by mid-February after receiving interest from several groups.
+ The Glazers are reportedly looking for an offer of more than $7.2 billion for the team.
+ Forbes last valued Manchester United at $4.6 billion.
Sadly, Gregg Berhalter is about to lose his job because of angry soccer mom Michael Arace
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ 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.
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