Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Insight | Psychology yes. Technology no.
"Once you reach a basic level of wealth in society, most problems are actually problems of perception."
The future is psychology, not technology.
Wow.
That is a statement.
Few think it.
Even less say it.
It's not logical, and that is the point.
Full post here.
BBC: Ukraine hails 'historic day' as US and Germany send tanks
Politico: European allies will send about 80 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, Germany says
US, Germany approve sending tanks to Ukraine: WSJ reports an agreement to send Abrams and Leopard tanks raises challenges to get Western armor to battlefield ahead of next phase of war.
Sending tanks to Ukraine makes one thing clear: This is now a western war against Russia: Volodymyr Zelenskiy is finally getting the help he wants, but it places more of Ukraine’s future in US hands. Martin Kettle
+ Germany will send 14 Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine and has approved other countries sending German-made tanks.
+ The US is expected to send 30 M1 Abrams tanks.
+ Morocco donates more than 20 tanks to Ukraine.
+ Canada is considering sending 4 Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Reuters: Ukraine sets sights on fighter jets after securing tank supplies
Are we seeing the beginning of the end of Putinism? Michael McFaul
Blinken ponders the post-Ukraine-war order David Ignatius
Germany sees its economy growing this year despite the war: WSJ reports the government now thinks Europe’s largest economy might avoid a short recession altogether this winter, the latest sign of brightening growth prospects in Europe despite the shock of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
UK Labour Party raids Trump and Brexit playbooks as power beckons in 2024: The famously reserved opposition leader Keir Starmer is stealing populist slogans to broaden his appeal. Politico
Stephen Flynn: “The Tories and Labour are one and the same”: The SNP’s new man in Westminster on the party’s internal divisions, Scotland’s gender bill, and Brexit. Rachel Wearmouth
US, Europe tussle over frenzy of clean-energy subsidies: WSJ reports a massive clean-energy incentives in the US have set off a global competition for green investment.
Emmanuel Macron, the young president who speaks less and less to young people: The 45-year-old French president is accused of favoring senior citizens, who now represent the biggest part of the electorate. Matthieu Goar
French troops to exit Burkina Faso within a month: Le Monde reports around 400 French special forces are currently based in Burkina Faso as part of a broader military presence to fight jihadists across the Sahel region.
France to 'respect' Burkina Faso's request and pull troops: DW reports Burkina Faso had asked France to withdraw its troops from the West African country within a month. French forces were in Burkina Faso to fight insurgents.
Rwanda-DR Congo tension: Shooting of plane an ‘act of war’: BBC reports DR Congo has declared Rwanda's shooting of one of its fighter jets an "act of war", amid mounting tensions. Rwanda's government said it took "defensive measures" against a plane that had violated its airspace - a claim denied by DR Congo. Although the plane landed safely, this is a major escalation following months of conflict in DR Congo, which has forced 400,000 people from their homes.
How good is Germany's new development strategy for Africa? Germany's Development Ministry wants to be a more important player in Africa. Development Minister Svenja Schulze has just presented a new concept — but reactions have been mixed. DW
Censorship, arrests, power cuts. India scrambles to block BBC documentary. WP
Indian police detain students over BBC's Modi documentary: DW reports New Delhi has banned sharing links and clips to a BBC film about Prime Minister Modi. Now universities are cracking down on students trying to screen it.
Elon Musk’s Twitter bows to India request to censor links to BBC’s Narendra Modi documentary: THR reports despite the Twitter owner's self-proclaimed stance as a "free speech absolutist," the platform has removed all links to videos from a documentary exploring allegations against Modi for fanning the flames of prejudice against Indian Muslims.
US State Department avoids commenting on India’s ban of documentary on Modi: SCMP reports the web series highlights a British inquiry that found Modi ‘directly responsible’ for a climate encouraging riots that killed 1,000, mostly Muslims, but department spokesman Ned Price says ‘I am not aware of the documentary.’
Today: Australia Day
+ Australia Day honors the establishment of the first permanent European settlement on the continent of Australia.
+ On January 26, 1788, Arthur Phillip, who had sailed into what is now Sydney Cove with a shipload of convicts, hoisted the British flag at the site.
7 News: Australian Open cancels Australia Day as sports stars speak up
+ ‘We are mindful there are differing views.’
Australia should junk, not replace, its national holiday: Rather than focusing on hard-fought culture wars; the nation should abandon the idea of attaching political meaning to official days off. David Fickling
Royal drama pushes voters towards republic: poll: Australians have increased their support for a republic, with some voters saying Prince Harry’s revelations have influenced their shift towards breaking ties with the monarchy. SMH
Taiwan’s Tsai names Chen new premier to rebuild support: Bloomberg reports Taiwan named former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, as its new premier, replacing the long-serving Su Tseng-chang, in a bid by the ruling Democratic Progressive Party to win back support after a major loss in recent local elections.
Taiwan’s president says war with China is ‘not an option’ Bloomberg
Analysis: Xi puts top brain in charge of Taiwan unification strategy: Wang Huning tasked with creating alternative to 'one country, two systems.' Nikkei
China’s palace politics: Xi loyalists compete for power: A new landscape of political divisions is forming at the top of the Chinese Communist party. FT
Peru protesters clash with police after president calls for truce: Al Jazeera reports police fired tear gas and pellets amid clashes with protesters demanding President Dina Boluarte’s resignation.
The Times: Peru’s president pleads for truce amid violent protests
WP: Archives weighs asking past presidents, VPs to look for classified items
+ “I’m a millennial, so I don’t do paper.” -- Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), when asked on CNN if he has any classified documents lying around.
Frozen: Trump’s primary challengers balk at jumping into the unknown: Potential 2024ers are now looking at months before they announce. There’s talk of jumping in together. Politico
OMG. Trump has started texting. NYT reports the former president, averse to leaving records of his communications, had long avoided text and email.
+ Donald Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts are being reinstated.
Marjorie Taylor Greene aims to be Trump's VP pick in 2024: NBC News reports: "She sees herself on the shortlist for Trump's VP," said former Trump aide Steve Bannon, who has spoken with Greene.
Walmart is raising minimum wages for store workers to a range of $14 to $19 an hour, up from $12 to $18 an hour.
Bloomberg: Senators fault Ticketmaster ‘monopoly’ for Taylor Swift debacle
+ Opaque ticket prices include steep service fees, artists say.
+ Senator Lee (R-UT) questions Ticketmaster’s merger with Live Nation.
The CEO of OnlyFans wants you to know her $1-billion-a-year business isn’t just about sex anymore: OnlyFans became a runaway hit thanks to adult content. Amrapali Gan wants to diversify its image without losing its edge. Fortune
Florida eyes banning TikTok at state universities: Politico reports a growing number of states and colleges have taken actions against TikTok, owned by the Chinese firm ByteDance, amid security concerns and government directives calling to restrict access to the app.
Bloomberg: Biden has never been under more pressure from Congress to ban TikTok
+ Partisan divisions remain over the best way to confront TikTok.
+ Administration is still reviewing the security risks of the Chinese app.
Generative AI: How will the new era of machine learning affect you? FT
How will Satya Nadella handle Microsoft’s ChatGPT moment? He has spent a career trying to return Microsoft to the pinnacle of tech. Economist
Apple is reportedly focusing on improvements to native iOS apps like maps to better compete against Google’s offerings.
Welcome to the shoppy shop: Why does every store suddenly look the same? Grub Street
Ford could sell a vehicle assembly plant in Saarlouis, Germany, as part of a wider downsizing in Europe.
Slovakia's auto industry faces painful EV transition: With the help of German auto giants, Slovakia has become a hub for car manufacturing, making more cars per capita than any other country in the world. But will it survive the end of the combustion engine era? DW
California autos: Electric battery and plug-in hybrid vehicles accounted for 19% of new vehicles sold in the state during 2022 – a new record. EVs were 16% of the total – more than twice the EV share nationwide.
Press Release: Honda to make organizational changes to further accelerate electrification business and realize new value creation
+ Honda Motor strives to create new value by leveraging its broad and expanding range of mobility products and services.
Robb Report: Harley-Davidson will soon be all-electric, CEO says
Albemarle Corp. called for lithium prices to remain high indefinitely to help the mining industry develop new sources of the electric vehicle (EV) battery metal and fuel the green energy transition.
An EV in every driveway is an environmental disaster Alissa Walker
North Asia cranks coal imports to fuel industrial reboot Gavin Maguire
Laid-off foreign tech workers are set to find new jobs in Chicago Bloomberg
+ More than 35 firms in the region are hiring H-1B, visa holders
+ City says being open to immigrants is a competitive advantage.
Scientists drop absolutely stunning new view of the Milky Way galaxy: Billions. Billions of stars. Mashable
How Drake and OVO are reinventing radio with Sound 42: Drake, Oliver El-Khatib, and more explain how last weekend's Apollo shows were just one phase in curating the best radio show out. GQ
Mondrian painting has been hanging upside down for 75 years: Despite the discovery, the work, titled New York City I, will continue to be displayed the wrong way up to avoid damaging it. Guardian
The ‘lying congressman’ and his crewnecks Robin Givhan
Federer and Williams were the best ever. Or maybe not. The greatness that counts is the greatness we’ve seen. And what these two tennis players have in common – apart from all the major titles – is that their achievements are in recent memory. Stephen L. Carter
The Times: Wimbledon men’s doubles matches to be reduced to best of three sets
After winning The Eddie, Luke Shepardson goes back to work: Less than 24 hours after winning what is widely believed to be the world’s most iconic surfing event, new Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational champion Luke Shepardson was back at his day job. KHON2
IOC says will explore pathway for return of Russia, Belarus athletes: AFP reports the International Olympic Committee, ignoring calls from Ukraine to ban Russian and Belarusian athletes from next year's Paris Summer Olympics, said Wednesday that a pathway for their athletes' participation should be "further explored."
French privacy chief warns against using facial recognition for 2024 Olympics: France’s security toolkit for Summer Olympics includes AI-powered cameras, but not facial recognition. Politico
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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