Global Street Smarts.
Happy Monday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Putin claims capture of Bakhmut as Ukraine insists battle ‘not over’: FT reports Zelenskyy denies that Russia fully controls city ‘destroyed’ in bloodiest clash since the invasion.
Bakhmut largely under Russian control: Ukrainian general: WSJ reports the capture of the city would mark the only significant success of a monthslong Russian offensive that has severely depleted its military.
BBC: Bakhmut 'not occupied' by Russia, says defiant Zelensky
AP: ‘Exhaust them’: Why Ukraine has fought Russia for every inch of Bakhmut, despite high cost
Ukrainians, crossing Dnieper River, test Russian lines on southern front: WP reports as Ukraine prepares a major counterattack to seize back occupied territory, some soldiers are training to launch offensive actions across the war’s most formidable front line.
War in Ukraine: Biden's shift brings prospect of F-16s closer despite long road ahead: At the G7 summit in Japan, Joe Biden lifted his veto on the supply of these American aircraft to Kyiv by its allies. But few countries are able to deliver them quickly. Le Monde
AP: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy at center of last day of high-level diplomacy as G7 looks to punish Russia
Ukraine dominates last day of 'successful' summit: DW reports Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took center stage on the last day of the G7 summit in Japan as leaders committed to a unified approach to tackling Russia and China.
Zelenskyy calls on G7 to ensure Russia is ‘last aggressor’: Al Jazeera reports Ukrainian leader’s visit to Japan highlighted significant divisions preventing the formation of a united front against Russia.
How Zelenskyy upstaged G7 summit to confront Ukraine doubters: Ukrainian president defies host Japan’s expectations by timing attendance to ambush Brazil and India. FT
China and Ukraine force rivals Japan and South Korea to rethink: NBC News reports long officially pacifist, Japan is stepping beyond the boundaries set by its history and playing a more assertive role on the world stage.
At G7, Japanese PM pledges ‘unwavering solidarity’ with Ukraine: Al Jazeera reports Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine struck at the ‘very foundation of the international order.’
AP: South Korean, German leaders agree to cooperate on supply chains, North Korea
Tuesday: Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin pays a two-day official visit to China.
Thursday: China will host the annual Zhongguancun Forum, which focuses on cutting-edge technology like artificial intelligence and quantum science.
AP: China tells tech manufacturers to stop using Micron chips, stepping up feud with United States
China bans Micron’s products from key infrastructure over security risk: FT reports the decision by a regulator comes amid escalating tensions between the world’s superpowers.
China seeks to rival US with its own Starlink-like network: WSJ reports China is ramping up efforts to develop a satellite-powered internet network amid rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over crowded space.
Bloomberg: Biden says US-China relations set to improve ‘very shortly’
+ US president says ‘silly balloon’ derailed ties with China.
+ Biden considering lifting sanctions on China's defense minister.
Joe Biden expects imminent ‘thaw’ in China relations: FT reports the US president is optimistic Beijing and Washington will move beyond row over ‘silly balloon.’
Triumph or tragedy? — India’s demographic dilemmas: Three new books consider the country’s economic potential and pitfalls from different perspectives. FT
Today: The India-Pacific Summit in Papua New Guinea.
Thursday: Nikkei will host the 28th Future of Asia forum, its flagship annual conference, in Tokyo on Thursday and Friday. This year's main theme is "Leveraging Asia's power to confront global challenges."
Thursday: Senior officials from APEC economies commence two days of trade meetings in Detroit.
Tens of thousands rally in Moldova for EU membership: Al Jazeera reports demonstrators called on political leaders to amend the constitution to specifically mention the country’s European orientation.
AFP: Early election results show Greece's ruling conservatives set for big win
Greek elections: Ruling party projected to win over Syriza: DW reports early results put PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his conservative New Democracy party far ahead of left-leaning Syriza, led by ex-PM Alexis Tsipras. But the conservatives could still fall short of forming a government.
Turkey elections: The opposition's dangerous shift to the right: Ahead of the presidential runoff election on May 28, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu has taken a strategic shift towards the right to appeal to nationalist voters. Le Monde
Bloomberg: French minister calls for equal treatment for nuclear in EU laws
+ Pannier-Runacher seeks technological neutrality in EU texts.
+ Nuclear and renewable energies must be treated the same, she says.
USAID chief says committed to helping Sudanese refugees: Al Jazeera spoke with the head of the US Agency for International Development, who announced $100m in funding for Sudan and countries hosting displaced Sudanese refugees.
AP: Biden, McCarthy to meet Monday for debt ceiling talks as default deadline looms
Bloomberg: Biden’s G7 focus in Japan disrupted by Washington debt fight
From start to finish, Biden’s Japan trip buffeted by US politics: WP reports allies made progress confronting Russia and China, but the battle over the debt limit, and Zelensky’s visit, overshadowed the G7 summit.
Trump’s dominance in the GOP isn’t what it seems: He’s presiding over a movement, not a party. Julia Azari
How Bud Light blew it: With one blunder after another, the brewing giant behind the brand became a case study in how not to handle a culture-war storm. WSJ
The AI revolution already transforming education: Schools and universities are using ChatGPT in the classroom, but will it devalue the fundamentals of learning? FT
Facebook parent in talks with Magic Leap over augmented reality deal: FT reports the social media giant seeks technologies to help create an avatar-filled ‘metaverse.’
Too fast, too soon? Sweden backs away from screens in schools: Based on doctors' advice, the center-right government wants to reduce the amount of time students spend in front of screens and bring textbooks back into the classroom. Le Monde
Start-ups bring Silicon Valley ethos to a lumbering military-industrial complex: Small, fast-moving US tech firms are using the war in Ukraine to demonstrate a new generation of military systems but face the challenge of selling them to a risk-averse Defense Department. NYT
AP: SpaceX launching Saudi astronauts on private flight to space station
Wednesday: South Korea launches a three-stage Nuri rocket from a southern island that is to carry an observation satellite into a low Earth orbit.
The US needs minerals for electric cars. Everyone else wants them too. The United States is entering an array of agreements to secure the critical minerals necessary for the energy transition, but it’s not clear which of the arrangements can succeed. NYT
Exxon joins hunt for lithium in bet on EV boom: WSJ reports the oil giant quietly laid plans earlier this year for potentially producing the mineral in Arkansas.
Bitcoin believers tone down the Miami party: The crypto crash has left firms considerably less flush, but the most enthusiastic crypto enthusiasts are still headed to the Bitcoin Conference. WSJ
Hotels roll out the red carpet for pets: Doggy menus, plush beds, nose balm, and pet sitting: As people increasingly travel with their four-legged friends, hotels are stepping up with more amenities. NYT
Latest ‘Fast & Furious’ movie speeds to top of the weekend box office: WSJ reports‘Fast X’ opened with $67.5 million domestically and $251.4 million overseas, showing international popularity.
AP: El Salvador soccer stadium stampede leaves 12 dead after fans rush entrance gate
The NBA’s immigration policy could be a model for America’s: The league prospers by welcoming the best basketball players from around the world. Matthew Yglesias
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.
