Postwar world order, Joe Biden + Xi Jinping, WeWork, Hudson River, Saudi Arabia, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence for communications pros.
Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Middle East conflict tests the postwar world order: The escalation in the Middle East has sparked anti-Western rage in many parts of the world. Many believe the US and Europe are applying a double standard to Israel – and the deepening chasm between the West and the Global South poses a threat to the world order. Der Spiegel
US isn’t ready for a war of great powers: America’s adversaries are preparing for wider conflict — to prevent war, it needs to do so as well. Andrew A. Michta
+ 400 Americans stuck in Gaza, Blinken says
+ Jack Lew confirmed as US ambassador to Israel
+ FBI Director Christopher Wray warned senators that several foreign terrorist organizations have called for attacks against Americans since the 10/7 assault on Israel by Hamas.
+ US to send 300 additional troops to the Middle East
Reuters: Yemen's Houthis enter Mideast fray, hardening spillover fears
+ Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had launched a "large number" of ballistic missiles and drones towards Israel, and there would be more such attacks to come
DefenseNews: Jordan asks US to deploy Patriot air defense systems
DefenseOne: Regional conflicts have given Turkey more room for a 'middleman strategy'
AFP: Egypt to receive wounded Gazans through key crossing: sources
AP: Cyprus proposes to establish a sea corridor to deliver a stream of vital humanitarian aid to Gaza
Defending Israel is essential. So is aiding civilians in Gaza. Some in Congress want to eliminate humanitarian help for Gaza in a White House package aiding Israel and Ukraine. Such a move would be a grave mistake. Antony Blinken - OpEd
The left is tearing itself apart over Israel: Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian liberal factions are now divided as ugly accusations fly in both directions. WSJ
Reuters: No ceasefire in Gaza, no votes, Muslim Americans tell Biden
+ The percentage of Arab Americans saying they’ll vote for Biden plunges from the 59% he received in 2020 to just 17%, according to the Arab American Institute.
When posting about the Israel-Hamas war costs you your job: “We’re going to see a lot of fallout in the coming weeks,” says one employment lawyer. NY Mag
Generative AI is playing a surprising role in Israel-Hamas disinformation: Even as some feared the war would be the first in history to be flooded with machine-made fake images, that hasn’t happened. The technology’s impact on the conflict is far more subtle. Wired
Bloomberg: New Zealand’s Luxon signals new government could form next week
The Hill: Biden, Xi will meet next month, White House confirms
CNBC: Biden will meet with China’s Xi Jinping next month, White House says
+ President Joe Biden will meet with Xi Jinping next month.
+ The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, summit in San Francisco.
China's panda business: How countries from Finland to Malaysia have paid nearly $300 million to fund Beijing’s softest power tool. Nikkei
China signals tighter Communist party control of finance sector: Closely watched conference in Beijing says risk prevention must be ‘eternal theme’ of financial work. FT
US and China are smoothing ties—but military frictions still chafe: Top Chinese general uses Beijing security forum to paint Washington as a source of global chaos. WSJ
US Space Force chief urges universal rules to keep China in check: Beijing would immediately target US satellite in a conflict, Gen. Salzman warns. Nikkei
Ukraine’s allies plan US charm offensive: With Republicans taking aim at support for Kyiv, European diplomats want to show money for Ukraine is good business for Americans. Politico
Sweden expects Hungary to ratify its NATO application before Turkey, and is focused on ensuring Ankara doesn’t hold up its accession.
AFP: Mali rebels claim takeover of vacated UN base near strategic town of Kidal
Germany to address 'dark' colonial legacy in Tanzania: DW reports Germany will confront "the atrocities of the German colonial occupation" in Tanzania, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania was a German colony from 1885 to 1918.
WP: King Charles in Kenya says ‘no excuses’ but gives no apology for colonial violence
The Times: Charles expresses ‘regret’ for Kenya colonial violence
King Charles asked for ‘unequivocal apology’ by Kenya’s rights commission: Guardian reports the King urged to offer apology while in Kenya for UK’s ‘brutal and inhuman treatment’ during the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s.
Vatican’s silence on Holocaust was shaped by antisemitism and caution, archives show: Research has revealed evidence that an antisemitic aide played a role in Pope Pius XII’s silence, as did fear of provoking violence against Catholics and the Vatican itself. WSJ
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CNBC: Bud Light tries for a comeback with a focus on sports and concerts
Bloomberg: Zillow plunges after jury finds realtors colluded to maintain high commissions
CNBC: Bitcoin could hit $150,000 by 2025, predicts Bernstein
+ The estimate is nearly five times the current price of $35,000.
+ Last week, the price of bitcoin reached its highest level since May 2022, as investors remain hopeful for a green light on a bitcoin exchange-traded fund.
Toyota to invest a further $8bn in North Carolina battery plant: FT reports the investment is the largest by a foreign carmaker in a US factory since the Inflation Reduction Act was passed.
The struggles of the offshore wind industry: Governments around the world have set ambitious targets to tackle climate change, but developers say power prices will have to rise to pay for it. FT
Healthcare automation company Olive AI, valued at $4B in July 2021, says it is shutting down and has sold parts of its business to Waystar and Humata Health.
WeWork plans to file for bankruptcy: WSJ reports the move, which could come as soon as next week, would mark a stunning reversal for the flexible-office-space venture that was once valued at $47 billion.
In Europe, Meta offers ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram for first time: NYT reports starting in November, subscriptions will cost between 9.99 euros and 12.99 euros per month, the company said.
Chinese tech companies delve into robotics, eyeing link to AI: Xiaomi and automaker Xpeng show off advanced humanoid models. Nikkei
Amazon has new AI-powered robots. Labor leader Chris Smalls says unions could protect workers: As Amazon introduces new robotics technology to automate warehouse jobs, Amazon Labor Union president Chris Smalls is still fighting for a contract. FC
Google Pixel’s ad campaign is destroying humanity Matt Bai
We might be surprised by our reactions to generative AI: Tech companies are convinced the way we communicate is about to be transformed. Elaine Moore
The real threat of AI is fostering extremism: Rather than robots turning against humanity, the more insidious danger is chatbots that encourage our worst instincts. William Hague
Britain’s big AI safety summit will be a waste of time, experts say: From confusing frameworks and goals to a one-sided attendee list, the UK’s attempt to grasp the AI impetus leaves a lot to be desired. FC
From Brooklyn to Albany, the Hudson eyes a commercial revival: What was once America’s premier waterway for trade looks to a wind farm boom to power its renewal. FT
Brian Eno and Baltic Sea Philharmonic review — beauty and consolation: The musician’s London show featured shimmering soundscapes and his own reverberant voice. FT
Saudi Arabia’s lavish sports push earns it 2034 World Cup: WSJ reports the kingdom was the only country to formally register its interest in hosting the tournament by Tuesday’s FIFA deadline.
Saudi sportswashing project pulls off ultimate coup in just six years The Times
Soccer’s LeBron James has arrived: Jude Bellingham has been a sure thing since he turned pro. Now, at 20, he is an instant star at Real Madrid—and he’s just getting started. WSJ
Air Force has sold 42,000 tickets for Saturday’s game against Army in Denver, an academy spokesman said. The team is expecting a crowd of 47,000 at this point.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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