Disinformation, Joe Biden, Motown, Giorgia Meloni, Cricket, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence for communications pros.
Happy Friday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
Reuters: Israeli troops raid Gaza as Arab nations condemn bombardment
+ The Israeli military said on Thursday that it had briefly sent tanks into the northern Gaza Strip overnight as part of preparations for the next stage of fighting.
+ 900 US troops have deployed or are in the process of deploying to US Central Command. This includes a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery from Fort Bliss, TX, Patriot missile defense batteries from Fort Sill, OK, and Patriot and Avenger batteries from Fort Liberty, NC.
+ The French navy dispatched an amphibious helicopter carrier, which should arrive near Gaza in four or five days' time, joining two French frigates deployed off Cyprus.
+ A delegation from Hamas is set to visit Moscow, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed.
AFP: Israel says Hamas used N.Korea, Iran weapons in attack
Israel’s army is ready to invade Gaza. Its divided government may not be. In the 20 days since Hamas attacked, Israel’s Air Force has pounded Gaza and its troops have gotten into position. But its leaders disagree about what to do next. NYT
Israel’s war cabinet: The men planning next move against Hamas FT
Israel: From the Six-Day War to the six-front war Thomas L. Friedman
WP: US and Qatar agree to revisit the gulf country’s ties to Hamas after Gaza hostage crisis, diplomats say
American power: Indispensable or ineffective? How Joe Biden manages the war between Israel and Hamas will define America’s global role. Economist
US tries new tack on Russian disinformation: Pre-empting it: The State Department’s Global Engagement Center is taking the unusual step of disclosing a covert Russian operation when it is barely off the ground. NYT
NHK: Slovakia's new prime minister vows to halt military aid to Ukraine
Slovakia announces halt of military aid to Ukraine: Le Monde reports Slovakia's new Prime Minister Robert Fico announced the halt of aid to Ukraine after he swore in a new government on Wednesday.
+ Japan, South Korea, and the US have condemned the alleged supply by North Korea of munitions and equipment to Russia for its war in Ukraine.
+ Russia has freed up to 100,000 prison inmates and sent them to fight in Ukraine
Why the AUKUS partnership is about much more than warfighting Justin Bassi
Globe + Mail: Chinese ‘Spamouflage’ disinformation campaign targeted Trudeau, Poilievre, says Global Affairs
China’s foreign minister is in Washington. That counts as progress. WP
AP: As world roils, US and China seek to ease strained ties and prepare for possible Biden-Xi summit
Foxconn's Gou caught up in US-China tug of war over Taiwan election: Nikkei reports the billionaire's independent candidacy seen as potential spoiler for opposition.
‘Like it was with Jack Ma’: China puts world’s biggest Apple supplier in its crosshairs FT
Analysis: Dear Japan, China asks, do you have any jobs for us? Young Chinese search for work as arrest of Astellas executive frays Sino-Japan ties. Nikkei
US eyes 5-year timeline for China chip decoupling: Extended export waivers for Samsung, TSMC, and more indicate shift in Washington. Nikkei
UK PM Rishi Sunak outlined the dangers of artificial intelligence (including a warning that ‘humanity could lose control of AI completely’) ahead of next week’s international AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park.
+ Sunak announced a British AI safety institute that will test for risks from the new technology, including existential threats and misinformation.
+ Liz Truss attacked Rishi Sunak for inviting the Chinese to his AI summit.
White House to unveil sweeping AI executive order next week: Tackling immigration and safety, the order would require advanced AI models to undergo assessments before they can be used by federal workers and ease barriers to entry for highly skilled workers. WP
Biden moves to embrace AI as national security tool in executive order: WSJ reports the order also is expected to include provisions designed to ensure companies develop the technology safely.
Biden’s approval rate slides to 37%: A new Gallup poll finds President Biden’s job approval rating among Democrats has tumbled 11 percentage points in the past month to 75%, the worst reading of his presidency from his own party.
Biden’s ad blitz is a sign of weakness Karl Rove
The relaunch of Kamala Harris FT
Dean Phillips’s primary challenge of Biden will face many obstacles: Minnesota congressman Dean Phillips is expected to announce his presidential intentions in New Hampshire on Friday. Democratic strategists say it’s unlikely to undermine Biden’s path to the nomination. WP
DeSantis isn’t at home abroad: The governor is strong on domestic policy, but is he up to the challenge of a suddenly menacing world? Barton Swaim
‘I mean, is this my party?’ A new book asks if even anti-Trumpers like Mitt Romney bear some blame for the rise of a man who has destroyed the GOP. Politico
US economic growth accelerated to 4.9% in third quarter: FT reports strong consumer spending drove pace of GDP expansion to biggest rise in nearly two years.
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The Flatiron Building will be converted into condos: NYT reports the storied office building will receive a second life as home to roughly 40 residents, according to the owners.
The Flatiron Building’s luxury-housing era is beginning Christopher Bonanos
Shell plans to cut 200 jobs in its clean energy business, the latest sign that oil giants are de-emphasizing efforts to transition away from fossil fuels.
Can America’s south-east unseat Detroit as ‘Motown’ of the EV age? A war for investment pits the Sunbelt region against the automotive heartland of the Midwest. FT
How Columbia Sportswear is loosening its ties to Asia: Confronted with the US-China trade war and disruptions in the shipping industry, the company is shifting some production to Central America. NYT
China is to launch its youngest-ever crew of astronauts to its Tiangong space station. They have an average age of 38.
Inside Google’s plan to stop Apple from getting serious about search: Google has worried for years that Apple would one day expand its internet search technology, and has been working on ways to prevent that from happening. NYT
Threads has reached close to 100 million monthly users.
A day in the life of AI Guardian
The race to save our secrets from the computers of the future: Quantum technology could compromise our encryption systems. Can America replace them before it’s too late? NYT
How might we build trust in an untrusting world? Considering the challenge of polarization in digital societies. Richard Gingras
Science has an answer for why people still wave on Zoom: Like the Zoom mullet and Zoom fatigue, waving at the end of videoconferences is likely here to stay. Bloomberg
Giorgia Meloni's break-up is Italy's hot new soap opera: The prime minister announced she and her partner were separating after he was recorded making lewd comments. Le Monde
Book excerpt: A White Stripes insider ponders the Detroit duo's lyrics DFP
For the 2022-23 fiscal year, Manchester United brought in revenue of around $785 million — the most ever for a Premier League Club.
Straight bat outta Compton: Why LA gang members are embracing the gentleman’s game: Cricket returns to the Olympic stage in Los Angeles with millions invested in the sport, more to be made, and American roots that trace through founding fathers, Hollywood, and gangbangers from Compton. SMH
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
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