ITK Daily | September 13
Libya, Disinformation, Google, Drew Barrymore + Ottawa Senators
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence.
Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
As toll rises in Morocco quake, the needs of the living deepen: NYT reports aid workers say hopes of rescuing trapped victims are dwindling. The Moroccan government has drawn some criticism for being slow to greenlight international aid.
WP: Morocco’s reluctance to accept quake aid baffles foreign governments
More than 5,000 feared dead after storm batters Libya: WP reports thousands more missing amid flooding in North African country’s east.
+ @spectatorindex: BREAKING: Red Cross says 10,000 people are missing after Libya floods
Reuters: Kim Jong Un in Russia amid US warnings not to sell arms
North Korea's Kim heads to Russia with delegation of arms industry officials: Reuters reports North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has left Pyongyang for Russia on his private train, state media reported on Tuesday, with photos showing that he is likely accompanied by top arms industry officials, among other diplomats and military commanders.
Bloomberg: Kim Jong Un crosses into Russia for rare summit with Putin
+ North Korean leader taking top military officials with him
+ US believes Kim will talk over arms deals with Putin
Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia for meeting with Putin: The Times reports the red carpet is rolled out as the leaders prepare for talks about a potential arms deal.
The new North Korean threat: Why the United States needs to address Pyongyang’s nuclear advances now. Sue Mi Terry
Xi stresses military unity as rumors over defense minister swirl: Xi urged efforts to enforce education and management of troops while maintaining a high level of unity, security, and stability, Xinhua News reported Sunday.
China’s navy starts largest-ever exercises in Pacific Ocean: FT reports the maneuvers involving aircraft carrier Shandong follow a series of US-led military drills in the region.
+ The US Air Force clearing out jungles in the Pacific to bolster airfield options.
China sows disinformation about Hawaii fires using new techniques: Beijing’s influence campaign using artificial intelligence is a rapid change in tactics, researchers from Microsoft and other organizations say. NYT
The US is getting hacked. So the Pentagon is overhauling its approach to cyber. Politico reports the new approach to cybersecurity comes following attacks on critical US companies and federal agencies, and as the Pentagon eyes Chinese hacking efforts with increasing concern.
Congress heads to Wall Street to urge curbs on investments in China: WSJ reports a bipartisan panel warns of the investments’ national-security risks, but gets a cool reception from financial firms.
MP Michael Chong couldn’t defend Canada’s indefensible China policy before US Congress: The Conservative foreign affairs critic testified before a bipartisan committee in Washington on the subject of Chinese foreign interference. John Ivison
MPs furious over being kept in dark about alleged spying for China: House speaker tells Commons that ‘MPs who needed to be told were told’ at time of aide’s arrest in March. Guardian
MI5 warned Conservatives that MP hopefuls could be spies: Two potential candidates dropped after the intelligence service said they could be Chinese agents. The Times
WP: George W. Bush recalls dinner served by Wagner’s Prigozhin: ‘I survived’
Views of India lean positive across 23 countries: Among Indians, Modi and India’s global influence are viewed favorably. Pew
G20 summit showcases India's fence-sitting foreign policy: Seeking leadership of the Global South, Modi hedges bets while the economy benefits. Nikkei
BRICS+ is set to drive the Global South's agenda: Lack of shared political and economic vision will restrict areas of influence. Ian Bremmer
People across 24 countries continue to view UN favorably Pew
European Parliament set to grow by 15 MEPs in 2024: Politico reports France, Spain, and the Netherlands set to get two more seats each in the next mandate.
+ The changes — which still need formal legal approval by the European Council and the Parliament itself — will take the number of seats from 705 to 720 between 2024 and 2029.
+ Additional seats are to be allocated as follows:
France +2 [81]
Spain +2 [61]
Netherlands +2 [31]
Austria +1 [20]
Belgium +1 [22]
Poland +1 [53]
Denmark +1 [15]
Finland +1 [15]
Slovakia +1 [15]
Ireland +1 [14]
Slovenia +1 [9]
Latvia +1 [9]
European Union lawmakers endorsed a deal Tuesday to raise the share of renewables in the bloc’s energy mix, another step to accelerate its green transition away from fossil fuels.
France puts screws on EU chief to hit back against Chinese electric vehicles: Brussels and Berlin are increasingly annoyed by the French demand, which could spur a tariff war with China. Politico
UK to welcome 200 companies to Northern Ireland: FT reports UK officials will welcome 200 companies from around the world to Belfast this week to showcase Northern Ireland as an investment location, offering unique post-Brexit access to both the EU and British markets.
Brexit is wild.
Labour cannot fix UK through tax and spend, says Tony Blair: The former prime minister warns Keir Starmer will face a country ‘in a mess’ if he wins the next election. FT
Tony Blair is a No. 10 whisperer in waiting.
Mexico surpassed China as the US's largest trade partner.
The 8 places that will decide the 2024 election: Split Ticket, in a joint venture with Politico, divided the nation’s counties into eight clusters based on their demographics and political orientation. Politico
President Biden should step aside: Running for reelection would risk undoing his greatest achievement — which was stopping Donald Trump. David Ignatius
Politico: Andrew Yang says he’s had ‘conversations’ with No Labels
Politico: Prepare yourself. A Donald Trump chatbot is about to be unleashed.
Trump, Biden both tumble in Iowa: poll: The Hill reports an Emerson College poll of Iowa Republican caucus voters showed support for Trump currently sits at 49 percent, a drop from 62 percent in May. Meanwhile, a poll of Iowa Democratic caucus voters showed that Biden’s support now sits at 50 percent, a drop from 69 percent in May.
+ A new Iowa State University poll finds Donald Trump leading the Republican presidential field with 51%, followed by Ron DeSantis at 14%, Nikki Haley at 10%, and Vivek Ramaswamy at 9%.
Kevin McCarthy faces a 'perfect storm' of demands as a shutdown looms: NBC News reports with a Sept. 30 deadline, the House speaker confronts right-wing demands to cut spending, limit migration, prop up Trump, and impeach Biden — and veiled threats to his gavel.
WP: Kevin McCarthy directs House committees to open Biden impeachment inquiry
GOP senators: Next move to avert shutdown is on McCarthy: Politico reports it’s no accident that they want to see the speaker go first ahead of the shutdown deadline — thus leaving the Democratic Senate to follow their lead.
‘I just had another one’: How McConnell scrambled to protect his job after two freeze-ups: The GOP leader emerged from a tumultuous 10 days with his internal strength intact, according to interviews with more than a dozen senators. Politico
UAW bends on wage demands as talks progress in Detroit: WSJ reports the union has proposed a mid-30% wage increase, down from an initial demand of at least 40%.
US incomes fall for third straight year: WSJ reports the rapid price increases hit household finances in 2022, cutting inflation-adjusted median income to $74,580.
WP: Anyone 6 months or older should get the updated coronavirus shot, CDC recommends
FT: US says Google pays $10bn a year to maintain search dominance
FC: No matter the outcome, the DOJ’s Google trial is only the beginning
Google’s antitrust trial to set ‘future of the internet,’ DOJ says: WSJ reports the US says Google maintains dominance through illegal deals with phone and browser firms. Google says it competes fairly.
+ The Department of Justice’s case against the search giant is the first test of Silicon Valley’s dominance since a landmark decision against Microsoft more than 20 years ago.
OTD: In 1956, IBM introduced the first supercomputer with a hard disk drive, the IBM 305 Ramac.
DW: Apple unveils iPhone with USB-C charger in line with EU law
Apple is expected to unveil four different models of the iPhone 15.
France orders Apple iPhone 12 sales halted over radiation: Le Monde reports the French agency that regulates radio frequencies said Tuesday that testing found that the model emits more electromagnetic waves susceptible to be absorbed by the body than permitted.
McDonald's is getting rid of its self-serve soda machines at its US restaurants.
Birkenstock warns in IPO filing that knock-offs on Facebook are a top risk.
Birkenstock should also warn about your social standing if you sport a pair of these.
Ford to double F-150 hybrid pickup production as EV sales growth slows.
WSJ: Ford hires new CMO away from Toyota as it pivots toward Electric Vehicles
Honda, BMW, and Ford seek to optimize EV grid with new venture: Nikkei reports the carmakers partner to compete with Tesla in energy infrastructure.
Bloomberg: Amex plans luxury lounge for Newark airport’s newest terminal
Private jets and pop-up workspaces: Boeing eases return to office for top brass: Company flight patterns suggest CEO Calhoun travels infrequently to headquarters from two distant homes, while CFO West occupies a new office five minutes from his Connecticut doorstep. WSJ
WP: BP CEO Bernard Looney abruptly resigns from oil giant
+ Bernard Looney failed to disclose historical relationships with colleagues
OTD: In 1959, the Soviet Lunik II (Luna II) probe landed on the moon. It was the first man-made object to make contact with another celestial body
Drew Barrymore to bring back talk show amid strike, angering writers: WP reports Drew Barrymore and the Writers Guild of America are sparring over the actress’s talk show, which will resume this week amid the Hollywood strike.
Variety: USA Today hiring Taylor Swift reporter
WP: Talking Heads reunite, dance together for first time in 21 years
FT: Ari Emanuel’s martial arts group TKO eyes $1bn earnings as it lists in New York
Daly expects ‘fairly complicated’ Senators sale to close soon: Globe + Mail reports NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly says that process is nearly complete. The sale of the Ottawa Senators is almost – finally – signed, sealed, and delivered. A group led by Michael Andlauer agreed to purchase the NHL club in June for what’s believed to be in the neighborhood of US$1-billion.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
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