Welcome. Today’s scan reveals a world doubling down on consolidated power—from Tokyo’s ballot boxes to Washington’s media newsrooms. While markets process a massive "fat-finger" error in the crypto space, corporate leaders are pivoting to mid-market value strategies and edge-AI integration.
Market Sentiment: Selective Stability. The landslide in Japan and a surprise victory for the royalist establishment in Thailand have provided a baseline for Asian markets, even as media and tech sectors navigate high-stakes leadership transitions.
1. Global & US Strategy Digest
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1. Takaichi’s Japanese Supermajority
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is poised for a historic supermajority, the largest post-war victory for a single party in Japan. While markets are processing her stance on sales-tax reductions, the immediate effect has been a modest yen softening.Strategic Implication: This mandate allows Japan to pivot toward "economic security" with a clear runway, likely accelerating defense and semiconductor integration with the US and India. -
2. The Washington Post: Union vs. Ownership
Following the abrupt departure of CEO Will Lewis, unionized staffers are calling for Jeff Bezos to sell the publication. Former Tumblr CEO Jeff D'Onofrio has been named the successor during this period of turmoil. -
3. Apple’s Mid-Market Blitz: The iPhone 17e
Apple is starting 2026 with a refresh of its entry-level hardware. The iPhone 17e is slated for an imminent release at $599, signaling a defensive play to capture "value-conscious" upgraders who want current features without the $1,000+ Pro price tag. -
4. Thailand’s Royalist Restoration
The Bhumjaithai Party’s surprise win marks a clear defeat for progressive movements and a win for the royalist establishment. Strategists predict a boost for Thai stock markets as political volatility subsides. -
5. The $40 Billion Crypto 'Oops'
South Korean exchange Bithumb mistakenly distributed $40 billion worth of Bitcoin to users due to an employee error. While corporate assets will cover the estimated 1 billion won in actual losses, the event triggered a brief, sharp selloff that exposed the fragility of retail sentiment. -
6. Netanyahu’s DC Mission: Iran Diplomacy
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu meets Donald Trump this Wednesday. The focus is shifting from nuclear-only discussions to broader measures against Iran’s missile proxies, testing the boundaries of US-Iran diplomacy.
2. Marketing Trends
- The Compounded Pharma Moat: Hims & Hers halted its "copycat Wegovy" pill just two days post-launch due to FDA scrutiny. This highlights a shift where marketing agility must be matched by legal endurance in the booming weight-loss sector.
- The Discovery Engine Pivot: As AI-powered search (GEO) gains ground, marketers are shifting focus from "traffic" to "citations" in generative models like Claude and ChatGPT.
3. India News
- Asics Sprints for #1: The Japanese shoemaker is targeting 35% annual growth in India over the next five years. With recreational running booming among India's affluent class, Asics is looking to leapfrog Nike and Adidas in the premium segment.
- Engineering Excellence: Indian engineering survey firms are gaining global recognition for supporting infrastructure excellence, with 2026 marks a high-water mark for the sector's trust index.
- U19 Cricket Dominance: India's record-extending sixth U19 World Cup victory continues to serve as a metaphor for the country's deep talent pipeline in both sports and business.
4. My Latest Posts
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SoftwareReviews: Device-First Continuum AI (mimik)
How mimik is reorganizing compute distribution to the edge, enabling billions of agents to perform physical-world tasks.
Read the Research -
Shashi.co: Front-to-Back Integration
Analyzing Broadridge's unification of the trade lifecycle for enterprise efficiency.
Read the Analysis -
Shashi.co: The Customer Visit That Saved Corning
A lesson in product strategy and the value of direct customer feedback.
Read the Post -
ReadyThoughts: The Marathon Advantage
Why the "Marathon Mindset" of Zoho helps them outlast venture-backed competition.
Read the Post
Works Cited
- Bellamkonda, Shashi. "Device-First Continuum AI: The Technology Behind mimik's Approach." SoftwareReviews, 7 Feb. 2026.
- Bellamkonda, Shashi. "The Marathon Advantage: How Zoho and similar giants outlast competition." ReadyThoughts, 8 Feb. 2026.
- Laxmi, John. "J-ISSUES: Business Insider on Washington Post Union Calls for Jeff Bezos to Sell the Paper." Gmail, 7 Feb. 2026.
- Laxmi, John. "J-ISSUES: NY Post on Washington Post publisher Will Lewis steps down." Gmail, 7 Feb. 2026.
- Stewart, Samantha. "Bloomberg Morning Briefing: Japan's Election and Apple's 2026 Blitz." Bloomberg, 9 Feb. 2026.
- Singh, Akash. "India’s 10 Most Trusted Engineering Survey Companies." Prime Insights Magazine, 9 Feb. 2026.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects my personal views only. AI tools may have been used for brevity, structure, or research support. Please independently verify any information before relying on it. This content does not represent the views of my employer, Infotech.com.
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