Caracal Daily | May 20
Milei, Mining, Microsoft, McMansions, Manchester City, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
Caracal Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
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Happy Monday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Iran says helicopter carrying president is missing after ‘difficult landing’: WSJ reports drones and dogs were being used to try to locate the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, hampered by fog and bad weather, Iran’s interior minister said.
Biden renews call for Gaza cease-fire at Morehouse commencement: WSJ reports the president is seeking to shore up support from Black voters as polls show his standing eroding.
Slovakia on brink after Robert Fico shooting: ‘The tension is palpable’: Fears of more violence after assassination attempt on prime minister in a nation already bitterly divided over social issues and support for Ukraine. The Times
Death from above: Watch Ukraine’s Vampire drone take on Russian troops: AI is playing an ever greater role in the Ukraine war but the basic principle remains the same: kill or be killed. The Times
G7 warms to plan for Trump-proofing Ukraine aid: FT reports Washington seeks to front-load aid for Kyiv by using profits from Russia’s frozen assets as loan guarantees.
The technocrat who’s taking control of Putin’s war effort: Andrei R. Belousov, an intellectual with no military experience, is known for backing a state-dominated economy. NYT
To run the world — Moscow’s quest for power and parity with the US: Sergey Radchenko’s cold war history links Putin to Kremlin predecessors leading a Russia driven by empire, not ideology. FT
Taiwan swears in new president, stands up to Chinese aggression: WP reports Lai Ching-te has vowed to continue Taiwan’s defense and foreign policy of avoiding tensions with China while also standing up for the island democracy’s freedoms.
China is no longer Germany's leading trading partner: Le Monde reports the US overtook China in trading with Germany in the first quarter – a symbolic change, which could continue.
Fast fashion ad: A commercial promotes a fast fashion company from China. SNL
How China is using AI news anchors to deliver its propaganda: News avatars are proliferating on social media, and experts say they will spread as the technology becomes more accessible. Guardian
US fears undersea cables are vulnerable to espionage from Chinese repair ships: US officials are warning telecom companies that cables that ferry internet traffic across the Pacific Ocean could be vulnerable to tampering by Chinese repair ships. WSJ
Today: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is visiting Japan from May 20-23, during which he will meet with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, according to the Japanese government.
What can and can’t be learnt from Singapore: The island’s ultimate strength has been a lack of dogma. Janan Ganesh
How will Singapore change under new PM Lawrence Wong? A collection of stories on current hot topics. Nikkei
Musk, Indonesian health minister launch Starlink for health sector: Nikkei reports SpaceX's satellite internet service seen improving access in remote parts of archipelago.
New Caledonia: France says it will restore order 'whatever the cost': Le Monde reports French forces cleared dozens of barricades between the airport and the capital Nouméa in an operation on Sunday, as the country's top official in the Pacific territory vowed to quell riots.
French forces launch ‘major operation’ in New Caledonia, as unrest claims another life: Operation will aim to retake road linking airport with Noumea, as the capital’s mayor says the situation is ‘not improving.’ Guardian
Nickel price surges as New Caledonia riots raise concerns over supply: FT reports an industrial metal critical in electric vehicle batteries climbs almost 7%.
New Caledonia: The three years that built up to the current crisis: Although the reform of the electoral body provoked the anger of the pro-independence faction before spilling over into violent riots, it was only the detonator of a long crisis marked by a dialogue in disarray, a questioned impartiality of the state, and the will to move forward despite a dwindling consensus. Le Monde
Javier Milei triggers diplomatic row by calling Spanish PM’s wife ‘corrupt’: FT reports Spain recalls ambassador after Argentine leader attacks Pedro Sánchez’s partner at far-right rally in Madrid.
Wildfires rage in Canada’s oil hub: FT reports blazes put more than 2mn barrels a day of supply at risk amid geopolitical tensions in Middle East and Russia.
A water war is brewing between the US and Mexico. Here’s why. In south Texas, a water shortage killed the sugar industry and could slow growth in booming border towns. WP
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Biden and Trump seek breakthrough moment in a stagnant election: Can the coming televised presidential debate help the candidates connect with undecided voters? WSJ
‘The house is on fire’: Democrats fear Biden is losing pivotal Georgia: President has shed support among Black voters who helped him defeat Trump in battleground state in 2020. FT
‘Never Trump?’ ‘Never Biden’ voters might loom larger. Biden’s ceiling of support is actually lower than Trump’s right now. It’s a stark reversal from 2020 — with major implications. WP
Seven theories for why Biden is losing (and what he should do about it) Ezra Klein
A new centrism is rising in Washington: Call it neopopulism: a bipartisan attitude that mistrusts the free-market ethos instead of embracing it. NYT
‘We’ll see uou at your house’: How fear and menace are transforming politics: Public officials from Congress to City Hall are now regularly subjected to threats of violence. It’s changing how they do their jobs. NYT
In DC, a new wave of AI lobbyists gains the upper hand: An alliance of tech giants, startups, and venture capitalists are spending millions to convince Washington that fears of an AI apocalypse are overblown. So far, it’s working. Politico
The US just took its biggest step yet to end coal mining: The Biden administration’s decision ends new leasing in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana, the nation’s biggest coal-producing region. WP
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Press pause on the Silicon Valley hype machine Julia Angwin
OpenAI putting ‘shiny products’ above safety, says departing researcher: Jan Leike, a key safety researcher at firm behind ChatGPT, quit days after launch of its latest AI model, GPT-4o. Guardian
AI's ‘Her’ era has arrived: New chatbot technology can talk, laugh and sing like a human. What comes next is anyone’s guess. NYT
Openwashing: An accusation against some AI companies that they are using the “open source” label too loosely. NYT
Facebook parent’s plan to win AI race: Give its tech away free: WSJ reports Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has trained his ‘Eye of Sauron’ on its artificial-intelligence strategy, which comes with risks.
Artificial intelligence companies seek big profits from ‘small’ language models: FT reports Microsoft, Meta, and Google have released new versions with fewer ‘parameters’ that are cheaper to build and train.
For AI, a few seconds of power becomes a booming business: Expansion of data centers fuels demand for generators and battery backups: ‘You cannot have downtime.’ WSJ
Microsoft’s emissions jump almost 30% as it races to meet AI demand: FT reports an increase from 2020 to 2023 highlights challenges of meeting climate goals while investing in infrastructure.
When did teen boys get a nose for $300 cologne?: Some Gen Z kids can’t seem to get enough of the luxury fragrances. NYT
China’s BYD closes in on deal to build all-electric London buses: The Times reports that the electric vehicle giant is set to beat British competitors and seal the contract to build more than 100 double-deckers for £400,000 each.
*** Culture ***
America’s appetite for McMansions is devouring modern architecture: Chris Pratt demolishing a mid-century treasure is part of a larger, disturbing trend. WP
The complex issue of looted Chinese art restitution: As Chinese President Xi Jinping visits France to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Le Monde takes a look back at the fate of objects stolen from Beijing by French troops during the sack of the Summer Palace in 1860. Le Monde
Mona Lisa should be separated to save other works polluted by overtourism: The museum's management wants to isolate the 'Mona Lisa' in a room with its own entrance, which could help rid the painting of overtourism. Michel Guerrin
*** Sport ***
WSJ: Manchester City seals historic fourth straight title
How Man City climbed the mountain to make Premier League history: Pep Guardiola’s genius, his vast support network and players stepping up inspired club to a historic fourth league title in a row, sealed with a 3-1 victory over West Ham United. The Times
Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool, a love affair in street art and silverware: A coach’s soccer legacy is often reduced to titles and trophies. In Liverpool, a beloved manager will endure in murals, music and shared memories. NYT
Don’t let final-day frenzy hide fact that Premiership needs an overhaul: Judgment day delivered plenty of drama as Bath and Sale Sharks joined Northampton Saints and Saracens in the play-offs – but the need for promotion and relegation (and a strong second tier) is as desperate as ever. Stephen Jones
One place where Britain remains truly a global player is the empire of the Premier League: One place where Britain remains truly a global player is the empire of football. David McWilliams
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Daily | May 20
