Caracal Daily | May 31
Keir Starmer, Guilty, xAI, Renault, T20 Cricket, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
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Happy Friday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
USA + UKR: Biden partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US arms in strikes on Russian territory to defend Kharkiv, US officials say.
WP: Ukraine setbacks nudge Biden toward allowing use of US weapons in Russia
France’s Macron readies plan to send military instructors to Ukraine: WSJ reports officials caution that Paris, other European capitals still working out details of the initiative.
Germany pledges €500 million in arms support for Ukraine: DW reports German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a new arms package for Ukraine focusing on air defense and including 1 million rounds of small arms ammunition.
The Times: Putin raises taxes to prepare for ‘marathon’ war in Ukraine
Bloomberg: Gantz party calls vote to dissolve Israel’s parliament
+ Unclear if the party has enough votes for measure to pass
+ Move comes as Netanyahu’s popularity begins to rise from lows
Slovenian parliament set to vote on recognizing Palestinian state: Le Monde reports tha following a decree from Slovenia's center-left government submitting the recognition of a Palestinian state to a parliamentary vote, in an effort to end the conflict in Gaza, the parliament speaker announced that the vote would take place on Tuesday, June 4.
Xi pledges additional aid for Gaza, seeks stronger ties with Arab nations: NHK reports Xi Jinping has pledged an additional 500 million yuan, or about 69 million dollars, in aid for Gaza at a ministerial meeting with Arab nations.
China shows its support for Arab states, in opposition to US support for Israel: Le Monde reports believing that the image of the US is deteriorating in the Middle East, Xi Jinping took advantage of the China-Arab Cooperation Summit in Beijing to push for a 'more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference' on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
What a viral, fake image of Rafah tells us about AI propaganda Will Oremus
Is that AI ‘all eyes on Rafah’ image the new black square? Andrea González-Ramírez
India recorded a temperature of 126 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday in Mungeshpur, a suburb of New Delhi.
Modi seeks to consolidate power in India election—and change the country’s future: The prime minister needs election wins in the southern region, which has resisted his Hindu nationalist message, to attain a supermajority. WSJ
India will have to attract a wider range of semiconductor suppliers to succeed in building a robust chip industry in the country, according to the leader of an influential trade association.
Google set to invest $2 billion for data center and cloud services in Malaysia.
The architect who made Singapore’s pulic housing the envy of the world: With a focus on affordability, community, convenience and light, Liu Thai Ker replaced squalid slums with spacious high-rises. A recent spike in some sale prices, however, has saddened him. NYT
Singapore aims to boost data center capacity 35%: Nikkei reports the city-state seeks energy-efficient facilities for sustainable growth.
Expulsions of Chinese students spread Confusion From Yale to UVA: Bloomberg reports customs agents at US airports have barred entry to at least 20 students and scholars with valid visas since November in ‘more insidious’ version of disbanded China Initiative.
China's influencers on the skids: NBC News reports that 'online influencers known for their luxurious lifestyles are disappearing from Chinese social media' as the country is is banning 'wealth-flaunting behavior on social media'
How America inadvertently created an ‘axis of evasion’ led by China: Western sanctions and export controls were meant to subdue foes of the US but instead have led to a shadow economy. WSJ
The solar breakthrough that could help the US compete with China: Biggest investor in US solar manufacturing will use new technology to cut costs. WSJ
UK general election nowcast (May 30):
LAB: 467 (+267) - 45.0%
CON: 101 (-271) - 23.8%
LDM: 46 (+38) - 10.0%
SNP: 12 (-36) - 2.7%
PLC: 4 (+2) - 0.6%
GRN: 1 (-) - 6.0%
RFM: 0 (-) - 11.3%
Oth: 1 (-) - 0.5%
LAB Majority of 284.
Changes w/ GE2019 notionals.
UK Parliament dissolves, and election campaign drama gets underway: This is not a repeat of the United Kingdom’s last general election in 2019, Boris Johnson is AWOL. And no one wants to talk about Brexit. WP
Generation K: Keir Starmer’s cohort of Labour candidates: Who are the people who might reshape British politics for years to come? Economist
Britain to world: Don’t let what happened to us happen to you: In a bid for re-election, Conservatives’ economic record is hobbled by bad luck and bad choices. Greg Ip
Business group says improving relations with EU is a priority: The British Chambers of Commerce argues that whoever wins the election must negotiate improved trading terms to cut costs for businesses and boost trade. The Times
Brexit has reduced British to tears, says French PM: The Times reports Gabriel Attal tries to drum up support for President Macron’s centrist camp before next month’s European elections.
Le Pen’s hard right looks set to crush Macron’s centrists: The vote in France spells trouble for the president. Economist
+ @franceintheus: #BREAKING ⎸ 🇫🇷 Pres. @EmmanuelMacron will receive 🇺🇸 @POTUS Joe Biden and @FLOTUS Jill Biden on the occasion of the US President's first state visit to France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Giorgia Meloni's European double bluff: Long a contemptuous critic of the European Union, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has established herself as a constructive partner in Brussels. But she is still seeking to impose another, more right-wing majority after the European elections. Le Monde
Bloomberg: Meloni is bringing together an explosive cast of characters for her G7 summit
+ Italy is seeking to engineer first meeting of Lula and Milei
+ Global South is set to have a significant voice at June summit
+ The official members of the G7 members are the US, Japan, Germany, France, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the EU. The meeting will take place between June 13 and June 15.
US crafts G7 cyber pact to secure energy sector: It would be the first cyber pact of its kind that focuses on a critical infrastructure sector. Politico
Spain gives final approval to Catalan amnesty bill: DW reports Spain's parliament has finally approved a disputed amnesty bill for Catalan separatists involved in an unsuccessful 2017 secession bid.
Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund, launched the Neo Space Group to work on the Kingdom’s satellite and space industry, its first investment in the sector.
The UAE’s rising influence in Africa: As China steps back, the oil-rich Gulf state has become an important source of foreign investment — but with fresh layers of complexity. FT
The failing ANC is rejected by over half of South Africa: The country now faces its biggest test since the end of apartheid. Economist
Javier Milei’s radical plan to transform Argentina Time
Mexicans are on the verge of electing their first female president: Claudia Sheinbaum is the front-runner in Mexico’s presidential race, but she is wrestling with the image that she could be a pawn of the current president. NYT
The Wired AI elections project: More than 60 countries are holding elections in 2024. Throughout the year, Wired will be tracking every instance of AI’s use in and around those campaigns. Wired
OpenAI shuts down influence networks using its tools in Russia, China: The startup issued a report on bad actors making use of AI. Bloomberg
OpenAI finds Russian and Chinese groups used its tech for propaganda campaigns: WP reports covert propagandists have already begun using generative artificial intelligence to boost their influence operations.
OpenAI says Russia and China used its AI in covert campaigns: NYT reports Iran and an Israeli company also exploited the tools in online influence efforts, but none gained much traction, an OpenAI report said.
Networks linked to Russia and China useOpenAI tools to spread disinformation: FT reports covert influence perpetrators from Iran and Israel also creating misleading content, says Microsoft-backed group.
Bloomberg: US is slowing AI chip exports to Middle East by Nvidia, AMD
+ License requests from chipmakers delayed for security review
+ US is worried about the technology getting diverted to China
*** US Politics + Elections ***
WSJ: Donald Trump convicted in New York hush-money case
WP: Trump found guilty in NY trial, first ex-president convicted of a crime
NYT: Trump guilty on all counts in hush-money case
Why Trump’s team thinks he can survive any verdict: The former president’s advisers and allies plan to situate any outcome within the same grievance narrative he’s been cultivating for years. Politico
The Donald Trump I saw on The Apprentice: For 20 years, I couldn’t say what I watched the former president do on the set of the show that changed everything. Now I can. Bill Pruitt
Little change in a presidential campaign most Americans don’t want: WP reports a looming verdict in Trump’s hush-money trial may give Biden another chance to drive his message, but neither campaign expects much chance of a reset before fall.
NBC News: Ron DeSantis hopes to raise up to $10M to boost Trump
FT: Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman likely to back Trump
Departing House members ask: ‘Why am I here?’ A wave of retirees from both parties, including committee chairs and rising stars, say that serving in Congress is no longer worth the frustration. NYT
Man pleads guilty to making 12,000 harassing calls to Congress members: WP reports that Ade Salim Lilly of Queens placed the calls over 18 months in 2022 and 2023 from Maryland and Puerto Rico, where he was arrested in November, prosecutors said.
US slows plans to retire coal-fired plants as power demand from AI surges: FT reports new technologies are straining power supplies and forcing a shift in plans to reduce use of the fuel source.
The implications of an AI presidential candidate Robert Moran
Fortune: US intelligence agencies were using generative AI 3 years before ChatGPT was released—but they still think it should be treated as a ‘crazy, drunk friend’
California advances AI proposals on discrimination, deepfakes, jobs: The efforts in California—home to many of the world’s biggest AI companies—could pave the way for AI regulations across the country. FC
How California and the EU work together to regulate artificial intelligence CalMatters
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Humanity in 'race against time' on AI: UN: Humanity is in a race against time to harness the colossal emerging power of artificial intelligence for the good of all, while averting dire risks, a top UN official said Thursday. AFP
Who is to blame for AI becoming ever more human? Is it the tech companies? Or is it us? Bina Venkataraman, Josh Tyrangiel + Amanda Ripley
If AI can do your job, maybe it can also replace your CEO: Chief executives are vulnerable to the same forces buffeting their employees. Leadership is important, but so is efficiency — and cost-cutting. NYT
The fog around OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s 2023 ouster is beginning to clear: New revelations about Altman’s honesty—or lack thereof—matter because the world needs to trust that his company takes AI safety seriously. FC
Internal divisions linger at OpenAI after November’s attempted coup: Arguments over safety and Sam Altman’s leadership spill back into public domain as artificial intelligence start-up hit by resignations. FT
A devil’s bargain with OpenAI: Publishers, including The Atlantic, are signing deals with the AI giant. Where does this lead? Damon Beres
Why AI search blew up in Google’s face John Herrman
Meta says generative AI deception held in check -- for now: AFP reports social media giant Meta says its bid to thwart coordinated disinformation campaigns created through ever-improving generative AI is working, despite widespread concerns.
Can Elon Musk’s xAI take on OpenAI? It has some advantages. But it is entering a crowded field. Economist
Bloomberg: Apple plans AI-based Siri overhaul to control individual app functions
+ The feature will be at the heart of renewed Apple push into AI
+ Idea is to operate features within individual apps using voice
This record stock market is riding on questionable AI assumptions: Just four giant technology stocks added more market value than the rest of the S&P 500 put together this month. More than half of the gain came from Nvidia. James Mackintosh
Hackers claim to breach Ticketmaster, capturing data of 560 million users: FC reports a notorious group of hackers allegedly gained access to names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, and partial credit card data. Here’s what to know.
Gemini, the Winklevoss brothers’ crypto exchange, will return more than $2 billion to customers of a now defunct lending program.
Canva’s radical overhaul aims to destroy Microsoft Office and Google Workspace: FC reports Canva is gunning for the enterprise set with new tools and features that are a direct challenge to the incumbents.
Shake Shack—the anti-fast food chain—turns to drive-thru as it expands: WSJ reports Shake Shack built a $4 billion business as an alternative to fast food, with gourmet cachet and lofty prices. But as it expands, it’s embracing a proven fast-food strategy—drive thru—while trying to preserve its premium branding.
Virgin Galactic at risk of US delisting after poor performance: The Times reports Richard Branson’s space tourism company given six months to improve its share price.
James Webb telescope finds record-breaking distant galaxy: Le Monde reports for the second time since it came online in 2022, images from the groundbreaking James Webb Space Telescope have allowed a team of scientists to discover the new record-holder of the most distant known galaxy, dubbed JADES-GS-z14-0.
How a self-published book broke ‘all the rules’ and became a best seller: Keila Shaheen’s “The Shadow Work Journal” shows how radically book sales and marketing have been changed by TikTok. NYT
*** Culture ***
Sale of part of Renault's art collection at Christie's ignites controversy: Scheduled for June 6, the auction of 33 works belonging to the carmaker has drawn the ire of several artists' estates. Le Monde
*** Sport ***
‘Inside the NBA’ is the best sports show on TV. Could it really disappear? As basketball settles on its future television partners, the network of Chuck, Kenny, Shaq and Ernie may be left out in the cold. Another partner needs to step up. Jason Gay
Softer tyres, more pitstops: Pirelli’s plan to liven up Formula 1: The Times reports Formula 1’s tyre supplier has started testing a new, softer compound that it hopes to introduce next season to provide greater excitement for viewers.
Why is the T20 Cricket World Cup in the USA? American football, basketball, and baseball are the most popular sports in the USA. So how has the country ended up hosting a cricket World Cup? And what does it mean for the sport in the USA? DW
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Daily | May 31
