Caracal Daily | June 26
Edinburgh, AP, Moon's Far Side, Hawk Tuah Girl, Paul Maurice, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
Caracal Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
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Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
US Ambassador Burns accuses China of undermining diplomacy: WSJ reports Nicholas Burns used unusually forceful language to criticize what he described as an effort by Beijing to weaken America’s standing and disrupt its diplomatic activities in China.
US and Philippines seek to de-escalate after sea skirmish with China: WP reports Chinese coast guard vessels have become more aggressive in blocking access to the contested Second Thomas Shoal. Despite upcoming joint maritime exercises, Manila and Washington are trying to dial down tensions.
China's subsea cable drive defies US sanctions: 'Diplomatic race' with Washington as Beijing seeks to create a parallel global network. Nikkei
Huawei’s secret ally in the US-China tech war: A science nonprofit based in DC Bloomberg
+ Scientific group built tie to Chinese firm in face of US curbs
+ Optica, Huawei defend alliance as good-faith knowledge sharing
Edinburgh halts deal with Taiwanese city over fears of China backlash: FT reports te proposed friendship agreement put on hold after businesses express concerns.
How Ukraine is combating Russia's influence in Africa: To curb Moscow’s influence in Africa, Ukraine is deploying diplomatic and strategic initiatives. The focus is on undermining Russia's propaganda and military engagements. DW
Russia bans access to over 80 Western media outlets: DW reports Moscow has banned a slew of EU news sources after its broadcasters were banned in the bloc. The EU and Russia have also traded accusations on satellite jamming, and the Kremlin pointed to the risks of a nuclear clash.
Brainy Indians are piling into Western universities: Will rich countries welcome them the way they did Chinese students? Economist
As North Korea and Russia cozy up, Tokyo and Seoul clamp down: Nikkei reports finance ministers agree to tighten enforcement of UN sanctions amid evasion
Japan is leading the way in realizing hydrogen's energy potential: New innovations support role of the gas in climate change fight. Shinichi Kihara
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito + Empress Masako have started a three-day state visit to the UK.
Tourism surges to Japan's No. 2 'export,' behind cars: Nikkei reports annualized spending hits $45bn amid weak yen, outpacing electronic parts and steel.
Singapore’s ‘FOMO’ amid the rise of the AI data centre: Like many other countries it has underestimated how demand is going to expand in coming years. Mercedes Ruehl
Anti-tax riots rock Kenya, as president vows crackdown on ‘treasonous’ protesters: NYT reports at least five people were killed in clashes with the police that erupted after lawmakers approved tax increases that critics said would drive up the cost of living for millions.
Kenyan anti-tax protesters storm parliament: Le Monde reports Hundreds of protesters broke through barriers erected by the police outside parliament in the capital Nairobi on Tuesday, with police firing live rounds and the parliament complex going on fire, according to Amnesty International Kenya.
Kenya’s Ruto warns of ‘attack on democracy’ after protesters storm parliament: FT reports the president addresses nation after five killed and dozens injured when police opened fire on anti-tax demonstrators.
Kenya updates: Protesters storm parliament, deaths reported: DW reports police in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, have fired live rounds to disperse protesters as violence escalates over proposed tax hikes. Demonstrators stormed parliament, parts of which were set alight. DW has the latest.
Kenya protests are a blow to Biden’s embrace of President Ruto: NYT reports just a day earlier, President Biden had formally named Kenya a major non-NATO ally.
What the remaking of Labour reveals about Sir Keir Starmer: How might Britain’s would-be prime minister approach the job? Economist
Reindustrialization is a fragile bulwark against the rise of the far-right in France: Le Monde reports in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, the Rassemblement National is gaining momentum in towns that are witnessing the return of industrial production, despite the government's claim that this is 'an anti-RN weapon.'
The sorcerer's apprentices behind Macron's decision to dissolve the Assemblée Nationale: At the Elysée Palace, Bruno Roger-Petit, the presidential adviser on historical issues, has gradually become a key player in the French president's strategy. He and a small group of unofficial advisers pushed for the decision to call early elections. Le Monde
France's first small nuclear reactor project: Le Monde reports a start-up company Jimmy Energy is exploring a small model designed to supply heat to a factory belonging to the Cristal Union sugar group in the department of Marne to the east of Paris.
The giant Exxon project that could create the world’s last petrostate: But critics fear the oil bonanza will turn Guyana into a victim of the ‘resources curse.’ FT
Central banks urged to keep pace with ‘game changer’ AI: Technology will have profound impact on global financial system, says Bank for International Settlements. FT
Central banks must prepare for profound impact of AI, BIS says: Reuters reports in its first major report into the rapidly advancing world of AI, the central banking umbrella group said policymakers need to harness its immense power to monitor data in real time in order to "sharpen" their inflation-predicting abilities.
*** US Politics + Elections ***
The key to winning Thursday’s presidential debate: Whichever candidate seems more focused on the future will prevail in the Trump-Biden rematch. WSJ - Editorial
I’ve debated Trump and Biden. Here’s what I’m watching for. Hillary Rodham Clinton
Debate in Atlanta puts spotlight on Georgia, where Trump has the edge: Biden won the state by a thin margin in 2020, but popular GOP governor is a headwind for a repeat. WSJ
The debate and his VP pick are watersheds for Trump: They’re opportunities to appeal to swing voters who have been moving back to Biden. WSJ - Editorial
+ “Donald Trump could announce his vice presidential pick as early as this week, possibly ahead of Thursday’s debate,” NBC News reports.
Me yesterday: @marcaross: Trump should announce his VP pick on Friday morning and start the buzz Thursday evening.
Zero: There are zero Fortune 100 CEOs that have donated to former President Trump so far this election cycle.
Inside the battle to release controversial Trump movie ‘The Apprentice’: Ex-NFL owner and Trump backer Dan Snyder is a funder of the production company that helped produce the Cannes hit, which stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong. Is the company also blocking the film’s US distribution? WP
Hillary Clinton to publish new memoir this fall: WP reports, “Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty” will be out Sept. 17.
Fortune: Federal Reserve governor says AI is ‘not going to replace’ central bankers—at least not yet
The Department of Homeland Security has made its first 10 hires for its new AI Corps: Axios reports the new 50-person AI Corps, modeled after the US Digital Service, will study ways to tap AI across DHS's portfolio, including countering fentanyl trafficking, combating online child sexual exploitation and enhancing cybersecurity.
AP launching nonprofit group to raise at least $100M for local news: Axios reports the new group, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, allows the AP to raise philanthropic funds to support its local news efforts, which it can't do as a not-for-profit organization.
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
New York Times to move podcasts behind paywall: WSJ reports the publisher plans to limit access to shows like ‘Serial’ to subscribers, cap number of free episodes of ‘The Daily.’
The revenge of the home page: As social networks become less reliable distributors of the news, consumers of digital journalism are seeking out an older form of online real estate. New Yorker
The house of Arnault: His company, LVMH, bought up many of the world’s major luxury brands. And he’s not finished shopping. Bloomberg
Volkswagen will invest $5 billion to form a joint venture with EV maker Rivian, throwing a lifeline to the struggling startup and giving the German automaker access to the American EV company’s technology.
Embattled self-driving car company Cruise appoints new CEO: WP reports Marc Whitten, a veteran video game executive, will lead General Motors’ troubled self-driving car unit as it tries to win back trust after a grisly crash.
'Humans are essential for training AI': Behind artificial intelligence, there's a whole process of collecting, verifying, and annotating data carried out by humans. French sociologists Maxime Cornet and Clément Le Ludec explain that this is largely outsourced, notably to Madagascar. Le Monde
AI isn’t dumb, but it might be dumber than you think: It’s time to get real about what AI can and can’t do. Shira Ovide
Bloomberg: OpenAI delays launch of voice assistant to address safety issues
+ Company says it needs extra month to “reach our bar to launch”
+ Voice feature was a key focus at launch event in mid-May
Amazon is working on a rival to ChatGPT to launch this September.
Bloomberg: OpenAI taking steps to block China’s access to its AI tools
+ OpenAI reportedly sent warnings to developers across China
+ Chinese firms like Zhipu announced incentives for switching
21 billion: Accenture’s generative AI business is booming. The consulting firm’s practice, which helps companies use AI technology to become more efficient, now has $21 billion worth of contracts, up from $17 billion this time last year.
New weapons will eclipse atomic bombs. Their builders ask themselves this question. Autonomous weapons will be built. The only questions are who will build them and for what purpose. Alexander C. Karp + Nicholas W. Zamiska
Microsoft faces a hefty antitrust fine after the European Commission on Tuesday accused it of illegally linking its chat and video app Teams with its Office product.
Astronauts’ delayed return reflects high stakes for Boeing and NASA: WP reports engineers want more time to study problems with the Starliner capsule’s propulsion system before crew flies home.
China becomes first country to retrieve rocks from the Moon’s far side: NYT reports the Chang’e-6 mission’s sample, which might hold clues about the origins of the moon and Earth, is the latest achievement of China’s lunar exploration program.
*** Culture ***
Why is everybody talking about the Hawk Tuah Girl? Was the Hawk Tuah Girl fired from her job? Where can I buy her merch? We have the answers to all your "spit on that thang" questions. Rolling Stone
*** Sport ***
The man who waited forever to hold the Stanley Cup: It took a record wait and an agonizing, roller coaster Final series to get there—but Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice finally got to where he always wanted to be. Jason Gay
The US men’s soccer team is excellent. Does anyone care? Will Leitch
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
ITK Daily | June 26
