Rahm Emanuel, Kishida Fumio, Canada v India, Google Maps, + A full-body MRI, plus 1,000 more actionable insights.
ITK Daily is geopolitical business intelligence.
Happy Thursday.
Here’s today’s ITK Daily.
To be ITK, know this:
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ITK LON | School + Salon Dinner
Thursday, December 7, 2023
School: 13:30 - 17:00
Salon Dinner: 18:30 - 21:30
Participants can choose to attend the school only, the salon dinner only, or both the school and salon dinner.
Format details here:
ITK LON | School is three 45-minute lectures covering:
+ A Battle for Ideas - How we got here
+ Communications - How to talk about it
+ Destination Future - Where we are going
ITK LON | Salon Dinner is a three-hour gathering with an opening mixer and a family-style meal. The dinner discussion will be moderated and based on the questions and topics curated by the participants.
Book your spot, click here.
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2023 GDP growth expectations, per the IMF:
India: 6.1%
China: 5.2%
Nigeria: 3.2%
Mexico: 2.6%
Spain: 2.5%
Brazil: 2.1%
Saudi: 1.9%
US: 1.8%
Canada: 1.7%
Russia: 1.5%
Japan: 1.4%
Italy: 1.1%
France: 0.8%
UK: 0.4%
South Africa: 0.3%
Germany: -0.3%
Behind all the speechmaking at the UN lies a basic, unspoken question: Is the world governable? AP
AP: Putin accepts invitation to visit China in October after meeting Chinese foreign minister in Moscow
Bloomberg: Xi’s purge of handpicked ministers shatters stability image
Analysis: Military elder put silent pressure on Xi at Beidaihe: Officer purges and simmering discontent drove retired general to conclave. Nikkei
White House told US ambassador to Japan to stop taunting China on social media: NBC News reports Rahm Emanuel has mocked Chinese President Xi Jinping, speculating about the recent disappearance of a top official.
Sure.
China puts priority on tech race with US over economic growth: Government stimulus measures are small while chip and EV sectors get assistance. Nikkei
Bloomberg: Meloni told China Italy plans to exit investment pact
Japan PM Kishida warns against dangers of a divided world: NHK reports Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio met with the media Wednesday in New York, where he is attending the UN General Assembly. He is using the opportunity to warn against the dangers of a divided world, and encouraging his peers to focus on collaboration.
NHK: S.Korea's Yoon condemns Russia-N.Korea military cooperation at UN
Zelensky calls on UN Security Council to strip Moscow of its veto power: Le Monde reports Ukraine's president accused Russia of waging a 'criminal and unprovoked aggression' that undermines all norms of war and the UN charter Wednesday at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
Ukrainian tactics put Russia on the defensive in the Black Sea: WSJ reports using innovative attacks, Ukraine has eroded Russia’s formidable naval advantage, and it is starting to reopen ports.
Zelenskiy meets with Ken Griffin, Bill Ackman in bid for funds to rebuild Ukraine: Bloomberg reports the meeting was arranged by JPMorgan Chase executive Mary Erdoes.
CAN-UKR: Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is expected to address the Canadian Parliament on Friday.
In a blow to Russia, Armenian separatists capitulate in Nagorno-Karabakh: WSJ reports Armenian separatists in the contested area agreed to disarm and discuss reintegration with Azerbaijan, signaling the end of decades of ethnic-Armenian rule in the enclave.
Azerbaijan claims full control over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after separatists surrender: Le Monde reports Baku and the ethnic-Armenian authorities in Karabakh said a deal was brokered by Russian peacekeepers over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh a day after Azerbaijan launched an 'anti-terror operation.'
Saudi Arabia will develop a nuclear weapon if Iran, its main regional rival, succeeds in producing one of its own, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said.
FT: Saudi Arabia says solving Palestinian issue crucial to deal with Israel
WP: King Charles’s first state visit to France includes Versailles dinner
Charles III urges reinvigoration of Franco-British relations at Versailles dinner: Le Monde reports amidst a glittering banquet at the Palace of Versailles, King Charles III and President Emmanuel Macron both emphasized a shared commitment to addressing common challenges in the modern era.
FT: Sunak announces series of U-turns on net zero pledges
Rishi Sunak gambles on cutting back net-zero plans: The Times reports the PM relaxes rules on petrol cars and gas boilers to spare families ‘unacceptable costs.’
British government postpones key measures for achieving carbon neutrality: Le Monde reports Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced the postponement of the ban on sales of new petrol and diesel-powered cars from 2030 to 2035 in a bid to regain public support a year ahead of the general election.
Masked gunmen, an ambush, a chase: The execution of Hardeep Singh Nijjar: From the outset, the Sikh leader’s community in Surrey, British Columbia, believed the Indian government of Narendra Modi was behind his death. WP
Ros Atkins on… the India-Canada murder row BBC
+ @AhsanDeliri: Who had Canada and India becoming enemies in 2023 on their "WTF is this bingo" card?
CBC: India warns travelers to Canada of 'politically-condoned' violence as diplomatic row worsens
Biden is caught between allies as Canada accuses India of assassination: President Biden has prioritized bolstering partnerships over full-throated advocacy for democracy among American allies. NYT
+ India has invited US President Biden to its 2024 Republic Day celebration
Senate confirms Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, sidestepping blockade: NYT reports the Senate voted to confirm the next chairman and planned to advance the promotions of two other officials, despite a block by Senator Tommy Tuberville.
Gen. Milley’s resignation leaves behind big shoes to fill: As Joint Chiefs chair, Milley was a Pattonesque presence stepping carefully. David Ignatius
CNBC: US will again offer free at-home Covid tests starting Monday
McCarthy revises plan to avert shutdown, flips some GOP holdouts: Bloomberg reports the besieged speaker was still short of the votes for a Republican spending measure.
Trump to address striking workers as Biden’s popularity falters: The Times reports Donald Trump will address striking car workers in the battleground state of Michigan next week, deepening concern among Democrats that President Biden has been outflanked by his Republican rival as he battles to win back working-class voters.
Bloomberg: Donald Trump intends to skip the third Republican debate in Florida
+ Trump will have skipped all three GOP primary debates.
FT: DeSantis leads charge to pry Texas oil donors from Trump
DeSantis slams Biden climate policy: ‘An agenda to control you’: NYT reports Ron DeSantis criticized President Biden’s plans during an address in Texas that favored oil and gas development over climate agreements and electric vehicles.
+ Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis pledges $2 gas if elected — though presidents only have limited say
Pro-tip: Good politics rarely makes good economics.
WP: David McCormick to announce fresh GOP bid for Senate in Pennsylvania
FT: Fed signals fresh rate rise this year and fewer cuts in 2024
CNBC: Fed declines to hike, but points to rates staying higher for longer
+ The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, while also indicating it still expects one more hike before the end of the year and fewer cuts than previously indicated next year.
+ Along with the rate projections, the Fed also sharply revised up its economic growth expectations for this year, with gross domestic product now expected to rise 2.1% this year.
Breaking: Hollywood studios and writers are near an agreement to end the strike with the hope of finalizing the deal Thursday, CNBC reports.
CNBC: GM and Stellantis just laid off more than 2,000 additional workers because of the UAW’s strike
AP: Jeep maker Stellantis makes a new contract offer as auto workers prepare to expand their strike
Ford reaches a labor deal in Canada as US talks inch along: NYT reports the United Auto Workers union is threatening to expand strikes if it does not make significant progress in talks with General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis.
Bloomberg: Nvidia CEO touts India as major AI market in bid to hedge China risks
Can Europe go green without China’s critical minerals? FT
Amazon introduced a “smarter and more conversational” version of its Alexa voice assistant that the company hopes will bolster its position in the tech industry’s artificial intelligence race.
Google’s Bard just got more powerful. It’s still erratic. The chatbot now pulls information from a user’s Gmail, Google Docs, and Google Drive accounts. The feature leaves a lot to be desired, our columnist writes. NYT
Google sued for negligence after man drove off collapsed bridge while following map directions: AP reports the family of a North Carolina man who died after driving his car off a collapsed bridge while following Google Maps directions is suing the technology giant for negligence, claiming it had been informed of the collapse but failed to update its navigation system.
These companies have the happiest workers in the US: Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores topped a worker wellbeing survey, besting better-known employers like IBM, Disney, and Apple. Bloomberg
Bloomberg: Return-to-office means fewer treats for Fido, General Mills says
The new status symbol is a full-body MRI: Companies like the celebrity-endorsed Prenuvo claim they can revolutionize preventive health care. Experts warn this might not be the right approach. NYT
AP: First Bob Ross TV painting, completed in a half an hour, goes on sale for nearly $10 million
The magician of Milan: How Matthieu Blazy changed Bottega Veneta and material expectations. NYT
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal produces ITK Daily.
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