Brigadoon Sundance 2019
February 24-26
Sundance Mountain Resort, Utah
Resign, Brexit, Africa, Apple, “Brain Training”, Dyson, Serena Williams
Resign, Brexit, Africa, Apple, “Brain Training”, Dyson, Serena Williams
Caracal Global Daily
January 23, 2019
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
Caracal Global Daily = News + Analysis at the Intersection of Globalization + Disruption + Politics
TOP FIVE
✔️ John Kerry says Trump should resign
✔️ Brexit a choice between pointless and painful
✔️ Putin’s pivot to Africa
✔️ “Brain Training” video games
✔️ Dyson moves headquarters to Singapore
ROSS RANT
Successful communication is all about STOCK = strategy, tactics, organization, consistency, and know-how.
GLOBALIZATION
‘He doesn’t take any of this seriously’: John Kerry says Trump should resign: WP reports, at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, the former senator and secretary of state was asked what he would say to the president if he were seated next to him. After hesitating, Kerry said he’d tell Trump: “Resign.”
@Billbrowder: This year the US, U.K. and French governments have dropped out. As a result, the ratio of dictatorships to democracies in Davos is now seriously skewed towards the bad guys
At Davos, CEOs privately vented over Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s economic policies: Bloomberg reports, Chinese officials are on a charm offensive before crucial US talks.
EU groundwork for more tech scrutiny: Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition is laying out a long-term plan to intensify scrutiny of the world’s big tech companies, planning a report meant to guide EU competition policies in the era of digitization.
FT - Editorial: If parliament cannot resolve Brexit, a new referendum is needed
Blair: Brexit a choice between pointless and painful: Speaking with DW in Davos, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair has called a new vote "the sensible thing in this situation." He said a "no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic for everyone."
Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro pledges to open up economy: New far-right president also tells Davos audience of his commitment to the environment.
Opposition launches protests to oust Maduro as U.S.-Venezuela tensions rise: WP reports, amid sharply rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, the U.S.-backed opposition here sought on Wednesday to fill the streets with protesters and spark the beginning of a sustained uprising aimed at ousting President Nicolás Maduro from office. Overnight, the smaller-scale protests that began on Monday began to spread, with a throng of demonstrators in Bolivar state setting alight a statue of Hugo Chávez, the leftist firebrand who established Venezuela's socialist state and anointed Maduro as his successor before dying of cancer in 2013.
Chinese army now makes up less than half of PLA’s strength as military aims to transform itself into modern fighting force: SCMP reports, the Chinese military has significantly boosted its navy, air force and new strategic units and downsized its land-based army as part of a strategic shift designed to transform the People’s Liberation Army into a comprehensive modern force, Xinhua reported.
China deletes 7 million pieces of online information, thousands of apps: Reuters reports, China's cyber watchdog said on Wednesday it had deleted more than 7 million pieces of online information as well as 9,382 mobile apps, and it criticized tech giant Tencent's news app for spreading "vulgar information."
Bloomberg: China kills 9,300 mobile apps, rips into Tencent's news service
US turns down China offer of preparatory trade talks: The Trump administration rejected an offer by two Chinese vice-ministers to travel to the US this week for preparatory trade talks because of a lack of progress on two important issues, highlighting the difficulty that Washington and Beijing will face in trying to reach agreement by a deadline of March 1. This week’s planned trip was intended to pave the way for a higher-level meeting in Washington on January 30 and 31 between Liu He, China vice-premier, and Robert Lighthizer, US trade representative.
CNBC: China could completely cut off investment into Silicon Valley amid Huawei bust-up
Chinese tech giant Huawei is facing restrictions from several Western governments, amid concerns that its products could be used for spying.
It comes at a time when the US and China are locked in a long-running trade dispute, with investors increasingly worried the conflict could spill over into a so-called "tech war."
Putin’s pivot to Africa: From Algeria to Uganda, Russia is building influence in Africa, lending support to embattled strongmen, taking on natural resource projects in conflict-racked states and positioning itself as a new powerbroker without the baggage of former colonial powers.
DISRUPTION
Yogurt: Americans didn’t eat a meaningful amount of Greek yogurt in 2007, but now it accounts for half of American sales and now supermarkets stock 300 to 350 different yogurt products. Americans eat 14 pounds of yogurt per year.
Sleepless in Saskatchewan: Canadians are sleeping about an hour less per night now than they were in 2005.
To learn another language, nurture your own: When it comes to learning foreign languages, research shows that children perform better in a multilingual environment than total immersion.
“Brain Training” video games: The brain-training industry is forecast to be worth more than $8bn by 2021. The claim is that tailored video games can sharpen cognitive skills and delay the hallmarks of senility such as memory loss.
POLITICS
Trump plans State of the Union address next week, despite Pelosi request to delay: The White House is also considering a backup option for Trump to deliver the speech at another location, possibly outside of Washington, if Pelosi holds firm.
The Naval Academy is deteriorating so badly, its mission to train midshipmen is under threat: The Capital Gazette reports, infrastructure at the naval institution in Annapolis has degraded to the point of threatening the school’s ability to train and educate midshipmen, according to a report by the Naval Audit Service. The 2018 audit, obtained by The Capital Gazette through a Freedom of Information Act request, details failing buildings, classrooms and athletic facilities — which in some cases actively leak, overheat and threaten user safety.
Election 2020: Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, IN, announced he is launching a presidential exploratory committee for the Democratic nomination, telling supporters in an email, “this is a season for boldness.”
Netflix is in advanced talks to join the Motion Picture Association of America. The addition would mark the first time an internet-based service will join the 97-year-old trade association, which represents six legacy Hollywood studios.
Five tech giants spent $64 million in lobbying blitz last year, records show: WP reports, the money spent by Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Google and Microsoft reflects the industry’s souring political fortunes in Washington — and the policy battles still on the horizon.
COMMERCE
Detroit Auto Show: The 2019 North American International Auto Show continues in Detroit today through January 27th at Cobo Hall in the Motor City.
Apple Pay is coming to Target, Taco Bell, and Speedway.
Apple’s Tim Cook makes Davos debut: Chief takes first trip to Swiss resort gathering amid ‘Big Tech’ backlash.
35 years ago: Apple announces its Macintosh computer, with a black & white 9-inch monitor, will be available in 48 hours. The price is $2,495, which is the equivalent of $6,200 today.
Bud Light has promised to give free beer to everyone in LA if the Rams win the Super Bowl.
Google slapped with $57 million fine under new EU law: The National Data Protection Commission fined Google for “lack of transparency, inadequate information and lack of valid consent” regarding ad personalization for users.
Dyson to move its headquarters to Singapore.
Condé Nast said it would put all its titles behind paywalls by the end of the year, a move that underscores how critical it has become for major publishers to generate revenue beyond advertising.
CULTURE
London’s National Portrait Gallery set for huge redevelopment: New entrance and learning center to be created in £35m scheme.
Peppa Pig: Arguably, doing more for Brand Britain in China than The Beatles, Manchester United and all the red phone boxes you could find. A trailer for a new movie based on the children’s cartoon character has taken China by storm. The film is due for release on February 5 to coincide with the beginning of the new lunar calendar, which this year marks the start of the Year of the Pig, giving Peppa a particular resonance.
THR: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the movie: DC's bomb-throwing new star seizes the Sundance spotlight
SPORT
Serena Williams stumbles in stunning loss at the Australian Open: WSJ reports, serving at 5-1 in the third set, the 23-time Grand Slam champion couldn’t close out the match, losing to Karolína Plíšková
Danielle Collins, a two-time NCAA singles champion at Virginia, is the surprise of the Australian Open: WP reports, the 25-year-old, an unseeded entrant in tennis’s first major championship of the year, faces two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in Wednesday’s semifinals.
AO Semis:
Men's:
#1 Tsitsipas (14) v Nadal (2)
#2 Djokovic (1) v Pouille (28)
Women's:
#1 Kvitova (8) v Collins
#2 Pliskova (7) v Osaka (4)
World Economic Forum, EU, Kamala Harris, Philip Morris, Oscar Nominations
World Economic Forum, EU, Kamala Harris, Philip Morris, Oscar Nominations
Caracal Global Daily
January 22, 2019
Curation and commentary from Marc A. Ross
Reporting from Alexandria, Virginia
Caracal Global Daily = News + Analysis at the Intersection of Globalization + Disruption + Politics
TOP FIVE
✔️ World Economic Forum annual meeting opens in Davos
✔️ Merkel and Macron sign new treaty to revive EU
✔️ Kamala Harris is running for president
✔️ Philip Morris keeps powder dry on cannabis
✔️ Roma and The Favourite lead Oscar nominations
GLOBALIZATION
Switzerland: The World Economic Forum annual meeting opens in Davos.
The world braces for slower growth: WSJ reports, China’s trade dispute with the US, Brexit, Italian fiscal troubles and a fall in German industrial production are all signs of the sweep of a brewing synchronized global slowdown.
Trump, Macron, and May skip Davos.
The International Monetary Fund trimmed its global growth forecasts on Monday and a survey showed increasing pessimism among business chiefs.
A survey by PwC of nearly 1,400 chief executives found that 29 percent believe global economic growth will decline over the next 12 months, the highest percentage since 2012.
Dozens of ministers ready to quit over no‑deal Brexit: The Times reports, up to 40 members of the government will resign next week if Conservative MPs are banned from voting for a plan to stop a no-deal Brexit, No 10 has been told. Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, has demanded that all Tory MPs are allowed a free vote on plans.
Merkel and Macron sign new treaty to revive EU: DW reports, a follow-up pact to the Elysee Treaty marks the latest gesture of friendship between France and Germany. The new bilateral pact pledges deeper cooperation between the two nations and paves the way for EU reforms.
Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou: The US will proceed with the formal extradition from Canada of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, Canada’s ambassador to the United States told the Globe and Mail, as Beijing vowed to respond to Washington’s actions. The deadline for filing is Jan. 30, or 60 days after Meng was arrested on Dec. 1 in Vancouver.
Reuters: Canada should ban Huawei from 5G networks, says former spy chief
China’s plan for tech dominance is advancing, business groups say: WSJ reports, in a joint report to the US Trade Representative, the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in China say Beijing’s ambitious plan to become a global technology leader is being widely implemented, casting doubt on efforts by Chinese officials to play down its significance.
Taiwan draws up China tech blacklist to elevate ban on Huawei: Nikkei reports, security concerns also prompt ban on use of Hikvision and Dahua products.
Nikkei: Xi plans talks with Modi to counter US on trade and Indo-Pacific
How Huawei wooed Europe with sponsorships, investments, and promises: NYT reports, as the Chinese telecommunications giant faces scrutiny over its security, its careful cultivation of European governments and customers is at risk of unraveling.
Brussels fines Mastercard €570m for restricting competition: FT reports, credit card group limited banks’ ability to ‘shop around’, EU says.
AFP: Ex-PM Tymoshenko launches bid for Ukraine presidency
US, North Korean spies have held secret talks for a decade: WSJ reports, years of covert contacts with America’s bitter adversary helped pave the way for President Trump’s summit with Kim Jong Un. A comprehensive description of how the channel worked adds texture to the public picture of mutual threats and stymied talks.
DISRUPTION
Tokyo airport tests driverless bus to shuttle visitors.
POLITICS
Election 2020: Kamala Harris (D-CA) is running for president
South Carolina already looms large for Democrats in 2020: NYT reports, in an increasingly diverse Democratic Party, South Carolina will be the first presidential primary in which a majority of voters will be African-American.
Democrats seek changes to revamped NAFTA deal: FT reports, Demands raise prospect of stand-off or even new negotiations over trade pact.
FT: Five books that explain the US government shutdown
It’s even worse than it looks: How the American constitutional system collided with the new politics of extremism - Norm Ornstein and Thomas Mann
White trash: The 400-year untold history of class in America - Nancy Isenberg
The unwinding: An inner history of the new America - George Packer
Dark money: The hidden history of the billionaires behind the rise of the radical right - Jane Mayer
Devil’s bargain: Steve Bannon, Donald Trump and the storming of the presidency - Joshua Green
OTD: In 1946 President Truman signed a directive establishing the Central Intelligence Group, from which the CIA was later created.
COMMERCE
Philip Morris keeps powder dry on cannabis: FT reports, tobacco group wary of large investment amid differing regulatory policies worldwide.
Foxconn is considering producing the devices in India.
CNBC: Shares of eBay surge as Elliott Management reveals $1.4 billion stake, recommends portfolio review
Elliott said eBay should off StubHub, as well was its "portfolio of Classifieds properties."
Toyota + Panasonic announce electric car battery tie-up
CULTURE
Roma and The Favourite lead Oscar nominations: WSJ reports, Roma and The Favourite took the lead in the Oscar race, receiving 10 nominations each, including best picture and best lead actress, when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominees on Tuesday.
Best picture nominees:
Black Panther
BlacKkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star Is Born
Vice
Actor in a leading role:
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star Is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity's Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book
Actress in a leading role:
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star Is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?
NYT: Green Book wins PGA award and has best picture in sight
SPORT
AO Semis:
Men's:
#1 Tsitsipas v Nadal
#2 TBD
Women's:
#1 Kvitova v Collins
#2 TBD