ITK Daily | November 30

Happy Wednesday.

Here’s today’s ITK Daily.

To be ITK, know this:

Insights | "Where you sit is where you stand."

This statement is one of the mantras I use to help clients and myself understand geopolitics.

Understanding is an essential first step in any communications effort.

Communications is mostly not how you want the world to be but how this world is

You need understanding to plan, execute, and succeed.

Full post here.

Macron aux états-Unis: French President Emmanuel Macron flew to Washington last night to start a three-day state visit.

This will be Macron's second state visit to the US. Trump hosted him in April 2018.

Following DC, Macron will travel to New Orleans on Friday, December 2, becoming the first French leader to visit Louisiana since 1976.

While in Louisiana, Macron plans to announce a fund to finance French language education, as well as speak about climate issues with Gov. John Bel Edwards.

In honor of Emmanuel Macron's state visit, I had French Toast for breakfast.

No joke.

Macron to Biden: C’mon, we’re allies: Europeans fear America is taking advantage of the war in Ukraine to build a commercial edge over EU rivals. Politico

Macron to promote nuclear energy in US, as industry faces crisis in France: WP reports with 40 percent of France’s nuclear power plants offline, there could hardly be a more awkward time to promote the country’s know-how.

Canberra has ratified the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, which looks to take effect in the coming weeks as ‘probably the most comprehensive agreement that India has entered into.’

The Globe + Mail: RCMP investigating Chinese interference in Canadian affairs, Commissioner says

+ The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is investigating broad foreign interference by China in Canadian affairs, says Commissioner Brenda Lucki

+ A House of Commons committee is studying the possible Beijing interference in the 2019 general election

RCMP = Commonly known as the Mounties, it is the federal and national police service of Canada.

"The ambassador has been summoned": The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office summoned the Chinese ambassador after the arrest of a BBC journalist in Shanghai.

China’s latest rocket sends new crew to finish Tiangong space station: WSJ reports the crew of the Shenzhou-15 spacecraft will conduct scientific experiments and complete the station, marking a feat of China’s space program.

Pentagon warns of China’s plans for dominance in Taiwan and beyond: As part of its aggressive buildup, China’s military conducted more ballistic missile tests last year than the rest of the world combined, US says. WP

+ China is continuing to steadily expand its nuclear arsenal and could have 1,500 warheads by 2035, according to a Defense Department study released on Tuesday.

Biden needs a Reaganesque approach to China: The US has good reason to be cautious about supporting protesters, but that strategy won’t work forever. Hal Brands

America ready to unveil its new B-21 Raider stealth bomber: The Times reports the B-21 is expected to be barely visible in combat operations. With 100 B-21s planned at a cost of $550 million each — at 2010 prices —, it will eventually replace the B-2 and the older B-1 bombers.

+ “With the capability to hold targets at risk anywhere in the world, this weapon system is critical to our national security.” -- Doug Young, vice-president of Northrop Grumman’s strike division, said at an air, space, and cyber conference

+ The B21 team includes more than 8,000 people from Northrop Grumman, industry partners, and the Air Force. The team consists of more than 400 suppliers across 40 states.

+ Sixth generation. The B-21 Raider benefits from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology. It is the next evolution of the Air Force strategic bomber fleet.

+ Raider. The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II when 80 airmen, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the course of World War II.

Northrop Grumman ’s B-21 is almost here. What’s next for the stealthy bomber? Defense News

How will America deal with three-way nuclear deterrence? It risks a new arms race, not only against Russia but also against China. Economist

South Korea's nuclear option: Calls grow for weapon development: More lawmakers, voters see a need for homegrown program as North's threat grows. Nikkei

+ "What is important is responding to the imminent threat surrounding us and controlling the possible threat." -- South Korea’s Yoon warns of unprecedented response to North Korea nuclear test

Finland buys more arms from United States as it boosts defenses: Reuters reports the US State Department has approved a second significant arms sale to Finland within a month, helping Russia's Nordic neighbor in its bid to strengthen its defenses due to the war in Ukraine, Finland and the United States said.

Bloomberg: US is weighing a terrorism label for Russia’s Wagner Group mercenaries

+ The group’s troops are fighting in Ukraine and in Africa

+ Its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin is a close ally of Putin

Global News: ‘No impunity’: Canada joins G7 pledge to coordinate Russian war crimes probes

Amid an economic and social crisis, anti-Brexit sentiment is growing in the UK: Neither the Conservatives nor Labour are ready to renegotiate the EU exit agreement, despite its proven negative effects on the economy. Le Monde

The electric vehicle boom in a quiet Hungarian town: The country is becoming a surprising hub of Europe’s new battery industry. But critics fear becoming too dependent on China. FT

+ In just a few years, Hungary has transformed itself into a potential electric vehicles powerhouse, centered on Debrecen. By 2030, battery production in this town of 200,000 people alone will rival every European country other than Germany.

India to pilot retail digital currency on December 1: TechCrunch reports four local banks — State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Yes Bank and IDFC — will participate in the initial phase of the pilot in four cities (Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru and Bhubaneswar).

These are the best and worst cities for expats to live and work in Bloomberg

Top 5:

1. Valencia, Spain

2. Dubai, UAE

3. Mexico City, Mexico

4. Lisbon, Portugal

5. Madrid, Spain

Bottom 5:

1. Rome, Italy

2. Tokyo, Japan

3. Vancouver, Canada

4. Milan, Italy

5. Hamburg, Germany

Conservatives sharpen their knives as McCarthy works to peel off skeptics: Politico reports some Freedom Caucus members view his efforts as a transparent attempt by the House GOP leader and his allies to defang proposed rules changes ahead of Jan. 3.

Biden, in Michigan, sharpens 2024 pitch with focus on 2021-2022: Fresh from a midterm success, the president begins crafting a message that touts his first-term record. WP

+ Michigan would move its 2024 presidential primary from March to February and become an early-voting state under legislation that the state Senate overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday.

Gun ownership: 46% of US adults currently say they live in a household where someone owns a firearm.

Black Friday: Americans spent an average of about $325 on holiday purchases over the weekend, up about 8% from 2021.

Cyber Monday: May hit an American record of $11.6 billion in sales.

A free Spotify alternative? How US libraries became the place to stream your new favorite band: With Spotify ’s royalty model under scrutiny, some libraries are using a startup to help give local artists the play they deserve. Guardian

微软 , Activision Blizzard and the future of gaming: The shift towards subscriptions and streaming complicates a giant merger. Economist

Fewer than half of Britons (46%) consider themselves Christian, according to the latest census data. It is the first time since the census began in 1801 that the number has dropped below 50%.

What kind of man was Anthony Bourdain? He was so damaged, and yet he showed us so much of the world. Ben Rhodes

The enduring genius of Metallica: On the road with the band in its forty-first year. New Yorker

Extended interview: Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir CBS Sunday Morning

Box box box: Ferrari ’s Formula 1 chief Mattia Binotto resigns and will leave his post on December 31.

Tiger Woods calls for Greg Norman’s ouster in PGA Tour’s feud with LIV: WP reports Woods's comments came the morning after the 15-time major champion withdrew from the Hero World Challenge, an event he hosts, citing plantar fasciitis.

+ @jarvis_best: How to fix soccer:

1. The field is fucking huge. Shrink it.

2. Too many players on the field. Limit to three forwards, two defenders, and a goalie.

3. Players should get to come in and out whenever they want. Don’t stop the game.

4. Shrink the goal.

5. Ice everywhere

Agnelli departure from Juventus Football Club is blow to European Super League The Times

+ Agnelli, 45, and the entire Juventus board of directors resigned after an investigation by Turin prosecutors into alleged false accounting.

+ The decisions by the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool to put their clubs up for sale is also seen as a tacit acceptance that the Super League idea is dead.

+ The case is also exploring if Juve shareholders were misled with invoices being issued for non-existent transactions to demonstrate income.

Juventus in crisis: What triggered board’s resignation – and what happens next? The Athletic

+ The media in Italy have likened the resignations to an “earthquake.”

+ Agnelli signed off at Juventus with the club’s motto, “Fino alla Fine.” Until the end.

Current teams qualified for Round of Sixteen of the World Cup with FIFA rankings:

- France (4)

- Brazil (1)

- Portugal (9)

- Netherlands (8)

- Senegal (18)

- England (5)

- United States (16)

‘I feel like I’m ready’: Blind surfer chases world’s biggest wave at Nazaré: Australian champion Matt Formston says his vision impairment gives him an advantage as he continues to push boundaries in the water. Guardian

Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.

-Marc

Caracal produces ITK Daily.

Caracal is a geopolitical business communications firm specializing in global business issues at the intersection of globalization, disruption, and politics.

Caracal believes that to be a world-class geopolitical business communicator, you need global street smarts coupled with holistic, high-frequency, and high-low communications.

To receive Caracal ITK Daily by email, subscribe here.