Caracal Daily | December 2
Caracal Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry. Caracal is here to help.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Monday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
Rebel groups attack Kurdish-held areas in north-western Syria: FT reports Islamists’ shock offensive threatens to draw in other forces in fractured nation.
+ Russian and Syrian air forces intensified their attacks on Syrian rebels, who are advancing south after seizing most of Aleppo, the country’s second-biggest city.
Syrian rebels regrouped, seized on weakness of government’s key allies: WP reports the rebels have made stunning gains against President Bashar al-Assad’s forces, with Russia, Iran and Hezbollah distracted by other conflicts.
Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo in an embarrassing rout for Bashar al-Assad: Russia and Iran, the Syrian dictator’s closest allies, will be of less help than they used to be. Economist
In Syria, a sudden reminder of a war that never ended: WP reports the dramatic unraveling of the past days might show how hollow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s supremacy was.
Syria’s Assad trapped by rebel advance and refusal to compromise: Rapid capture of Aleppo from government forces underlines regime’s fragility despite Russian and Iranian help. FT
What next for Syria after anti-Assad rebels seized Aleppo? The largest rebel group, HTS, struck while President Assad’s allies in Russia and Iran were distracted — reigniting a civil war that had stagnated in recent years. The Times
In Syria, Assad is trapped by his intransigence and the collapse of his regime: The resurgence of the insurgency, which has regained control of Aleppo, highlights the Syrian government's failure to make concessions, inability to implement reform and break out of its isolation. Laure Stephan
China tensions prompt US Navy race to reload missiles at sea: WSJ a US destroyer can fire dozens of cruise missiles within minutes, but reloading back in port can take two months—a potentially fatal weakness.
Taiwan’s Lai Signals hope for continued US support under Trump: WSJ reports during his visit to the US, Taiwan’s president appeared to respond to some of the criticisms Trump has directed at the country.
Biden’s farewell to China’s tech sector: A new type of forbidden chip: WSJ reports the US has restricted the export of memory chips used in AI applications, but a delayed announcement gave Chinese companies a chance to stock up.
Biden targets China’s chip industry with wider trade bans: NYT reports new rules prohibit the sale of certain types of chips and equipment to China, in an effort to close loopholes and cement the Biden administration’s legacy in countering the US rival.
US hits China’s chip industry with new export controls: FT reports parting measures by Biden administration aim to slow Beijing’s development of AI with military applications.
Bloomberg: US tightens curbs on China’s access to AI memory and chips tools
+ New rules affect 27 types of chip design and fabrication tools
+ US to sanction 140 Chinese entities; curb US, foreign-made HBM
How China will strike back at Trump: Xi Jinping has set out his tariff red lines. What if America crosses them? Economist
Israel builds bases in central Gaza, a sign it may be there to stay: NYT reports in recent months, soldiers have demolished more than 600 buildings to create a buffer area and expanded a network of bases, a New York Times analysis shows.
Elon Musk is attacking Britain. Former PMs are building ties: FT reports a London-based VC has connected Boris Johnson and the Tesla chief, who Tony Blair has praised as ‘an extraordinary innovator.’
FT: UK ‘willing to consider’ allowing Saudi Arabia to join trilateral fighter jet programme
Macron's visit to Saudi Arabia to focus on economic cooperation: Le Monde reports the French president hopes to secure contracts for France, even as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman scales back his ambitious mega-projects at the heart of Vision 2030, the kingdom's strategy of modernization and economic diversification.
French government risks being toppled this week: Le Mode reports PM Michel Barnier, who lacks a majority in the Assemblée Nationale, is expected to use article 49.3 of the Constitution to push his social security budget through without a vote. Such a move could trigger a no-confidence vote that is likely to succeed.
Bloomberg: French premier offers final-hour budget concession to Le Pen
+ French government aims to avoid collapse in no-confidence vote
+ Prime minister announces concession after talks with Le Pen
Le Pen squares off with French government and markets in budget showdown: WSJ reports the far-right leader holds the fate of the country’s government in her hands, as a battle royale over the national budget reaches its denouement and investor anxieties rise.
Rassemblement National’s Jordan Bardella threatens to bring down French government: FT reports prime minister Michel Barnier makes last-minute concession to RN.
Jordan Bardella threatens to oust French prime minister Michel Barnier: The Times reports the head of the populist hard-right National Rally party said the government would need a ‘miracle’ and a U-turn on its social security budget to survive.
France riled by Trump pick of Charles Kushner as Paris envoy: FT reports the establishment reacts to president-elect’s choice with a mix of resignation and muted scorn.
Georgian PM praises police for forceful crackdown on protests: The Times reports amid violent clashes over the government’s decision to halt EU membership talks, the prime minister blames protesters ‘acting on foreign orders.’
+ Georgian police arrested Zurab Japaridze, an opposition leader, during a fourth consecutive night of protests.
Olaf Scholz, Germany’s chancellor, arrived in Kyiv as part of an unannounced trip to Ukraine.
How Ukraine uses cheap AI-guided drones to deadly effect against Russia: Ukraine is making tens of thousands of them. Economist
Vladimir Putin to reject Donald Trump’s opening peace offer, says Russian tycoon: FT reports Konstantin Malofeyev says Russian president to engage in talks only if they include broader conflicts.
Russia’s economy is slowing, opening fissures over policy: The slowdown is worrying for the Kremlin but not serious enough to significantly hobble its war effort. NYT
Russia’s plunging currency spells trouble for its war effort: Supplies from China are about to become more expensive. Economist
Inside the effort to market Russia and Putin to Africans: The African Initiative is part of an opaque network of groups that Western officials and analysts say the Kremlin uses to spread Russian influence in Africa. WP
Biden opens the only trip of his presidency to Sub-Saharan Africa: NYT reports the president stopped in Cape Verde on his way to Angola, where he will highlight American commitment to Africa in the economic competition against China.
The billion-dollar railways driving Biden’s last overseas Trip: On his visit to Angola, the president will stress US support for infrastructure aimed at countering Chinese influence in the region. Bloomberg
US faces stiff test against Chinese dominance in Africa: When President Biden visits Angola today, he will promote a rail project meant to show America’s commitment and to counter Chinese influence. NYT
EU commissioner pitches ‘Europe first’ in response to Donald Trump: FT reports Stéphane Séjourné says ‘biggest fear’ is for bloc to become ‘collateral victim’ of global trade war.
Bloomberg: Milei touts $50 billion from investors eyeing 30-year loopholes in Argentina
+ Early bids under marquee plan only amount to about 15% of goal
+ Argentine leader under pressure to scrap stifling FX controls
Mexican cartels lure chemistry students to make fentanyl: Criminals turn college campuses into recruitment hubs, recruiting chemistry students in Mexico with big paydays. NYT
Justin Trudeau pays Donald Trump Florida visit in bid to avert North American trade war: FT reports the US president-elect has threatened to hit Canadian imports with steep tariffs as soon as he re-enters office.
The risk of Mexico being shut out of North America is rising: Investors should not assume that Trump’s tariff threat is a bluff. Michael Stott
Trump is playing high-stakes poker on tariffs: And the US consumer market is now the world’s richest chip. Rana Foroohar
Trump’s tariff threats stir currency markets: WSJ reports the US dollar strengthened after the president-elect said he would impose 100% tariffs on countries that try to replace the greenback as the world’s reserve currency.
Will Trump’s dollar diplomacy roil global trade? The President-elect is demanding the so-called BRICS countries pledge fealty to the greenback, or risk a new wave of tariffs. DealBook
A roadmap through the drama and realities of Trump’s trade war: Trump’s tariffs could go in many different directions. Understanding the strategy from his first term, and the priorities of his new team, reveals a potential path ahead. Bloomberg
The secret Pentagon war game that offers a stark warning for our times: The devastating outcome of the 1983 game reveals that nuclear escalation inevitably spirals out of control. NYT
*** US Politics + Elections ***
President Biden pardons son Hunter: WSJ reports the move is an about-face after the president previously vowed not to pardon his son, who was convicted on federal gun and tax charges.
President Biden pardons his son Hunter, reversing his long-standing pledge: WP reports Biden had promised not to pardon his son, who was convicted of gun-related charges and had pleaded guilty in a tax case. “Raw politics has infected this process and it led to a miscarriage of justice,” the president said.
In pardoning his son, Biden echoes some of Trump’s complaints: NYT reports President Biden complained about selective prosecution and political pressure in a system he has spent his public life defending.
‘Family ahead of the country’: Joe Biden’s pardon of son Hunter triggers backlash: FT reports Republicans accuse president of hypocrisy in his defence of rule of law in America.
Joe Biden’s broken promise on Hunter pardon is ammunition for Trump: The Times reports the president-elect has raised the prospect of pardoning the January 6 rioters.
WP: Trump raises prospect of pardons for Jan. 6 crimes
A Connecticut town that swung toward Trump offers clues for Democrats: Even in the Naugatuck Valley, a Democratic area in a blue state, economic frustrations pushed some voters toward the Republican nominee. WP
It's not surprising that America put someone in power who promises to bring down the price of eggs Anton Brender
Biden’s economic legacy tied to fate of his industrial policies: Companies have committed nearly $400bn since he signed flagship legislation. But will it last? FT
Trump and allies blur the lines between politician and influencer: WP reports the president-elect and some in his proposed Cabinet are adopting influencer tactics to hawk products, boost political points and promote their personal brands.
Musk’s rivals fear he will target them with his new power: Car companies and tech giants are scrambling for allies in the incoming Trump administration. WSJ
Texas offers Trump a blueprint for illegal-immigration crackdown: State responsible for $11 billion ‘Operation Lone Star’ effort is looking to aid the president-elect’s proposed border restrictions. WSJ
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
Amazon Web Services CEO promises ‘needle-moving’ AI updates: WSJ reports as the cloud-computing leader kicks off its re:Invent conference, Chief Executive Matt Garman says there is no end in sight to the artificial intelligence race.
WSJ: AI ads can look weird. Brands like Coca-Cola are making them anyway.
OpenAI explores advertising as it steps up revenue drive: ChatGPT maker hires advertising talent from big tech rivals. FT
OpenAI targets 1bn users in next phase of growth: FT reports ChatGPT-maker aims for big boost from new AI products, Apple partnership and infrastructure investment.
Bloomberg: Intel CEO Gelsinger leaves as chipmaker’s turnaround flounders
+ Company’s CFO and product CEO to serve as interim leaders
+ Once industry leader, Intel has struggled in shift toward AI
Intel announces retirement of CEO Pat Gelsinger: BusinessWire reports David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus named interim Co-CEOs. Holthaus also appointed to the newly created position of CEO of Intel Products. Frank Yeary named interim executive chair.
MicroStrategy bought another $1.5 billion in Bitcoin, the fourth consecutive weekly purchase announced by the crypto hedge fund proxy.
Northern Star to buy De Grey Mining in $3.26 billion stock deal: WSJ reports for Northern Star, the deal secures one of the gold industry’s biggest undeveloped projects.
Bloomberg: Stellantis reels after CEO’s early departure leaves void
+ Chairman Elkann heads committee that takes over from Tavares
+ Carmaker is under pressure to boost sales, tackle overcapacity
Stellantis shares slide after chief executive Carlos Tavares resigns: FT reports world’s fourth-largest carmaker has suffered a sharp decline in profits this year.
Jaguar to unveil ‘woke on wheels’ electric car: The company’s latest generation e-vehicle has been called ‘the last chance saloon’ by doubters. Will it have been worth the wait? The Times
Volkswagen pulls out of Xinjiang and struggles to keep up in China: Le Monde reports undermined by allegations of Uyghur forced labor, the German giant has sold its plant and test track in Xinjiang and has been overtaken by strong local competition in China, the world's largest market.
Unilever wants to sell food brands with about $1 billion in combined sales.
Surge of online spending means more Americans stay home on Black Friday: FT reports extended discounts have reduced the importance of the biggest promotional day of the US holiday shopping season.
It’s always Black Friday on TikTok shop: Welcome to a world where every day is Black Friday, and every scroll could lead to your next purchase. Bloomberg
*** Culture ***
Francis Ford Coppola found himself outside Hollywood. He’s okay with that. The 85-year-old legendary director doesn’t care what critics say about “Megalopolis.” Still, he is apologetic for being “the jerk that started numbers on movies.” WP
+ “Moana 2,” “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” combined to set a record Thanksgiving weekend at the box office.
‘Brain rot’ named word of the year by Oxford University Press: The term is among several highlighted by the publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary — test your knowledge with our quiz. The Times
*** Sport ***
Kyle McCord outplays Will Howard, and more Ohio State woes Stewart Mandel
The Dallas Cowboys + New York Giants was the most-watched NFL broadcast this season: The Cowboys’ 27-20 win over the Giants attracted 38.5 million viewers, the network projected on Friday, up 14% from a year ago.
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Daily | November 20
Caracal Daily | November 20
Caracal Daily is geopolitical business news + intelligence for comms pros.
Geopolitics is disrupting every business and industry. Caracal is here to help.
Always Be Communicating.
Happy Wednesday.
Here’s today’s Caracal Daily:
*** Ross Rant ***
Key findings from Pew Research Center on "news influencers"
A new study by the Pew Research Center provides actionable insights into the emerging ecosystem of social media news influencers. This unique Pew study offers a deeper understanding of the makeup and audience of the news influencer universe.
The research reveals transformative shifts in news consumption patterns based on an analysis of 500 influencers (selected from 28,000 accounts) and a nationally representative survey.
The Pew study found significant power in news influencers, with 21% of Americans—notably 37% of those under 30—regularly consuming news through these channels.
The research exposes a stark demographic skew, with men comprising nearly two-thirds of news influencers. Most significantly, 75% of these influencers operate independently of traditional media organizations, indicating a fundamental restructuring of news creation and distribution channels.
For this study, Pew defined a news influencer as individuals who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), or YouTube.
The Pew Research Center's reputation for methodological rigor and nonpartisan analysis lends particular weight to these findings. As a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Research Center maintains strict independence and abstains from policy advocacy, ensuring unbiased insights. Their computational social science approach, combining large-scale account analysis with demographic research, provides executives with actionable intelligence on this emerging media and news dissemination phenomenon.
This new study deserves close attention from business leaders as it illuminates profound shifts in information dissemination channels that will impact corporate communications, marketing strategies, and public opinion formation in the years ahead.
Pew's research and analysis is peerless. They cover numerous topics important to the C-suite and are always must-reads.
Here are the top 10 highlights:
1. Scale: About one in five Americans (21%) regularly get news from social media influencers, rising to 37% among adults under 30.
2. Platform Distribution: 85% of news influencers have accounts on X (formerly Twitter), followed by Instagram (50%), YouTube (44%), Facebook (32%), and TikTok (27%).
3. Demographics: 63% of news influencers are men, 30% are women, and there is a notable gender gap across all platforms except TikTok, which maintains near parity.
4. Political Orientation: 27% of influencers explicitly identify as right-leaning versus 21% as left-leaning, with the remainder expressing other views (3%) or no clear orientation (48%).
5. Industry Background: 77% of news influencers have no traditional media background, representing a significant shift toward independent content creation.
6. Monetization: 59% of news influencers monetize their presence through subscriptions (49%), donations (29%), or merchandise sales (21%).
7. Content Focus: 55% of news-related posts focus on politics and government, followed by social issues (18%) and international affairs (14%).
8. Cross-Platform Presence: Two-thirds of influencers maintain presence on multiple platforms, with 27% active on five or more platforms.
9. Alternative Distribution: 34% host podcasts, and 22% maintain newsletters, indicating diversification beyond social platforms.
10. Audience Trust: 65% of Americans who follow news influencers say they help them better understand current events, with 70% finding their content different from traditional news sources.
You can access the complete study here.
*** Globalization + Geopolitics ***
VOA: Cracks emerge in G20 consensus over Ukraine as US ramps up aid
G20: Germany's Scholz voices regret over final communique: DW reports Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed frustration over a lack of clarity on Russia's responsibility for the war in Ukraine and Hamas's for the conflict in the Middle East.
+ Europeans at the G20 summit criticized the decision of Brazil’s president and the host, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, to issue a mealy-mouthed communiqué about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A nostalgic Biden fades out of the picture in talks with world leaders: As he made his final appearance at global gatherings, including at the Group of 20 summit in Brazil, President Biden lobbied for his foreign policy goals even as leaders shifted attention away from him. NYT
Trump isn’t at the G20 summit, but he’s dominating the debate: Foreign leaders gathered in Rio seem doubtful that Biden’s trade, climate, and security policies will endure. WSJ
Bloomberg: Can golf help tame Trump at G20? The next host is already asking
+ South African President Ramaphosa to host 2025 G20 when Trump will return
+ Trudeau shared his painful experience from a past summit
For Russia, nuclear weapons are the ultimate bargaining chip: NYT reports the Ukraine war has not only shattered millions of lives and shaken Europe. It also has inured Washington to the use of nuclear threats as leverage.
Macron urges Putin to 'listen to reason' on Ukraine: Le Monde reports Russia has reacted furiously to a decision by US President Joe Biden to change policy on Ukraine and allow Kyiv to use US-supplied long-range missiles to strike Russian territory for the first time. The tensions spiraled further on Tuesday after Russia said Ukraine used the missiles against a facility in Russia's Bryansk region.
Zelenskyy groans over Scholz’s call with Putin during speech to EU Parliament: Politico reports: “While some leaders think about some elections, Putin is focused on winning this war,” Ukraine’s president tells MEPs on 1,000th day of all-out war.
Russia-Austria gas dispute stokes fears of new energy crisis: DW reports Gazprom cut gas deliveries to Austria nation in a row over compensation linked to previous supply issues. DW explores how the disruption could affect energy security in Europe this winter.
Germany will reportedly begin delivering “several hundred” one-way attack drones to Ukraine in December, German newspaper Bild reported recently.
Reuters: Xi asks Germany's Scholz to help resolve issue of EU tariffs on Chinese EVs
USA-PHI: Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed a new defense pact with the Philippines.
Farmers descended on Westminster – some in their tractors – to protest Rachel Reeves’s decision to impose inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m.
Reuters: Italian lawmakers urge government to scale back crypto, web tax plans
Le Pen’s protégé hints at presidential ambitions: The Times reports as the party leader’s embezzlement trial continues, its chairman Jordan Bardella said that candidates for parliament should not have criminal convictions.
Five Brazilian officers accused of plot to murder President Lula: The Times reports the suspects detained over an alleged plot in 2022 to kill the president before he took up his post include military personnel and a federal police officer.
Venezuela: US recognizes Gonzalez as 'president-elect': DW reports the move comes four months after incumbent Nicolas Maduro's controversial election win. Venezuela called the decision "ridiculous."
Bloomberg: US is now calling González the president-elect of Venezuela
+ Blinken has briefed US partners about decision at G20
+ Biden administration to refrain from ‘rightful president’ term
AP: Residents in Haiti’s capital stand with police in a battle to repel the latest gang attack
*** US Politics + Elections ***
Independent: Trump claims he has an ‘unprecedented’ mandate. Experts say it’s actually very small
+ Trump doesn’t have the mandate he thinks he does, presidential historians tell Richard Hall — and Democrats should stop acting like he does
+ Trump’s margin of victory, historically speaking, is very small. Although he may have won handily in the Electoral College by 312 to 226, he is estimated to win the popular vote by around 1.6 percent. That puts him in 16th place among post-Second World War presidential victories
Trump ignores transition rules. It’s a ‘hostile takeover,’ ally says. WP reports since his victory, the president-elect has not followed many of the practices intended to guide a seamless transfer of power.
CEOs brace for the chaos of another four years of Trump: The return of trade wars and governance-by-tweet. Bloomberg
+ “To my knowledge, there are no ‘national emergency’ authorities which permit the US military to carry out deportations.” -- Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the American Immigration Council
Documents with damaging Gaetz testimony accessed in apparent breach: WP reports the file contains unredacted sworn testimony from a woman who said Trump’s attorney general pick paid her for sex when she was 17, said a person who was notified of the hack.
Commerce: Trump says he has chosen Howard Lutnick, chief executive of Cantor Fitzgerald, as his nominee for Commerce secretary.
Bloomberg: Trump picks Cantor Fitzgerald’s Lutnick as commerce chief
+ Executive will help lead tariff and trade agenda under Trump
+ President-elect still weighing choices for Treasury secretary
Why the crypto community loves Howard Lutnick, Trump’s pick for Commerce secretary: If confirmed, Lutnick will be in regular talks with CEOs in the business community—and could be an influential evangelist of crypto acceptance. FC
Linda McMahon is expected to be named as secretary of the Department of Education.
Trump’s treasury challenge: A pick who loves tariffs yet calms markets: NYT reports the president-elect is considering a conflicting mix of qualities as he decides who will steer his economic agenda.
Walmart says Trump’s proposed tariffs could increase prices: FC reports Trump’s tariffs could raise prices on clothing, toys, furniture, appliances, footwear, and travel goods, particularly items where China is a major supplier, per the National Retail Federation, a trade group of which Walmart’s US head is the chair.
Bloomberg: Trump team targets auto mileage rules he blasted as ‘EV mandate’
+ Administration plans to ease policies pushing electrification
+ Plan echoes first-term push to dismantle efficiency standards
Tulsi Gabbard vs. Trump’s first term: As Director of National Intelligence would she underestimate security threats to dodge hard policy choices? WSJ - Editorial
With Musk in tow, Trump eyes changes to government policies on AI and its dangers: Donald Trump is poised to enter the White House for the second time. His agenda will include overseeing the development of artificial intelligence, potentially the most powerful technology of our time. CNN
The US Patent and Trademark Office banned staff from using generative AI: Wired reports the agency dedicated to protecting new innovations prohibited almost all internal use of GenAI tools, though employees can still participate in controlled experiments.
US government commission pushes Manhattan Project-style AI initiative: Reuters reports a congressional commission on Tuesday proposed a Manhattan Project-style initiative to fund the development of AI systems that will be as smart or smarter than humans, amid intensifying competition with China over advanced technologies. The bipartisan US-China Economic and Security Review Commission stressed that public-private partnerships are key in advancing artificial general intelligence, but did not give any specific investment strategies as it released its annual report.
Meta opens its AI models for the (US) military but will the second Trump administration see AI as a friend or foe? IEEE
Bloomberg: Nippon Steel’s Mori to meet with Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro
+ Japanese steelmaker’s move aims to sway influential Biden ally
+ Mori to make pitch that deal is good for Pennsylvania workers
San Francisco’s mayor-elect picks Sam Altman to co-chair transition team: FC reports Daniel Lurie wants to rebuild the city’s relationships with tech and business leaders. Altman can certainly help on that front.
Reuters: OpenAI's Sam Altman becomes latest tech executive involved in San Francisco government
Comcast greenlights $7 billion spinoff of NBCUniversal cable channels: WSJ reports the new venture will house channels like E!, USA and MSNBC; company to announce several leadership changes.
FC: 80 million Americans are expected to travel this Thanksgiving
*** Disruption + Innovation ***
How Mark Zuckerberg has fully rebuilt Meta around Llama Fortune
+ Zuckerberg has pushed Meta to build Llama into all its products and services, including its Orion augmented reality glasses.
Rox, a startup working on developing artificial intelligence-powered agents for salespeople, has launched with $50 million in funding from investors including Sequoia Capital and General Catalyst.
Artificial intelligence models are getting better at predicting the paths of hurricanes: Earlier this year, a model called GraphCast from Google’s DeepMind AI lab was able to accurately predict the path of Hurricane Beryl, forecasting that it’d take a turn away from Mexico and hit Texas. That prediction was correct — and came a week earlier than conventional meteorological models.
AI can learn to think before it speaks: Advances in reasoning will lead to substantially improved capabilities in mathematics and science. Yoshua Bengio
50: Foxconn said that AI-specific servers will comprise 50% of its total server revenue next year, citing “very crazy” demand for access to Nvidia’s AI chips.
Jaguar’s controversial rebrand is bringing the car into the EV era: The automaker ditched its iconic jaguar symbol for a logo that has left some people scratching their heads. FC
How Chinese is Shein? For the fast-fashion giant, nationality has become a vexed question. Economist
Milan beats London and New York as home to most expensive shopping street: FT reports rents on Via Monte Napoleone have jumped as tax break schemes lure the super-rich.
The Guggenheim, one of the art world’s most famous museums, gets its first true logo: FC reports designed by Pentagram, the new visual identity is a nod to the museum’s ever-expanding art empire.
*** Culture ***
Why you crave your evening glass of wine — and struggle to stop at one: It’s a surprisingly common midlife problem yet alcohol-use disorder has serious health risks. Maria Lally
Jon Batiste can’t stop thinking about Beethoven: Batiste’s latest album is a return to his classical music roots — on his terms. Hear him improvise on some of Beethoven’s classics. NYT
*** Sport ***
Rafael Nadal’s illustrious professional tennis career is officially over: TA reports Spain was eliminated from the Davis Cup, ending the career of one of the sport’s most successful players.
Jaylen Brown is taking on Nike with $200 sneakers: The Celtics star wants to rethink the way athletes do business with footwear giants. Bloomberg
The Times: Pep Guardiola expected to sign new one-year contract at Manchester City
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal