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Immediately’s agenda: Russian oil merger plot; advertisers and X; Mali detentions; Brazilian diplomacy; and ‘planet’s most badass airline’
Good morning. We start with the appointment of extra Trump loyalists to key jobs within the incoming administration, together with nationwide safety roles and prime Center East posts.
Who was picked: President-elect Donald Trump introduced yesterday that he would nominate Fox Information host Pete Hegseth to be his secretary of defence and former Texas congressman John Ratcliffe to be director of the CIA.
He additionally mentioned he would nominate former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee as US ambassador to Israel and that his longtime buddy, donor and fellow actual property mogul Steve Witkoff can be his particular envoy for the Center East.
What the picks imply: The president-elect had a fraught relationship with civilian and army leaders on the Pentagon throughout his first time period in workplace, churning by 5 secretaries of defence in 4 years. The collection of Hegseth suggests he may have an in depth ally prepared to enact his coverage choices.
In the meantime, Trump’s Center East appointments are an indication that the US will take a good friendlier strategy than Joe Biden’s administration in the direction of the Israeli authorities led by Benjamin Netanyahu, doubtlessly permitting it to proceed its army campaigns towards Hamas and Hizbollah. Read more on the policy implications.
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Extra appointments: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy had been picked to guide a newly created “division of presidency effectivity”, giving the entrepreneurs a hand in promised efforts to slash bureaucracy.
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Congress: Even in a Republican-controlled legislature, Trump’s radical agenda will need to clear hurdles within the Home and Senate.
Join our White House Watch newsletter for extra updates from Washington because it braces itself for Trump’s second time period.
Right here’s what else we’re conserving tabs on immediately:
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Financial information: Russia releases third-quarter GDP figures whereas the US publishes October inflation information.
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Excessive-level conferences: The COP29 local weather summit continues. EU fee president Ursula von der Leyen receives French Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte hosts US secretary of state Antony Blinken in Brussels.
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Somaliland: The breakaway area of Somalia holds a presidential election.
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Outcomes: ABN Amro, Allianz, Alstom, Bertelsmann, Cisco Techniques, Experian, Fuller, Smith & Turner, RTL, RWE and SSE report.
This week’s FT Classes at COP29 will characteristic key discussions that replicate on the negotiations, bulletins and agreements occurring throughout the occasion. Keep knowledgeable and be a part of the dialog. Register free of charge: ftcop.live.ft.com.
5 extra prime tales
1. Russia’s power minister Sergei Tsivilev has tried to mix the nation’s oil majors in an indication of the facility wrestle at play over the Kremlin’s key wartime income supply, in line with 4 senior Russian power business figures. The pitch by Tsivilev concerned nationalising Lukoil and tightening management over state-run Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. Read the full report.
2. Elon Musk’s help for Donald Trump is ready to spice up X’s flagging enterprise, with some entrepreneurs poised for a return to the social media platform in an effort to search favour with the incoming administration and get in the “good graces of Elon”.
3. The US has mentioned it is not going to withhold army support to Israel as a result of it has taken steps to enhance the humanitarian state of affairs in Gaza, at the same time as human rights teams say Palestinians within the shattered enclave are being “starved”. The transfer comes as a US deadline for Israel to take “pressing and sustained actions” to enhance the circumstances expired yesterday.
4. The detention in Mali of a world mining boss and two colleagues has raised alarm throughout the business about rising private dangers for executives within the gold-rich west African nation. The three British residents are amongst seven western mining executives to have been held previously two months as tensions rise between the industry and the military junta.
5. Underperforming NHS hospitals can be publicly shamed in league tables and failing well being bosses can be sacked, UK well being secretary Wes Streeting will warn in a speech to sector leaders immediately. Particular person trusts can be ranked and judged by the standard of providers supplied to sufferers, monetary administration and senior management. Read more on the plans.
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Extra NHS: As the federal government units out reforms, a think-tank reviews hospital productiveness has started to rebound over the previous yr.
The Large Learn
Brazil’s return to the worldwide stage displays immediately’s shifting geopolitics, which has opened an area for middle-ranking powers. Governments comparable to Brazil’s are attempting to increase their worldwide affect partly by enjoying off the US, China and even Russia. However even earlier than Donald Trump’s re-election, that diplomatic space was shrinking.
We’re additionally studying . . .
Chart of the day
Buyers have poured file sums into change traded funds this yr, even earlier than a shopping for spree that was ignited by the election of Donald Trump. As of October 31, world internet flows into the ETF business had hit $1.4tn, in line with information from BlackRock.
Take a break from the information
Samantha Harvey has gained the 2024 Booker Prize for fiction for her novel Orbital, a pointy, lyrical meditation on the state of the Earth and humanity as considered from area. Learn extra about how the e-book won over the judges and critics.
