US soybean farmers are in panic over Chinese buyers withdrawing, while Trump plans aid and considers new tariffs on trucks and medical devices, even as the WTO warns of a sharp slowdown in global trade growth for next year due to such policies; **EU proposes 50% steel tariffs impacting the UK steel industry, and retailers have stockpiled goods ahead of potential tariffs, while UK Prime Minister Starmer states more visas for Indian workers** are not part of his plan.

• America’s Soybean Farmers Are Panicking Over the Loss of Chinese Buyers — Wall Street Journal -
• More UK visas for highly skilled Indian workers ‘not part of plan’, says Starmer — Financial Times -
• Trump to Unveil Farmer Aid as China Shuns U.S. Crops — The New York Times Business -

• Trump signals optimism on Canada trade but offers no concessions — Financial Times -
• UK pledges to defend steel industry after EU says it will raise tariffs to 50% — Financial Times -
• Global Trade Growth to Slow Sharply Next Year, W.T.O. Says — The New York Times Business -
• EU Proposes 50% Steel Tariffs, a Move to Counter Chinese Imports — The New York Times Business -
• Trump’s tariffs won’t deliver many jobs — Financial Times -
• Trump’s tariffs to cut into global goods trade in 2026, says WTO — Financial Times -
• Trump threatens new tariffs on truck imports. Will he follow through? — Financial Times -
• US tariffs on medical devices would harm Americans’ health, Costa Rica warns — Financial Times -
• Retailers Stockpiled to Avoid Tariffs. The Holidays Will Put That to the Test. — Wall Street Journal -

Trump's threats of mass layoffs and denial of back pay during a government shutdown are raising legal concerns, alongside Hunter Biden's questionable business dealings and an opinion piece critical of a CBS deal that appears to appease Trump; the IEA has cut the US renewable energy growth outlook due to Trump policies, and Venezuela is described as Trump's useful enemy, while the Pentagon has relaxed press access rules, and Trump's statements about Tylenol are contrasted with its known health risks.

• Mass Layoffs Trump Is Threatening in Shutdown Fight May Be Illegal — The New York Times Business -
• Trump Suggests Furloughed Federal Workers May Not Receive Back Pay After Shutdown — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | CBS Deal Smells Like a Gimmick — Wall Street Journal -

• Hunter Biden Pursued a Deal to Sell Land Around the U.S. Embassy in Romania — The New York Times Business -
• Taking Too Much Tylenol Has Proven Risks. Trump Didn’t Talk About Those. — The New York Times Business -
• IEA Cuts U.S. Renewable Energy Growth Outlook on Trump Policies — Wall Street Journal -
• Venezuela is Trump’s useful enemy — Financial Times -
• Pentagon Relaxes Press Access Rules — The New York Times Business -

Uber faces an investigation in New Jersey over handling of sexual assaults, while Tesla has launched cheaper Model Y and Model 3 versions following the end of US EV subsidies, and **Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $966 million in a talc lawsuit**; the NYSE owner will take a big stake in Polymarket, Walmart acquired a shopping mall for mixed-use development, and Jaguar Land Rover restarts production after a cyberattack; a fire at a major Ford supplier will disrupt business for months, BMW cut profit guidance due to weak China sales, and Asda's price cuts are hitting rivals, while TotalEnergies sees opportunity in volatile electricity markets, and **US energy companies are set to invest $50 billion in new pipelines**.

• N.J. Attorney General Investigating Uber Over Handling of Sexual Assaults — The New York Times Business -
• Tesla launches cheaper Model Y following end of US EV subsidies — Financial Times -
• Tesla Reveals Cheaper Versions of Model Y and Model 3 — The New York Times Business -

• UK must tackle daily shoplifting ‘war’ on its high streets, says Iceland boss — Financial Times -
• Hacks at Marks & Spencer, Jaguar Land Rover and Co-op Disrupt UK Daily Life — The New York Times Business -
• Tesla Debuts Cheaper, Stripped-Down Versions of Model 3 and Model Y — Wall Street Journal -
• BMW cuts profit guidance after weak sales in China — Financial Times -
• Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $966 Million in Latest Talc Lawsuit — The New York Times Business -
• Stock Exchange Parent to Take Big Stake in Polymarket — The New York Times Business -
• Goldman executive says retail rush into private assets is raising risks — Financial Times -
• A Devastating Fire at a Major Ford Supplier Will Disrupt Business for Months — Wall Street Journal -
• Are we approaching peak prop trading? — Financial Times -
• Asda price cuts hit shares of supermarket rivals — Financial Times -
• France’s Energy Giant Sees Opportunity in the Volatile Electricity Market — The New York Times Business -
• State Street’s flagship S&P 500 ETF suffers record $32bn outflows — Financial Times -
• NYSE Owner to Invest Up to $2 Billion in Polymarket — Wall Street Journal -
• Energy companies to spend $50bn on new US pipelines — Financial Times -
• Corporate Anxiety Is Fueling a Multimillion-Dollar Industry of Gen Z Translators — Wall Street Journal -
• Clear and TSA Race to Speed You Through Airport Security — Wall Street Journal -
• Jaguar Land Rover to restart UK production after devastating cyber attack — Financial Times -
• Turns out economic data *does* matter for stock traders — Financial Times -
• Hurrah for US bank mergers — Financial Times -
• A wholesale change in regulatory philosophy is needed for UK markets — Financial Times -
• Restructuring group AlixPartners puts stake sale on ice — Financial Times -
• ‘The glory days are over’: consultants in Saudi Arabia curb expansion plans — Financial Times -
• White House says it will take 10% stake in Trilogy Metals — Financial Times -

AI companion ads for Friend.com have flooded NYC, sparking backlash and vandalism, while job applicants are attempting to trick AI resume scanners in an escalating game, and Cory Doctorow's book 'Enshittification' aims to change the tech debate; concerns are rising about circular AI investments involving companies like OpenAI, which has **computing deals topping $1 trillion with partners like Nvidia and AMD, while the Nobel Physics Prize was awarded for quantum work powering next-gen computers, and private equity is betting on utilities driven by AI data centers**.

• A.I. Companion Ads for Friend.com Flood NYC Subway, Fueling Backlash and Vandalism — The New York Times Business -
• Recruiters Use A.I. to Scan Résumés. Applicants Are Trying to Trick It. — The New York Times Business -
• Can Cory Doctorow’s Book ‘Enshittification’ Change the Tech Debate? — The New York Times Business -

• Is A.I. Investment Getting Too Circular? — The New York Times Business -
• Nobel Physics Prize awarded for quantum work powering next-gen computers — Financial Times -
• Why private equity is betting big on utilities — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: How do we use AI? — Financial Times -
• Jefferies, side letters and a $12bn collapse — Financial Times -
• OpenAI’s computing deals top $1tn — Financial Times -
• Consultancies must become software groups to survive, IBM executive says — Financial Times -
• OpenAI’s circular deals — Financial Times -
• Musk names former Morgan Stanley banker as new xAI CFO — Financial Times -

Kemi Badenoch is trying to revive Tory fortunes with a plan to boost the UK economy, while a spying case collapsed after the UK refused to label China a 'threat', raising questions about trade versus national security; Revolut co-founder Nik Storonsky shifted his residency from the UK to the UAE, and the Iceland boss calls for tackling shoplifting; Jenrick suggested ministers pick judges, and the Labour party has a radical plan for collective bargaining in social care, while **HMRC increased tax haul by £4.6bn using 'big data'**.

• Badenoch tries to revive Tory fortunes with plan to boost UK economy — Financial Times -
• Spying case collapsed after UK refused to label China a ‘threat’, prosecutors say — Financial Times -
• Revolut co-founder Nik Storonsky shifts his residency from UK to UAE — Financial Times -

• Farage thought Afghan migrant was going to ‘shoot me’, court hears — Financial Times -
• Jenrick says ministers should have power to pick judges — Financial Times -
• Ex-KPMG auditor fined for third time in four years for ‘serious breaches’ — Financial Times -
• Why the Tories are trapped in intellectual drift — Financial Times -
• Did the UK prioritise trade over national security by dropping China spying case? — Financial Times -
• The most radical Labour plan you haven’t heard about — Financial Times -
• ‘Big data’ helps HMRC increase UK tax haul by £4.6bn — Financial Times -
• Britain needs a ‘whatever it takes’ moment — Financial Times -

France faces a political crisis with budget plans in disarray and calls for Macron to quit early, while Japan's next PM needs 'Takanomics', and Ireland pushes ahead with spending despite warnings; Argentina's patience with Milei's economy is wearing thin, the EU is curbing Russian diplomats' travel, and a civil war in Cameroon threatens democracy; Syria is on a 'knife-edge', Israel's appeal to British Jews is questioned, and India may be softening on crypto, while the Polish foreign minister's estate is a 'soft power' house.

• Japan’s next PM needs Takanomics, not Abenomics — Financial Times -
• Ireland pushes ahead with spending while neighbours rein in budgets — Financial Times -
• Don’t allow Cameroon’s forever president to trample democracy again — Financial Times -

• What is happening in France may not stay in France — Financial Times -
• France’s political crisis leaves budget plans in disarray — Financial Times -
• Can Macron break France’s political deadlock? — Financial Times -
• Macron ally calls on French president to quit early — Financial Times -
• Why the Lecornu disaster leaves Macron with so few options — Financial Times -
• EU to curb Russian diplomats’ travel as suspected spy attacks mount — Financial Times -
• Israel seems more important — and less desirable — than ever for British Jews — Financial Times -
• Syria on ‘knife-edge’ in wake of sectarian clashes, warns UN envoy — Financial Times -
• Argentines lose patience with Milei’s economy — Financial Times -
• The Polish foreign minister’s family estate — a ‘soft power’ house in the country — Financial Times -
• Is India softening on crypto? — Financial Times -

China's Golden Week tourism showed little sign of a spending splurge, reflecting wariness about the economy, while the **gold price hit $4,000 an ounce, a sign of turmoil and unease** in financial markets; food inflation is a major concern for central bankers, and emerging markets roared back with their biggest stock rally in 15 years, as economic data is proven to matter for stock traders.

• China’s Golden Week tourism shows little sign of spending splurge — Financial Times -
• Basic Materials Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Gold Price Hits $4,000 an Ounce, a Sign of Turmoil and Unease — The New York Times Business -

• Why everyone is talking about food inflation — Financial Times -
• Turns out economic data *does* matter for stock traders — Financial Times -
• Emerging markets roar back with biggest stock rally in 15 years — Financial Times -