The ongoing government shutdown threatens food stamp benefits and leads to federal aid cuts, while President Trump commutes George Santos's sentence, sets tariffs on trucks and buses, and faces backlash from Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff for controversial comments; simultaneously, student loan cancellations resume, Obamacare prices increase, and Trump pushes for Ukraine deals with Russia.

• Food Stamp Benefits May Run Out in November, Officials Warn — The New York Times Business -
• Trump commutes prison sentence of former Republican lawmaker George Santos — Financial Times -
• Education Dept. Agrees to Resume More Student Loan Cancellations — The New York Times Business -

• Trump Sets Tariffs on Trucks and Buses and Extends Exemptions for Automakers — The New York Times Business -
• US offers tariff relief for trucks imported from Mexico and Canada — Financial Times -
• Trump resists Zelenskyy’s plea for Tomahawk missiles — Financial Times -
• Salesforce boss Benioff walks back Trump praise after widespread backlash — Financial Times -
• Ukraine talks as it happened - Trump urges Zelenskyy and Putin to ‘make a DEAL!’ — Financial Times -
• Marc Benioff Apologizes for National Guard Comments — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Threatens New Cuts to Federal Aid, Workers During Shutdown — The New York Times Business -
• Trump says Nicolás Maduro does not want to ‘fuck around’ with the US — Financial Times -
• Higher Obamacare Prices Become Public in a Dozen States — The New York Times Business -
• Green Shipping Plan Is Delayed After Trump Backlash — Wall Street Journal -
• Bessent Stakes Credibility and Taxpayer Money on Argentina Bet — The New York Times Business -
• Historic shipping climate agreement delayed after US blocking tactics — Financial Times -
• Trump’s ex-adviser John Bolton pleads not guilty to mishandling classified information — Financial Times -
• Trump Refiles $15 Billion Lawsuit Against The New York Times — The New York Times Business -
• Invite to an Anti-DEI Activist Prompts HR Pros to Pull Out of Industry Event — Wall Street Journal -
• The Government Is Shut Down. But Not for Fossil Fuels. — The New York Times Business -
• Want to Know What You’ll Pay for College? There’s a Fast New Calculator for That. — The New York Times Business -
• EU offers to buy US weapons for Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets — Financial Times -
• Kremlin investment chief urges Elon Musk to build Alaska-Russia tunnel — Financial Times -
• The Growing Blowback Against Marc Benioff — The New York Times Business -
• Trump says he will meet Putin in Budapest — Financial Times -
• Congress Asks Itself: Should the Government Help Market America to Tourists? — Wall Street Journal -
• Novo Nordisk shares slide as Trump vows to cut Ozempic price — Financial Times -
• Trump points to Budapest for next meeting with Putin — Financial Times -
• How Putin’s history rant in Alaska nudged Trump closer to Ukraine — Financial Times -
• How dozens of Trump’s donors have benefited from his second term — Financial Times -

**France’s credit rating cut by S&P, investor jitters over bank loan troubles, and leveraged loan risks dominate financial news, as US stocks remain steady despite banking concerns and America's economy defies gravity with AI boom, while central banks face easing dilemmas and Spain's BBVA fails in a hostile takeover bid**.

• S&P cuts France’s credit rating as it forecasts higher debt pile — Financial Times -
• For 3 Years, the Bull Market Defied Inflation, Tariffs and Gravity — The New York Times Business -
• Investors Shudder at Signs of Loan Trouble in Banks — The New York Times Business -

• US stocks steady as investors shrug off banking jitters — Financial Times -
• Fraud fears give financiers an unexpected stress test — Financial Times -
• America’s gravity-defying economy — Financial Times -
• Jefferies was ‘defrauded’ by First Brands, says chief executive — Financial Times -
• Investors Shudder at Signs of Loan Trouble in Banks — The New York Times Business -
• Italy aims to raise flat tax for rich foreigners by 50% — Financial Times -
• The kaleidoscopic global economy: resilient, lucky and fragile — Financial Times -
• A little peep inside one of London’s hot new quant powerhouses — Financial Times -
• State Street Posts Higher Profit as Fee Revenue Rises — Wall Street Journal -
• Fifth Third Profit Rises, Comerica’s Slips Ahead of Tie-Up — Wall Street Journal -
• Could central banks ease too much? — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Jitters over the health of US regional banks trigger stock market sell-off — Financial Times -
• BBVA’s $19 Billion Hostile Takeover Bid for Sabadell Falls Through — Wall Street Journal -
• Spain’s BBVA fails in hostile bid for Sabadell — Financial Times -
• Credit cockroaches — Financial Times -
• If we’re being encouraged to own shares, we must also learn how to hedge them — Financial Times -
• Investors warn on leveraged loan risks after First Brands collapse — Financial Times -
• Silverines cash in on a dysfunctional market — Financial Times -

Boeing receives FAA approval to increase 737 MAX production despite a Jeju Air crash lawsuit, while Tesla shareholders are urged to reject Elon Musk's pay package, TPG and Blackstone near a major medical tech acquisition, Apple secures Formula 1 streaming rights, and the auto industry fears a new chip shortage amidst the arrival of flying cars and growing concerns about an AI bubble.

• TPG and Blackstone near deal for medical technology company Hologic — Financial Times -
• Boeing Is Allowed to Increase 737 Max Plane Production, FAA Says — The New York Times Business -
• FAA Lets Boeing Increase Production Cap on 737 MAX by 10% — Wall Street Journal -

• Tesla Shareholders Urged to Reject Musk’s $1 Trillion Pay Package — Wall Street Journal -
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• Deloitte to pay $34mn over audit work on US nuclear fiasco — Financial Times -
• Proxy adviser ISS says Tesla investors should oppose $1tn Musk pay deal — Financial Times -
• Southwest Airlines Debuts Boeing 737 Max 8 With New Cabin Design — The New York Times Business -
• Families of Jeju Air Crash Victims Sue Boeing — The New York Times Business -
• Apple Secures Formula One’s U.S. Streaming Rights — Wall Street Journal -
• The Age of Flying Cars Has Arrived — Wall Street Journal -
• I Test Drove a Flying Car. Get Ready, They’re Here. — Wall Street Journal -
• Verisure Unit Hit by Data Breach the Week After Stock Market Debut — Wall Street Journal -
• American Express Third-Quarter Sales Rise as Cardholders Regain Spending Confidence — Wall Street Journal -
• OpenAI Blocks Videos of Martin Luther King Jr. After Racist Depictions — The New York Times Business -
• Apple signs $700mn deal for US Formula 1 rights — Financial Times -
• Hermes Menswear Creative Chief Veronique Nichanian to Leave After Nearly Four Decades — Wall Street Journal -
• EssilorLuxottica Shares Soar After Revenue Accelerates Ahead of Forecasts — Wall Street Journal -
• Walmart, Once a Byword for Low Pay, Becomes a Case Study in How to Treat Workers — Wall Street Journal -
• Continental Shares Climb After Strong Quarter, Outlook Confirmation — Wall Street Journal -
• Smiths Group to Sell Smiths Interconnect to Molex in $1.75 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Chinese Tourists Are Spending Less. Hotel Giant H World Says That’s a Good Thing — Wall Street Journal -
• Ferrari cuts supply of cars to UK after non-dom tax changes — Financial Times -
• Venture Global seeks to quell client suspicions over LNG contracts — Financial Times -
• Silicon Valley takes stock of the AI bubble — Financial Times -
• West will sacrifice cheap power if it spurns Chinese tech, says turbine maker — Financial Times -
• Starbucks Evaluating Offers for China Business — Wall Street Journal -
• Delta and United Are Leaving Other Airlines Behind — The New York Times Business -
• Google’s data centre push in India exposes gaps in AI safeguards — Financial Times -
• The Auto Industry Is Panicking About Another Potential Chip Shortage — Wall Street Journal -

US and China address rare earths disputes as carmakers prepare for a chip battle following China's Nexperia export curbs, while the UK seeks a drug pricing deal with the White House, China purges military commanders, warns the UK over its embassy delay, and Europe is highlighted as a loser in the US-China rare earth wars.

• Bessent to meet China’s vice-premier in bid to solve rare earths spat — Financial Times -
• UK closes in on drug pricing deal with White House — Financial Times -
• China purges nine top commanders in People’s Liberation Army — Financial Times -

• Dispute over court testimony was final straw in UK-China spy case — Financial Times -
• Carmakers gear up for chip battle after China curbs Nexperia exports — Financial Times -
• Saudi Arabia in talks for US defence pact — Financial Times -
• EU offers to buy US weapons for Ukraine using Russia’s frozen assets — Financial Times -
• China warns UK of ‘consequences’ after latest delay to new London embassy — Financial Times -
• Why Westminster neglects the real questions on China — Financial Times -
• Apple, Caught Between U.S. and China, Pledges Investment in Both — The New York Times Business -
• Volvo Expects North American Truck Market to Weaken Next Year — Wall Street Journal -
• Europe is the biggest loser in US-China rare earth wars — Financial Times -

A London class-action lawsuit over rail fare overcharging is lost by commuters, while a Polish court blocks the extradition of a Nord Stream suspect, French police arrest plotters against a Russian dissident, and a military leader takes office in Madagascar after a coup, alongside legal challenges to the Palestine Action ban and ongoing protests regarding America's 'No Kings' quandary.

• London commuters lose class-action lawsuit over rail fare overcharging — Financial Times -
• UK government ‘doing everything it can’ to overturn ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans — Financial Times -
• Legal challenge to Palestine Action ban can continue, court rules — Financial Times -

• Polish court blocks extradition of Nord Stream suspect to Germany — Financial Times -
• Two Ukrainian men accused of Keir Starmer arson attacks plead not guilty — Financial Times -
• French police arrest four people over plot to kill Russian dissident — Financial Times -
• America’s No Kings quandary — Financial Times -
• Military leader sworn in as Madagascar president after coup — Financial Times -
• Smartmatic Added to Bribery Indictment of the Company’s Executives — The New York Times Business -

Chancellor Reeves considers tax rises and spending cuts for a gilt market rally, while new rules on minimum UK shareholdings in ISAs are explored, UK homeowners are criticized for unrealistic property valuations, and Prince Andrew gives up his Duke of York title amidst a broader analysis of Britain's economic stability.

• Prince Andrew gives up Duke of York title — Financial Times -
• Reeves looks to include minimum UK shareholding in Isa overhaul — Financial Times -
• China spy case has an aroma of appeasement — Financial Times -

• Gilts stage rally as Reeves looks at tax rises and spending cuts — Financial Times -
• Britain: a beacon of economic stability? — Financial Times -
• Why are UK homeowners so delusional about the value of their property? — Financial Times -

NPR mainstay Susan Stamberg passes away at 87, Indiana University fires a student newspaper adviser, and London features new art exhibitions, while discussions arise about the Pompidou's global expansion, New Yorkers losing their favorite bathroom, and a look into Paris's hot properties.

• Susan Stamberg, Longtime Mainstay of NPR, Dies at 87 — The New York Times Business -
• The best exhibitions to see in London this weekend — Financial Times -
• How the Pompidou took over the world — Financial Times -

• New Yorkers Are Losing Their Favorite Bathroom: REI — Wall Street Journal -
• Indiana University Fires Adviser to Student Newspaper and Bars Print Publication — The New York Times Business -
• George Condo: ‘I want my paintings as loud and amped up as Hendrix’ — Financial Times -
• Hot property: five homes for sale in Paris — Financial Times -