Trump's stance on the US peace plan for Ukraine created confusion, with lawmakers clarifying the administration's position, while G20 leaders defied Trump's absence in pursuing global agreements and Israel targeted a Hizbollah commander in Beirut, escalating regional tensions, and Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro was taken into custody.

• FirstFT: Trump hits out at Ukraine as confusion mounts over US peace plan — Financial Times -
• Israel targets top Hizbollah commander in Beirut strike — Financial Times -
• G20 defies Trump as leaders press on without the US — Financial Times -

• US peace plan: What could Ukraine compromise on? — Financial Times -
• Trump hits out at Ukraine and Europe amid confusion over US position — Financial Times -
• Anticipation and concern ahead of UK Budget and Thanksgiving — Financial Times -
• EU leads isolated group of countries pushing for global climate action — Financial Times -
• Here’s how to make Argentina grow again — Financial Times -
• Ukraine has no choice but to engage with US peace plan — Financial Times -
• Brazil police take ex-president Jair Bolsonaro into custody — Financial Times -
• Export-Import Bank to spend $100bn to achieve US energy dominance — Financial Times -
• Russia exploits western polarisation to ‘split us up’, warns top general — Financial Times -
• Oil majors return to Libya as Tripoli launches first exploration auction in 18 years — Financial Times -
• Surge in Israeli settler violence shakes West Bank — Financial Times -
• When Hary met Donald: the billionaire key to Trump’s Indonesian plans — Financial Times -
• The Failed Crusade to Keep a Rare-Earths Mine Out of China’s Hands — Wall Street Journal -
• Global banks pour into India as regulators open up to foreign money — Financial Times -
• We Analyzed 5,000 Calls to Find Out What CEOs Really Think About Tariffs — Wall Street Journal -
• Lawmakers say US secretary of state rowed back on Ukraine peace plan — Financial Times -

BHP abandoned its bid for Anglo American, marking a significant development in mining industry mergers, while Real Madrid explored selling a stake to investors and hedge fund titan David Tepper sought to turn around the Carolina Panthers.

• BHP Abandons Bid for Anglo American Following New Talks — Wall Street Journal -
• BHP walks away from fresh Anglo American talks — Financial Times -
• Hedge Fund Titan Has a Turnaround Plan (for the Carolina Panthers) — The New York Times Business -

• Real Madrid prepares to sell stake to investors — Financial Times -
• Moderna is most shorted stock in S&P 500 as Americans skip jabs — Financial Times -
• Americans Are on a Year-End Shopping Spree — Wall Street Journal -

Investors warned Rachel Reeves against delaying fiscal pain ahead of the UK Budget, amid business uncertainty over policy changes, as Reeves prepared to lift the two-child benefit cap and UK law firms faced stress-related staff retention issues.

• Investors warn Rachel Reeves against delaying fiscal pain in UK Budget — Financial Times -
• Anticipation and concern ahead of UK Budget and Thanksgiving — Financial Times -
• Reeves prepares to lift two-child benefit cap at Budget — Financial Times -

• Queueing is not a virtue when it comes to building data centres — Financial Times -
• UK’s big law firms risk losing talented staff over ‘unmanageable’ stress — Financial Times -
• UK business blames long run-up to Budget for fuelling uncertainty — Financial Times -
• Starmer’s top business adviser emerges as frontrunner to replace Mandelson as envoy to US — Financial Times -

Roblox implemented face scans for age verification, highlighting advances in online safety technology, as insurers retreated from AI coverage due to mounting risks and cybersecurity concerns arose from a bank data hack and drone incursions in the Netherlands.

• Roblox Rolls Out Face Scans for Age Verification: What to Know — The New York Times Business -
• Should we ban ransom payments to cyber attackers? — Financial Times -
• AI Ignites the Return of Bezos the Inventor — Wall Street Journal -

• Netherlands investigates drone incursions in south — Financial Times -
• Insurers retreat from AI cover as risk of multibillion-dollar claims mounts — Financial Times -
• A Swath of Bank Customer Data Was Hacked. The F.B.I. Is Investigating. — The New York Times Business -

The US introduced new female crash-test dummy standards for improved safety, alongside discussions on California's affordability crisis, rising Medicare expenses, and states like New York and California losing their appeal due to high costs.

• U.S. Introduces New Female Crash-Test Dummy Standards — The New York Times Business -
• Opinion | The Billionaire Who Made California Unaffordable — Wall Street Journal -
• 7 Americans Who Reshaped the Face of Work — Wall Street Journal -

• New York and California are losing their shine — Financial Times -
• How Parents Talk to Kids About Money, Privilege and Inequality — The New York Times Business -
• ‘The system does not want me’: why some doctors struggle to land jobs — Financial Times -
• What to Know About the Nearly 10% Climb in a Key Medicare Expense for 2026 — The New York Times Business -

**'Wicked: For Good' achieved a huge box office opening, while an opinion piece debated Babe Ruth's historical salary, and the legacy of jeweler Ward Landrigan** was remembered, rounding out various cultural notes.

• Opinion | Ruth Deserved His $80,000 — Wall Street Journal -
• ‘Wicked: For Good’ Takes Flight at Box Office, Expected to Make Over $150 Million — The New York Times Business -
• ‘Wicked: For Good’ Scores Huge Box Office Opening — Wall Street Journal -

• Teodora Axente’s Transylvanian fantasies — Financial Times -
• Ward Landrigan, Jeweler to the Stars, Dies at 84 — The New York Times Business -