Trump loyalists picked for nationwide safety and Mideast posts

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 high 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 stated 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 choices 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 means of 5 secretaries of defence in 4 years. The choice of Hegseth suggests he can have an in depth ally keen to enact his coverage selections.

In the meantime, Trump’s Center East appointments are an indication that the US will take a good friendlier method than Joe Biden’s administration in the direction of the Israeli authorities led by Benjamin Netanyahu, probably permitting it to proceed its army campaigns towards Hamas and Hizbollah. Learn extra on the coverage implications.

• Extra appointments: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have been picked to guide a newly created “division of presidency effectivity”, giving the entrepreneurs a hand in promised efforts to slash forms.

• Congress: Even in a Republican-controlled legislature, Trump’s radical agenda might want to clear hurdles​ within the Home and Senate.

Join our White Home Watch publication for extra updates from Washington because it braces itself for Trump’s second time period.

Right here’s what else we’re protecting tabs on as we speak:

• Financial knowledge: Russia releases third-quarter GDP figures whereas the US publishes October inflation knowledge.

• 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.

• Somaliland: The breakaway area of Somalia holds a presidential election.

• Outcomes: ABN Amro, Allianz, Alstom, Bertelsmann, Cisco Methods, Experian, Fuller, Smith & Turner, RTL, RWE and SSE report.

This week’s FT Periods at COP29 will characteristic key discussions that mirror on the negotiations, bulletins and agreements taking place in the course of the occasion. Keep knowledgeable and be a part of the dialog. Register without cost: ftcop.dwell.ft.com.

5 extra high tales

1. Russia’s power minister Sergei Tsivilev has tried to mix the nation’s oil majors in an indication of the ability wrestle at play over the Kremlin’s key wartime income supply, in response to 4 senior Russian power trade figures. The pitch by Tsivilev concerned nationalising Lukoil and tightening management over state-run Rosneft and Gazprom Neft. Learn the complete report.

2. Elon Musk’s assist for Donald Trump is about to spice up X’s flagging enterprise, with some entrepreneurs poised for a return to the social media platform so as to search favour with the incoming administration and get within the “good graces of Elon”.

3. The US has stated it is not going to withhold army support to Israel as a result of it has taken steps to enhance the humanitarian scenario in Gaza, whilst 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 situations expired yesterday.

4. The detention in Mali of a global mining boss and two colleagues has raised alarm throughout the trade 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 trade and the army 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 as we speak. Particular person trusts can be ranked and judged by the standard of companies supplied to sufferers, monetary administration and senior management. Learn extra on the plans.

• Extra NHS: As the federal government units out reforms, a think-tank stories hospital productiveness has began to rebound over the previous yr.

The Large Learn

Brazil’s return to the worldwide stage displays as we speak’s shifting geopolitics, which has opened an area for middle-ranking powers. Governments akin to Brazil’s try to develop their worldwide affect partially by enjoying off the US, China and even Russia. However even earlier than Donald Trump’s re-election, that diplomatic area was shrinking.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

Chart of the day

Buyers have poured report sums into trade traded funds this yr, even earlier than a shopping for spree that was ignited by the election of Donald Trump. As of October 31, international internet flows into the ETF trade had hit $1.4tn, in response to knowledge from BlackRock.

Take a break from the information

Samantha Harvey has received the 2024 Booker Prize for fiction for her novel Orbital, a pointy, lyrical meditation on the state of the Earth and humanity as seen from area. Learn extra about how the ebook received over the judges and critics.