The end of the longest peace? One of history’s greatest achievements is under threat. Graham Allison + James A. Winnefeld, Jr.
Bloomberg: Ukraine and allies warn US against rush to end Russia’s war
+ Ukraine and its European allies signaled that key sticking points remained in US-brokered peace talks, despite senior officials hailing progress in winning more favorable terms for Kyiv.
+ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said a meeting in Geneva resolved “some issues”, but cast doubt on an initial Trump administration demand for Kyiv to cede territory and scale back its military.
+ Ukrainian and US officials said they had worked over details of a peace blueprint, narrowing it down to a new list of 19 proposals, with discussions to continue at the working level in the coming days.
Under pressure from Washington, Zelensky faces tough choices: Talks on the US plan began as Ukraine's domestic situation was deteriorating militarily, economically and politically. Weakened, the Ukrainian president is calling for unity to avoid an agreement that would jeopardize the country's sovereignty. Le Monde
For a weakened Zelensky, yielding to Trump is riskier than defiance: Most Ukrainians reject a surrender, and Zelensky courts crisis with his own military in case of major concessions to Russia. WSJ
US and Ukraine draft new 19-point peace plan but defer biggest decisions: The most politically sensitive elements are left for Trump and Zelenskyy to discuss. FT
Peace-plan negotiators leave thorniest issues to Trump and Zelensky to hash out: What happens to Ukrainian territory coveted by the Kremlin but not seized by Moscow’s troops is a major sticking point in any peace deal. WSJ
Ukraine has no choice but to engage with US peace plan: The American proposal is biased in favour of Russia. But it is not the final word. Gideon Rachman
The Trump team’s tortured path to a Ukraine peace plan: Washington’s mixed signals and shifting proposals unsettle allies as negotiations near a critical phase. FT
US, Ukraine move closer together on peace plan after lengthy talks: The document, which Europe and Ukraine said was too favorable to Russia, has been substantially changed, officials say. WP
As Ukraine sets ‘red lines,’ a US peace plan is slimmed down: Washington and Kyiv said that “highly productive” discussions over a proposal to end the war between Russia and Ukraine would continue. NYT
US seeks to reassure Ukraine and EU allies over Trump's plan: Le Monde reports the US secretary of state spoke of 'a tremendous amount of progress' during his talks on Sunday with Ukrainian and European officials. However, the counter-proposals from European capitals remained far removed from the plan put forward by the American president.
Putin’s win-win: Take a Russia-friendly peace deal, or fight on: The Kremlin’s leader is standing back as Ukraine and Europe scramble to negotiate changes to a US proposal to end the war. NYT
The wrong way to peace in Ukraine: It was revealed last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have been secretly negotiating a settlement to the war in Ukraine. But this “peace” plan, if implemented, would encourage Russia to continue waging war in Europe, undermine the international order, and increase the risk of nuclear war. Timothy Snyder
Russia must get no amnesty in any peace deal for Ukraine: Gyunduz Mamedov, a lawyer-turned-soldier, fears the West will acquiesce in the Kremlin’s bid to undermine justice. Economist
The death of the diplomat in Trump’s America: Sidelining the state department and relying on dealmakers will come at a cost. Alec Russell
China’s Xi calls Trump to discuss Taiwan, Ukraine: WSJ reports the two leaders spoke as Washington, Kyiv, and Moscow try to hammer out a plan to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping hold first call since trade truce: FT reports conversation between US and Chinese presidents comes as Washington debates sale of more advanced AI chips.
Trump will visit China in April for meeting with Xi Jinping: NYT reports President Trump said he would visit Beijing for the first time since returning to office after holding a call with Mr. Xi, China’s leader.
Nikkei: Trump says he'll visit Beijing in April and host Xi for state visit next year
China’s Communist Party wants positive energy only, please: But enforced online optimism is no remedy for economic gloom. Economist
Can the Chinese economy match Aruba’s? Xi Jinping has lofty goals for 2035. But China faces a real problem. Economist
Japan’s new leader infuriated Beijing. She isn’t backing down. Workaholic Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is riding high despite the perils of a fight with Beijing. WSJ
Japan set to name AI, nuclear fusion among 6 strategic technology fields: Sectors to be eligible for increased tax benefits to attract private-sector funds. Nikkei
North Korean elite wear fur coats and luxury brands as poor freeze: The country’s small trading class is increasingly allowing itself conspicuous displays of wealth while the majority of citizens struggle for food and warmth. The Times
Europe risks going the way of imperial China: Once a proud power, Qing dynasty fell behind in technology to be exploited by the West — now the roles are reversing. William Hague
Chinese exporters charge Russia more for war supplies: FT reports price increases show that Western restrictions are limiting Moscow’s capabilities, Bank of Finland research finds.
AFP: France wants to bring voluntary military service back
France and Gabon seek ‘new beginning’ in relations: AFP reports French President Emmanuel Macron began a state visit to Gabon to renew diplomatic, military and economic ties with President Brice Oligui Nguema’s post-coup government. France has reduced its military presence but remains a key partner, backing projects like the Transgabonais railway renovation. Both leaders stressed a 'new beginning' in bilateral relations.
Macron cements ties with 'new Gabon' led by coup leader: Le Monde reports after the G20 summit in Johannesburg, the French president made a stop in Libreville on Sunday. His warm welcome from Brice Oligui Nguema stood in sharp contrast to the anti-French sentiment spreading across the continent.
South Africa salvages the reputation of a faltering G20 summit: Le Monde reports boycotted by the United States, the summit still managed to adopt a final declaration. 'The G20 may be reaching the end of a cycle,' Emmanuel Macron wondered.
Can the world move on without the US? G20 leaders gave it a shot. With the United States boycotting the summit, other nations sought to strike new deals, and some took a tougher tone with President Trump. NYT
Why ‘Henrys’ are turning their back on the Tories: The Conservative party has lost touch with affluence — and with the generation that would like to enjoy its benefits. Henry Hill
Bloomberg: Heathrow’s £49 billion third-runway project backed by ministers
A united Ireland referendum must not be ‘another Brexit’, analysts say: Two leading journalists from both sides of the border warn against another ‘vague, thumbs up-thumbs down’ vote. Guardian
Belgium faces nationwide disruption as unions strike: DW reports Belgium is set for a new phase of labor unrest as unions launch coordinated walkouts against the government's savings plans. The action, already affecting rail passengers, is set to widen to include schools and airports.
Saudi Arabia opens property sector to foreigners, as agents eye Asians: Nikkei reports new market cheaper than Dubai, where Indians, Pakistanis, and Chinese are top investors.
Sudan's RSF declares truce after army rejects US plan: AFP reports Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Monday announced a unilateral three-month ceasefire a day after the army dismissed a US truce proposal from international mediators.
Sudan's displaced and exhausted doctors treat fellow El-Fasher survivors: AFP reports overwhelmed health workers rushed from patient to patient in makeshift tents in Sudan, trying to help even though they too had barely escaped the fall of El-Fasher to paramilitary forces.
Several flights were cancelled after Hayli Gubbi, a volcano in northern Ethiopia, erupted for the first time in nearly 12,000 years.
Brazil is embracing its African roots: It is the country that imported by far the largest number of African slaves. Economist
Brazil's Supreme Court upholds Bolsonaro jailing after 'attempt to flee': Le Monde reports Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled Monday that the former president had 'willfully and consciously violated the electronic monitoring equipment,' as he appeals a 27-year sentence for plotting a failed coup.
Brazil defied Trump and won: President Trump tried to keep the former Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, out of prison. He failed, and now he is moving on. WP
Trump’s tariffs are pushing Canada closer to China and India: WP reports Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to double non-US exports by 2035. That means making up with two of Canada’s greatest adversaries.
Trade chaos leads small businesses to rethink US relationships: From Sweden to Brazil, six small companies talk about how they are communicating with their US customers amid uncertainty over Trump’s changing tariffs. NYT
Global trade overdependent on US and China, WTO head says: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, head of the World Trade Organization, spoke to DW about the risks of global trade's "overdependence" on the US and China and the potential benefits of AI.
US deems Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as terror group: DW reports Donald Trump has not ruled out taking military action against Venezuela, which would be a major escalation of the monthslong operation that has included a military buildup in the Caribbean.
Top US military officer to visit Caribbean as Trump pressures Venezuela: NYT reports Gen. Dan Caine is making the trip as President Trump is said to have approved plans for covert action in Venezuela.
More Americans are getting their power shut off, as unpaid bills pile up: WP reports average electricity costs have risen 11 percent since January, more than three times the rate of inflation. “For the first time, we’re behind on all of our utilities," one Ohioan said.
Affordability is Trump’s problem now: Like every president, he will have to own the political consequences of rising prices. Rana Foroohar
WSJ: Comey and James cases dismissed in blow to DOJ
AP: Pentagon says it’s investigating Sen. Mark Kelly over video urging troops to defy ‘illegal orders’
Reuters: Trump seizes control of Republicans' 2026 election strategy with his presidency on the line
Marjorie Taylor Greene’s exit shows Trump still has a firm grip on his party: WSJ reports the Georgia congresswoman’s resignation after crossing the president on the Epstein files underscores his power to make or break careers.
Amid MAGA fight over AI, Trump allies urge focus on workers: WP reports a conservative initiative highlights GOP divisions over tech regulation, with some advocating for deregulation and others prioritizing worker protection.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas: FT reports crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack.
BBC launches hunt for new boss as Trump row rumbles on: AFP reports the BBC on Monday formally launched its search for a new chief following the resignation of Tim Davie over a misleading edit of Donald Trump that sparked a row with the US president.
Shares in Novo Nordisk fell by as much as 11% after it reported that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, failed to treat Alzheimer’s disease in late-stage trials.
BHP’s failed bids for Anglo lay bare mining group’s struggles to find growth: FT reports industry stunned after company makes fresh attempt to buy smaller rival then walks away just days later
Inside Marriott’s disastrous bet on short-term rental company Sonder: WSJ reports the investment added rooms for the hotel chain, but the apartment-rental firm collapsed under the high-cost leases. “Everything kind of went straight downhill,” said one manager.
The AI industry is built on a big unproven assumption: In addition to the projections about reaching artificial general intelligence and replacing millions of human workers, there’s the mundane matter of how long AI chips will last. Bloomberg
Fortune: ‘I’m deeply uncomfortable’: Anthropic CEO warns that a cadre of AI leaders, including himself, should not be in charge of the technology’s future
OpenAI, Intuit strike strategic partnership: WSJ reports Intuit sees the opportunity to expose its products, such as TurboxTax and QuickBooks, to a broader range of potential users on ChatGPT.
Bloomberg: Anthropic says its new AI model is better at coding and office work
Cracks are appearing in OpenAI’s dominant façade: A deal between Anthropic, Microsoft, and Nvidia makes AI more circular. Economist
Amazon says to invest $50 billion in US government AI infrastructure: Le Monde reports according to a statement, the initiative will give US agencies access to advanced AI services to develop software for missions ranging from cybersecurity to scientific research.
Amazon’s X-energy gets backing from Jane Street as investors bet big on nuclear: FT reports reactor developer closes fundraising round as markets expect atomic energy will power the AI boom.
AI delay may affect Europe's future, says ECB chief: AFP reports European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warned Monday that a delay in embracing artificial intelligence could "jeopardise" the continent's future, urging barriers to its adoption to be swiftly lifted.
New AI model enhances diagnosis of rare diseases: FT reports PopEVE system outperformed rivals such as Google DeepMind’s AlphaMissense.
The state of AI: Don’t share your secrets with a chatbot: Tech companies are harnessing the language of relationships to harvest data. FT
Qatar pours millions into British investor in quantum start-ups: The Times reports venture capital firm Firgun raises $70 million from backers including the Qatar Investment Authority as it seeks to build funding for UK computing firms.
The droids taking over one of England’s strangest towns: Want to glimpse our robot-filled future? Just go to Milton Keynes. NY Mag
NASA and Boeing scale back Starliner missions after fumbled astronaut flight: WSJ reports the space vehicle will launch again, without astronauts, in April on a cargo mission to the International Space Station.
Who will win the trillion-dollar robotaxi race? It’s Waymo complicated than it looks. Economist
An auto holy grail: Motors that don’t rely on Chinese rare earths: Weary of being captive to geopolitics, car companies are looking for ways to replace powerful rare-earth magnets in electric motors. NYT
Italian fashion titan Zegna to hand over power: AFP reports Gildo Zegna, grandson of the eponymous fashion brand's founder Ermenegildo Zegna, will hand over the reins of the group to its finance director and the fourth generation of family leaders in January, the group announced Monday.
Being addicted to Bravo was a hobby. Now it’s a career. At BravoCon, podcasters, meme-makers and TikTok recappers are building careers off the TV network and rewriting what fandom looks like. WP
Social media is dead — none of my friends are posting any more: ‘Everyone is scared that something they share might attract the attention of social media’s angry hordes, always ready to accuse.’ Caitlin Moran
AFP: Reggae legend Jimmy Cliff dead at 81
The standoff that brought the Big Ten’s $2.4 billion deal to a screeching halt: Despite pressure from commissioner Tony Petitti, Michigan regents pushed back on a private-investment pact worth at least $100 million to each school. WSJ
Shedeur Sanders’s first NFL test was a complete disaster. His next one flashed hope. Following his draft-day nosedive, the famous rookie for the Cleveland Browns flopped in his debut. But in his first career start, he flashed a glimpse of why evaluators were so intrigued by him. WSJ
Enjoy the ride + plan accordingly.
-Marc
Marc A. Ross | Chief Communications Strategist @ Caracal
Caracal Daily | November 25
