Boeing's shares fell 9% after the FAA grounded 171 of its 737 MAX 9 jets for safety checks following an incident where part of an Alaska Airlines jet's fuselage tore off. Airbus shares rose over 1%, with the company expected to announce record deliveries and orders, maintaining its position as the world's biggest planemaker. Shares of Boeing's suppliers and customers, including Spirit Aero, Alaska Air, and United Airlines, also dropped. The Boeing incident is anticipated to affect the Dow Jones Industrial Average, with Dow Futures already down 188 points. Boeing's CEO Dave Calhoun emphasized the company's focus on responding to the incident, with a safety webcast planned.

UK manufacturers are increasingly optimistic about their competitiveness, particularly against Germany and France, with over half viewing the UK as a more competitive place to operate compared to last year. This sentiment is supported by a survey from Make UK and PwC, which also indicates a positive outlook for the manufacturing sector in the new year. Investment in new products, market expansion, and digital technologies, including generative AI, are seen as key drivers for improving business conditions.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction over Palestinian territories and has opened a formal investigation into violence in the region since 2014. ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan has the authority to investigate war crimes committed by both Palestinians and Israelis. Israel, not a member of the ICC, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have denounced the investigation. The European Union is divided on the issue, with some member states rejecting ICC jurisdiction over Palestine. The EU's support for the ICC remains unchanged, but the bloc's fragmented stance and opposition from non-member allies like the US and UK could hinder the investigation. Belgium is funding the ICC's investigation into the Israel-Hamas conflict, while Ireland's opposition parties failed to pass a motion urging the government to denounce Israel to the ICC. The ICC's ability to conduct investigations relies on state cooperation, which is challenged by geopolitical influences and budgetary constraints.

The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on key figures and financial networks associated with HAMAS following an attack on Israel on October 7. These sanctions target the external financing of the Palestinian group, including its secret investment portfolio, which is primarily held by HAMAS supporters in the Arab world. Despite these efforts, Jonathan Schanzer, a former financial analyst for terrorism at the US Treasury and now a senior vice president at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, believes these sanctions are unlikely to significantly harm HAMAS's financial resources, which include substantial funding from foreign governments like Iran and Qatar. HAMAS also receives funds through cryptocurrencies, with over $40 million in transactions linked to the group between 2020 and 2023. Turkey, a NATO member, does not consider HAMAS a terrorist organization and allows its activities within its borders. The US has also targeted HAMAS's financial intermediaries in countries like Iran, Qatar, Sudan, and Algeria. The Holy Land Foundation in the US was shut down for funding HAMAS, while Interpal in the UK was cleared by the High Court of allegations of supporting HAMAS.

Russian billionaire Alexey Kuzmichev was detained for questioning in France regarding tax evasion, money laundering, and international sanctions violations. Searches were conducted at various locations, including Kuzmichev's Paris home and villa in Saint-Tropez. While under custody since the morning of October 30, no official charges have been filed against him. His lawyer declined to comment, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia would protect Kuzmichev's rights once more information is provided by French authorities. The EU considers Kuzmichev one of the most influential people in Russia, close to Vladimir Putin, and supportive of Russian authorities responsible for the annexation of Crimea and destabilization in Ukraine.

The G20 summit in New Delhi has prompted city beautification efforts in anticipation of the world's richest and most powerful countries' leaders attending. India, holding the G20 presidency for 2023, faces challenges in reaching consensus due to Russia and China's objections to the language used regarding the Ukraine conflict. The summit will address the growing influence of the BRICS economic bloc and its potential shift away from Western dominance. Key global issues like climate change and international safety may be overshadowed by the war in Ukraine and power conflicts between countries. The absence of Russia's Putin and China's Xi Jinping adds to the complexity of reaching a unified agreement. However, the possibility of an '18 + 2 rule' could allow for progress despite disagreements, as demonstrated by the 2017 G20 summit.

Turkish Airlines has placed an order for 10 A350-900 long-haul jets from Airbus, with deliveries scheduled between 2025 and 2027. This will increase their total A350-900 fleet to 24. The deal, estimated at nearly $3.2 billion based on 2018 list prices, aligns with the airline's expansion goals, especially in Africa and Asia, leveraging the new Istanbul airport as its main hub.

A smoke cloud from Canada's forest fires has covered mainland Portugal and is expected to dissipate starting Thursday, intensifying over the Azores from Wednesday and Madeira from Thursday. Canada is experiencing its worst fire season on record, with over 76,000 square kilometers burned. The smoke crossed the Atlantic via a jet stream, reaching Norway and the UK. While it enveloped New York City in a dangerous orange haze earlier this month, prompting health warnings from Governor Kathy Hochul, it is not expected to significantly worsen air quality in Europe as it remains in the upper layers of the atmosphere, potentially creating picturesque skies.

Portuguese street artist Vhils, also known as Alexandre Farto, has created an underwater museum off the coast of Algarve, Portugal, called the 'EDP Art Reef'. The museum will feature 13 sculptures made from decommissioned parts of power stations, which have been decontaminated and will be coated in live coral to foster marine life. The project, which began in early 2021, is Vhils' most ambitious to date and aims to be environmentally friendly. The University of Algarve will monitor the sculptures to ensure they contribute positively to the ecosystem. Some pieces are also displayed at EDP's headquarters in Lisbon. The underwater museum is expected to open to visitors in June 2024.

The Cuban government has proposed a new Family Code that includes legalization of same-sex marriage, adoption by same-sex couples, equal division of domestic tasks, prenuptial agreements, and medically assisted reproduction. Despite these progressive measures, public support is lukewarm, with only 54% in favor according to meetings held across the island. The code revises laws dating back to Fidel Castro's era, who admitted responsibility for past persecution of gays. The Catholic Church opposes the proposal, citing gender ideology threats. Mariela Castro is optimistic about the reforms, while expert Bert Hoffman notes the uncertainty of the referendum outcome, a first in Cuba's history.