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Leaders met in South Africa to hammer out a new agenda for debt and climate, negotiators in Brazil closed a contentious climate summit, and fresh data points offered a mixed read on the global economy.

At the same time, a breakthrough rare-disease drug won approval and a long-awaited movie sequel broke records, underscoring how innovation and entertainment spending can diverge from political uncertainty.

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At Africa’s first G20 summit in Johannesburg, leaders approved a joint declaration that puts climate finance and debt relief for poorer countries at the center of the agenda.

The text calls for more concessional financing, support for green industrialization, and reforms to global lending rules.

The meeting is proceeding without U.S. participation, leaving other members to define priorities on debt sustainability and climate support.

How quickly countries translate the summit commitments into concrete programs will determine whether this becomes a turning point or another high-level pledge.

The focus on Africa’s needs reflects growing pressure to adapt global rules to a world where emerging economies hold more of the growth and more of the climate risk.

Negotiators in Belém, Brazil, wrapped up this year’s U.N. climate talks with a deal that increases adaptation money but sidesteps a clear fossil-fuel phaseout.

Countries agreed to triple a key adaptation fund goal, though the target is delayed and details remain vague.

The final “Belém Package” also sets out new indicators and processes for tracking progress, but it falls short of a roadmap to move away from oil, gas, and coal.

Many nations that pushed for a stronger fossil transition have described the compromise as a partial win at best.

The outcome shows climate diplomacy inching forward on money and forests while still struggling to align near-term fossil-fuel plans with long-term temperature goals.

New figures showed U.S. factory activity slowing to a four-month low in November, as tariffs and higher input costs weighed on orders and left more goods on shelves.

A recent manufacturing survey reported softer demand even as many firms continue to hire.

At the same time, the government said it would delay the usual October inflation release and combine limited October numbers with November data in December instead.

The inflation timetable change adds uncertainty for markets that rely on regular price readings.

Together, slower factory growth and patchier data complicate the picture for central bankers trying to judge how far tariffs and high prices are cooling the broader economy.

U.S. regulators approved Redemplo, also known as plozasiran, as a new treatment for adults with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes extremely high triglyceride levels and raises pancreatitis risk.

The regulatory decision allows the drug to be used alongside diet changes to lower fats in the blood.

In a late-stage trial, the medicine sharply reduced triglycerides and cut pancreatitis risk compared with placebo, according to a clinical summary.

The therapy uses small interfering RNA to target a protein involved in fat metabolism.

The approval offers a new option for a small patient group with few alternatives and illustrates how RNA-based drugs are moving from experimental to mainstream care.

The fantasy-musical sequel “Wicked: For Good” is on track for a record-smashing opening weekend after delivering a huge first day in theaters.

Early studio estimates suggest the film could clear more than $150 million domestically, according to early box-office tracking.

Starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, the movie extends the story of Oz for a second installment that was heavily promoted as a holiday-season event.

Strong preview numbers and a broad rollout helped lift expectations after a softer October for theaters.

The performance signals that event films tied to well-known franchises can still draw large in-person audiences even amid streaming competition and economic uncertainty.

With Thanksgiving week beginning, retailers and investors will watch Black Friday and Cyber Monday as an early test of how much households are willing to spend into year-end. A recent market outlook notes that stocks have stumbled this month, making consumer strength even more important for sentiment.

Trade groups still expect holiday sales to top last year in dollar terms, but at a slower growth rate than in 2024. That means discounts, wage growth, and credit conditions will matter more for whether shoppers show up.

The upcoming sales data and card-spending snapshots may offer one of the clearest near-term signals on whether high prices and softer confidence are starting to bite.

Midweek, the U.K. government is set to present its Autumn Budget, a closely watched test of how it balances fiscal discipline with pressure for public investment. Analysts tracking the budget preview expect tax and spending choices that signal commitment to debt rules while leaving some room for growth initiatives.

Bond and currency markets will scrutinize the package for any sign that borrowing plans could push yields higher again. Domestic audiences, meanwhile, will focus on how changes affect household finances and public services.

The reaction will help determine whether the new fiscal approach restores predictability after years of sharp swings in U.K. policy and market confidence.

With the “Belém Package” agreed at COP30, attention now shifts from marathon negotiations to implementation over the next year. The deal creates new processes for climate finance and trade discussions, and observers expect a series of follow-up meetings to refine how funds are mobilized.

Developing countries will push to turn finance pledges into concrete flows for adaptation, loss-and-damage support, and low-carbon investment. Donor governments face the challenge of aligning domestic politics with larger and more predictable contributions.

How quickly the new mechanisms move from paper to projects will shape trust heading into next year’s summit and determine whether vulnerable nations see near-term relief.

Taken together, this week’s stories underline how political deals, economic signals, and scientific advances are unfolding on different clocks.

The G20 summit in South Africa and the COP30 outcome in Brazil show that climate and debt debates are no longer dominated by traditional powers, but that consensus on fossil fuels remains elusive.

At the same time, softer U.S. manufacturing data and a disrupted inflation calendar highlight how difficult it is to read the economic temperature in real time.

Against that backdrop, a targeted RNA drug for a rare disorder and a record box-office opening suggest demand for innovation and experiences can remain strong even when macro indicators look cloudy.

For readers, the pattern points to a world where resilience hinges on adapting to slower, more uneven growth while tracking where policy, capital, and technology are still moving quickly.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team