Nov 18 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories in the Wall Street Journal. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

- President Trump says the U.S. plans to sell F-35 jet fighters to Saudi Arabia, making the announcement ahead of a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

- A judge handling the First Brands bankruptcy said he will approve an examiner to investigate possible financial irregularities at the auto-parts supplier.

- The Big Ten's proposed $2.4 billion private investment deal, offering $100 million per school, was halted on Monday.

- AkzoNobel AKZO.AS and Axalta have reached an agreement for an all-stock merger to create a global coatings giant with a combined value of $25 billion, including debt.

- Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook's lawyer defended her mortgage applications, citing accurate information at the time or an "inadvertent notation."

- David Richardson resigned as acting head of FEMA after seven months; Karen Evans will succeed him starting December 1.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

((globalnewsmonitoring@thomsonreuters.com))