FT News Briefing

Three senior members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were killed on Monday in an air strike, research institutes in the US and UK will work together to mitigate the risks of AI, and Robinhood gets into the credit card business. Mentioned in this podcast: Iran accuses Israel of killing general in strike on Damascus consulate US and UK sign landmark agreement on testing safety of AI  Beyond meme...

Online fake news and hybrid campaigns increase ahead of European elections, investors are concerned about President Lula’s interventions in the economy, and China’s factory activity has expanded for the first time in six months. Mentioned in this podcast: Europe battles ‘avalanche of disinformation’ from Russia Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva steps up interventions in Brazil’s largest companies China’s...

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison for his role in the collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange, and Thames Water shareholders might take a big financial hit. Plus, what instant noodles can tell us about the economy.  Mentioned in this podcast: Thames Water shareholders signal readiness to take £5bn hit FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in priso...

The end of negative interest rates in Japan threatens to bring a new era of volatility for the yen, and Florida and Disney resolve a legal dispute. Plus, US small-cap stocks are suffering their worst run of performance relative to large companies in more than 20 years.  Mentioned in this podcast: End of negative interest rates in Japan raises threat of yen volatility US small-caps suffer wors...

Shares in Donald Trump’s social media business soared following its New York market debut, and Visa and Mastercard have agreed to cut their US transaction fees. Plus, UBS needs to boost its wealth business to make its Credit Suisse acquisition a success.  Mentioned in this podcast:  Donald Trump has $4.6bn stake in social media group after market debut Visa and Mastercard agree $30bn set...

The UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the Ukraine war distracted Russian security forces from addressing Islamist terrorism threats, and Boeing chief executive Dave Calhoun plans to step down at the end of the year. Plus, the FT’s Antoine Gara explains how infrastructure went from an investment backwater to a $1tn asset class.  Mentioned in this podcast: H...

US and Japan’s security alliance gets a makeover , a record amount of money has flooded into US corporate bond markets this year, and India is using a ‘quid pro quo’ strategy for trade talks.  Mentioned in this podcast: US and Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in more than 60 years Investors pour money into US corporate bond funds at record rate India’s ‘quid pro quo’ strategy for t...

Democrats have honed in on a novel campaign strategy over the past few election cycles: elevate Trump-backed candidates in GOP primaries, and then blow past them in general elections. So far, the strategy has mostly paid off, but will this risky gamble work in 2024? The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, join to discuss. Credit: Associated Pre...

Reddit shares soared during its public market debut, US prosecutors filed a landmark antitrust lawsuit against Apple, and the FT’s Sujeet Indap explains why Hertz’s pivot to electric vehicles went awry. Mentioned in this podcast: US accuses Apple of building smartphone market monopoly in antitrust case How Hertz’s bets on Tesla and a Goldman veteran veered off course Social media site Reddit soars...

The west is focusing on new technology in nuclear energy to reduce reliance on Russia and carbon, and profits at Chinese ecommerce group PDD Holdings soared 146% in three months to December. Plus, price rises in services in the US are making the Federal Reserve’s decision-making over interest rates more complicated. Mentioned in this podcast: Macron to revive demands for European defence bonds&nbs...

Microsoft has hired the co-founder of Google’s DeepMind, the Bank of Japan raised interest rates for the first time since 2007, and leading European and UK artificial intelligence start-ups have been lobbied to move their headquarters to rival nations.  Mentioned in this podcast: Microsoft hires DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman to run new consumer AI unit Bank of Japan ends era of negativ...

Nvidia announced a new “superchip” and Vladimir Putin’s expected electoral victory is an inflection point for Russia. Plus, the FT’s Heba Saleh explains why young people in Gaza are being called the lost generation.  Mentioned in this podcast: Nvidia unveils new ‘superchip’ in push to continue dominance of AI market Vladimir Putin cements Russian rule for another six years The lost future of...

Central banks take centre stage this week, Benjamin Netanyahu defies western allies over his strategy in Gaza, and the US National Labor Relations Board is facing challenges from some major companies. Plus, after years of negative news surrounding South Africa, there are grounds for medium-term optimism. Mentioned in this podcast: US labour watchdog attracts enemies from Amazon to SpaceX The bulli...

Union workers used to be a reliable pillar of the Democratic party’s voting coalition. Then Donald Trump arrived on the scene. The FT’s global business columnist, Rana Foroohar, and US labour and equality correspondent, Taylor Nicole Rogers, join this week’s Swamp Notes to examine how President Joe Biden is trying to win workers back, and why unions may decide November’s election.  Mentioned...

The UAE is in talks to invest in OpenAI’s chip- making business and an Uber courier makes an app to fight against the company’s algorithms. Plus, a look at how the encrypted messaging app Telegram has become both an important news source and a hotbed of criminal activity.  Mentioned in this podcast: Abu Dhabi in talks to invest in OpenAI chip venture  Telegram: social media giant or the...

Far-right firebrand Geert Wilders has conceded he will not become prime minister of the Netherlands, Ukraine has stepped up drone strikes on oil refineries deep inside Russia, and a bill to ban TikTok in the US passed the House of Representatives. Plus, Nigeria is in the middle of a currency crisis and the government is blaming Binance for a lot of it. Mentioned in this podcast: Geert Wilders anno...

The EU and US found some stop-gap funding for weapons for Ukraine, China is scrapping a number of infrastructure projects in indebted regions, and US inflation ticked up unexpectedly. Plus, tension between Beijing and Washington over access to technology has prompted many companies to open factories in south-east Asia.  Mentioned in this podcast: EU and US find stop-gap funding for Ukraine we...

Reddit’s public offering could set the tone for start-ups looking to list in 2024, and the EU wants to give Ukraine up to €3bn. Plus, there are new plans to deliver aid to Gaza to help the enclave avoid famine.  Mentioned in this podcast: Brussels aims to fast track up to €3bn for Ukraine from frozen Russian assets Reddit aims to raise more than $500mn in IPO EU ministers approve ‘status quo’...

America’s regulators say new rules will help maintain the dominance of US Treasuries, and there are still weaknesses in regional banking a year after the failure of Silicon Valley Bank. Plus, a new Bain & Co report reveals that private equity groups are sitting on a record of unsold assets. Mentioned in this podcast: The radical changes coming to the world’s biggest bond market Number of weak...

Joe Biden was in the spotlight this week as he made his annual State of the Union address. It was his chance to not only speak directly to the American people, but also prove that he’s up to the task of campaigning for re-election. So how did he do? The FT’s US national editor and columnist, Edward Luce, and Washington reporter, Steff Chávez, join us to discuss.  Mentioned in this podcast: Jo...

Instagram overtook TikTok in new app downloads last year, US President Joe Biden announced a plan to set up a port on the coast of Gaza to help facilitate aid delivery to the enclave, and a huge corruption case in Vietnam has captured the country’s attention. Plus, the FT’s Dan McCrum unpacks the mystery behind how Temu took over the retail world. Credit: Temu Mentioned in this podcast: ...

Bayer chief executive Bill Anderson has ruled out a fresh capital increase and Ghana’s finance minister is concerned that the country’s new anti-LGBT+ law will put its international funding at risk. Plus, the FT’s Robin Wigglesworth examines whether private equity is a good fit for Norway’s sovereign wealth fund.  Mentioned in this podcast: Bayer chief rules out capital increase as investors...

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will on Wednesday put a £10bn personal tax cut at the heart of his Budget, and China is setting a 5 per cent growth target for this year. Plus, the FT’s Michael Stott sat down with Argentina’s president Javier Milei to talk about the country’s economy. Credit: AP Mentioned in this podcast: Jeremy Hunt set to cut national insurance by 2p in UK Budget Argentina’s Javier M...

Gold prices have surged close to record levels, and the EU has fined Apple €1.8bn as it boosts its fight against Big Tech. Plus, the FT’s Sam Fleming explains whether the Conservatives planned tax cuts will actually affect the outcome of the upcoming UK election.  Mentioned in this podcast: Apple hit with €1.8bn fine for breaking EU law over music streaming Will Big Tech agree to play by Euro...

China has pledged “computing vouchers” to subsidise its AI startups, Bayer is still struggling to move past its Roundup woes, and an Israeli senior minister visits the White House. Plus, Warren Buffett is sounding the alarm over wildfires and the utilities industry.   Mentioned in this podcast: Buffett sounds wildfire alarm as utilities industry enters new era Bayer slashes dividend by 95% as...