FT News Briefing - Financial Times

Latest Episodes:

Protecting elephants in the Congo River Basin Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

The US and Germany are among the western allies falling behind in delivering promised heavy weapons to Ukraine, and big asset managers are flocking to Latin American bonds and currencies. Plus, the FT’s Africa editor David Pilling introduces us to some conservationists working to protect elephants from poachers in the Congo River Basin.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Latin America’s bonds and currencies lure yield-hungry investors

In search of the ‘village of the elephants’, deep in the central African rainforest

Japan Airlines gives tourists chance to reduce baggage by renting clothes

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Katie McMurran, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Tracking the gorillas of the Congo Basin Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

Israel’s raid on the West Bank reignites fears of escalating violence, Switzerland is looking into potential Russian sanctions violations and we continue our series on the Congo Basin with David Pilling, the FT’s Africa editor. Plus, meme stock traders shop for Bed Bath & Beyond.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Switzerland questions oil trader over sidestep of Russian sanctions

In search of the ‘village of the elephants’, deep in the central African rainforest

Eight injured after car rams pedestrians in Tel Aviv, say police

Investors spend $200mn on ‘worthless’ Bed Bath & Beyond shares

Today’s FT News Briefing is produced by Manuela Saragosa, Fiona Symon and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Mixing by Simon Panayi. Additional help from Katie McMurran, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A deep look inside the Congo River Basin Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

The UK’s financial watchdog has summoned bank chief executives to address concerns that savings rates are lagging behind the surging cost of mortgages, Internet brand, Yahoo, is planning a return to the public markets, and the FT has released an investigation into sexual allegations toward celebrated architect, David Adjaye. Plus, the FT’s Africa editor, David Pilling, takes us to one of the biggest rainforests in the world.

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK watchdog summons bank bosses to address ‘profiteering’ claim

Yahoo plots return to public markets

Sir David Adjaye: the celebrated architect accused of sexual misconduct

In search of the ‘village of the elephants’, deep in the central African rainforest

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France’s George Floyd moment Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

Apple has been forced to make drastic cuts to production forecasts for the mixed-reality Vision Pro headset, French president cancels a trip to Germany as protests continue in Paris over the police killing of a teenager, and the Nasdaq Composite recorded its best first half of the year since 1983. Plus, the FT’s Taylor Nicole Rogers tells us what resuming student loan payments will mean for borrowers and the larger economy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Apple forced to make major cuts to Vision Pro headset production plans

Police killing of teenager Nahel reopens old wounds for France’s minorities

France suffers fifth night of rioting sparked by killing of teenager

Nasdaq records best start to year in four decades

Millions of US borrowers brace for the return of student debt payments

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Brian Gutierrez, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’ global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peak social media: Trouble at Twitter Jul 01, 2023

Show notes

Elon Musk took over Twitter with the promise of promoting free speech and making the loss-making platform profitable again. But his critics say he’s destroying Twitter’s culture and driving it to bankruptcy. How much danger is the company really in? In the first episode in a new series of Tech Tonic, Elaine Moore, deputy editor of the FT’s Lex column, asks whether Musk will save Twitter or destroy it.

In this episode we hear from Evan Henshaw-Plath, one of the original creators of Twitter; Rumman Chowdhury, Twitter’s former head of machine learning, ethics, transparency, and accountability who was laid off by Elon Musk; and FT tech reporter Hannah Murphy.

Presented by Elaine Moore. Produced by Edwin Lane and Josh Gabert-Doyon, Executive producer is Manuela Saragosa. Sound design by Breen Turner and Samantha Giovinco. Original music by Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Hannah Murphy

Clips: TED Conferences, CBS, Joe Rogan Experience Podcast, MSNBC, CNN

We're keen to hear more from our listeners about this show and want to know what you'd like to hear more of, so we're running a survey which you can find at ft.com/techtonicsurvey. It takes about 10 minutes to complete and you will be in with a chance to win a pair of Bose QuietComfort earbuds.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The Thames Water debt debacle Jun 30, 2023

Show notes

The US Supreme Court has curbed universities’ ability to consider race in admissions, turmoil at the top of Thames Water has left the UK government scrambling to prepare contingency plans, and China has passed a new foreign relations law that deepens President Xi Jinping’s control over the country’s external relations. Plus, the FT’s Raphael Minder explains how Belarus's President Alexander Lukashenko ended up brokering a deal to stop the attempted coup in Russia.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US Supreme Court curbs consideration of race in university admissions

Why Thames Water is under growing strain

China passes foreign relations law to strengthen Xi Jinping’s response to sanctions

Alexander Lukashenko: from Putin’s puppet to Prigozhin’s saviour

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Banks try to avoid ending up like SVB Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Sterling suffers biggest one-day fall against the dollar in a month following UK growth fears, US banks are stepping up the sales of their loan portfolios, and Odey Asset Management continues to spiral after an FT investigation into sexual misconduct allegations at the hedge fund.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US banks step up sales of loan portfolios to private lenders

Odey Asset Management in talks with SW Mitchell over Oliver Kelton’s funds

Wall Street shares waver as central bankers warn of more rate rises

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Japan goes all in on chips Jun 28, 2023

Show notes

Sierra Leone’s president, Julius Maada Bio, has won a second term in office, the US Supreme Court rejects a Republican election plan, and a New York court has ruled that FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried cannot dismiss the criminal charges against him. Plus, a leading Japanese semiconductor equipment maker has accepted a $6.4bn buyout offer from a state-backed fund.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Bio secures second term as Sierra Leone leader

US Supreme Court affirms state courts’ authority over election rules

Sam Bankman-Fried fails to dismiss criminal charges related to FTX

Japan steps into chip supply chain with $6.4bn JSR deal

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Wagner head downplays attack on Russia Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

The head of the Wagner militia has denied trying to overthrow the Russian government, and western banks may not be able to participate in the Shanghai IPO of Swiss chemicals group Syngenta. Plus, the Federal Reserve’s campaign to increase interest rates is doing damage to short-term bond yields.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Wagner chief hails march on Moscow as ‘masterclass’ but denies coup bid

Bets on bond renaissance frustrated by stubbornly high inflation

China’s biggest IPO in years poses $9bn question for western banks

Hollywood producer says champagne gifts for Netanyahu may have been ‘excessive’

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Wagner’s 24-hour coup Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

Wagner troops withdrew from Russia late Saturday night after an abandoned coup attempt on Moscow, Greek prime minister Kyriako Mitsotakis won re-election in a blowout, and foreign investors viewed Turkey’s first interest rate rise in years as a ‘baby step’ towards ending the country’s economic crisis.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Kyriakos Mitsotakis set for return to power in Greek elections

Wagner troops withdraw as Russian uprising leaves Putin weakened

Investor scepticism remains after Turkey’s ‘baby step’ towards ending crisis

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.