An inverted yield curve is sending jitters across the US economy, Japanese IT conglomerate Fujitsu is in hot water over its involvement in the UK  Post Office scandal, and new details have emerged over how the SEC’s X account was hacked. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK Post Office scandal exposes risks of Fujitsu’s hands-off approach

Yield curve adds to mystery over US economy

SEC says bitcoin X breach came after phone number was swapped

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva, Gavin Kallmann, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. 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.

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More than 60 partners have left PwC China after a ban over its audit of failed property developer Evergrande, the FT’s Andy Bounds explains what we can learn from Donald Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs, and Hamas said it is postponing the next release of hostages. Plus, Hizbollah is weaker than it’s ever been, and it needs the support of its constituency to rebuild.

Mentioned in this podcast:

PwC China loses 66 partners in wake of ban over Evergrande audit

What happened when Donald Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018

Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Hamas says it is postponing next hostage release

How Hizbollah is using cash and WhatsApp groups to shore up power

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. 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.

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European leaders met twice this week to discuss a plan to protect Ukraine — without US leadership. The rift between Brussels and Washington has grown as US president Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and stopped intelligence sharing. As Germany and the EU discuss a new set of defence stimulus plans, special guest Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign policy commentator, is on to discuss possible outcomes.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Rachman Review podcast

Trump is sowing the seeds of an anti-American alliance

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Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

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EU officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro, and the US Department of Justice has called for Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to be removed from her post. Plus, investors lost billions of dollars in July in what could be pump and dump stock scams.

Mentioned in this podcast:

EU speeds up plans for digital euro after US passes stablecoin law

Justice department calls on Federal Reserve to sack governor Lisa Cook

‘I almost fell off my chair’: Investors lose billions on meme stocks as ‘pump and dump’ scams multiply

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Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Katya Kumkova, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Kelly Garry, and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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US President Donald Trump urged his Ukrainian counterpart to accept Russia’s war terms during Friday’s volatile White House meeting, and five-year plans still have a place in Chinese politics despite massive changes to its economic system. Plus, global hedge funds are listing in Hong Kong again after an extended slowdown, and the battle for control of rare earth metals is turbocharging stock prices in this sector.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia

China pushes high-tech in 5-year plan as US tensions rise

Why China still loves its five-year plans

Hedge funds return to Hong Kong listings

Rare earths shares soar as US and China battle over export controls

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Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Jess Smith, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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The holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, but it's also the most expensive. Between gifts, food and travel, people can end up spending a lot of money this year. The Financial Times’ consumer editor Claer Barrett explains why people are feeling the pinch this season and what they can do about it.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Economists warn of flaws in US inflation report

FT Financial Literacy and Inclusion Campaign

Find Claer Barrett on TikTok and Instagram

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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Sam Altman returns and OpenAI board members are given the boot; US authorities foil a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader on US soil; plus, the UK’s Autumn Statement increases the tax burden.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist on American soil

Hunt cuts national insurance but taxes head to postwar high

OpenAI says Sam Altman to return as chief executive under new board

The FT News Briefing is produced by Persis Love, Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Manuela Saragosa 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.

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Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal to release hostages, Dutch voters head to the polls today, and Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao has resigned after pleading guilty to a US criminal charge. Plus, the FT’s George Hammond explains why Sam Altman has so many people rallying behind him after he was ousted from OpenAI.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Israel approves hostage deal with Hamas

Dutch election shapes up as tight race to replace Mark Rutte

Binance chief Changpeng Zhao pleads guilty in US criminal case

OpenAI directors in talks with Sam Altman on rejoining board

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. 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.

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