FT News Briefing

The Federal Reserve has for the first time launched a period of debate of a central bank digital currency, and Luckin Coffee is planning to relist in the US after being delisted following a $300m fraud scandal. Plus, the FT’s Katie Martin explains why we should pay attention to German Bund yields turning positive this week.   Mentioned in this podcast: Fed opens debate on possible digital currency Luckin Coffee plots relisting in US two years after $300m fraud ​​Germany’s 10-year Bund yield turns positive for first time since 2019 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

 A US Senate committee will begin debating a pair of bills designed to reshape technology regulation, and US banks are gearing up for interest rate rises planned by the Federal Reserve this year. Plus, the FT’s Moscow bureau chief, Max Seddon, explains how Russia has built up its economy to protect itself from sanctions.  Mentioned in this podcast: US Senate committee to debate legislation targeting Big Tech’s power Bank of America projects ‘robust’ interest income growth as loans rebound Moscow’s sanction-proofing efforts weaken western threats Hong Kong residents hire private jets to take their pets out of isolated city The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The car industry has turned on France’s plan to force manufacturers to attach the equivalent of a public health warning to their advertising, and US telecoms companies will delay their rollout of 5G services near airports. Plus, the FT’s Chris Nuttall, explains why Microsoft’s $75bn deal for Activision Blizzard makes sense.  Mentioned in this podcast: Carmakers criticise French plan for health warning on adverts AT&T and Verizon limit 5G service near US airports after airlines’ outcry Activision leverages itself into metaverse Patriotic Gen Zs fuel pandemic jewellery boom in China #techFT newsletter The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

UK inflation is expected to rise to a 30-year high when December’s data are released this week, Meta patent applications indicate how the Silicon Valley group intends to cash in on its virtual world with hyper-targeted advertising and sponsored content, Chinese lenders have grown more cautious about lending to African nations as some have reached the limit of their borrowing capacity and the prospect of defaults loom, and the Scottish government has awarded 25 gigawatts of offshore wind project development rights.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: UK inflation set to hit 30-year high as rate rise expectations mount Facebook patents indicate how it intends to cash in on the Metaverse China applies brakes to Africa lending Big boost to UK offshore wind capacity from Scottish auction The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pension cash for British Gas workers was used to buy Israeli cyberweapon developer NSO Group, European sales of electric cars overtook diesel models for first time in December, and the FT’s Southern Africa correspondent Joseph Cotterill discusses Bain’s role in state corruption in South Africa under former president Jacob Zuma.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Stories mentioned in this podcast: British Gas pension cash used to buy Israeli spyware group NSO https://www.ft.com/content/8b427be6-1025-4295-a25c-16374da53b79 European sales of electric cars overtake diesel models for first time https://www.ft.com/content/f1bdf1cf-8fc3-4b85-a4eb-7df716ebf0a9 Bain & Co, tax and Jacob Zuma: a tale of ‘state capture’ in South Africa https://www.ft.com/content/b1bb5dd0-e7ce-4e15-ac48-05d2d990f6c7 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/eceaec7d-34cd-43ad-96e1-a77f6809e40a  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we’ve got two GOATs – that’s Greatests Of All Time. Legendary artist Tracey Emin is starting an art school and studio compound in Margate, England, the seaside town where she grew up. On the week of her winning the Whitechapel Art Icon Award, we speak to Emin about the legacy she’s building and examine the work that came before, from scandalous installations like “My Bed” to her more contemplative work. Then, the FT’s wine columnist Jancis Robinson teaches us about the world of wine. Robinson was the first non-winemaker to receive the title of Master of Wine from the Institute of Masters of Wine, the world’s most prestigious wine organisation. -------------- Looking for a discount on an FT subscription? Use this link for special offers specifically for listeners of the show: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast -------------- Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.  -------------- Links and mentions from the episode:  – Louis Wise’s interview with Tracey Emin for How To Spend It: https://www.ft.com/content/ffd55216-7751-43d3-9ad8-f495cb08d7c7 –Tracey Emin’s video “Why I Never Became a Dancer” (1995): https://www.artforum.com/video/tracey-emin-why-i-never-became-a-dancer-1995-49262 –A free online exhibition of Emin's video works between 1995 and 2017 (Xavier Hufkens): https://www.xavierhufkens.com/exhibitions/video-works-1995-2017 –Jancis Robinson’s Wine Course (Youtube, 1995): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNahwe1nPHc&list=PL0smQshvSba5YYij7-R1HM-HT04woET9A  –Jancis’ latest column, “Bargain Burgundy”: https://www.ft.com/content/c59f4150-b431-4202-b7f3-60fab84ac4fb    –Jancis on the truth about the wine world and diversity (no paywall): https://www.ft.com/content/3dc097fc-dbd8-4248-82e6-69d5acc1b169  -------------- Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Google says it will spend $1bn to purchase its office building in London, Katie Martin explains why Ken Griffin selling a $1.2bn stake in his Citadel Securities is a big deal, and FT investigation correspondent, Tom Burgis, describes a British industry that caters to global elites who want to hide their wealth and manage their reputations.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Google bets on return to office with $1bn purchase of London building Kazakhstan: violent clampdown highlights City of London’s lucrative role Ken Griffin’s Citadel Securities sells $1.2bn stake to Sequoia and Paradigm Security talks with US and Nato ‘unsuccessful’, says Kremlin Twitter Spaces: Russia’s Geopolitical ambitions - 12pm ET/ 5pm GMT  The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Boris Johnson suffered the toughest day of his premiership on Wednesday when he faced calls to quit after he admitted attending a Number 10 “bring your own booze” party during lockdown, the commodities boom has extended to nickel which reached its highest level in a decade, environmentalist activists are targeting public relations firms, and Beyond Meat has become one of the most shorted companies on US stock market.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify Mentioned in this podcast: Nickel hits 10-year high as electric vehicle production ramps up Activists target public relations groups for greenwashing fossil fuels Short sellers pile into Beyond Meat Boris Johnson faces calls to resign after ‘bring your own booze’ event The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/afd4c412-780b-407a-8b5a-10175cf319fc A US judge says that the Federal Trade Commission can go ahead with a revised case seeking to break up Facebook, and the latest US inflation report is expected to show prices rose at their fastest pace in nearly 40 years. Plus, the FT’s US markets editor, Eric Platt, explains how the Federal Reserve is expected to wind down its $9tn balance sheet after a pandemic largesse.  Mentioned in this podcast: Facebook loses bid to dismiss FTC antitrust case a second time US inflation expected to rise at fastest pace in nearly 40 years Federal Reserve prepares to shrink $9tn balance sheet after pandemic largesse Hot-water bottles are… hot The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/d84a12a8-97da-4331-836b-391c25c8676b The Federal Reserve’s second-in-command has resigned after a trading scandal, companies raised more than $100bn on the bond market in the first week of this year, and Wall Street’s biggest banks are set to report record profits. Plus, the FT’s pharmaceutical correspondent, Jamie Smyth, discusses the latest controversy as the US shifts away from the ‘war on drugs’.  Mentioned in this podcast: Fed’s second-in-command resigns after trading scandal Companies raise $100bn on global debt market in brisk start to 2022 Wall Street banks set to report record profits for 2021 Will overdose deaths force an end to the US ‘war on drugs’? The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/51351f23-63b8-458c-9ee2-a7cbda43c287 Nato has warned Moscow to abandon its belligerent foreign policy or face a military alliance steeled for conflict, frustration over corruption in Portugal is the hot button issue for voters in this month’s election, and UK financial regulators plan to take a close look at cloud computing companies. Plus, the FT’s Asia business editor, Leo Lewis, explains why investors are ready to pour money into metaverse hardware makers.  West treads narrow path to common ground in Russia talks https://www.ft.com/content/a1311bb7-7083-4491-89d7-2912289ebe68 Trust in Portugal’s elite wanes over struggle to tackle corruption https://www.ft.com/content/8a7b799e-2732-4979-ab49-c5cbf8587ce7 Investors gear up for ‘gold rush’ in metaverse hardware https://www.ft.com/content/182bb2a7-b4e4-4d0d-8178-4cd9b4c225c4 UK financial regulators to step up scrutiny of cloud computing giants https://www.ft.com/content/29405a47-586b-4c5a-b641-0f479b4cee1d M&S steals retail crown back from upstart online rivals https://www.ft.com/content/67ff963d-8883-47d6-ba69-f30721efd006 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Happy New Year! Our first episode of 2022 is dedicated to one of the world’s most powerful cultural forces: Disney. What happens when a company with that much influence just keeps growing? We visit Disneyland for a rare interview with CEO Bob Chapek, with FT reporters Chris Grimes and Anna Nicolaou. We explore where Disney Plus fits into the digital streaming wars. And Lilah speaks with a Disney expert, Sabrina Mittermeier, about how the company is reckoning with its prejudices 100 years into its history.  -------------- If you want a great offer on an FT subscription specifically for listeners, use this link: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast -------------- Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.  -------------- Links and mentions from the episode:  – Chris and Anna’s profile of Bob Chapek, Disney CEO: https://www.ft.com/content/69e1cc1e-9c64-4000-b47f-a7e448107a5b  – And their follow-up on the streaming wars: ​​https://www.ft.com/content/ae756fda-4c27-4732-89af-cb6903f2ab40 – Dr. Sabrina Mittermeier’s book, A Culture History of the Disneyland Theme Parks: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/C/bo70345519.html –Follow Anna Nicolaou on Twitter @annaknicolaou –Follow Chris Grimes on Twitter @grimes_ce -------------- Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design is by Breen Turner.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/4418eedc-e949-4d44-a517-55e73f2076f9 Outgoing Federal Reserve vice-chair has blamed “inadvertent errors” for failing to disclose the full extent of his trading activity at the start of the pandemic, the FT’s Katie Martin looks back on the first week of trading in 2022, and our Moscow and Central Asia reporter, Nastassia Astrasheuskaya, unpacks the protests in Kazakhstan and Russia’s interest in helping its neighbour maintain stability. Fed trading scandal rekindled by disclosure from top official https://www.ft.com/content/3bc91644-08e2-4cee-be2c-538d855cd675 Kazakh protests are a warning for other ex-Soviet autocrats https://www.ft.com/content/560b1b28-c180-40ec-b19a-ece58f214259 US tech shares swing as investors assess Fed minutes and mixed data https://www.ft.com/content/76bd2194-ccf4-4029-b527-6d56d6c8465c Twitter Spaces: After the Capitol Riot, what role will civil unrest play   https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1djGXPDOgrzGZ?s=20 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/31290819-a321-496e-a995-4281198ec453 Minutes from the latest Federal Reserve meeting show the US central bank gearing up for more aggressive tightening, tech stocks plummeted, Hong Kong is bracing for sharply higher food prices, and one of Germany’s biggest utilities, Uniper, has been forced to seek €10bn of financing to avoid a cash crunch. Plus, the FT’s US business editor, Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, talks about corporate America in the year since a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.  Fed warns faster rate rises may be needed to tame soaring inflation https://www.ft.com/content/35766dd4-7da1-4064-9e60-79a714297c5a Uniper secures €10bn of credit as gas prices surge https://www.ft.com/content/f8cdfafc-2ce4-4ad7-b8c4-98e6eaa6ce89 Isolated Hong Kong faces higher food prices as pandemic restrictions bite https://www.ft.com/content/f31edc79-f7df-48d7-badf-5d074cb19afd US companies under pressure to support voting rights push https://www.ft.com/content/712d9e1a-68dc-451e-a094-0d7db570dfd7 Twitter Spaces: After the Capitol Riot, what role will civil unrest play   https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1djGXPDOgrzGZ Audio from the January 6th Capitol riot provided by CSPAN The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com https://www.ft.com/content/cf9a801f-d99d-4703-a1dd-2219ee91f3fa Chinese banks rushed to meet their annual state-imposed lending quotas last month by buying up low-risk financial instruments, a divided EU has demanded a role in next week’s negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine crisis, and travel stocks rose sharply on Tuesday. Plus, the FT’s Frankfurt correspondent, Joe Miller, explains why the German city of Mainz wants to hang onto the vaccine maker BioNTech.   Chinese banks buy up low-risk financial instruments amid concern over economy https://www.ft.com/content/70451eee-5163-4348-af1a-82656f7a50fa Travel and leisure stocks surge as Omicron disruption fears fade https://www.ft.com/content/20ae6c32-2c03-45ad-af8d-b4310c5acce0 EU demands seat at Ukraine talks as Russia prepares to meet US and Nato https://www.ft.com/content/db2d642b-5068-40c3-a4c2-d3c330f3972b German city reaps tax windfall from BioNTech’s Covid vaccine success https://www.ft.com/content/5a705ebc-ce1f-4525-8406-d2875a32c473 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.