Political instability jolts Japan

Brazil’s supreme court has voted to convict former president Jair Bolsonaro for plotting a coup d’état, conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing led to calls on the right for retribution, and US inflation data confirm the Fed’s dual-mandate conundrum. Plus, shares in bitcoin-hoarding companies have tumbled in recent weeks as investors grow increasingly concerned about an overcrowded market.Mentioned in this podcast:Brazil’s supreme court finds former leader Jair Bolsonaro guilty of plotting coupCharlie Kirk’s shooting leads to calls for retributionCharlie Kirk’s killing and the ‘despicable violence’ of US politicsUS inflation rises to 2.9% in AugustShares in bitcoin hoarders sink as ‘crypto treasury’ mania soursToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Katya Kumkova, Sonja Hutson, and Victoria Craig. Additional help from Kent Militzer and Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, military analysts are worried about Nato’s response to a Russian drone attack, and US drugmaker Merck has scrapped a £1bn London research centre. Plus, investors have raised a record amount this year off “Bowie bonds”. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump ally Charlie Kirk shot dead in UtahWhat is Vladimir Putin’s game plan against Nato’s eastern flank?Merck slams UK as it scraps £1bn London drug research centre‘Bowie bonds’ go mainstream as Wall Street chases returnsEmail Swamp Notes with your questionsToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Katya Kumkova and Sonja Hutson. Additional help from Kelly Garry and Michael Lello. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US annual jobs numbers get a revision, and Israel is intensifying its fight against Hamas. Plus, there’s a brand new copper mining conglomerate, and South Korean companies have been cutting corners to bring workers to the US. Mentioned in this podcast:US hiring growth revised down by 911,000 jobs in year to March Israel launches attack on Hamas in Qatar Anglo American and Tech Resources to create $50bn mining giantKorean companies admit cutting corners on US visas but say they have little choiceMacron appoints ally Sébastien Lecornu as France’s prime ministerToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Katya Kumkova, and Sonja Hutson. Additional help from Kelly Garry, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rupert Murdoch has resolved the bitter dispute over his sprawling media empire, France is once again without a prime minister, and US bank PNC has agreed to buy smaller peer FirstBank. Plus, North Cyprus is betting big on casinos to boost its economy.Mentioned in this podcast:Murdoch seals $3.3bn succession deal to hand empire to eldest sonMacron scouts for new prime minister to quell turmoilPNC to buy Colorado’s FirstBank for $4.1bnNorth Cyprus casino plans stoke fears of slide towards ‘dark’ economyToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Katya Kumkova and Sonja Hutson. Additional help from Blake Maples, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The French government is on the brink of another collapse, and Japan’s prime minister quits after just a year in office. Plus, China may open its domestic bond market to Russian companies for the first time since 2022, and US economic data is complicating the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates.Mentioned in this podcast:French PM François Bayrou on the brink in crucial confidence voteJapan’s prime minister quits to make way for new leaderChina paves way for renminbi fundraising by Russian energy giants US adds just 22,000 jobs in August as labour market sputtersClick here to access virtual sessions from the FT Weekend Festival Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Victoria Craig, Katya Kumkova, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Peter Barber and Alex Higgins. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump’s nominee to join the Federal Reserve has vowed to uphold central bank independence, bond traders are banking on revenue from Trump’s tariffs to bolster US public finances, and Nasdaq is trying to combat a number of suspected “pump and dump” scams. Plus, the “Amazon of Africa”, Jumia, is still trying to prove that it can be a profitable business after six years on the public market. Mentioned in this podcast:Stephen Miran vows to uphold Fed independence but says Donald Trump ‘entitled’ to a view on monetary policyBond investors count on Trump tariff revenues to rein in US debtNasdaq to tighten rules on small-cap stocks after suspected ‘pump and dump’ scams Is there a future for the ‘Amazon of Africa’?Sign up for the FT Weekend Festival at ft.com/festival and use the promo code “FTPodcasts” for 10 per cent off.Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Victoria Craig, Katya Kumkova, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Alex Higgins, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lloyds Banking Group will put thousands of its staff at risk of dismissal, and Indonesians are angered over the widening inequality in their country. Plus, MEPs in the European parliament are unhappy with the EU-US trade deal, and the FT’s John Foley explains what artificial intelligence has to do with the outcome of Google’s antitrust case. Mentioned in this podcast:Thousands of Lloyds staff face axe in performance overhaul European parliamentarians attack EU-US trade deal and demand changesGoogle shares jump after judge refrains from ordering break-upIndonesian rage over MPs ‘opulent lifestyle’ reflects deep economic discontentGoogle dodges a bulletToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Katya Kumkova, Victoria Craig, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Blake Maples, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A sell-off in government bonds spilled into the equity market as stocks fell on Tuesday, and Eurozone inflation ticked up to 2.1 per cent in August. Plus, European banks are intensifying their calls for regulators to remove obstacles to cross-border banking services in the EU. Mentioned in this podcast:European banks push for lower cross-border hurdlesUS stocks fall as bond sell-off spills into equitiesEurozone inflation rises to 2.1% in AugustPound falls as UK long-term borrowing costs hit highest level since 1998Sign up for the FT Weekend Festival at ft.com/festival and use the promo code “FTPodcasts” for 10 per cent off.Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig Katya Kumkova and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Kelly Garry, and David da Silva. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israeli banks pressed to give back war profits to customers, Russia denies GPS jamming of an European commission jet, and Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi takes on Tesla and Apple. Plus the trial of a former Brazilian president is coming to a close.Mentioned in this podcast:Ursula von der Leyen’s plane hit by suspected Russian GPS interference Israeli banks plan giveaways after anger over wartime profitsThe Chinese gadget maker taking on Tesla and AppleToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Josh Gabert Doyon, Marc Filippino, Persis Love, Fiona Symon and Manuela Saragosa. Additional help by David da Silva. Sound engineering by Jean-Marc Eck. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leaders of China and India met on Sunday amid trade tensions with the US, and Guyanese voters head to the polls today to chart a future for the world’s newest petrostate. Plus, the UK secures its largest ever warship deal with Norway, and AstraZeneca’s China division has recovered from a major scandal by pledging billions in new investment. Mentioned in this podcast:Xi and Modi say they are ‘partners not rivals’ in bid to repair tiesWorld’s newest petrostate heads for ‘mother of all elections’UK secures largest ever warship deal from NorwayAstraZeneca bounces back from scandal in ChinaToday’s FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Persis Love, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Jean-Marc Eck and Peter Barber. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.