FT News Briefing

Russia and China are deadlocked over a deal to build a gas pipeline connecting the two countries, far-right parties in Europe are gaining ground with younger voters, technical trouble could hamper Tesla’s upcoming shareholder election, and disagreement at OpenAI over safety and leadership has led to top level resignations.Mentioned in this podcast:Russia-China gas pipeline deal stalls over Beijing’s price demandsInternal divisions linger at OpenAI after November’s attempted coupTesla’s many international retail investors unable to cast AGM voteHow the far right is winning over young EuropeansThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Jess Smith, Denise Guerra, Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, making this a pivotal year for democracy. But these polls come as populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. In the first of this five-part series, the FT’s renowned economics commentator Martin Wolf tells executive opinion editor Jonathan Derbyshire why he worries about the consequences for the future of democratic institutions. Martin then speaks to Robert Kagan, a neoconservative scholar and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, about what a victory, or defeat, for Donald Trump might mean for the future of US democracy.Links:Martin Wolf column: Fascism has changed, but it is not deadFor Martin’s other FT columns click hereClip: CNBCThis episode is presented by Jonathan Derbyshire and Martin Wolf. The producer is Sandra Kanthal. Production help from Sonja Hutson. The executive producer is Manuela Saragosa and the sound engineer is Nigel Appleton. The FT's global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Former US president Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records on Thursday, a first for any current or former American president. However, with the Republican nomination all but secured, the conviction may do little to knock Trump’s reelection campaign off course. The FT’s US managing editor, Peter Spiegel, and US legal correspondent, Joe Miller, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in ‘hush money’ trialTrump’s guilty verdict puts America’s political system on trialDonald Trump is a convicted felon. Will Americans still vote for him?Sign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Original music by Hannis Brown.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Donald Trump has been found guilty of conspiring to buy the silence of a porn actor and Saudi Arabia is selling roughly $12bn worth of shares in its national oil company Saudi Aramco. Plus, European oil majors are left at a disadvantage in several areas when it comes to M&A. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in ‘hush money’ trialSaudi Arabia to sell $12bn worth of Aramco sharesWhy the European oil megamerger has not gushed forthThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Ethan Plotkin, Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Europe has only a fraction of the air defence capabilities needed to protect its eastern flank, BHP’s £39bn takeover bid for Anglo American has collapsed, and Israel bonds are a hot commodity in US municipalities. Plus, the FT’s Brooke Masters explains why private equity firms are pivoting towards profit sharing. Mentioned in this podcast:Nato has just 5% of air defences needed to protect eastern flankIsrael’s borrowing spree reaches Palm Beach as US municipalities pile inBHP’s £39bn pursuit of Anglo American collapsesHigher rates have changed the game for private equityThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hess shareholders approved a controversial takeover bid from Chevron, and South Africans vote today in the most contested election since the end of apartheid,Plus, the FT’s James Kynge argues that China is winning the tech war with the US. Mentioned in this podcast:South Africa’s ‘lost leader’ faces the end gameGeorgia adopts Russian-inspired ‘foreign agents’ lawTech Tonic podcastThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

This episode features a truncated version of a recent Behind the Money podcast as it travels to Omaha, Nebraska for Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting. At this year’s event, there’s a lingering question over what will happen once Warren Buffett is no longer at the helm. Buffett has a successor in mind, and we explore the challenges they could face when taking over America’s “last great” conglomerate.Mentioned in this podcast:Behind the Money podcastBerkshire after Buffett: prized energy business faces upheavalThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Michela Tindera, Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The European Central Bank looks almost certain to be one of the first major central banks to cut rates, a tense dispute over Guyana is casting a shadow over Chevron’s bid to takeover Hess, and Thames Water pumped 14.2bn litres of sewage into the river Thames last year. Plus, the nuclear power industry is seeking to lure back thousands of retired engineers. Mentioned in this podcast:ECB is ready to start cutting interest rates, says chief economistBlow to $53bn Chevron-Hess deal as investors advised to abstainNuclear industry brings back ‘silver tsunami’ of retireesThames Water pumped 14bn litres of sewage into Thames in central London in 2023 The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Denise Guerra, Breen Turner, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

American voters still say the economy is their most important electoral issue, and a growing number are less than pleased with Joe Biden’s economic management. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and the vice-president of North Star Opinion Research, Jon McHenry, join this week’s Swamp Notes to break down the results of the most recent FT-Michigan Ross poll. Mentioned in this podcast:Support for Joe Biden’s economic policies wanes amid inflation fears, FT poll findsFT-Michigan Ross poll: Biden’s election hopes fall as prices rise againSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor and Marc Filippino. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson. Original music by Hannis Brown. CLIPS: @atrupar on XRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com