FT News Briefing

Arm plans to launch its own chip this year, and Shein’s IPO will likely be delayed after US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on tariff-free imports. Plus, Robinhood has evolved from an app that sprayed digital confetti when customers made their first trade to one that aims to serve as a broader financial services platform.Mentioned in this podcast:Arm secures Meta as first customer for ambitious new chip projectShein IPO plans hit by Trump’s low-cost parcels crackdownHas meme-stock kid Robinhood finally come of age?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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

European officials are worried about being cut out of a US-Russia peace deal on Ukraine, and US inflation ticked up in January. Plus, China’s leading producer of memory chips is rapidly gaining global market share at the expense of South Korean competitors. Mentioned in this podcast:Europe blindsided by Trump on Ukraine peace talks with RussiaUS inflation unexpectedly increases to 3% in JanuaryChinese chip champion’s ‘snowballing’ growth threatens Korean dominanceThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hong Kong tech stocks are flying high, Elon Musk’s nearly $100bn bid for OpenAI comes with a ton of baggage, and the EU says it will retaliate against US tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports. Plus, Sudan’s army is close to its biggest victory in a brutal two-year civil war. Mentioned in this podcast:China’s tech stocks enter bull market after DeepSeekWorld’s largest EV battery maker files for Hong Kong listingElon Musk gatecrashes OpenAI restructuringElon Musk-led consortium offers $100bn to take control of OpenAIEU to retaliate against US steel and aluminium tariffsSudan army nears biggest victory of civil war with assault on capitalThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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 auditWhat happened when Donald Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium importsHamas says it is postponing next hostage releaseHow Hizbollah is using cash and WhatsApp groups to shore up powerThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

China has imposed retaliatory tariffs on about $14bn of US goods, and US dealmaking has suffered its worst start to a year in a decade. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced €109bn worth of investments in artificial intelligence in France over the coming years, while software company MicroStrategy is inspiring other companies to buy bitcoin and hold it in their corporate treasuries Mentioned in this podcast:China imposes retaliatory tariffs on $14bn worth of US goodsUS dealmaking suffers worst start to a year in a decade amid Trump volatilityThe MicroStrategy copycats: companies turn to bitcoin to boost share priceMacron unveils plans for €109bn of AI investment in FranceThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, dominated the headlines this week as agency members gained access to sensitive data at the Treasury department. FT Washington reporters Joe Miller and Alex Rogers help us make sense of Doge and why the courts are getting involved.Mentioned in this podcast:Can anyone stop Elon Musk’s hostile takeover of the US government? Elon Musk barred from accessing US Treasury payments dataSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Marc Filippino, Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson and 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. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Amazon shares fell after a weaker than expected outlook for the first quarter, and investors are figuring out how to trade in the trade war. Plus, The Bank of England cut interest rates by a quarter-point, and a long simmering conflict between the Democratic Republic of Congo and a Rwanda-backed rebel group is threatening to destabilize the region.Mentioned in this podcast:How to trade the trade warStock vigilantes might have to work harder to tame TrumpBank of England halves growth forecast and cuts rates to 4.5%Rwanda’s stealth occupation of eastern CongoThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

US allies across Europe and the Middle East have condemned Donald Trump’s plans to “take over” Gaza, the US cracks down on a trade loophole, and Disney’s earnings shot up 27% in its financial first quarter. Plus, the EU is pushing ahead with enforcing its artificial intelligence regulations despite warnings from Trump.Mentioned in this podcast:Middle East and Europe condemn Donald Trump’s plans to take over GazaTrump’s crackdown on trade loophole to hit Shein and Temu — and help AmazonDisney boosted by strong showing at holiday box officeEU pushes ahead with enforcing AI Act despite Donald Trump warningsThe 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Alphabet’s cloud services missed growth expectations last quarter, American companies are scrambling to protect their supply chains in the face of all the back and forth on tariffs, and China is hitting back at the US for imposing new levies. Plus, India is set for a blockbuster IPO year – even as the economy weakens. Mentioned in this podcast:Google parent Alphabet slides after sales miss Wall Street estimatesChina targets Google, Nvidia and Intel as Trump tariffs biteChina hits back with limited response to Donald Trump’s tariffsIndia set for blockbuster IPO year despite slowing economic growthThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, 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.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com