FT News Briefing

Rightwing populist party Reform UK makes inroads. Viktor Orbán set to hold meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine peace.Mentioned in this podcast:UK general election liveViktor Orbán to meet Vladimir Putin after Kyiv tripThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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

SoftBank is looking to invest in AI despite pressure to offer a share buyback, Shell is pausing construction on one of its biggest energy transition projects, and the Labour party is expected to win the UK election by a landslide. Plus, the FT’s Anna Nicolaou explains how YouTube is trying to negotiate a deal with record labels over music created by AI. Mentioned in this podcast:SoftBank to prioritise AI deals over share buybacks despite pressure from Elliott Shell pauses construction at one of Europe’s biggest biofuels plants YouTube in talks with record labels over AI music deal Labour set for landslide win in UK general election Joe Biden set for talks with senior Democrats as crisis deepens  The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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

Western banks have cut their workforces in China, the US Supreme Court ruled that former president Donald Trump cannot be prosecuted for his ‘official’ actions, and Amazon has turned its first international profit in four years. Plus, the FT’s Leo Lewis explains how online competitors are affecting Japan’s regional banks.Mentioned in this podcast:Global investment banks’ China expansion goes into retreat US Supreme Court says Donald Trump immune for ‘official acts’ as presidentAmazon’s international unit on track to swing into annual profit Threat of deposit exodus haunts Japan’s regional banksThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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

Marine Le Pen’s far-right party has battered President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance in the first round of snap parliamentary elections, US stock markets performing better than expected at the midyear point, and Morgan Stanley will join Goldman and JPMorgan in scrapping UK bonus caps.Mentioned in this podcast:French voters turn out in record numbers Wall Street’s last remaining bears struggle to convince optimistic clientsMorgan Stanley to join Goldman and JPMorgan in scrapping UK bonus capThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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

Martin Wolf is worried about the threat autocrats pose to liberal democracies. Across the world, billions of citizens are being asked to cast their vote in elections taking place in more than 50 countries, but in many places, populist, illiberal and far-right parties are either growing in support or consolidating gains they have already made. In this episode, Martin spells out his concerns to the FT’s executive opinion editor, Jonathan Derbyshire, and they discuss what Martin has gleaned from his conversations with Robert Kagan, Fiona Hill, Anne Applebaum and Raghuram Rajan. Did they ease his concerns in any way?Links: Martin Wolf column: Fascism has changed, but it is not deadFor Martin’s other FT columns click hereThis episode is presented by 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

Joe Biden went into Thursday night’s CNN presidential debate hoping to assuage concerns over his mental acuity and fitness for office. But his performance only heightened those concerns — and may even force Democrats to reconsider their standard-bearer. The FT’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Lauren Fedor, and Washington reporter, Steff Chavez, join this week’s Swamp Notes podcast to explain why. Credit: CNN Presidential Debate, NBC News, ABC NewsMentioned in this podcast:Democrats panic as Biden stumbles in bad-tempered debate with TrumpThe big moments from the Biden-Trump debateSign 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 and Breen Turner. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

The US is inviting foreign ministers from Israel and Arab countries to the Nato summit next month, EY’s new global chief executive confirmed that the firm will not split in two, and Thames Water is on the brink of a financial collapse. Plus, the FT’s Lucy Fisher explains why immigration is an important issue in the UK elections. Mentioned in this podcast:US invites Arab and Israeli ministers to Nato anniversary summit New EY chief rules out reviving plan to split Big Four firm in two Neither politicians nor the public think straight on immigration Thames Water warns ageing assets pose ‘risk to public safety’ The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Mischa Frankl-Duval, Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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

JPMorgan is adding India's sovereign debt to its emerging markets index, and violent protests in Kenya stopped its president from signing a bill that would raise taxes. Plus, the FT’s Harry Dempsey explains why the US wants to lift sanctions on a billionaire to gain access to minerals in Africa. Mentioned in this podcast:India braced for billions of dollars of inflows as bonds added to JPMorgan index Kenya’s president drops tax rises after deadly protests Billionaire under sanctions could get $300mn in controversial US-Congo deal CREDIT: WSJ, KBC Channel 1The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Our intern is Prakriti Panwar. 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