FT News Briefing

SoftBank is leading an investment of more than $1bn into a UK self-driving car start-up, and poppy and marijuana farming money is disappearing from rural areas as traffickers shift to synthetic drugs. Plus, the FT’s Anna Nicolaou explains the rival bids to buy Paramount. Mentioned in this podcast:SoftBank leads $1bn funding for UK artificial intelligence group WayveEl Chapo’s opium heartland bereft as Mexico cartels embrace fentanylShari Redstone, a media scion weighing the future of her ravaged empireJames Cameron and Ari Emanuel back Skydance bid for ParamountBrussels seeks to ban Russian funding of European politiciansThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Denise Guerra, 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

Warren Buffett said Greg Abel should have the final decision on investments at Berkshire Hathaway, the US and Europe disagree on how to manage Russia’s frozen assets, and Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Europe. Plus, college students in the US are calling for their universities to divest from Israel, but it’s not that simple. Mentioned in this podcast:Bonhomie and hardball: Xi Jinping visits Europe to avert trade warThe clash over whether to commandeer Russia’s frozen assetsDivestment is not as easy as it may seemBerkshire Hathaway’s cash pile hits record as Buffett cuts stake in AppleBuffett lays out expansive role for successor Greg Abel at poignant Berkshire AGMThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Denise Guerra, 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

Student-led protests against Israel’s war in Gaza have spread across the US in recent weeks, with demonstrators building tent encampments on university grounds, and even storming university buildings. The FT’s Washington bureau chief, James Politi, and FT New York correspondent, Joshua Chaffin, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why the protests could hurt President Joe Biden’s re-election chances.Mentioned in this podcast:New York police storm Columbia University and arrest pro-Palestinian protestersPolice raid UCLA protest camp as clashes over Gaza spread across USSign up for the FT’s Election Countdown newsletter hereSign up for the FT’s Swamp Notes newsletter hereSwamp Notes is produced by Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Lauren Fedor, Kasia Broussalian 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. CREDIT: NBC News New York, X/@JaunMaBenitez, X/@AnthonyCabassa_, PBS NewsHourRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Apple’s revenue fell 4 per cent in the first three months of 2024, Japan apparently intervened several times this week to support the yen, and US regulators have accused the former boss of the largest US shale oil producer of trying to collude with the Opec cartel. Plus, Europe solved its Russian gas problems in the short term, but created long-term problems.Mentioned in this podcast:Apple’s revenue weighed down by falling China salesJapanese government spent $35bn to prop up yen, BoJ figures suggestJapan is haunted by a return to emerging-economy statusFTC accuses ex-Pioneer boss of seeking to collude with Opec How Europe solved its Russian gas problemThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by 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 Federal Reserve has signalled that US borrowing costs are likely to remain higher for longer, and cruise operator Viking Holdings rose on its market debut. Plus the FT’s Owen Walker explains what the exit of HSBC chief executive Noel Quinn means for the bank’s China strategy. Mentioned in this podcast:Federal Reserve signals that interest rates will remain higher for longerCruise line Viking rises after launching year’s second-largest US IPOWhat triggered Noel Quinn’s shock exit from HSBCThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by 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

Strong sales at Amazon’s cloud computing division helped the Big Tech giant beat analyst estimates for revenue and profit, private capital is playing a growing role in the green energy transformation, and foreign carmakers are teaming up with Chinese technology groups to compete in the local market.  Mentioned in this podcast:Amazon’s strong cloud sales help power revenue gainsCan private equity accelerate the green transition?Jeremy Hunt warns FCA against ‘naming and shaming’ business‘Everything has changed’: foreign auto groups embrace local technology in ChinaThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by 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

Humza Yousaf is resigning as Scotland’s first minister, and WeWork’s senior creditors are poised to take control of the reorganised co-working space provider. Plus, an Africa-focused venture capital firm has steered one of the region’s biggest fundraising efforts of the past five months. Mentioned in this podcast:Humza Yousaf quits as Scotland’s first ministerWeWork agrees restructuring deal that shuts out Adam Neumann’s comeback bidAfrica-focused fund draws early investors to tech industryFT Life & Art podcastThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by 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

Financial companies scramble to rework contracts after US Federal Trade Commission rule bans non-compete agreements, the largest western banks that remain in Russia paid the Kremlin hundreds of millions of euros in taxes last year, and Turkey is in talks with the US energy supermajor ExxonMobil over a multibillion-dollar deal to buy liquefied natural gas. Plus, the message from Big Tech companies to investors about when AI will be profitable: be patient. Mentioned in this podcast:Ban on non-compete agreements sends shockwave across Wall StreetMicrosoft and Alphabet enjoy AI-powered gains from cloud divisionsQuestion of pay-off from AI hangs over Big Tech earningsWestern banks in Russia paid €800mn in taxes to Kremlin last yearTurkey in talks with ExxonMobil over multibillion-dollar LNG dealThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Denise Guerra, 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 US Supreme Court set out to answer a big constitutional question on Thursday: can a president be charged for potential crimes committed while in office? The FT’s Washington bureau chief, James Politi, and US legal and enforcement correspondent, Stefania Palma, join this week’s Swamp Notes to explain why the answer could determine the outcome of Donald Trump’s federal trials and the future of the American presidency.Mentioned in this podcast:US Supreme Court debates limits of presidential immunity in Donald Trump appealDonald Trump prepares his final pitch on presidential immunitySign 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. CREDIT: CNNRead a transcript of this episode on FT.com