FT News Briefing

Vivendi prepares to spin off Canal+ for a London listing. Christine Lagarde says trade wars threaten global GDP. Sir Alex Younger, former head of UK’s MI6, discusses Tulsi Gabbard, Donald Trump’s proposed director of national intelligence. Plus, Adani Group’s infrastructure projects in Kenya hit a roadblock.Mentioned in this podcast: London’s snaring of France’s Canal+ to revive moribund listing market‘Adios Adani!’ Bribery charges threaten group’s Africa ambitionsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Mischa Frankl-Duval, Josh Gabert-Doyon, Lulu Smyth, Ethan Plotkin, Niamh Rowe, 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. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israeli and Lebanese leaders agree to a ceasefire, and Mexico hits back at US president-elect Donald Trump’s tariff plans. Plus, President Joe Biden is rushing to cement his legacy during his final weeks in office, and Russia’s rouble has plummeted to its lowest rate against the dollar since the first weeks of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Mentioned in this podcast:Ceasefire deal reached in Israel-Lebanon war Mexico hits back as Trump’s tariff threat shakes markets Biden aims to Trump-proof his legacy with policy blitz in final daysRouble slides as new Russian sanctions stifle foreign tradeThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, 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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Department of Justice is seeking to drop two federal criminal cases against Donald Trump, and Robert F Kennedy Jr’s nomination for top health role is concerning the pharmaceutical industry. Plus, Italy’s UniCredit has launched a €10bn takeover bid for domestic rival Banco BPM, Brussels is planning to force Chinese companies to transfer intellectual property in return for EU subsidies and TikTok is creating an unlikely frontrunner in Romania’s presidential race. Mentioned in this podcast:US special counsel Jack Smith moves to drop criminal cases against Donald TrumpBiotechs test IPO market despite concerns over Robert Kennedy’s health roleUniCredit makes €10bn offer for Italian rival Banco BPM EU to demand technology transfers from Chinese companiesHow a pro-Putin TikTok star topped Romania’s presidential poll The FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, 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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Huawei is poised to launch its first flagship phone that can run its own apps, and Donald Trump’s nominee to run the Treasury is seen across Wall Street and Washington as a pragmatic pick. COP29 has produced a new global finance deal against considerable odds, and the FT’s Michael Stott warns that the US is being eclipsed by China in Latin America. Mentioned in this podcast:Huawei to launch flagship smartphone with breakthrough software ‘Sigh of relief’: Wall Street welcomes Donald Trump’s pick of Scott Bessent for Treasury secretaryClimate multilateralism clings on, just Joe Biden loses to Xi Jinping in battle for Latin AmericaCredit: BBC, APThe FT News Briefing is produced by Niamh Rowe, 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 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.