FT News Briefing

Sweden set to join the Nato club

Sweden is set to become a Nato member, the UK Financial Conduct Authority is planning to name firms under investigation at a much earlier stage, and Microsoft has struck a deal with a French artificial…

Biotech is back

Israel plans to raise debt and taxes to fund its war in Gaza and global house prices are on the rise. Plus, FT correspondent Paola Tamma discusses some of the troubles plaguing the EU’s key…

Russia’s failed efforts to rebuild in Ukraine

The UK and EU will on Friday sign a deal to co-operate more closely in tackling illegal immigration and criminal gangs, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 index hit a record high after 34 years. Plus, the FT’s…

Will Germany lead Nato?

UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt is considering slashing public spending to fund pre-election tax cuts, Germany is looking to boost its defence spending at a crucial time for Europe, and Citigroup has started tracking how many…

Viktor Orbán: the EU’s chief disrupter

The US Federal Reserve held interest rates at a 23-year high, the EU’s battle with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán could come to a head on Thursday, and Boeing withheld its usual financial guidance for…

The challenges to a ceasefire in Gaza

Brussels threatens to hit Hungary’s economy if Viktor Orbán vetoes Ukraine aid, the UN’s highest court orders Israel to limit harm to Palestinians in Gaza, Germany’s carmakers are struggling amidst the transition to electric vehicles,…

China is not out of the woods yet

A top IMF official has warned that central banks need to move cautiously on cutting rates this year, BP has appointed interim boss Murray Auchincloss as its permanent chief executive, and Rishi Sunak quelled a…

The scramble for a new EU leader

Chinese companies are resorting to chips repurposed from standard PC gaming products to develop artificial intelligence tools, and Charles Michel’s run for European parliament is causing a scramble to replace him. Plus, a new TV…

The west is losing patience with Israel

The Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates at a 22-year high, countries reached a deal at the COP28 climate summit to transition away from fossil fuels, and Germany reached a last-minute budget deal to…

Nato says don’t underestimate Russia

Nato’s secretary-general is warning the west not to underestimate Russia, Cigna is in talks to merge with Humana in a deal that would create a US health insurance giant worth $140bn, and an audio essay…