FT News Briefing

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…

What the Dutch far-right win means for the EU

Voters in the Netherlands elect Geert Wilders; UK immigration numbers reach new high; Plus, senior Carlsberg executives are detained in Russia

OpenAI and Sam Altman’s superpowers

Israel and Hamas have agreed a deal to release hostages, Dutch voters head to the polls today, and Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao has resigned after pleading guilty to a US criminal charge. Plus, the FT’s…

Commenting on Israel-Hamas is tricky for businesses

The EU’s top diplomat called on Monday for a pause in hostilities in order to allow aid deliveries into Gaza, and Argentine bonds tumbled after Sunday’s presidential election. Plus, the FT’s Anjli Raval explains why…

Ukraine and Israel vie for EU’s attention

Toyota says it is close to being able to mass produce next-generation solid-state batteries, and the European Union is trying to juggle support for Ukraine and Israel. Plus, start up companies in Israel are being…

Poland’s complicated relationship with Ukraine

Russia has succeeded in avoiding G7 sanctions on most of its oil exports, Poland is calling for less support for Ukraine, China’s answer to the World Bank wants to commit more money to climate, and…