Investors are bracing for another tough report on US inflation, Putin’s war in Ukraine has sparked an exodus of educated professionals from Russia and could worsen the country’s population decline, and conservative shareholder activists in the US have filed a record number of proposals this year as they try to counter what they call “woke-ism” in corporate America. Mentioned in this podcast:Ukraine war threatens to deepen Russia’s demographic crisisPolitical proxies: conservative activists file record shareholder proposalsEpic Games secures $2 bn in funding from Lego and Sony to build gaming metaverseThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen will advance to the final round of voting after yesterday’s first round of the French presidential election, and Stefania Palma explains the big themes that have emerged from the 1MDB scandal. Plus, the FT’s Asia financial correspondent, Tabby Kinder, explains why China is changing its audit secrecy rules. Mentioned in this podcast:Emmanuel Macron to face Marine Le Pen in French election run-offEx-Goldman banker Roger Ng found guilty in 1MDB fraud trialChina changes audit secrecy rules in bid to stop US delistingsImran Khan ousted as Pakistan’s leader in vote of no confidenceThe French election webinar: Race to the Finish The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of this season of Tech Tonic, James Kynge, the FT’s Global China Editor, asks how significant Chinese intellectual property theft has been to the country’s rise as a global tech superpower.We hear from an FBI agent based in Silicon Valley whose job is to prevent the theft of trade secrets, and ask whether China’s ‘talent programmes’, under which Beijing funds scientists and engineers around the world, are actually spy recruitment networks or whether they are genuine attempts to lure home professionals and plug China’s talent gap. Experts are warning the growing distrust between the US and China could put the future of scientific and technological exchange at risk.Featuring interviews with Nick Shenkin, FBI special agent and director of the Strategic Technology Task Force for the FBI's San Francisco field office; an interview between the FT’s Demetri Sevastopulo and Michael Orlando, acting director of the US National Counterintelligence and Security Center; Rui Ma, China tech analyst and creator of the Tech Buzz China podcast; Wang Huiyao, founder and president of Center for China and Globalization in Beijing; Winston Ma, author and adjunct professor at the NYU law school; and Gisela Kusakawa, assistant director at the Anti-Racial Profiling Project at Asian Americans Advancing Justice.Check out stories and up-to-the-minute news from the FT’s technology team at ft.com/technologyFor a special, discounted FT subscription, go to https://www.ft.com/techtonicsaleAnd check out FT Edit, the new iPhone app that shares the best of FT journalism, hand-picked by senior editors to inform, explain and surprise. It’s free for the first month and 99p a month for the next six months.Presented by James Kynge. Interview with Michael Orlando conducted by Demetri Sevastopulo. Edwin Lane is senior producer. Josh Gabert-Doyon is producer. Manuela Saragosa is executive producer. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT’s head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.News clips credits: NBC, Global News, Micron, The Oregonian Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This weekend, we delve into the world of celebrity via the app Cameo. What does it mean that we can now pay celebrities to send us personalised video greetings? And how has our interaction with famous people shifted over the last decade? Lilah talks to gaming critic Tom Faber about the ethics and absurdities of fame in 2022. Then, interior design columnist Luke Edward Hall gives us his top tips on making your home really feel like yours.--------------Want to say hi? We love hearing from you. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. --------------Links and mentions from the episode: –Tom Faber on Cameo: https://on.ft.com/3FIF7kF –Luke Edward Hall on the magic of your own murals: https://on.ft.com/3jjN4UY –Luke’s five design principals: https://on.ft.com/2OZGXcH –Luke Edward Hall is on Instagram at @lukeedwardhall, and Tom Faber is on Twitter at @_TomFaber–Key coverage of the war in Ukraine is free to read: https://www.ft.com/freetoread—-------------Special offers for Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial are here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast. If you have an iPhone and want to try FT Edit, search ‘FT Edit’ in the app store.--------------The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French bank shares and bonds were rattled this week after the recent poll showed stronger results for right-wing French presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen.Aluminium producer Rusal became the first Russian company to publicly call for an investigation into the alleged war crimes in the Ukrainian town of Bucha, and FT markets editor, Katie Martin, discusses whether sanctions against Russia might affect the global dominance of the US dollar. Mentioned in this podcast:Le Pen’s poll surge rattles French bonds and bank stocksRussian aluminium producer Rusal calls for Bucha war crimes investigationFinancial warfare: will there be a backlash against the dollar?FTNB: Russia’s war on Ukraine boosts China’s financial ambitionsKetanji Brown Jackson confirmed for US Supreme Court seatThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US has imposed its most severe level of sanctions on Russia’s Sberbank and Alfa-Bank, and Brazil might have finally settled on a chief executive for Petrobras. Plus, the FT’s China correspondent, Eleanor Olcott, spoke to staff at a Chinese autonomous vehicle company who say AutoX conducted risky test drives in a push for better data and investment.Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:US imposes ‘severe’ sanctions on Russian banks after Bucha atrocitiesPetrobras faces fresh turmoil as Brazilian government’s pick for chief withdrawsWhy Chinese driverless car company AutoX disengaged its safety featuresApple App Store: FT EditThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US and eurozone government debt sold off on Tuesday as traders weighed the prospect of stronger sanctions against Russia and comments from a top policymaker at the Federal Reserve signalling more aggressive action, President Joe Biden announces US, UK and Australia co-operation on hypersonic weapons, and in China’s financial hub, Shanghai, there are signs of growing public anger at the government’s stringent zero-Covid lockdown measures. Mentioned in this podcast:Government debt hit as traders weigh prospect of further Russia sanctionsBiden to announce US, UK and Australia co-operation on hypersonic weaponsShanghai extends Covid lockdown measures despite economic concernsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The venerable venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital, has announced a change in leadership, Elon Musk has bought a nearly-10 per cent stake in Twitter, French president Emmanual Macron has called for a ban on Russian oil and coal. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:EU moves closer to boycott of Russian energyTwitter/Elon Musk: social media star becomes social media ownerHuawei faces dilemma over Russia links that risk further US sanctionsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EU prepares more sanctions against Russia after apparent atrocities near Kyiv, French president Emmanuel Macron has warned his supporters not to assume that he will win a second term in this month’s election, and international auditors are resigning from China’s heavily indebted property developers.Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:EU prepares more sanctions against Russia after apparent atrocities near KyivBig Four under growing pressure as Chinese developers delay auditsFrance votes: Macron’s frontrunner status conceals deep rifts in societyLimited offer: 50 per cent off a digital subscription to FT.com The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first episode of this season’s six-part series, the FT’s Global China Editor James Kynge tracks China’s dramatic transformation from the manufacturing workshop of the world to the next global superpower. The driver of that change is technology, sparking a battle between China and the US over who will dominate. Numerous ethnic Chinese scientists working in the US have found themselves ensnared in this bitter rivalry, including US-based physics professor Xiaoxing Xi, wrongly accused of industrial espionage, amid accusations that China’s tech prowess has been built on the theft of US innovation. How deep is the rift between the two countries over tech and what does that mean for the world?Check out stories and up-to-the-minute news from the Technology team at  ft.com/technologyGet 50% off an FT subscription at ft.com/briefingsaleAnd check out FT Edit, the new iPhone app that shares the best of FT journalism, hand-picked by senior editors to inform, explain and surprise. It’s free for the first month and 99p a month for the next six months.Presented by James Kynge. Edwin Lane is senior producer. Josh Gabert-Doyon is producer. Manuela Saragosa is executive producer. Sound design is by Breen Turner, with original music from Metaphor Music. The FT's head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.News clips credits: CNBC, CGTN America, NBC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.