As he was shoved by his greying ponytail into a military SUV, Lebanon’s most famous drug lord sounded almost exasperated. Noah Zaitar rose to power at the helm of a marijuana empire without ever facing arrest, despite being open about his business — including on TV. He became symbolic of Lebanon’s weak central state and … Read more
Alfiyan Elfatah spends four hours each day commuting between Jakarta’s far-flung periphery and his workplace in the heart of the Indonesian capital. The 31-year-old has endured the slog for eight years — but only now is he officially crossing the biggest city in the world. Last month, the UN updated its list of the world’s … Read more
Pharmaceutical companies have long complained Europe spends too little on drugs. It took the arrival of Donald Trump — threatening steep tariffs and accusing European countries of “freeloading” on the US — for the warnings to register. In response to the threats, European governments raced to strike deals. The UK secured a zero tariff arrangement … Read more
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the Artificial intelligence myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. In our busy societies, holidays can be rare oases: sources of plentiful free time that is so elusive the rest of the year. Time, that is to say, available for what we truly want to … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. We are living in a self-service world. At the supermarket (if you still physically go to one), you can use an automated checkout and not have to bother asking the person at the till how … Read more
Europe’s hopes of a return to growth in 2026 rest largely on Germany’s €1tn debt-funded spending drive on infrastructure and defence, according to a Financial Times survey. Yet the 88 economists polled are split over whether Berlin’s fiscal push will deliver a “European renaissance” or fade amid entrenched structural weaknesses and geopolitical uncertainty. With its … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. The number of Japanese births this year is on track to fall short of even the government’s most pessimistic forecasts, deepening the challenge for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi as she seeks to balance economic growth … Read more
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the UK banks myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Lloyds Banking Group is shutting an invoice financing service for small business customers as the UK’s biggest lenders pivot to focus on more lucrative corporate clients. The UK’s biggest high street bank will close its … Read more
Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free Your guide to what Trump’s second term means for Washington, business and the world Russia has launched a major drone and missile attack on Kyiv, raising fresh doubts about the likelihood of a quick end to the war as Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares for a crucial meeting with … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. At least eight people were killed in an explosion at a mosque in a predominantly Alawite neighbourhood in the Syrian city of Homs in what authorities said was an attack aimed at destabilising the country. … Read more