Trump’s good week

Hello from the FT newsroom. It has been a good week for Donald Trump. On Monday, a New York appeals court ruled that he could pay just $175mn to delay enforcement of a $464mn fraud judgment — after Trump claimed that it would be “impossible” to secure a bond for the full amount.

Then on Tuesday, his social media business that is behind the Truth Social platform had a very successful market debut, netting Trump billions with his majority stake.

How radical would a second Trump term be? We launched a new series, The Trump Machine, this week. In the first instalment we look at Trump’s people. During the 2016 campaign he was the ultimate outsider. Who are the experienced former officials that now make up the inner circle?

My choices this week

1. Xi Jinping has a new economic plan for China rooted in high-tech manufacturing. With consumer confidence still lagging, we analyse Beijing’s latest pivot that western governments seem to be getting worried about.
2. Russia has started supplying oil directly to North Korea, in what is described as a “full-frontal assault” on UN sanctions against Pyongyang. Satellite images shared exclusively with the Financial Times demonstrate the arms-for-oil relationship.
3. Haiti has collapsed into anarchy. Acute hunger, homelessness and violence are widespread. A US-led plan has offered a glimmer of hope; but the international community needs to act fast, writes the FT editorial board.
4. With Boeing in turmoil, chief executive Dave Calhoun announced he would step down this year. The company needs to replace him with an engineering expert to restore safety standards, the chief of Emirates — one of Boeing’s largest clients — told the FT. (Free to read)
5. An Austrian magazine has been bringing its big investigations to the stage. I was intrigued to read about an innovative way of engaging readers — while considering the blurry line between drama and reality.
6. “In the pub, I can be a gentle observer. Life is not rushing at me, rather I am watching it unfurl.” There is something special about whiling away an afternoon in a good drinking hole, taking your place in a history of punters past. Don’t miss this ode to the old-fashioned pub. (Free to read)

Thanks for reading,

Roula

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