Fire in Hong Kong apartment complex leaves 44 dead and 279 missing
Hundreds of firefighters working to control blaze in city’s northern Tai Po district
Transcript: Defying death — The origins of ageing
Hannah Kuchler speaks to Michael Peel, David Gems and Matt Kaeberlein
Stranger Things’ high-stakes final season is an escapist pleasure
After nearly 10 years on screen, the show begins its farewell as the first part of season 5 arrives on Netflix
Two National Guard troops shot near the White House in Washington
Guardsmen are in critical condition and a suspect is in custody, according to officials
Letter: US army’s reliance on private equity is a national security risk
From Ian Gary, Executive Director, Financial Accountability and Corporate Transparency (FACT) Coalition, Washington, DC, US
Letter: Let’s spend on deterrence now, rather than war later
From Jonathan Shaw, Maj Gen (retd), Winchester, Hampshire, UK
Letter: Argentina’s simplistic fixes from abroad can’t continue
From Marcos Roca, Paris, France
Letter: Why shadow AI in hiring mustn’t become embedded
From Khyati Sundaram, CEO of ethical AI hiring experts, Applied, London WC2, UK
Letter: Hooray Henrietta
From Henrietta Dermot, London W4, UK
Scientists map five phases of brain development
‘I’ve forgotten what stage my brain is at’
Japan needs to end its dangerous debt delusion
The country has to face up to the hard truth that it has maxed out on its fiscal flexibility
FT Crossword: Number 18,224
Campbell’s fires executive who criticised its food in recording
Vice-president of IT department alleged to have told a former employee the company made food for ‘poor people’
FirstFT: At least 36 dead, hundreds missing in Hong Kong apartment complex fire
Also in today’s newsletter, two National Guard troops shot near White House, and Rachel Reeves’ Budget raises UK tax take to all-time high
Megadeals hit new record as Wall Street’s animal spirits roar back
Global transactions of $10bn or more hit 63 as Trump deregulation and fading trade war risks spur M&A blitz
Rachel Reeves’ Budget raises UK tax take to all-time high
Burden to reach 38% of GDP by end of parliament
Beige Book shows US labour market deteriorated in November
Employment declined and half of US districts noted weaker labour demand
‘Spend now, pay later’: Reeves’ Budget delays the fiscal pain
Chancellor now more likely to meet her fiscal rules without further policy changes, OBR says
Painful choices on welfare still lie ahead for Reeves despite tax rises
OBR sounds alarm on special needs and sickness spending
Online gambling operators hit with steep tax rises
High street betting shops and fruit machines spared from tax raid as bingo industry enjoys a cut
Freezing of income tax thresholds to drag millions into higher rates
Experts condemn ‘tax rise by stealth’ for many, including minimum wage earners and pensioners
Threshold for repaying student loans to converge with minimum wage
Surprise move from chancellor means some university graduates in England may have to pay back debts sooner
Energy system operator warns of UK gas shortage risk in 2030s
Report raises questions over government’s energy strategy as North Sea production falls
Rachel Reeves’ case of risky risk aversion
It is depressing that a government with such a huge majority dares do so little to transform economic prospects