Read a transcript of this episode on FT.comhttps://www.ft.com/content/cf9a801f-d99d-4703-a1dd-2219ee91f3faChinese banks rushed to meet their annual state-imposed lending quotas last month by buying up low-risk financial instruments, a divided EU has demanded a role in next week’s negotiations with Russia over the Ukraine crisis, and travel stocks rose sharply on Tuesday. Plus, the FT’s Frankfurt correspondent, Joe Miller, explains why the German city of Mainz wants to hang onto the vaccine maker BioNTech.  Chinese banks buy up low-risk financial instruments amid concern over economyhttps://www.ft.com/content/70451eee-5163-4348-af1a-82656f7a50faTravel and leisure stocks surge as Omicron disruption fears fadehttps://www.ft.com/content/20ae6c32-2c03-45ad-af8d-b4310c5acce0EU demands seat at Ukraine talks as Russia prepares to meet US and Natohttps://www.ft.com/content/db2d642b-5068-40c3-a4c2-d3c330f3972bGerman city reaps tax windfall from BioNTech’s Covid vaccine successhttps://www.ft.com/content/5a705ebc-ce1f-4525-8406-d2875a32c473The 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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.