FT News Briefing

US President Donald Trump has said he wants to ‘take the oil in Iran’ and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island. Uncertainty about what happens next in the war is sending nervousness through global markets. Plus, this week marks one year since President Trump’s so-called Liberation Day announcement. How has the global trade landscape changed since then?

Mentioned in this podcast:
Donald Trump says US could ‘take the oil in Iran’
Global markets recoil as Marco Rubio warns war in Iran could stretch for weeks
US bond market shows signs of strain as Iran war sparks Treasury tumult
How has the global economy changed since ‘liberation day’?

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig and produced by Nisha Patel and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Alex Higgins. Additional help from Peter Barber. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Untold host Antonia Cundy uncovers the cultural and political influence of a controversial Catholic organisation in America. Opus Dei exists to help people get closer to God, but some members say they found other agendas – and unexpected harm – entangled in that spiritual mission.

We meet Sarah – a young girl drawn to Opus Dei’s message that professional work can be a path to holiness. At 18, Sarah says goodbye to her family and moves into an Opus Dei centre to learn how to make her work an offering to God. But what she experiences there feels different to the organisation she thought she knew. Sarah chafes at unexpected rules, unquestioning obedience and dehumanising treatment.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United Arab Emirates has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and Hong Kong is weighing tax cuts for asset managers. Plus, London has embraced a controversial form of energy production: burning rubbish.

Mentioned in this podcast:
UAE pushes for international force to reopen Hormuz
Hong Kong weighs ‘big bang’ tax cuts for asset managers
‘It’s good business’: how London became an ‘energy from waste’ capital

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iran’s top military leadership dismissed Donald Trump’s claims that the Islamic republic was ready to make a deal, the US president appears to make abrupt policy pivots based on swings in oil prices, and the EU’s trade commissioner says time is running out to stop the World Trade Organization from fading into irrelevance. Plus, how worried should investors be about the caps on redemptions at private credit funds?

Mentioned in this podcast:
Iran’s military leaders dismiss Donald Trump’s deal claims
Iran war tests Donald Trump’s tolerance for ‘pain’ in oil market
Meta and Google liable for social media harm to children’s mental health in landmark US case
WTO risks sliding into irrelevance, EU trade commissioner warns
Private credit’s game of footsie is getting riskier
Ares limits withdrawals from $10.7bn private credit fund

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Henry Larson, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta and OpenAI will be among the first customers of Arm’s long-awaited new AI processor, the haven asset gold hasn’t been looking like its usual self, and Volkswagen is in talks to switch production at one its factories from cars to missile defence for Israel. Plus, Lebanon is worried Israel will push further into its southern region and occupy it.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Arm launches own AI chip in high-stakes strategy shift
Unhedged: Is gold an unsafe haven asset?
Listen to the Unhedged podcast here
VW to shift from cars to missile defence in deal with Israel’s Iron Dome maker
The sum of all fears for Lebanon

Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s Global Head of Audio. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.