Your morning briefing. All the news you need to start your day.

On today's podcast:

(1) A fresh plan announced by US President Donald Trump to help vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has left shipping executives perplexed, as attacks continue and traffic remains at a near standstill.

(2) Concern about a possible euro-area recession is “real and justified” as conflict in the Middle East causes a supply-side disruption, European Central Bank Governing Council member Yannis Stournaras said in an interview with Phileleftheros.

(3) President Donald Trump said he plans to cut the US military presence in Germany by more than the 5,000-troop drawdown announced so far, even as Republican allies and NATO countries questioned the move.

(4) The UK is set to enter talks to join the European Union’s €90 billion ($105 billion) Ukraine loan plan, underlining what the British government describes as “growing defense ties” between London and Brussels.

(5) A group of Swiss lawmakers are meeting to discuss the future of UBS Group AG and a proposed bill that could impose additional capital requirements on the bank's Swiss unit.

Podcast Conversation: There's Never Been This Much Pressure for Men to Look Good at 60

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