President Donald Trump said Lebanon and Israel had agreed to a 10-day ceasefire, the US Treasury’s status as the world’s lowest-cost dollar borrower is facing a fresh challenge, and Netflix’s chair and founder is stepping down. Plus, Iran secretly acquired a Chinese spy satellite that has helped it target US military bases across the Middle East during the war, and shares in the world’s biggest chocolate maker aren’t looking so sweet.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Israel and Lebanon agree 10-day ceasefire, Trump says

US’s status as lowest-cost dollar borrower challenged as investors shun Trump risk

Netflix founder Reed Hastings to step down from board

Iran used Chinese spy satellite to target US bases

Shares at world’s biggest chocolate maker Barry Callebaut plunge as cocoa prices collapse

Credit: BBC

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, David da Silva, and Michela Tindera. 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.

Gulf monarchies raised almost $10bn in private sales of bonds this month, oil shortages are coming if the Strait of Hormuz stays closed, and US President Donald Trump has renewed his threat to fire Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell. Plus, a second China shock is hitting the global economy, and Allbirds is pivoting from wool sneakers to AI.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Gulf states turn to private deals in $10bn wartime borrowing spree

Oil shortages are coming, and with them some difficult questions

Trump threatens to fire Jay Powell and refuses to halt criminal probe

China shock 2.0: the flood of high-tech goods that will change the world

Allbirds is turning into an AI compute provider, because of course it is

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 Saffeya Ahmed, Fiona Simon and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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.

Ships are altering course as the US Navy’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues into its third day, and PwC plans to overhaul its global consulting business. Plus, insurers are turning to catastrophe bonds to cover data centres, and AI chatbots aren’t a substitute for doctors when it comes to medical diagnoses.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Strait of Hormuz tankers stop or turn around amid US blockade

Iran war could slow global growth to weakest since pandemic, IMF warns

US pushing Iran to agree 20-year moratorium on nuclear activity

PwC plans overhaul of global consulting business

Insurers turn to catastrophe bonds to offload data centre risks

AI chatbots misdiagnose in over 80% of early medical cases, study finds

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann and Michael Lello. 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.

A key UK government official says Britain’s leaders have shown a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, OpenAI’s $852bn valuation is under increasing scrutiny from its own backers and fixed-income traders at Goldman Sachs suffered an unexpected drop in revenues at the start of 2026. Plus, the FT’s Raya Jalabi explains how Lebanon has become a sticking point in US-Iran negotiations.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Starmer accused of ‘corrosive complacency’ on UK defence by former Nato chief

OpenAI investors question $852bn valuation as strategy shifts

Goldman bond traders take shine off bumper quarter

The 10 minutes that set Lebanon ablaze

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michael Lello. 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.

Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán concedes, US President Donald Trump says America will launch a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz after peace talks with Iran failed, and Wall Street banks are set to report trading revenues of more than $40bn for the first quarter. Plus, Meta is building an AI version of its CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Hungary’s Orbán concedes defeat as opposition heads for landslide win

Trump announces naval blockade of Strait of Hormuz as Iran peace talks fail

Fees for seas: a history of taxing waterways

Wall Street banks set to report $40bn trading haul as war rekindles volatility

Meta builds AI version of Mark Zuckerberg to interact with staff

Credit: DWS News

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 Saffeya Ahmed and Julia Webster. 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.

Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains at a standstill, sales of used electric vehicles are surging in the US, and the International Monetary Fund is warning that the war’s shocks will be felt by the global economy for a while. Plus, the FT’s Marton Dunai gives a rundown of the upcoming Hungarian elections.

Mentioned in this podcast:

OECD urges governments to rapidly unwind costly fuel duty cuts

Refineries rush to secure oil cargoes as Iran maintains grip on Hormuz

Sales of used EVs surge in US as petrol prices pass $4 a gallon

Who is Péter Magyar, Viktor Orbán’s nemesis?

Donald Trump and JD Vance back Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s election

Credit: AP Archive, C-SPAN, Reuters

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 Saffeya Ahmed and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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.

The Middle East ceasefire is strained, the FT’s Jamie Smyth explains how the uncertainty is hitting oil markets and Pakistan has become a mediator between the US and Iran. Plus, the data chief of the NHS has vowed to ignore controversy about Palantir while setting out plans to deeper embed the US company’s technology.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Middle East ceasefire under pressure over Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Saudi Arabia’s key east-west oil pipeline hit as Middle East energy attacks continue

Iran demands crypto fees for ships passing Hormuz during ceasefire

White House pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran ceasefire

NHS data chief pushes for deeper rollout of Palantir technology despite outcry

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 Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, and Michael Lello. 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.

US President Donald Trump said he would “suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks” subject to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, hedge funds made record bets against European stocks, Turkey has sold or loaned out $20bn of gold since the outbreak of the Iran war, and a project for a German warship has turned into a defence procurement disaster. Plus, four astronauts made a historic trip around the Moon.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Middle East live blog

Hedge funds make record bets against European stocks

Europe’s rearmament meets reality: the story of a failed frigate project

Turkey’s gold sales deepen bullion slump

Artemis II astronauts head back to Earth after record-breaking Moon trip

Credit: CNN, NBC New York

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 Saffeya Ahmed, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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.