FT News Briefing

Oil prices fell sharply after Iranian state television broadcast details of a peace proposal, mass drone production has turned the war effort around for Ukraine, and the European Central Bank warned US President Donald Trump risks triggering a financial crisis. Plus, AI opens the door for smaller, well-funded challengers to take market share from Big Four consultancies. Mentioned in this podcast:Oil falls as Iranian state television reports details of peace proposalRussian banks to arm themselves against Ukrainian dronesUkraine is turning the tablesTrump risks triggering financial crisis with Iran war, warns ECBHow AI threatens the giants of consultingWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Katya Kumkova. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Iran accused the US of “flagrant” violations of their ceasefire, BP has ousted its chair Albert Manifold following “serious concerns” over his behaviour, and two top European central bankers laid the groundwork for a likely interest rate rise in June. Plus, dealmaking in the mid-cap part of the UK market has sprung to life. Mentioned in this podcast:Iran accuses US of ‘flagrant’ ceasefire violations as back-channel talks continueBP removes chair Albert Manifold over ‘serious concerns’ about his conductTop ECB policymakers lay groundwork for June rate riseMerger spirits could lift the UK’s languishing mid-capsWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: 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 and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

In more than two-thirds of the world, the average number of children born to each woman has fallen below the “replacement rate”. Employment, home ownership and education are still big factors. But increasingly, so are mobile phones.Mentioned in this podcast:Why birth rates are falling everywhere all at onceCredit: The Columbus DispatchWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. Flo Phillips 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

The FT News Briefing presents a special episode from Slate's "What Next" podcast. As wealth disparity continues to grow, politicians in New York and California have suggested raising revenue through taxes aimed at their wealthiest residents. But the proposals have set off an upper-class uproar – and now, it’s a stand-off between the country’s billionaires and its most progressive politicos. Guest:  Stephanie Ruhle, anchor of MS NOW’s The 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle.Want more What Next? Subscribe to Slate Plus to access ad-free listening to the whole What Next family and across all your favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen.You can listen to past episodes of What Next, or follow Slate on YouTube.

The blockbuster listings of SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI are set to prompt an unprecedented wave of buying and selling, and a court in Ankara has ruled to remove the leadership of Turkey’s biggest opposition party. Plus, we’ll look at why US President Donald Trump is turning up the pressure on Cuba. Mentioned in this podcast:‘Fast entry’ SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic IPOs to ignite Wall Street trading frenzyTurkey court removes leader of opposition as Erdoğan tightens gripDonald Trump turns up the heat on CubaUS charges Cuba’s former president Raúl Castro with murderWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: 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 Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Michael Lello. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Nvidia will return more than $80bn to shareholders, and Donald Trump attracted ire this week with the creation of a $1.8bn “anti-weaponisation fund”. Plus, OpenAI is getting ready to go public, and Africa’s Ebola outbreak has health officials worried about pandemic preparedness. Mentioned in this podcast:Nvidia to return more than $80bn to shareholders as it reaps rewards of AI boomChina banned Nvidia’s gaming chip during Jensen Huang’s visitHow will Trump deploy his $1.8bn ‘anti-weaponisation’ fund’?OpenAI readies IPO filing to list as soon as SeptemberDR Congo races to halt spread of EbolaLethal Ebola virus outbreak triggers urgent international quest for vaccineWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: 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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from David da Silva. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

EU governments are discussing whether former leaders could represent the bloc in potential negotiations with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and rising fuel prices have triggered deadly protests across Africa. Plus, we look back at US Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell’s legacy as head of the central bank.Mentioned in this podcast:EU mulls Angela Merkel or Mario Draghi as possible Vladimir Putin whispererProtests spread in Africa as fuel crisis deepensPowell, Trump and the battle for the Federal ReserveWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Correction: This show has been modified from its original version. We said the Trump administration opened a lawsuit against Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell. The administration threatened a lawsuit. Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Fiona Symon. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, 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

A California court threw out Elon Musk’s case against Sam Altman and OpenAI, the global bond sell-off rages on, and a $420bn power behemoth was born after NextEra Energy struck a deal with its rival Dominion Energy. Plus, the FT’s Raya Jalabi travels to Christian villages in southern Lebanon where residents fear they’re under an indefinite occupation by Israeli forces. Mentioned in this podcast:Elon Musk’s case against OpenAI dismissed after just two hours of jury deliberationsGlobal bonds tumble on fears of inflation shock from Iran warBonds extend sell-off on inflation fearsNextEra strikes megadeal with Dominion to create $420bn US utilityIsrael seizes 1,000 sq km under Benjamin Netanyahu’s war strategyThe Christian villages under Israeli occupation in LebanonWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: 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 Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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

The cost for companies to circumvent shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is reaching record levels, and the world is bracing for an energy cliff edge this summer as the US-Iran war continues. But the war hasn’t deterred investment firms from betting on the Middle East, and we have an update on the UK’s political turmoil.Mentioned in this podcast:Sweeping the strait: the companies gearing up to clear the Gulf of minesGulf freight rates jump as shipping companies turn to trucks to move cargoWhat life is like on the stranded ships of the GulfIran energy crisis enters new phase as peak summer season loomsInvestment firms look beyond Iran war to expand in Middle EastLabour reopens Brexit debateIs being prime minister now an impossible job?Political Fix podcastWant to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.comNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, and produced by Katya Kumkova and Saffeya Ahmed. 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