FT News Briefing

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 cutsRefineries rush to secure oil cargoes as Iran maintains grip on HormuzSales of used EVs surge in US as petrol prices pass $4 a gallonWho is Péter Magyar, Viktor Orbán’s nemesis?Donald Trump and JD Vance back Viktor Orbán ahead of Hungary’s electionCredit: 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

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 LebanonSaudi Arabia’s key east-west oil pipeline hit as Middle East energy attacks continueIran demands crypto fees for ships passing Hormuz during ceasefireWhite House pushed Pakistan to broker temporary Iran ceasefireNHS data chief pushes for deeper rollout of Palantir technology despite outcryNote: 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

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 blogHedge funds make record bets against European stocksEurope’s rearmament meets reality: the story of a failed frigate projectTurkey’s gold sales deepen bullion slumpArtemis II astronauts head back to Earth after record-breaking Moon tripCredit: 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

The US and Iran rejected each other’s peace proposals, EU officials are urging governments to avoid excessive support to offset surging energy prices, and the value of buyouts by private equity groups fell by more than a third in the first quarter of the year. Plus, Cuba is offsetting power blackouts and shortages with the help of soaring imports of solar technology from China.Mentioned in this podcast:US and Iran reject each other’s proposals to end warEU warns capitals against turning energy crunch into fiscal crisisPrivate equity buyouts slump as AI fears and war dent dealmakingPower-starved Cuba deepens reliance on Chinese solar techNote: 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 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

In a special edition of the FT News Briefing, reporter Guy Chazan explains the cost of US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. We hear from business owners and people affected by the policies in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas.Mentioned in this podcast:The economic cost of Trump’s migrant crackdownSources: White House, Fox, ABCNote: 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 Alex Higgins. 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

America’s tariff regime affected all aspects of life from the global economy to the day-to-day of average business owners. In this special episode, the FT’s US Economics Editor Claire Jones explains what changed, and what didn’t, because of those tariffs. Mentioned in this podcast:Listen to the rest of our Liberation Day series Listen to Swamp Notes 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.  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. 

President Donald Trump fired US attorney-general Pam Bondi, and private credit investors are requesting their money back from Blue Owl Capital at an alarming rate. Plus, the FT’s Robert Armstrong continues our series on Trump’s tariffs with analysis of the Taco trade theory a year later. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump fires US attorney-general Pam BondiBlue Owl struck by $5.4bn of redemption requestsTaco trade theory and the US market’s surprise comebackListen to the FT News Briefing’s tariffs series hereNote: 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 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

US President Donald Trump updated Americans on the war in Iran, and Chinese government bonds have sidestepped a global debt sell-off since the start of Washington’s conflict with Tehran. Plus, in part four of our tariff anniversary series, the FT’s Gideon Rachman explains how Trump’s tariffs reshaped the geopolitical landscape. Mentioned in this podcast:Donald Trump offers mixed messages on war in IranChinese government bonds emerge as lone war havenListen to the FT News Briefing’s tariffs series hereNote: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Sonja Hutson, and produced by Fiona Symon, Victoria Craig, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann andD avid 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

Foreign central banks have slashed their holdings of Treasuries at the New York Federal Reserve to the lowest level since 2012, and a preliminary estimate showed that Eurozone inflation jumped to 2.5 per cent in March. Plus, we hear from two small US business owners about how they have navigated a year of President Donald Trump’s tariffs. Mentioned in this podcast:Foreign central banks sell US Treasuries in wake of Iran warThe ECB’s three-pronged monetary strategyTrump tariff tracker: US trade, markets and the economyListen to the FT News Briefing’s tariffs series hereChris Giles on Central BanksNote: 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, Victoria Craig, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kent Militzer. 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