As insurance costs rocket for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Asian countries brace for an energy shock. The rapid expansion of American-owned data centres in the Middle East has opened up a new front for Iran’s retaliation against the US. Plus, Donald Trump fires the head of the US Department of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, and the FT’s Joshua Franklin explains what JPMorgan wants with an historic New York City hotel.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Industry casts doubt on Trump plan to insure Gulf oil tankers as Iran war halts transit

Asia’s big economies brace for Iran war energy shock

Donald Trump fires controversial homeland security secretary Kristi Noem

Pakistan thwarts JPMorgan’s efforts to buy historic New York hotel

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 Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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

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Israel expects war against Iran to last weeks and Ayatollah Khamenei’s son emerges as a leading candidate for supreme leader. Plus, the Federal Reserve grants crypto exchange Kraken access to its core payments system, inside the collapse of UK property lender Market Financial Solutions, and US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent says the new 15% tariff rate could start this week.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Ali Khamenei’s son Mojtaba emerges as a leading candidate for supreme leader of Iran

Gulf insurance costs soar 12-fold despite Trump guarantee

Federal Reserve grants Kraken access to payments system in first for crypto group

Collapse of UK property lender sends shockwaves through Wall Street

Scott Bessent says 15% global tariff ‘likely’ to be imposed this week

Send your tariffs stories to marc.filippino@ft.com

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, Victoria Craig, and Henry Larson. 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.

Gas prices have soared on the back of the war in the Middle East, and US president Donald Trump criticised some European nations for not being helpful in the conflict. Plus, the ongoing crisis is disrupting precious-metals trade, and China will unveil its five-year plan during the National People’s Congress meeting on Thursday.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump threatens to cut trade with ‘terrible’ Spain and calls Starmer ‘no Churchill’

China’s cadres advocate end to overtime to encourage people to have families

Brussels urges calm as Iran crisis sends European gas prices soaring

Gold and silver flows disrupted as Iran conflict grounds flights

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig, edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Fiona Symon and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from 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.

Investors turned to gold and the US dollar in the wake of the Iran conflict, and Gulf states are panicking as Iran targets them in retaliatory strikes. Plus,can the US economy handle the surging oil prices caused by the attacks?

Mentioned in this podcast:

What will war in Iran do to the global economy?

Panic in the Gulf as Iran lashes out at US allies

What will be in Rachel Reeves’ spring outlook for the UK economy?

Investors turn to gold, not bonds, as haven from war in Iran

Hedge funds rethink emerging market bets after US-Israel strikes on Iran

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 and Nisha Patel. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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.

The world is reeling after the US and Israel struck Iran over the weekend. The FT’s Najmeh Bozorgmehr details the situation on the ground in Tehran. Then we explore how the renewed conflict affects the United States and the Middle East. Plus, the FT’s Malcolm Moore explains the potential implications for the oil market and the global economy.

Mentioned in this podcast:

What will war in Iran do to the global economy?

Tehran: a city at war

Oil jumps as Donald Trump vows to continue striking Iran

Insurers to cancel policies and raise prices for ships in Gulf and Strait of Hormuz

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, 1939-2026

After Khamenei, who rules Iran?

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

Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted by Victoria Craig and edited by Marc Filippino. It was produced by 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.

Paramount Skydance is poised to triumph in its bid to buy Warner Bros Discovery after Netflix said it would not boost its offer, tech companies are increasingly turning to loans backed by the chips on which their large language models are trained and the FT’s George Steer explains how Wall Street is hedging against the tech stock sell-off . Plus, Berkshire Hathaway’s new chief executive will send his first letter to investors on Saturday.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Paramount poised to clinch Warner Bros deal after Netflix walks away

Tech groups turn to more chip-backed loans to fund AI arms race

Wall Street turns to complex trades to dodge AI ‘implosions’

Warren Buffett hands over Berkshire Hathaway’s reins to Greg Abel

Behind the Money podcast: Berkshire after Buffett

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, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Michela Tindera, 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.

Nvidia beat Wall Street’s estimates on Wednesday as the company continued to benefit from the boom in AI infrastructure, and HSBC is on track to deliver cost savings earlier than planned. Plus, Iran looks to tempt US President Donald Trump with investments in order to stave off war, and the FT’s Robert Smith explains how Deutsche Bank rolled out the red carpet for Jeffrey Epstein.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Nvidia rallies on robust earnings powered by AI investment boom

HSBC shares hit record as bank accelerates cost savings and lifts target

Iran to offer ‘commercial bonanza’ to US companies

How Deutsche Bank rolled out the red carpet for Jeffrey Epstein

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, Victoria Craig, and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. 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.

US President Donald Trump delivered his State of the Union address last night, Europe’s largest investment banks delivered their highest trading revenues in at least a decade in 2025, and UK self-driving start-up Wayve has raised $1.2bn in new funding. Plus, people are returning to Afghanistan in droves, but there are questions over whether the country can support this massive influx.

Mentioned in this podcast:

European traders celebrate decade-beating performance

UK AI start-up Wayve raises $1.2bn from carmakers and Big Tech

Millions of people are returning to Taliban-run Afghanistan

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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, Victoria Craig and Sonja Hutson. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from 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.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.