Tim Cook will step down as Apple’s chief executive in September, representatives for US President Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ held discussions with DP World about managing supply chains in Gaza, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer fended off calls for him to quit over the Peter Mandelson vetting affair. Plus, wealth advisers at banks and independent brokerages generated billions of dollars in fees by steering individual investors into private market funds. Mentioned in this podcast: Tim Cook to step aside as Apple chief executive in September Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ held talks with DP World over Gaza reconstruction Keir Starmer accused of scapegoating officials over Peter Mandelson scandal Keir Starmer was told to vet Peter Mandelson before appointing him Wealth advisers made more than $2bn from private capital fees Kevin Warsh: Trump’s next fall guy at the Fed? Credit: UK Parliament  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 Sonja Hutson. 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Donald Trump said he’s sending senior officials to Pakistan for new negotiations with Iran, the European Commission will encourage remote working and public transport subsidies to cut fossil fuel use, and FTSE 100 companies boosted chief executives’ pay by almost a fifth in the past year. Plus, there’s a new craze hitting Wall Street: super-charged tax-loss harvesting.  Mentioned in this podcast: Donald Trump to send US officials to Pakistan for fresh peace talks with Iran Brussels pushes remote working to ease energy crisis FTSE bosses receive 18% pay bump this year in global fight for talent The tax-focused hedge fund craze taking over Wall Street 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 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.

Global oil markets have faced historic disruption since the Iran war began in February. The FT’s Jamie Smyth speaks with shale pioneer Scott Sheffield and his son Bryan about energy security and why the crisis could reshape the future for oil and gas.  Mentioned in this podcast: Trump administration urges US oil bosses to increase drilling Fracking pioneers look overseas as US shale revolution goes global  ‘As big as Saudi Arabia’: the Permian oilman who sold Pioneer to Exxon  Note: The FT does not use generative AI to voice its podcasts  This episode was hosted and produced by Michela Tindera. It was edited by Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. Additional help from Gavin Kallman. 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.

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.