FT News Briefing - Financial Times

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Borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Iran has weighed attacking US military targets in Europe should Donald Trump escalate the war, according to people close to the regime. Long-term borrowing costs across major economies hit multi-decade highs, and Revolut has proposed increasing the amount chief executive Nik Storonsky can borrow against his stake in the fintech fivefold. Plus, US President Donald Trump is presiding over an unlikely clean energy boom.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Iran eyes targets in Europe if US escalates war, insiders say

Government borrowing costs hit multi-decade highs

Revolut to let Nik Storonsky borrow up to $250mn against his stake

Trump’s renewables boom

Venomous sea creatures plague Europe’s warming beaches

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, and Saffeya Ahmed. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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

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

Airlines in stand-off over cutting ticket prices Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

Airlines are locked in a “stand-off” over whether to cut ticket prices, and Mark Carney is making a last ditch bid to avert Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat. Plus, the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has become the deadliest in the country’s history and Malaysia has been an unassuming AI winner.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Mark Carney in last-ditch effort to avoid Donald Trump’s latest tariffs

Airlines in ‘stand-off’ over price cuts as jet fuel costs ease

Ebola outbreak becomes DR Congo’s deadliest

Malaysia profits from data centre boom

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Private credit’s woes continue Aug 17, 2026

Show notes

Private credit is under strain as troubled loans swell, JPMorgan boss Jamie Dimon warned Britain’s chancellor against higher bank taxes, and the cost of shipping through many global maritime chokepoints are hitting record highs. Plus, the US is sitting on a mountain of debt – can anyone fix it?

Mentioned in this podcast:

Private credit under strain as troubled loans swell

Jamie Dimon warns UK chancellor against higher bank taxes

War and climate change drive surge in cost of shipping through global chokepoints

US sells 30-year bonds at highest borrowing costs since 2001

How Ralph Lauren won the workwear wars as America returned to the office

The mother of all professional wardrobes

Style war: inside Wall Street’s battle to revive J Crew

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. 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

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

Venezuela demands its gold back from the UK Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Leading US AI labs are releasing cheaper models to compete with cut-price alternatives from Chinese rivals. Venezuela’s government and opposition unite to demand $4bn in gold reserves back from the Bank of England. A flood of foreign currency bond issuance by Big Tech groups is shaking up the world’s smaller credit markets. Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is running for a second term amid growing discontent that citizens aren’t seeing the results of the country’s economic rebound.

Mentioned in this podcast:

OpenAI and Anthropic in price war as Chinese AI rivals gain ground

Venezuela and its opposition want gold back from Bank of England

Hyperscaler AI borrowing binge shakes up foreign credit markets

Zambia’s election becomes battle over copper windfall

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Anthropic’s anticipated $2tn IPO Aug 13, 2026

Show notes

Anthropic investors expect the AI start-up to be the largest ever initial public offering, and US inflation edged lower to 3.4 per cent in July as petrol prices declined. Plus, Iranian businesses are increasingly resorting to “buy now, pay later” schemes as the cost of living spirals out of control.

Note: This episode of the FT News Briefing has been updated. A segment was removed.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Anthropic investors bet on $2tn valuation in record IPO

US inflation falls to 3.4% in July

Iranians opt to ‘buy now, pay later’ as cost of living spirals

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

US asks Ukraine to stop strikes on tankers using Russian port Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Ukraine has halted drone strikes on oil tankers using a critical Black Sea port after a request by the US, suspected Chinese hackers hit Taiwan with an autonomous AI cyber attack, and the head of the Boston Federal Reserve thinks policymakers may be forced to raise rates in September. Plus, measures of volatility in stocks and currencies have tumbled this summer despite the geopolitical uncertainty.

Mentioned in this podcast:

JD Vance asked Ukraine to halt strikes on tankers using Russian port

China-linked hackers hit Taiwan in unprecedented ‘autonomous’ AI cyber attack

Americans are struggling to make ‘ends meet’, top Fed official says

Volatility tumbles as markets shrug off Middle East risks

Credit: White House

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Spain’s migrant crisis exposes serious challenges for young Moroccans Aug 11, 2026

Show notes

Wall Street giants are partnering with Nvidia on a $500bn AI financing deal, the mega-merger between AstraZeneca and Bristol Myers Squibb has been put on ice, and queues at some EU airports have doubled because of border checks. Plus, the FT’s Malaika Kanaaneh Tapper explains why Morocco’s economy isn’t helping its young workers.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Wall Street giants partner with Nvidia on $500bn AI financing deal

How AstraZeneca’s pursuit of US rival Bristol Myers unravelled

EU airport queues double due to border checks

Hotel prices in Europe surge ahead of historic eclipse

Spain’s migrant amnesty a ‘very bad idea’, says Swedish PM

Morocco’s two-speed economy leaves young workers behind

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4

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

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Deadly protests in Kashmir test Pakistan’s government Aug 10, 2026

Show notes

China is bypassing shipping chokepoints with an “Ice Silk Road” route through the Arctic, dozens of people have been killed in election clashes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Germany’s economy minister warned that growing support for a far-right political party could deter foreign investors. Plus, we take a look at the bank behind China’s AI listings bonanza, and how the UAE has won over Washington.

Mentioned in this podcast:

China bypasses shipping chokepoints with ‘Ice Silk Road’ through Arctic

Deadly protests in Kashmir test Pakistan’s military rulers

German economy minister warns AfD’s rise could deter investors

The bank behind China’s AI listings bonanza

How the UAE won over Washington

FT subscription finder: https://find-your-subscription.ft.com/?segmentId=288f5dc5-4a4b-0745-84da-8f07c7202cd4

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. Our executive producer is Topher Forhecz.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

Crude retreats but fuel prices stay high Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

Weakened refining capacity in Russia and the Gulf is a boon to US refiners. Plus, the Trump administration’s decision to revoke legal protections for migrants could hurt the US economy, and Google is shifting control of its AI effort from London back to Silicon Valley.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Refining crunch keeps fuel prices high as crude retreats

Google shifts AI power back to Brin as DeepMind’s Hassabis steps aside

‘People are going to kill me’: Haitians fear deportation as US revokes protected status

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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

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

How Ukrainian drone expertise is helping Colombian narcos Aug 06, 2026

Show notes

Iran said it reached an agreement with Oman on a route through the Strait of Hormuz, US Democrats hope to win control of Congress in the midterm elections and scammers are taking advantage of the disruption caused by the EU’s new crypto rules. Plus, the FT’s Joe Daniels explains how Ukrainian drone technology is helping cartels and guerillas in Colombia.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Iran says it has reached agreement with Oman on Strait of Hormuz shipping route

Progressive Democrat wins in Michigan in rebuke to party establishment

US midterm elections 2026: The FT’s guide

Scammers pose as watchdogs to prey on EU crypto rule changes

Colombian narcos’ quest for Ukrainian drone expertise

Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis steps down in shake-up of AI lab

Credit: CNN

Want to get in touch? Email us at podcasts@ft.com

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

The FT News Briefing is produced by Victoria Craig, Sonja Hutson, Saffeya Ahmed, and Katya Kumkova. Our editor is Marc Filippino. Our show is mixed by Sam Giovinco and Alex Higgins. Additional help from Gavin Kallmann, Michael Lello, Peter Barber and David da Silva. Our intern is Cole van Miltenburg. 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

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

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