FT News Briefing

US President Donald Trump says the Iran ceasefire is on “life support”, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is fighting to save his premiership after the Labour party's disastrous showing in last week's UK local elections. Plus, we preview this week’s summit between Trump and China’s President Xi Jinping, and examine how business in the Gulf is holding up through the Iran war.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Donald Trump says Iran ceasefire is on ‘life support’
Starmer battles to stay in Number 10 as scores of Labour MPs urge him to quit
How the war hit the Gulf dealmaking machine
A weakened Trump arrives in Xi’s court
The Rachman Review podcast
Credit: Associated Press

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Today’s FT News Briefing was hosted and edited by Marc Filippino, and produced by Katya Kumkova, 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.

A gas shipment made it through the Strait of Hormuz as European oil majors cash in billions from the US-Israeli war on Iran, airlines across Europe are cutting prices for summer flights despite a potential jet fuel shortage, and bond giant Pimco says the war could prompt the Federal Reserve to raise rates. Plus, the FT’s Lucy Fisher explains what to expect from a make-or-break speech by UK prime minister Keir Starmer today.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Qatari gas shipment clears Strait of Hormuz after Pakistan-Iran talks
Euro oil majors make billions off war
Coal shipments jump as countries seek alternatives to disrupted gas supplies
Airlines cut prices to entice holiday bookers worried about jet fuel
Iran war could prompt Federal Reserve to raise rates, Pimco says
Starmer faces fight for survival as calls to resign escalate
Britain’s elections in maps and charts
Political Fix podcast

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 Katya Kumkova, Marc Filippino 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
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a dreadful night for Labour as council seats across the country have turned from red to turquoise. The Conservatives have not fared much better with Reform UK the big winner so far. With results still coming in, host Lucy Fisher discusses the fracturing of the vote and the future for beleaguered Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, Northern England correspondent Jen Williams and political columnist Stephen Bush.

Have a question for the panel? We’re planning a question and answer episode on Monday May 11. Email your questions to [email protected]
Follow Lucy on X: @LOS_Fisher, and Bluesky: @lucyfisher.ft.com; Jim @PickardJE; Stephen @stephenkb & @stephenkb.bsky.social and Jen @JenWilliamsMEN and @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social

Want more?
UK elections: Labour suffers heavy losses as Reform surges
Four things we learnt in the UK elections
Scale of defeat should shake ‘big two’ parties into serious action
Keir Starmer defies calls to quit after heavy Labour council losses
UK local and devolved elections: Hour-by-hour guide to key results
In Labour’s bleak moment, Andy Burnham relishes his own

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Presented by Lucy Fisher. Produced by Clare Williamson. Manuela Saragosa is the executive producer. Original music and mix by Breen Turner. The broadcast engineers were Andrew Giorgiades and Petros Gioumpasis. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of Audio.

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

Big Tech groups are expected to generate the smallest amount of cash in more than a decade this year, and investors are dumping Indian assets. Plus, GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen, has set his sights on his next project: a huge leveraged buyout of eBay.

Mentioned in this podcast:
Big Tech’s $725bn AI spending spree sends cash flows to decade low
Investors dump Indian assets as energy shock sends rupee sliding
Can the meme stock king pull off audacious eBay swoop?
Political Fix podcast

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Victoria Craig. Our show was mixed by Sam Giovinco. 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.

Credit: CNBC

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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

US fuel exports have surged to a record level, and hedge funds had their best month since 2020. Plus, Samsung Electronics is locked in a feud with its workers over how to share the spoils of the AI-driven semiconductor boom, and LVMH is considering selling some of its iconic brands.

Mentioned in this podcast:
US fuel exports hit record in boon for oil companies and threat to Trump
LVMH goes from buyer to seller as luxury’s winter drags on
Tech rally hands hedge funds biggest gains since 2020
Samsung workers demand bigger slice of surging AI profits

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 Katya Kumkova, Saffeya Ahmed, and Sonja Hutson. 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.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.