Syria is preparing to rejoin the international banking system, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing government is trying to prevent a change to the country’s citizenship rules. Plus, US junk bond sales are booming ahead of fresh tariff uncertainty, and a German fintech is trying to bring cheap retail investing to Europe.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Syria to reconnect to global economy after 14 years as pariah state

Italy’s vote on who gets to be Italian

Italy votes on speeding up citizenship for foreigners

Junk bond sales surge as companies try to beat fresh tariff uncertainty

BlackRock-backed fintech raises funds to be ‘European Charles Schwab’

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Josh Gabert-Doyon, Ethan Plotkin, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Jake Fielding, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s acting co-head of audio. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on steel to 50 per cent this week. He’s also allowing Japan’s Nippon to buy the US Steel Corporation. The moves are meant to bring back manufacturing to America’s steel industry. But will they? FT senior trade writer Alan Beattie and Zehra Munir, the FT’s industrial reporter, discuss whether Trump can make good on a popular promise.

Mentioned in this podcast:

It’s always steel — tariffs provide Trump with a familiar trade weapon

Donald Trump’s US Steel gamble: Pennsylvania workers warm to Nippon tie-up

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Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova, Henry Larson and Lauren Fedor. The FT’s acting co head of audio is Topher Forhecz. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

CREDIT: The White House YouTube channel

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US President Donald Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping agreed to launch a new round of high-level trade talks, the European Central Bank cut interest rates by a quarter point and Europe is being flooded with steel diverted from the US because of high tariffs. Plus, the FT’s Aanu Adeoye explains how a Russia-backed junta leader in Burkina Faso became an icon across Africa.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agree to launch new round of trade talks

Christine Lagarde signals ECB rate-cutting ‘nearly concluded’

‘The cult of Saint Traoré’: how a Russia-backed junta leader became an icon

EU hit by surge in steel imports as US tariffs divert shipments

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Henry Larson, Fiona Symon, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Sam Giovinco, Michael Lello and David da Silva. Our intern is Michaela Seah. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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