Untold host Antonia Cundy uncovers the cultural and political influence of a controversial Catholic organisation in America. Opus Dei exists to help people get closer to God, but some members say they found other agendas – and unexpected harm – entangled in that spiritual mission.

We meet Sarah – a young girl drawn to Opus Dei’s message that professional work can be a path to holiness. At 18, Sarah says goodbye to her family and moves into an Opus Dei centre to learn how to make her work an offering to God. But what she experiences there feels different to the organisation she thought she knew. Sarah chafes at unexpected rules, unquestioning obedience and dehumanising treatment.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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The United Arab Emirates has told allies that it would participate in a multinational maritime task force intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and Hong Kong is weighing tax cuts for asset managers. Plus, London has embraced a controversial form of energy production: burning rubbish.

Mentioned in this podcast:

UAE pushes for international force to reopen Hormuz

Hong Kong weighs ‘big bang’ tax cuts for asset managers

‘It’s good business’: how London became an ‘energy from waste’ capital

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, Mischa Frankl-Duval, Victoria Craig, 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.

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

An inverted yield curve is sending jitters across the US economy, Japanese IT conglomerate Fujitsu is in hot water over its involvement in the UK  Post Office scandal, and new details have emerged over how the SEC’s X account was hacked. 

Mentioned in this podcast:

UK Post Office scandal exposes risks of Fujitsu’s hands-off approach

Yield curve adds to mystery over US economy

SEC says bitcoin X breach came after phone number was swapped

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian and Marc Filippino. Additional help by Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva, Gavin Kallmann, and Josh Gabert-Doyon. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

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

More than 60 partners have left PwC China after a ban over its audit of failed property developer Evergrande, the FT’s Andy Bounds explains what we can learn from Donald Trump’s 2018 steel tariffs, and Hamas said it is postponing the next release of hostages. Plus, Hizbollah is weaker than it’s ever been, and it needs the support of its constituency to rebuild.

Mentioned in this podcast:

PwC China loses 66 partners in wake of ban over Evergrande audit

What happened when Donald Trump imposed steel tariffs in 2018

Donald Trump to impose 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Hamas says it is postponing next hostage release

How Hizbollah is using cash and WhatsApp groups to shore up power

The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson, Kasia Broussalian, Ethan Plotkin, Lulu Smyth, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Breen Turner, Sam Giovinco, Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Joseph Salcedo. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

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

European leaders met twice this week to discuss a plan to protect Ukraine — without US leadership. The rift between Brussels and Washington has grown as US president Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine and stopped intelligence sharing. As Germany and the EU discuss a new set of defence stimulus plans, special guest Gideon Rachman, the FT’s chief foreign policy commentator, is on to discuss possible outcomes.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Rachman Review podcast

Trump is sowing the seeds of an anti-American alliance

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Swamp Notes is produced by Katya Kumkova. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Special thanks to Pierre Nicholson.

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EU officials are accelerating plans for a digital euro, and the US Department of Justice has called for Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook to be removed from her post. Plus, investors lost billions of dollars in July in what could be pump and dump stock scams.

Mentioned in this podcast:

EU speeds up plans for digital euro after US passes stablecoin law

Justice department calls on Federal Reserve to sack governor Lisa Cook

‘I almost fell off my chair’: Investors lose billions on meme stocks as ‘pump and dump’ scams multiply

Sign up for the FT Weekend Festival at ft.com/festival and use the promo code “FTPodcasts” for 10 per cent off.

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Katya Kumkova, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Additional help from Kelly Garry, and Gavin Kallmann. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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

US President Donald Trump urged his Ukrainian counterpart to accept Russia’s war terms during Friday’s volatile White House meeting, and five-year plans still have a place in Chinese politics despite massive changes to its economic system. Plus, global hedge funds are listing in Hong Kong again after an extended slowdown, and the battle for control of rare earth metals is turbocharging stock prices in this sector.

Mentioned in this podcast:

Trump urged Zelenskyy to accept Putin’s terms or be ‘destroyed’ by Russia

China pushes high-tech in 5-year plan as US tensions rise

Why China still loves its five-year plans

Hedge funds return to Hong Kong listings

Rare earths shares soar as US and China battle over export controls

Save 40% on a standard annual digital subscription: ft.com/briefingsale

Today’s FT News Briefing was produced by Ethan Plotkin, Jess Smith, Sonja Hutson, and Marc Filippino. Our show was mixed by Kelly Garry. Additional help from Peter Barber. The FT’s acting co-head of audio is Topher Forhecz. The show’s theme music is by Metaphor Music.

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

Sam Altman returns and OpenAI board members are given the boot; US authorities foil a plot to kill Sikh separatist leader on US soil; plus, the UK’s Autumn Statement increases the tax burden.

Mentioned in this podcast:

US thwarted plot to kill Sikh separatist on American soil

Hunt cuts national insurance but taxes head to postwar high

OpenAI says Sam Altman to return as chief executive under new board

The FT News Briefing is produced by Persis Love, Josh Gabert-Doyon and Edwin Lane. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. Our engineer is Monica Lopez. Manuela Saragosa is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music.

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