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FINANCIAL TIMES
Wednesday, 18 March 2026
 
 
 

Top Headlines from the UK Edition

 
 
 
‘Philosophical differences’: Iran war exposes rifts in Trump’s Maga base
 
Tensions spill over after counterterrorism chief quits with letter criticising rationale for the conflict
 
 
Drone company backed by Erik Prince surges 500% in Wall Street debut
 
Swarmer jumped to a $380mn market cap after its IPO
 
 
Trump lashes out at Starmer while UK works with allies to de-escalate Iran crisis
 
US president says Britain’s prime minister ‘doesn’t produce’
 
 
Top US counterterrorism official resigns over war against Iran
 
Joe Kent is first high-profile resignation over conflict he claims ‘serves no benefit to the American people’
 
 
China is not going to bail Trump out
 
The US president has a better chance of cajoling help from Nato partners
 
 
 

Top Headlines from the International Editions

 
 
 
Chinese tech enthusiasts ‘raise lobsters’ in latest AI craze
 
OpenClaw takes China by storm as local governments encourage creation of AI agents for productivity gains
 
 
Sanae Takaichi set for high-stakes meeting with Donald Trump over Iran
 
Japan’s PM prepares for toughest test yet as US urges Tokyo to send warships to Gulf
 
 
Oil price surge from Iran war will hurt US growth and fuel inflation, say economists
 
FT-Booth Survey shows unease about impact of the conflict on growth and prices
 
 
Elon Musk’s lawyers sidestepped SEC team in Twitter case settlement talks
 
Lawyer for billionaire Tesla founder told judge they attempted to resolve matter without Wall Street watchdog’s counsel
 
 
Belgian aristocrat to face charges over murder of Congo’s first premier
 
Étienne Davignon, 93, is the only surviving former official accused in connection to Patrice Lumumba’s death
 
 
 

Markets

 
 
 
Investing in Nigeria
 
As President Tinubu visits the UK, the FT explores how his economic shock plan is playing out; Nigeria’s political age gap; moves to unblock the oil sector; the growing security crisis; investment flows; and a Q&A with the central bank governor
 
 
Investors rush in amid Nigeria’s drive to shake up bond markets
 
Private credit expands in attempt to bolster business investment in Africa’s most populous economy
 
 
How a vast refinery could mend Nigeria’s relationship with oil
 
When supply becomes boringly reliable, the economy and the national mood can shift
 
 
Move to unblock Nigeria’s oil sector hints at progress
 
The industry is showing signs of change but production still lags behind potential
 
 
World’s largest miner BHP picks new chief executive
 
Brandon Craig to take over from Mike Henry to lead pursuit of copper growth
 
 
 

Companies

 
 
 
Best of: How the diamond industry lost its sparkle
 
The rise of lab-grown stones has shaken up the sector, and established players are struggling for relevance
 
 
Li Ka-shing builds cash pile as Hong Kong family empire looks to its next deal
 
CK Hutchison has been selling assets across its portfolio but is unlikely to return capital to shareholders
 
 
UK price gap between first-time properties and bigger homes at record high
 
Buyers in the South East and London face the biggest challenge in trading up for more space
 
 
UK considers expanding vaccinations for meningitis B after fatal outbreak
 
Deaths of two young people spark debate over whether jab should be offered to teenagers
 
 
JPMorgan halts $5.3bn Qualtrics debt deal as AI fears chill demand
 
Bank along with Wall Street peers risk a high-profile ‘hung deal’ if they cannot revive transaction
 
 
 

Opinion

 
 
 
Reeves’ ambitious growth rhetoric clashes with reality
 
The chancellor’s plans for a reset with the EU lack credibility
 
 
The era of US dominance in economic warfare is over
 
America has long used sanctions to coerce adversaries, but Iran and China can wield powerful economic weapons too
 
 
Salesforce reckons software and debt do mix after all
 
The company is making use of one market trend to offset the unhelpful effects of another
 
 
What’s with all the AI lobsters?
 
OpenClaw’s phenomenally popular agent is a reminder of pre-techlash days
 
 
When Amazon and JD.com lock horns, it’s shoppers that win
 
The risk for the Chinese contender is one of cash burn as it pursues expansion at home and overseas
 
 
 

Work & Careers

 
 
 
Will LinkedIn’s #OpenToWork banner make me look desperate?
 
Cheerful stickers indicating labour market availability are getting more common as job openings become scarcer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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