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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