Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:
1) Iran pressed ahead with attacks on Arab states in the Persian Gulf even after Israel signaled it would refrain from hitting the Islamic Republic’s energy infrastructure, fueling volatility in markets roiled by the war in the oil-rich region.
2) Oil headed for another weekly gain as the war in the Middle East dragged on, with the Strait of Hormuz all-but-closed, strikes continuing across the region, and analysts warning the crisis may deepen.
3) Sanae Takaichi had warned her first summit with Donald Trump in Washington could be “extremely difficult,” after the US asked her to deploy warships to Iran. Instead, she showcased Japan’s deep ties with the US — and her own agility on the world stage. Takaichi smiled politely during the only obvious moment of tension during their Oval Office meeting on Thursday, when Trump referenced the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. Otherwise, the Republican leader praised Takaichi, highlighted new areas of economic cooperation and pledged to speak up for Tokyo when he eventually meets Chinese President Xi Jinping.