Why Japan’s prime minister might call a snap election

The FT News Briefing for January 15th covers several key global events. It begins with U.S. President Trump's stance on Iran, including his measured tone and the evacuation of personnel from a base in Qatar. Then the podcast turns to Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is considering a snap election; the FT's Leo Lewis explains the potential motivations behind this decision, the market's positive reaction driven by stimulus hopes, and the challenges Takaichi would face if elected. Finally, the briefing addresses Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates, with insights from the FT's US banking correspondent Akilah Kinio, detailing the banking industry's opposition and the potential implications for consumers and the economy.