FT News in Focus

Two years ago India was being hailed as the bright spot in a gloomy global economy. But its much touted economic boom is now faltering. The FT’s South Asia bureau chief Amy Kazmin, asked India’s former central bank governor, Raghuram Rajan, for his view on what’s causing the slowdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The value of bitcoin fell sharply last week after Jamie Dimon, head of JPMorgan Chase, suggested the digital currency craze would suffer the same fate as the tulip mania of the 17th century. Patrick Jenkins discusses whether he is right with the FT's Laura Noonan and Izabella Kaminska. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brenntag, a Germany-based multinational, supplies chemicals to companies all over the world. Andy Bounds asked its British chief executive Steve Holland how he expected Brexit to affect the business. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ivanka Trump is one of the most powerful first children in White House history. With an official role in the West Wing, many suspect her of having an outsized influence on her father's decision making. But what does her job as first daughter and assistant to the president look like in practice? The FT's Courtney Weaver tells Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson. Read the full story at FT.com/Ivanka. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The killing of outspoken journalist Gauri Lankesh has stunned the media industry in India. Jyotsna Singh asks Amy Kazmin, the FT's South Asia bureau chief, why the murder has sparked concerns of deterioration in the country's civil discourse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stanley Fischer submitted his resignation from the Federal Reserve on Wednesday, months before his term as vice-chairman was due to end. The FT's John Authers and Sam Fleming discuss how the departure of the monetary policy hawk gives President Donald Trump the opportunity to recast the direction of the US central bank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A popular Indian guru has been sentenced to 20 years for raping two of his followers. The verdict prompted a wave of protests and was embarrassing for Narendra Modi, the prime minister, who had previously expressed praise for Ram Rahim Singh. Jyotsna Singh discusses the case and why it aroused such heated emotions with Amy Kazmin, the FT's South Asia bureau chief. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wall Street analysts have been urging investors to buy stocks in the big US banks this year, but it seems that top Wall Street executives are doing the opposite. Patrick Jenkins asks the FT's Ben McLannahan and Laura Noonan why top Wall Street executives have been selling their own banks' shares. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shares in WPP fell sharply after the world’s largest advertising group issued its second sales warning this year. What does WPP's decline tell us about the state of the industry and the wider global economy? John Murray Brown puts the question to Alan Livsey and Aliya Ram. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The two Asian giants have been engaged in a diplomatic standoff since China started building a road on disputed territory in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan two months ago. The FT's Amy Kazmin and Emily Feng tell Jyotsna Singh how the dispute flared up and what happens next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is worried that bank traders are turning to encrypted apps to hide illicit communications from internal compliance programmes and regulators. Patrick Jenkins discusses the problem and some potential solutions with Oliver Blower, chief executive of VoxSmart, and Caroline Binham, FT financial regulation correspondent. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The coming of age of the French startup scene has coincided with the rise of one of its biggest proponents: Emmanuel Macron, who was elected president in May. Zosia Wasik and Harriet Agnew report from Station F, a giant startup campus in Paris that is luring companies and investors from around the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US business leaders have fallen out with Donald Trump, abandoning two high profile industry panels because of his ambivalent response to the far-right marches in Virginia last weekend. Ben Hall discusses what prompted them finally to give up on the president, with the FT's Brooke Masters and Sujeet Indap Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Uhuru Kenyatta has been declared the winner of last week’s elections in Kenya. But supporters of Raila Odinga, the veteran opposition leader, do not trust the result. Andrew England discusses what happens next with John Aglionby, the FT's Nairobi correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Companies with business ties to Arab Gulf states have found themselves in an uncomfortable position as a result of a trade boycott of Qatar by four regional Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Now it appears that global banks are feeling the impact. Caroline Binham asks the FT's Gulf correspondent Simeon Kerr what's going on. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google has been caught up in a media storm after one of its engineers sent out a memo criticising aspects of the company’s equal opportunities policies. Chris Nuttall discusses the case and its wider implications with Aliya Ram and Richard Waters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Financial institutions have paid more than $150bn in fines in the US relating to the credit crisis a decade ago. Ben McLannahan discusses the rising settlements bill and where the money has gone with Kara Scannell, the FT's senior US financial correspondent. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tiny, but enormously wealthy, Arab gulf state of Qatar has been blockaded by its neighbours for three months over accusations that it backs terrorism. It denies the charges and this week took its complaint to the World Trade Organisation. Jonathan Wheatley discusses what's behind the dispute and the likely repercussions for the region with the FT's Simeon Kerr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Homs, a city in the centre of Syria, was the first epicentre of armed rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad. It endured a three year siege before falling back into government hands this year. The FT's Erika Solomon talked to two of its Christian residents, one who fled the city and one who stayed.Music credits: Khebez Dawle; Samih Choikeir and Lena Chemamyan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brexit will push up costs for Europe's banks by as much as 4 per cent and their capital requirements will rise by up to 30 per cent, according to the most detailed assessment yet of what Britain’s departure from the EU means for the sector. Martin Arnold discusses the findings with Matthew Austen of consultants Oliver Wyman, who compiled the report, and the FT's Emma Dunkley. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The German car industry is facing another potential scandal after the EU said it was launching a probe into possible collusion to bypass environmental standards. David Oakley discusses the probe and its impact with Patrick McGee and Peter Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Mumbai media company has offered an optional day off each month for its female workforce and has urged others to follow suit. Amy Kazmin and Jyotsna Singh discuss whether the move to offer 'period leave' will benefit women or reinforce ugly gender stereotypes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US bank chief executives are paid twice as much as their European competitors, new research has revealed. The FT's Laura Noonan discusses the findings with John Roe, head of ISS analytics. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New research has identified nine primary causes of dementia and Alzheimers in later age, giving us a much better idea about how to prevent the disease, the FT's Clive Cookson tells Andrew Jack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Winnie the Pooh briefly became a taboo character on Chinese social media this week. Josh Noble discusses what was behind this latest example of internet censorship in China with the FT's Yuan Yang in Beijing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Dimon, JPMorgan's chief executive, has been outspoken about the current Washington grldlock, saying it was "almost an embarrassment" being an American citizen. Patrick Jenkins discusses the remarks with Martin Arnold, FT banking editor. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A vast iceberg nearly the size of the US state of Delaware has broken away from Antarctica in a move likely to alter the frozen landscape forever. Clive Cookson discusses the implications with the FT's Pilita Clark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Morgan Stanley, the investment bank that led Snap’s $3.4bn public offering has downgraded the stock less than five months after listing it on the New York Stock Exchange. Daniel Thomas asks the FT's Hannah Kuchler what's behind the downgrade and what it means for the tech IPO market. Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iraq has Isis on the run in Mosul after eight months of brutal street-to-street battles. Siona Jenkins asks the FT's Erika Solomon whether this spells the end for the Islamist group's hopes of creating an Islamist state in the region. Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EU-Japan free trade pact signals a direct challenge to Donald Trump's policy of protectionism. The FT's Robin Harding and Daniel Dombey give their assessment of the significance of the deal to James Wilson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recent surveys and economic data suggest that the UK is becoming a less attractive place for the many European professionals who work there. But while many say they plan to leave, will they really go? The FT's Naomi Rovnick and Federica Cocco discuss the findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Kotowski of Oppenheimer tells the FT about the results of US stress tests and the $100bn windfall in dividends and share buybacks that investors can now expect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to Jonathan Moules and Laurent Ortmans analyse the FT’s new ranking of business schools that shows a growing preference for entrepreneurship among students. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite clearing a way for the move, Chancellor Angela Merkel actually voted against same-sex marriage, which reflects a lack of popular support for gay rights in Germany, Hugo Greenhalgh tells Siona Jenkins Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The latest hacking appears smaller in scale than WannaCry but has companies asking themselves whether they did enough to upgrade their security after the first breach, the FT's Sam Jones and Aliya Ram tell Siona Jenkins. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU has acted tough on the tech group for breaching competition rules but the decision is not an indication of a European crusade against US technology companies, the FT's Rochelle Toplensky tells Jyotsna Singh Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India’s most ambitious tax reform since its independence from Britain - the new goods and services tax that takes effect on July 1 - may cause havoc in the short term, the FT’s Kiran Stacey tells Victor Mallet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following a highly divisive campaign, the people of Britain cast a historic vote to leave the EU in June last year. The FT's Zosia Wasik has been gauging the mood on Brexit a year on. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The elevation of Mohammed bin Salman to crown prince of Saudi Arabia has come during the worst crisis facing the Gulf region in decades. Siona Jenkins spoke to the FT’s deputy editor Roula Khalaf and energy correspondent Anjli Raval to understand how the heir apparent is likely to influence domestic and regional policies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The maverick chief executive of the ride-hailing app Uber has stepped down. The FT's Andrew Hill tells Ravi Mattu about management lessons from the episode for start-ups as well as big companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Portugal's devastating forest fire is forcing the authorities to question whether land use or the wider issue of climate change may have contributed to the disaster. Peter Wise, the FT's Lisbon correspondent, explains the human and economic cost of the catastrophe, and says it could prompt a change in the way the country's forests are managed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The dramatic rise of Anbang's owner Wu Xiaohui, arrested by China's anti-graft authorities this week, had baffled industry experts. James Kynge talks to the FT's Lucy Hornby in Beijing about Mr Wu's detention and its implications for business Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ireland has a new prime minister who this week named his cabinet. Vincent Boland, the FT's Dublin correspondent, discusses with John Murray Brown the significance of the appointment of Leo Varadkar, an openly gay politician who is the son of an Indian immigrant father and at 38 the youngest ever Irish leader. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US giant replaces its veteran chief executive, Jeff Immelt , with insider John Flannery as it faces declining share prices. The FT's Andrew Parker dissects the development with Ed Crooks and Andrew Hill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A revolutionary discovery of fossils in Morocco suggests humans that lived 300,000 years ago may have looked like us, though they may not have thought like us, the FT's Clive Cookson tells Andrew Jack Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunday's first round of voting in France's legislative elections are a crucial test of the level of support behind the new president Emmanuel Macron. Harriet Agnew discusses the polls with Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT's Leslie Hook tells Ravi Mattu about the company's latest efforts to rebuild its management team in the face of a series of scandals Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A long-standing reliance on oil and gas has prevented Russia from developing a renewable energy industry, but this may be beginning to change, the FT's Henry Foy tells Pilita Clark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Business professionals in London talk candidly to Zosia Wasik about which policies and parties they favour ahead of this week's election Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ability of the boutiques to out-earn much larger bank rivals is a reflection of how they have been able to convince corporate America that they can excel on the biggest deals, the FT's Sujeet Indap tells Patrick Jenkins. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.