FT News in Focus

News that Goldman Sachs had bought almost $3bn worth of Venezuelan bonds sparked outrage this week and prompted Venezuelan opposition leaders to accuse the US bank of handing the country’s autocratic government a financial lifeline even as many of its people go hungry. Jonathan Wheatley discusses the controversy with Gideon Long, FT Andes correspondent, and Robin Wigglesworth, US markets editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A top Russian banker has accused the American elite of waging a political witch hunt against Donald Trump and preventing any improvement in east-west relations. Martin Arnold, the FT's banking editor, discusses the comments by Andre Kostin of Russian state bank VTB, with Moscow correspondent Max Seddon. Picture credit: Charlie Bibby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What kind of messages are voters most likely to remember during election campaigns? Zosia Wasik investigates which manifesto promises have made most impression on British voters ahead of next month's election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT's Andy Bounds reports from a city in mourning in the aftermath of the terror attack at the Manchester Arena. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brazil's long-running corruption probe has ensnared Michel Temer, the country's president, after an executive secretly taped a conversation that showed Mr Temer allegedly endorsing bribe paying. James Kynge asks the FT's Andres Schipani and Jonathan Wheatley where this leaves the country's crucial economic reforms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is investing $65bn in foreign asset managers as part of a plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Nearly a third of that will be put into a fund run by Blackstone to invest in US infrastucture. Andrew England discusses the move with Simeon Kerr, FT Gulf correspondent, and Arash Massoudi, M&A correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France's newly elected president has co-opted politicians from the left and the right to try to win enough support to push through his ambitious reforms. Harriet Agnew discusses the battles ahead with Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, the FT's Paris bureau chief, and Michael Stothard, Paris correspondent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fred Goodwin, disgraced former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, may avoid appearing in court if last minute talks about a settlement with disaffected shareholders are successful. Patrick Jenkins discusses this week's events at the High Court in London with Jane Croft, FT law courts correspondent. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain's most vocal pro-EU campaigner is hoping to “dent” the expected Conservative landslide victory in next month's UK election by backing candidates who pledge to work for the softest possible Brexit. She spoke to the FT's Robert Wright about her campaign, called Best for Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iranians go to the polls on Friday in what is effectively a referendum on whether to pursue closer ties with the west, or revert to the diplomatic isolation that preceded the nuclear accord in 2015. Najmeh Bozorgmehr, FT Tehran correspondent, talks to voters ahead of the poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ravi Mattu discusses how the car industry is reacting to the challenge of new technologies, notably ride hailing apps, with FT motor industry correspondent Peter Campbell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK government is poised to return Lloyds Banking Group to the private sector at a profit, in a watershed moment for the banking sector. Patrick Jenkins talks about the outlook for the high street lender with Martin Arnold, the FT's banking editor, and Sir Win Bischoff, former Lloyds Bank chairman. Music credit: Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenya's president Uhuru Kenyatta talks to the FT about Africa's business ties with China, upcoming elections and his hopes for the region's economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Iranians choose populism in next week's election, the country’s economy which is already struggling with acute problems and massive corruption, would deteriorate rapidly, Iranian businessmen warn. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two giant Chinese groups, ChemChina and Sinochem, are planning to merge next year, creating the world’s largest chemicals group. This follows ChemChina’s purchase of Swiss agrochemicals leader Syngenta, amid more consolidation of the global agrochemicals industry. David Oakley discusses the significance of these multi billion dollar deals with the FT's Don Weinland, Ralph Atkins and Arash Massoudi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

South Korea has chosen an advocate of engagement with North Korea as its new president, in a vote that draws a line under almost a decade of conservative rule but which could also increase tensions with the US, reports Bryan Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A cascade of changes at Goldman Sachs's investment banking arm has followed the move to Washington of the bank's former president Gary Cohn. Martin Arnold, FT banking editor, discusses what's behind the reshuffle with Arash Massoudi, M&A correspondent. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmanuel Macron is to become France's youngest elected president after decisively beating his far right opponent Marine Le Pen in Sunday's vote. But he takes over a deeply divided country and now needs to win a majority in June's national assembly elections, the FT's Ben Hall reports from Paris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France's presidential rivals took part in a bitter final debate this week that was richer in insults than policy discussions. FT Paris correspondents Harriet Agnew and Michael Stothard discuss the final days of the campaign ahead of Sunday's poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alitalia, the Italian airline, has collapsed into administration, in a process likely to lead to its sale or liquidation. Andrew Parker discusses the collapse and its implications with James Politi, FT correspondent in Rome, and Jonathan Eley, deputy head of Lex. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has been a tumultuous week for Theresa May, UK prime minister. First came the leaked reports of her acrimonious dinner with European officials, then news that the divorce bill the UK faces for leaving the EU has risen to 100bn euros. Malcolm Moore discusses the fall-out with the FT's Alex Barker, Peter Spiegel and Henry Mance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does extraordinary achievement have a dark side? Can you be driven while also content and of sound mind? FT columnist Emma Jacobs puts the question to journalist and broadcaster Alastair Campbell and psychologist Oliver James. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hasan Rouhani is seeking re-election as Iran's president next month. He remains popular for reaching a nuclear deal with the west, but the poor state of the economy could count against him, Najmeh Bozorgmehr, FT correspondent in Tehran, tells Andrew England. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diesel was once seen as a pragmatic way to save the planet because of its fuel efficiency. Then came the Volkswagen emissions scandal. Now diesel, a leading cause of nitrogen dioxide pollution, is becoming known as a silent killer. Andrew Ward discusses how car makers and governments are reacting to the problem with the FT's Peter Campbell and Pilita Clark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain's vote to leave the European Union has thrown the country's 3m EU citizens into a legal limbo. Many long-term residents are applying for permanent residency, but unforeseen bureaucratic hurdles are making the process difficult, if not impossible. John Murray Brown reports. Researched and produced by Zosia Wasik Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As France prepares for Sunday's first round of voting in its presidential election, any two of the four leading candidates could still reach the run-off, and an apparent attack in Paris on Thursday has brought terrorism back to the top of the agenda in a campaign already shaped by questions of security and identity. Harriet Agnew talks to the FT's Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard about a remarkable campaign that has upended French politics and will have wide ramifications for France and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré’s move to acquire Italy's Mediaset, owned by the family of former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, sets up a battle between the two media tycoons for the future of Italy’s biggest commercial broadcaster. Daniel Thomas discusses the latest twists in the story with Harriet Agnew, FT Paris correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Jenkins speaks to Paul Volcker, author of one of the best known rules aimed at limiting the speculative activities of banks. What does the former Federal Reserve chairman think of the current plans to deregulate the US financial system? Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did the UK prime minister decide to hold an early election?Is this an opportunity for those wishing to stay in the European Union to exit Brexit? Malcolm Moore puts these and other questions to the FT's Robert Shrimsley and Miranda Green Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Toronoto Wolfpack, the world's first transatlantic rugby league team, is seeking to create a following in Canada and North America. The FT's Andy Bounds went to watch the team in action at one of their first UK matches and to hear about their ambitions to transform the sport. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

United Airlines has been shamed on social media and faces a potential lawsuit over the way it forcibly removed a passenger from a flight that had been overbooked. The chief executive’s half hearted series of apologies seemed to make things worse. Michael Skapinker discusses the case with Tanya Powley, FT transport correspondent, and Christian Pfrang, Lex columnist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Sunday, Turks head to the polls to vote on a new constitution that, if passed, would cement President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s role as perhaps the most powerful president Turkey has known. John Murray Brown discusses the implications with Mehul Srivastava, FT correspondent in Istanbul. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jes Staley has made a point of underlining the importance of ethics since taking over as Barclays chief executive. But he is now under investigation for breaking rules surrounding the treatment of whistleblowers. Christopher Thompson discusses how bad things look for Mr Staley with Matt Nixon a specialist in reputation management, and the FT's Laura Noonan and Emma Dunkley. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Picture credit: Bloomberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT's James Politi reports from Sicily, an island with one of the highest levels of poverty in Europe, and where the populist Five Star movement has a growing appeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is challenging one-time front runner Francois Fillon for third place in France's presidential race and, with only two weeks to go, a third of voters are still undecided. Harriet Agnew discusses the latest twists in the French election campaign with the FT's Ann-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The appeal of the US as a tourism destination is falling as a result of the strong dollar and Donald Trump’s immigration policies, and airlines and travel companies say they are preparing for a difficult year. Madhumita Murgia talks to Murad Ahmed, the FT’s leisure correspondent, about the travel industry's response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women account for the majority of recruits into banking but still make up barely 25% of senior executives, according to data compiled by the FT. Patrick Jenkins asks the FT's Laura Noonan what the data show about why women are still missing out on management in banking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raqqa in Syria looks set to be the next battleground as the US-led coalition seeks to crush Isis in the Middle East. The group is fighting to cling on in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Now Raqqa, its stronghold in Syria, is now almost entirely encircled by US-backed Kurdish forces. Fiona Symon asks Erika Solomon, the FT's Middle East correspondent, if this will be the group's last stand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump says he will take unilateral action to tackle the nuclear threat from North Korea if China fails to put more pressure on the regime in Pyongyang. Emiliya Mychasuk discusses the US options with Demetri Sevastopulo, FT Washington bureau chief, who spoke to Mr Trump ahead of his first meeting with China's president Xi Jinping this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fewer than four weeks before the first round of voting in France's presidential election, former prime minister Manuel Valls has provoked outrage in the Socialist party by supporting centrist independent Emmanuel Macron rather than his own party's candidate, Benoît Hamon. But could an establishment endorsement join Mr Macron's investment banking past as a vulnerability against attacks from Marine Le Pen? Michael Stothard joins Harriet Agnew to discuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump ran for president on the promise of bringing back US coal mining jobs, and set out to do so on Tuesday by signing an executive order that intends to roll back many of his predecessor's actions against climate change. Ed Crooks, the FT's US industry and energy editor, explains why the president's move will not bring coal jobs back to the US economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poland's political divisions have spilled onto the European stage with a clash over Donald Tusk’s bid to be reappointed as president of the European Council. Neil Buckley, the FT's Eastern Europe editor, asks Henry Foy, the former Warsaw correspondent and Duncan Robinson, Brussels correspondent, what is driving this row and how will it affect Poland's standing in the EU in future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emmanuel Macron, the centrist front runner in France's presidential race, fought off repeated personal attacks from political veterans during a three hour televised debate on Monday. Harriet Agnew asks Michael Stothard, FT Paris correspondent, who came out ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Martin McGuinness, the Irish politician who died this week, had made the transition from IRA terrorist leader to respected peacemaker. Jimmy Burns interviewed him in 1990 when peace talks were going on in secret, and he tells the FT's John Murray Brown what kind of man he encountered and what he thinks his legacy will be. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A media storm over extremist content on YouTube prompted the UK government and a host of companies to freeze their YouTube ads this week. Google has now published a plan to tackle the problem. Chris Nuttall asks the FT's Madhumita Murgia and Matthew Garrahan whether the tech company has done enough to satisfy its critics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

International banks considering relocating some business away from London in the aftermath of Brexit are increasingly favouring Frankfurt. Patrick Jenkins discusses why the German city appears to have the early edge over rival financial centres with Martin Arnold, the FT's banking editor, and Hubertus Väth, who is spearheading Frankfurt's lobbying effort. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sweden takes in more refugees per capita than almost any other western country. But now it is cutting back as the strain on public services begins to show. The FT's Richard Milne visited Malmö, the Swedish city where most refugees arrive. He tells Orla Ryan what prompted the government to take action. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scandal that has engulfed Francois Fillon, France's centre right presidential candidate, has left supporters confused and angry. Harriet Agnew talks to the FT's Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard, about the latest developments and how they will affect the vote in April. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you attain that elusive but addictive experience of being “in the zone”? Lucy Kellaway talks to the FT's Andrew Hill and Emma Jacobs about the increasingly outlandish ways in which wealthy business executives are seeking to tune their brains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intel has just bought Mobileye, a leader in the fast-growing market for assisted-driving systems, for $15bn. Why was this small Israeli company so attractive to the semiconductor giant and will the deal pay off? Madhumita Murgia puts the question to the FT's Sujeet Indap in New York a John Reed in Jerusalem. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.