FT News in Focus

One of the biggest industry surveys has found that one in eight bankers said it was difficult to progress in their careers without "flexing" ethical standards. Caroline Binham discusses the findings with Dame Colette Bowe, chair of the BSB, which carried out the survey, and Martin Arnold, FT banking editor. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elections in Holland are shaping up to be among the most divisive in the country’s history. With 28 parties on the ballot, none are forecast to win more than 20 per cent of the vote. Now a diplomatic spat with Turkey is dominating the final days of the campaign, as the FT's Duncan Robinson tells John Murray Brown. Clips courtesy of Reuters. Image credit: AFP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a turbulent week, support for François Fillon, France's Republican Party presidential candidate, is draining away. Harriet Agnew asks Michael Stothard, FT Paris correspondent, whether he can stage a recovery in time for the first round of the elections in April. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WikiLeaks has published documents that appear to show that the CIA has an arsenal of malware it can use to break into widely used electronic gadgets. Madhumita Murgia discusses what the revelations tell us about state surveillance and the security of our smartphones with Richard Waters, FT West Coast editor, and Sam Jones, defence and security editor. Music by David Sappa. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Hammond, UK chancellor, hit 2.5m Britons with a rise in national insurance contributions, as he announced a fiscally tight Budget in a bid to Brexit-proof the British economy. Vanessa Kortekaas asks Chris Giles, FT economics editor, Henry Mance, political correspondent, and Claer Barrett, personal finance editor, for their verdict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Standard Life's acquisition of Aberdeen Asset Management will create one of the biggest asset managers in Europe. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, discusses what the deal means for investors and the sector with Miles Johnson, global investment editor, Oliver Ralph, insurance correspondent, and Arash Massoudi, M&A correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French presidential front-runner Emmanuel Macron has presented his long-awaited election manifesto, promising to cut payroll and corporation tax, and to promote investment in what he called the economy of the future. Michael Stothard discusses the proposals with the FT's Paris bureau chief Anne-Sylvaine Chassany Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain's economy is doing better than many people expected after the vote to leave the European Union. Barney Thompson asks Chris Giles, the FT's economics editor, which sectors are doing best and whether the momentum can be sustained. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Ogden, the entrepreneur behind the online payment platform Worldpay has launched the UK's first new clearing bank in 200 years. He tells the FT's Patrick Jenkins and Emma Dunkley how Clear Bank came about. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europeans are worried about a new mood of trade protectionism in the US. What are the implications for world trade and how will Europe respond? John Murray Brown discusses the issue with Shawn Donnan, the FT's world trade editor, and Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief. Music by David Sappa. Picture credit: Bloomberg Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The unexplained death of Kim Jong Nam, a member of North Korea’s ruling family, in Kuala Lumpur has caused a diplomatic rupture between Malaysia and North Korea. James Kynge asks Bryan Harris, FT correspondent in Seoul, what we know about the apparent murder and its likely repercussions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bill Gates has a new idea. He wants us to tax robots. The Microsoft co-founder made his unexpected suggestion in an interview with Quartz magazine. Sarah O'Connor asks the FT’s West Coast editor Richard Waters what he meant by this and the likely reaction of the tech industry. Photo credit: Getty Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deutsche Bank has welcomed a big new shareholder - HNA from China. Patrick Jenkins discusses what we know about the Chinese investors and why they might have bought into the European bank, with Martin Arnold, FT banking editor, and Don Weinland, correspondent in Hong Kong. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ecuador’s presidential poll is another big test for Latin America’s battered left. At stake is the legacy of Rafael Correa, a populist leader who has been in power for a decade. His protégé Lenín Boltaire Moreno has almost enough votes to avoid a run-off. But the full picture will not emerge for several days. Jonathan Wheatley discusses what happens next with Andres Schipani, the FT's Andes correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Snapchat owner begins its investor roadshow on Monday, with plans to price and list by early March. The FT's Sujeet Indap and Nicole Bullock discuss what investors are thinking about as Snap comes to market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT's Arash Massoudi and Matthew Vincent dissect the proposed mega-merger that would combine the producers of Heinz Ketchup and Dove soap, including the charm offensive Kraft Heinz is expected to launch to win over the Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece is approaching a crunch point - again. Six years after its first bailout, the government in Athens is looking to its creditors, the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission, for fresh help. Mehreen Khan discusses the latest crisis and what's at stake for Europe with the FT's Brussels correspondent Jim Brunsden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Switzerland's bid to align its corporate tax system with international norms has come unstuck with voters rejecting the reforms at the weekend. Where does that leave the Alpine country's business regime? James Wilson discusses the issues with Vanessa Holder in London and Ralph Atkins in Zurich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News that Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka was a trustee for a bloc of shares belonging to Rupert Murdoch’s two youngest daughters has underscored the closeness of ties between US president’s family and Fox News. David Bond discusses the implications with Matthew Garrahan, the FT's global media editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revelations that dozens of wealthy Americans have taken New Zealand citizenship as a kind of hedge against the collapse of the capitalist system have shone a spotlight on the phenomenon of disaster planning by the super rich. Jennifer Thompson talks to Jamie Smyth, the FT's Australia and Pacific Islands correspondent, about New Zealand's appeal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary Cohn, former number two at Goldman Sachs, has become President Trump’s point man for financial deregulation. Will he go too far in unpicking post-crisis reforms? Patrick Jenkins puts the question to Ben McLannahan, the FT's US banking editor, and Denis Kelleher of the Better Markets think tank. Music: Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

German officials fear Russia may try to influence the outcome of its September election, in the same way it was alleged to have interfered in the US presidential election. Christine Spolar discusses the potential threat and what Russia would gain by such an action with Neil Buckley. FT East Europe editor, Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief and Sam Jones, FT defence editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s no shortage of advice about diet, but it doesn’t seem to be working. People are getting fatter, and this has spawned a surge in lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. So what should we be eating? Sarah Gordon discusses the question with Tim Spector, author of The Diet Myth, and the FT's Scheherazade Daneshkhu. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the transfer window slams shut for Europe’s top football leagues, Daniel Thomas asks Murad Ahmed, FT leisure correspondent, which clubs have spent their money most wisely, according to analysis of data from KPMG's 'Football Benchmark'. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Xiao Jianhua, a billionaire businessman living in Hong Kong, was spirited away by agents of the Chinese authorities last week and his whereabouts remain a mystery. The FT's Josh Noble and Lucy Hornby discuss what might have happened and why the incident is making many in Hong Kong very uneasy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BP said this week it was studying the potential impact of 3D printing on oil demand in the event that manufacturing becomes local and global shipping declines. Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent, discusses this and other potential threats to the industry with Andrew Ward, FT energy editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay $630m to settle US and UK investigations into alleged mirror trades used to launder $10bn out of Russia. But there is more pain to come for the German lender, the FT's James Shotter and Laura Noonan tell Patrick Jenkins. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An increasing number of employers no longer fund MBAs, but the qualification can still greatly increase your salary. As Insead tops the FT's global MBA ranking again this year, we discuss whether funding this route to upper management is still worth it, and if so, where should it be done? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An accounting scandal at the British telecoms group's Italian unit is raising questions about the company's Global Services strategy. It is not the first time the Global Services division has caused big losses for the group. Daniel Thomas discusses the debacle with the FT's Nic Fildes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Efforts to combat congestion in London have had the perverse effect of increasing pollution as road changes to help cyclists and pedestrians have slowed the average speeds of motor vehicles. Will a proposed scheme to charge motorists per mile solve the problem? Barney Thompson puts the question to the FT's transport correspondent Robert Wright. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theresa May has suffered a setback to her Brexit timetable after the UK Supreme Court upheld a challenge brought by London businesswoman Gina Miller that the prime minister could not trigger an EU exit without the consent of parliament. Sebastian Payne discusses what happens next with Jane Croft, FT legal correspondent, and David Allen Green, legal commentator. Clips courtesy of Reuters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India’s Reliance Industries has raised the stakes in the multibillion-dollar battle for India’s mobile market by offering a free service that rivals say is unfairly eating into their market share. Daniel Thomas discusses the controversy with FT correspondent Kiran Stacey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gambia, a tiny West African country popular with tourists, is celebrating its first democratic transition after the country’s long serving president, Yahya Jammeh, was finally persuaded to step down. David Pilling, the FT's Africa editor, recently back from the capital Banjul, talks to Fiona Symon about how this came about and what it means for democracy in the wider region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The West Midlands region, which includes Britain’s second city of Birmingham, is due to elect its first mayor in May and the winner will preside over huge tranches of funding for housing, transport and infrastructure. Andy Street, Conservative candidate, talks to Andrew Bounds about his ambitions for the region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the Lower Manhattan headquarters of Goldman Sachs, the investment bank, following a series of appointments of Goldman-linked people to top jobs in the Trump administration. Ben McLannahan reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tie-up, one of Europe's biggest cross-border mergers, will create a global leader in the fast-growing eyewear industry. John Murray Brown discusses the merger with the FT's Rachel Sanderson, Michael Stothard and Jonathan Guthrie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theresa May mixed firm declarations of intent with a conciliatory tone towards the European Union in her statement on Britain’s objectives before formal negotiations to leave the bloc begin. Barney Thompson talks to Jim Pickard, the FT's chief political correspondent, about what we learnt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

William Hague, former UK foreign secretary, has become the latest prominent figure to join the payroll of a big American bank in the run-up to Brexit. Patrick Jenkins talks to the FT's investment correspondent Laura Noonan about the move.Music: Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new report has suggested the UK should embrace the power of the sea and invest in a novel form of electricity generation - the tidal lagoon. Pilita Clark discusses the merits of the idea with the FT's Nathalie Thomas, Jonathan Ford and Jonathan Guthrie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week has seen a deluge of retail results in the UK, showing a mixed picture of the state of consumer sentiment in wake of vote to leave the European Union. Sharlene Goff asks Mark Vandevelde, the FT's retail correspondent, who were the main winners and losers. [ 4kk6ak45 ] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India's foreign minister this week threatened to expel all of Amazon's foreign employees over a doormat imprinted with the Indian flag that was on sale on its website. Josh Noble asks the FT's Kiran Stacey why the item caused such offense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A rush of high profile winter signings has prompted the authorities in China to intervene to curb spending on foreign players. Josh Noble asks the FT's Tom Hancock and Murad Ahmed what's behind the spending splurge and what impact it is likely to have on China's World Cup hopes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Egypt recently clinched a deal with the IMF for a $12bn loan over three years. But it has had to implement painful measures which include floating the currency and reducing subsidies. The FT's Heba Saleh talks to Sahar Nasr, Egypt's minister of international co-operation, about the government's latest efforts to restore the economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Zuckerberg plans to tour the US following Donald Trump’s election as president. The Facebook founder said, “we are at a turning point in history” and spoke of the need to “find a way to change the game so that it works for everyone”. Chris Nuttall discusses the reasons for the tour and how other tech leaders are reacting to the Trump victory with Hannah Kuchler, the FT's San Francisco correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rohingya Muslim refugees have been leaving Burma for decades but in the last few months, the numbers have swelled amid allegations of a campaign of brutal violence by the Burmese military. The FT's Kiran Stacey talks to refugees in Cox's Bazar on the Bangladesh-Burma border. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denis Koslowski former head of Tyco, tells Andrew Hill, FT management editor, how he reinvented himself in the wake of public disgrace and imprisonment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marcela Sapone, chief exec and co-founder of Hello Alfred, tells Andrew Hill, FT management editor, how she coped with the pressure of maintaining momentum after a successful launch. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland Stephen Hester tells Andrew Hill, FT management editor, how he found himself in the eye of the storm during the financial crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pascal Soriot, chief executive of the Anglo-Swedish drugs company AstraZeneca, tells Andrew Hill about his 2014 battle to head off a hostile takeover bid from Pfizer of the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was a familiar story: a small town, a big factory, overseas owners and job cuts, another tear in the social fabric of an English community. Except that in Kendal, on the edge of the Lake District, the ending has been rewritten. Andrew Bounds, the FT's north of England correspondent, tells the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.