FT News in Focus

US economics editor Sam Fleming breaks down the numbers in the January jobs report and explains what the data indicates about the health of the US economy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Murad Ahmed, European technology correspondent, and Duncan Robinson, Brussels correspondent, discuss the EU's new deal with the US on transferring data across the Atlantic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Space mining is about to leap from the pages of science fiction to commercial reality. The Luxembourg government is launching an initiative with European and US partners to create a new space industry that will exploit asteriods for metals and other materials. Peggy Hollinger asks Clive Cookson, FT science editor, how they plan to do it.Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Short termism in investment is in the news because of recent comments by legendary investor Warren Buffett and others. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, talks to Jessica Ground of the fund manager Schroders, about a UK initiative to reinvent bank culture to encourage longer-term lending.Music: AcidJazz by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Google is paying £130m in back tax to the UK and Apple could soon be instructed to pay billions. FT columnist John Gapper talks to Murad Ahmed, European technology correspondent, about where it could all lead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Zika, a mosquito-born virus seems to have come out of nowhere and gone rogue, spreading rapidly in South America. Andrew Ward discusses the origins of the outbreak and how worried we should be with Clive Cookson, FT science editor. Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In another multibillion-dollar deal, a US company has acquired a smaller European company in order to reduce its tax base. The so-called tax inversion deal has become one of the most prominent types of transaction in the recent M&A boom. The FT's Sujeet Indap is joined by M&A correspondent James Fontanella-Khan and policy correspondent Barney Jopson to discuss the growing US M&A trend, some of the biggest inversion deals and the potential for a policy crackdown under a new administration in 2017. Music by Red Thread. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France's Insead has overtaken Harvard to lead the FT's MBA business school rankings for the first time. Jonathan Moules discusses the findings with FT statistician Laurent Ortmans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Living in a state of emergency over the water supply, a resident of Flint in the state of Michigan talks about the daily routine when living with poisoned water. The FT's Lindsay Whipp travelled to the city to speak to those struggling to get clean water and answers from the state government in the midst of a crisis after high levels of lead and other metals have leached from their pipes. Music by The Red Thread. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The lifting of UN sanctions on Iran reconnects a potentially vibrant emerging economy to world markets. Siona Jenkins asks Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent, Martin Arnold, banking editor, and Anjli Raval, oil correspondent, how soon the country is likely to see results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do hackers do what they do? Understanding what motivates cyber criminals could be the first step in protecting yourself from attack. Reformed hacker Cal Leeming shares his insights with the FT's Maija Palmer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erik Brynjolfsson, director of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy, discusses the rise of artificial intelligence with the FT's Murad Ahmed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He explains how it will transform industries globally and what the second wave of robotic advancement entails. Music by Jon Luc Hefferman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a number of years of bonus restraint, some of the world's big banks have started to increase bonuses for junior staff. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, asks Laura Noonan, investment banking correspondent, what's behind the new trend. Music: Acid Jazz by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China's 2015 growth data, released this week, provides an opportunity for Beijing to argue that the underlying economy remains sound despite recent stock market chaos. Michael MacKenzie asks George Magnus, an associate at Oxford university’s China Centre and senior economic adviser to UBS, how reliable the data are and what China's leaders need to do to reassure investors and the markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The gig economy, exemplified by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit, is allowing employees more freedom, but at the same time it remains unclear how relationships between the workers and their employers are governed. Sarah O'Connor, FT employment correspondent, looked into the small print of some of the terms and conditions of these companies and tells Andrew Hill what she found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Police have linked a terror attack in the Indonesian capital to the jihadi group Isis, heightening fears over the rise of Islamist terrorism in the world’s largest Muslim majority country. John Murray-Brown discusses the attacks and their repercussions with Avantika Chilkoti, the FT's Jakarta correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The food industry is struggling to find the next technological advancement to feed a growing population. For hundreds of years scientists have sought inventive ways to produce and package calories while advertisers have been learning how to change our tastes and perceptions. The FT's consumer industries editor Scheherazade Daneshkhu talks to food historian Polly Russell about the journey from liquid meat to meal worms.FT special report: The Future of the Food industry www.ft.com/reports/future-food-industry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chinese entertainment conglomerate will acquire Hollywood studio Legendary Entertainment for a cash sum of $3.5bn. What does the deal mean for the two leading global theatrical markets, the US and China? The FT's Matt Garrahan and Sujeet Indap discuss. Plus, Matt offers some predictions on what to expect from Hollywood in 2016. Music by Sunsearcher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There's a deepening row over why the UK financial watchdog decided to drop a review into bank culture. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, discusses the controversy with Emma Dunkley, the FT's retail banking correspondent and John Mann, opposition Labour MP and member of the influential Treasury select committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

BP is cutting 4,000 jobs across its exploration and production business, in a further round of cost cutting as oil companies continue to feel the pain of a plunging oil price. Matthew Vincent asks Chris Adams, FT energy editor, how the industry is standing up to the tough market conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just as he blazed a trail through the world of rock and roll, David Bowie also gave the world of finance something it had never seen before: pop bonds. Dan McCrum discusses these and other technological innovations embraced by the late pop star with Peter Campbell, FT technology correspondent. Music: Blackstar by David Bowie. Columbia label Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York is ripping out its ageing phone boxes and replacing them with more than 7,000 WiFi routers to give the city free and fast internet access. Senior US business correspondent David Crow talks to city residents about the new service. Music by Blue Dot Sessions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A series of sexual assaults and thefts in Cologne on New Year’s Eve has shocked Germany and led to mounting criticism of the government’s immigration policies after it was reported that the attackers were of Arab or North African appearance. Joshua Chaffin talks to Stefan Wagstyl, the FT's Berlin correspondent, about the political fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shia cleric earlier this month led to a diplomatic rupture with Iran after hardliners in the Shia country set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Siona Jenkins discusses how Iranians view the dispute ahead of next month's elections with the FT's Tehran correspondent Najmeh Bozorgmehr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Auto sales figures from the world's biggest economy brought some good news to an otherwise grim week for global markets. FT journalists analyse how US car manufacturers have recovered from one of the worst periods in the industry's history, and the key economic factors that bolstered sales growth. Music by Podington Bear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karim Tazi is Morocco’s most outspoken businessman - a rare example of someone prepared to challenge vested interests on issues ranging from corruption to human rights and democracy. He spoke to Heba Saleh, FT North Africa correspondent, at his headquarters in Casablanca, about his hopes for changeFor the full story go to: http://www.ft.com/business-arab-world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve has finally raised interest rates in a widely expected move. What has really changed? The FT's Roger Blitz asks Roger Hallam of JP Morgan Asset Management how significant the move is and what signals were sent about the pace of future tightening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matthew Vincent relives a year of highs and lows in the corporate world with the FT's business editor Brooke Masters, including record merger and acquisition activity, trouble for commodities groups and a scandal that, for once, did not involve banks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under a new government, Canada welcomed hundreds of refugees this week as part of its plan to bring in 10,000 before the end of the year. Outlining the possible challenges ahead, the FT's Ravi Mattu reports from Toronto on the economic and social implications. Music by Podington Bear. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing three youthful challengers in this weekend's elections. The FT's Josh Chaffin asks Tobias Buck, who has been covering the elections, whether his message of experience and stability will win over the country's voters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Federal Reserve may be about to raise rates for the first time in nine years, but the European Central Bank is moving in the opposite direction. The FT's Claire Jones asks the ECB's chief economist Peter Praet to explain why, and how the Fed's move is likely to affect economic conditions in the eurozone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the Paris climate talks draw to a close, Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent, assesses the chances that a strong and binding agreement to combat global warming will emerge and looks at the highlights of the past fortnight in Paris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil prices fell again this week to their lowest in almost seven years, with the benchmark Brent Crude dropping below $40 a barrel. What factors will continue to drive prices in the next 12 months? FT energy experts discuss. Music by Gianluca Sgalambro. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Venezuela's opposition has scored a historic victory in this week's parliamentary elections. For the first time in 17 years it will control the national assembly - a result that could further the country's political divide or prompt drastic change. John Paul Rathbone, FT Latin America editor, discusses the result with Andres Schipani, FT correspondent in Caracas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of Airbnb and other online accommodation start-ups has led analysts to say that the multibillion-dollar hotel industry is being disrupted. The FT's Murad Ahmed and Malcolm Moore discuss whether hotel chains should fear new digital groups. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For years after the 2003 invasion, Americans relied on Iraqis to navigate a country whose terrain and sectarian loyalties were little understood. But many Iraqis who risked their lives to help the Americans now feel abandoned. Siona Jenkins talks to the FT's Christine Spolar and two of her former Iraqi colleagues whose hopes of resettlement in the US have recently been dashed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Zuckerberg pledged this week to give away 99 per cent of his Facebook shares, currently worth about $45bn, during his lifetime. How will this change the shape of the social networking company and Silicon Valley philanthropy? FT correspondents discuss. Music by Kevin McLeod. Clip courtesy of Facebook. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Valeant was once considered a runaway success story, and one that upended the pharmaceutical sector. A series of crises engulfed the company in recent months, slashing nearly two thirds off its market valuation and forcing the company to tear up its forecasts for 2016. Correspondent David Crow explains. Read the full story at ft.com/valeant.Music: "Brand New Record!" by Steve Combs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven of the UK's big banks have passed the Bank of England's latest stress tests, which are designed to assess their ability to withstand a crisis - but only just. Patrick Jenkins discusses the results with Caroline Binham, FT financial regulation correspondent and Stephen Hall from KPMG. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adele has broken the record for first-week album sales in the US, vindicating her strategy of withholding the release from streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. Ravi Mattu asks Robert Cookson, the FT's digital media correspondent, how she did it and whether it's a tactic others might follow.Music: "Hello" from Adele's album '25' by XL Recordings Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mauricio Macri has overturned 12 years of Peronist rule in Argentina as the candidate for change. Jonathan Wheatley asks J.P Rathbone, FT Latin America editor, how hard it will be for the new president to turn the economy around without causing too much pain to the electorate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From science and economics to music and poetry, the FT's correspondents pick their best reads of 2015.Music credit: Quiet Music for Tiny Robots, "You Won't Believe What Happens Next" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT’s Michael Stott, Chris Giles and Janan Ganesh discuss UK chancellor George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, focusing on proposed welfare cuts, tax increases and the policy reversal on tax credits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

George Osborne, UK chancellor, has backed away from controversial cuts to tax credits for the poor as he sought to soften the blow from the deepest public spending cuts for a generation. Daniel Garrahan spoke to George Parker, the FT's chief political correspondent, about the climbdown. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of encryption technology poses an increasing challenge for counter-terrorism agencies fighting Isis. Ravi Mattu asks Sam Jones, FT defence and security editor, why intelligence chiefs are so worried. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The cost of big high-powered batteries is falling, offering the prospect that large scale storage could transform industry. Matthew Vincent asks Clive Cookson, FT science editor, and Andy Sharman, FT motor industry correspondent, how far off this is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin met this weekend alongside the G20 summit in Antalya, Turkey to discuss political and military action against Isis in Syria. How might easing tensions between the two leaders affect the US presidential election? The FT's US political correspondent Courtney Weaver explains.Music: "Brand New Record" by Steve Combs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paris is reeling from one of the worst terrorist attacks in Europe's history. An all-out assault on the heart of the city by a group of young men armed with Kalashnikovs and suicide vests. Simon Kuper, an FT writer who lives in the city, was witness to the attacks at close hand. He describes how the events unfolded and how the city has reacted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Microsoft has thrown down a challenge to the rest of the US tech industry unveiling a partnership with Deutsche Telekom that it says will protect the data of its cloud computing customers from US surveillance. Ravi Mattu discusses the development with Murad Ahmed and Richard Waters.Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Early poll results put Nobel prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy on course to form Myanmar’s first democratically elected government in fifty years. Fiona Symon talks to Michael Peel in Yangon about what happens next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.