FT News in Focus

The US shale industry has transformed the outlook for US energy security, created tens of thousands of high-paying jobs, and rattled the leaders of rival oil-producing countries from Riyadh to Caracas. But as oil prices have sunk, the fledgling industry is facing its first real test, Ed Crooks tells Matthew Vincent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turkey was shocked earlier this month when the Pope and the European parliament described the mass killing and deportation of Armenians from Turkey a hundred years ago as genocide. Daniel Dombey in Istanbul tells Fiona Symon why Turkey finds it so hard to confront this part of its history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China’s president is in Pakistan to announce an ambitious programme of infrastructure investment and military deals. Fiona Symon talks to Farhan Bokhari, FT correspondent in Islamabad, about what this means for Pakistan and the region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How is the Chinese premier facing up to the country's economic slowdown?What's the big fiscal difference between the main parties in the British election? And can robots really cook like humans? Henry Mance considers these and other questions in his review of the best of the FT podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iraqi forces suffered reverses this week in their battles against Islamic State militants in the province of Anbar, west of the capital Baghdad. Fiona Symon talks to FT Middle East correspondent Borzou Daragahi about what went wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twelve years ago, Jeff Bezos, chief executive of Amazon, gave the green light for an experimental business that would rent out computing power by the hour. Amazon Web Services now dominates a multibillion dollar and growing market. Murad Ahmed talks to Leslie Hook about the group's decision to disclose details of its cloud service. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global economy is recovering, but how sustainable is the modest upturn?Ferdinando Giugliano talks to Eswar Prasad, economist at Cornell University and senior fellow at Brookings, about the findings from the latest FT/Brookings Tiger Index report. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The founder of France's far right National Front party Jean-Marie Le Pen has bowed out of politics after a public row with his daughter and party leader Marine Le Pen over his remarks that he considered the Nazi gas chambers a mere "a detail of history". Fiona Symon talks to Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, FT Paris bureau chief about the family feud. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rebels trying to topple Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad have made gains in the north and south of the country. But an unexpected attack by Isis, the jihadi group, inside the capital Damascus has reminded the world that this is a three-way conflict. Erika Solomon tells Fiona Symon about the latest developments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kenyans are in mourning after Islamist militants shot their way into a university in the remote northeast, leaving 148 dead. It was the worst terrorist atrocity in the country for nearly two decades and appears to have been carried out by home-grown militants. Fiona Symon talks to Katrina Manson, FT correspondent in Nairobi, about who was behind the attack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The death of a prominent Istanbul prosecutor after he was held hostage by two leftist extremists has raised tensions ahead of Turkey's election in June. Fiona Symon talks to Istanbul correspondent Dan Dombey about the incident and how the government has reacted. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

General Muhammadu Buhari looks set to win Nigeria’s presidential election and unseat the incumbent Goodluck Jonathan after a closely fought contest. Fiona Symon talks to William Wallis about the significance of what would be the country’s first democratic transferrence of power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Github, the online forum for software developers, has been hit by a powerful cyber attack that security experts believe originated in China. FT technology editor Ravi Mattu discusses the attack with Hannah Kuchler, the FT's correspondent in San Francisco and Charles Clover, the FT's correspondent in Beijing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is healthcare about to feel the full force of tech disruption? Google is partnering with Johnson & Johnson on surgical robotics. FT tech editor Ravi Mattu asks pharmaceutical correspondent Andrew Ward whether pharma companies would see Silicon Valley as friend or foe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Battles with rebel movements in Iraq and Yemen seem to be increasingly drawing in the region's powers Saudi Arabia and Iran, raising the spectre of regional conflict. Fiona Symon talks to Borzou Daragahi, FT Middle East correspondent, about the risks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly 25 per cent of Britain’s biggest companies now have women on their boards but some argue that voluntary targets for increasing womens' representation are not enough. Should Britain follow Germany and move to mandated quotas? Carola Hoyos debates the issue with economist Vicky Pryce and former trade minister Mervyn Davies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You might not have heard of Hanergy Thin Film before, but this Hong Kong listed solar energy company is worth more than $35bn. Its share price has enjoyed a startling rate of growth in the last two years. But an FT investigation into trading in the company's stock has uncovered some curious patterns. Robin Kwong talks to Miles Johnson, FT hedge fund correspondent, about the findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yemen is sliding towards a civil war that threatens to embroil regional powers after a Shia rebel movement took control of the capital and the country’s third largest city in a bid to unseat the elected Sunni president Abd-Rabbu Hadi. Fiona Symon talks to FT Gulf correspondent Simeon Kerr about the conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia has threatened Denmark with a nuclear strike if it takes part in Nato’s missile shield, in some of the most incendiary comments yet directed at a member of the military alliance. Fiona Symon talks to Richard Milne, FT Nordic and Baltic correspondent, about the growing tensions in the Baltic Sea region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emily Cadman and Carola Hoyos discuss research that suggests UK boards have failed to diversify and that many of the women appointed as non-executive directors have come from similar backgrounds to the men they replaced. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won a fourth term in office after an election in which he beat off a challenge from centre-left opposition leader Isaac Herzog. Fiona Symon talks to John Reed in Jerusalem about the result. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple is renewing its assault on the living room. The company is in advanced talks with US broadcasters to launch a subscription streaming offering with plans to create an online TV streaming service later this year. Ravi Mattu discusses the development with Tim Bradshaw. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New figures show that China has displaced Germany as the world’s third biggest arms trader. Fiona Symon talks to Charles Clover, FT correspondent in Beijing, about the reasons for China's rapid rise as an arms exporter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iraq is poised to recapture Tikrit, hometown of the former dictator Saddam Hussein, from Isis fighters. Fiona Symon talks to Borzou Daragahi about how the battle was won and what will be the Iraqi army's next target. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It has emerged this week that Chechen hit men may have been responsible for the killing of Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov and that the murder was apparently endorsed by Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov, a close ally of the Russian president. Fiona Symon talks to Neil Buckley about the Chechen trail. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The post-automation world needs platforms with high environmental and social standards like the online craft marketplace, says Andrew Hill Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'India’s daughter', a documentary about the gang rape of a 23-year-old woman in New Delhi, premieres in the United States today but has been banned by the BJP government from being shown in India. Fiona Symon talks to Amy Kazmin in New Delhi about the controversial decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Financial Times Online MBA ranking was won again this year by Spain's IE Business School, but the top 15 was still dominated by US business schools. Jonathan Moules discusses the findings with Della Bradshaw and Wai Kwen Chan.For more news and analysis on online learning, go to our special report at www.ft.com/online-learning Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexico’s Pena Nieto administration got off to a blistering start, passing nearly a dozen structural reforms in less than two years, but faith in the government’s integrity has plummeted. Jude Webber spoke to finance minister, Luis Videgaray, about what went wrong and what needs to be done to restore the public’s trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Prescott, CEO of the UK bookshop Blackwells, tells Emma Jacobs about the ups and downs of life in the book trade Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social philosopher Charles Handy believes the giants of business and finance should be dismantled into their component parts to serve the interests of consumers and employees better. He tells Andrew Hill about his vision for the 'citizen organisations' of the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebekah Brooks, the former tabloid newspaper editor who was cleared of all charges in Britain’s phone-hacking scandal, is returning to a new job in Rupert Murdoch's media empire. It is her first step back on to the News Corp ladder after her resignation in 2011. Henry Mance and Matthew Garrahan discuss her new role. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iraq’s army has launched a major offensive to capture an Isis stronghold north west of the capital Baghdad. It is attempting to clear Islamist fighters from Salahuddin province and the city of Tikrit, hometown of the former dictator Saddam Hussein. Fiona Symon talks to Borzou Daragahi about the risks and rewards of the operation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chief executive of luxury carmaker Aston Martin might like pistons and plug-in vehicles, but there's another important 'P' in his life: punk rock. He loves nothing more than firing up some tunes while riding on his BMW motorbike. But he also showed a more sensitive side when he spoke to Andy Sharman about his favourite tracks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Where have all the kids gone? A generation of young Americans that used to turn to TV for their entertainment is finding its fix elsewhere. Ravi Mattu talks to Matthew Garrahan about how big media companies are responding to the migration of viewers away from traditional TV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s leading climate change authority has lost its chairman after Rajendra Pachauri resigned amid allegations he had sexually harassed a junior female colleague. This comes at the worst possible time in the run up to important climate change talks later this year. Fiona Symon discusses the news with Pilita Clarke and Amy Kazmin. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European Union finance ministers have given a clear signal that the Greek government has done enough to secure an extension of its €172bn bailout. But the solvency of Greek banks remains a concern. Daniele Nouy, head of the ECB's supervisory wing, spoke to Patrick Jenkins and colleagues about how capable Greece's banks are of weathering the storm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the best known faces of Egypt’s 2011 revolution has been sentenced to five years in prison by a Cairo court. Alaa Abdel Fattah, a blogger, democracy activist and outspoken critic of the regime, was imprisoned for breaching a controversial law banning protests without official permission. Fiona Symon talks to Heba Saleh about the case and what it says about the state of human rights in Egypt. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Joko Widodo swept to power in October promising widespread reforms - the first Indonesian president not to come from the military or the political elite. But a stand-off between the country’s police and anti-corruption agency sparked a political crisis that threatened to derail his reforms. Fiona Symon spoke to Harry Jacques about how the affair was resolved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple is revving up to join the automotive industry. Last week, the Financial Times reported that Apple is recruiting experts from the car business to work at a new, top-secret research lab. Ravi Mattu, the FT's technology editor talks to Tim Bradshaw, our San Francisco correspondent, to find out how a company known for computers and mobile phones can enter a new sector like this. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could crowd funding be a solution to the financing struggles of young biotech companies in the early stages of drug development? Clive Cookson talks to Andrew Ward about the benefits and pitfalls of this new model for financing medical science. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ross Ulbricht was convicted last week of running the black market Silk Road website. Prosecutors convinced the jury that he was Dread Pirate Roberts, the administrator and mastermind of the site that was used to sell drugs and traded in bitcoins. Christine Spolar talks to Kara Scannell, about the strength of the evidence that was presented against him and the wider implications of the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US chip maker Qualcomm agreed this week to pay a record $975 million fine to settle a case brought against it by Chinese authorities. Technology editor Ravi Mattu and Beijing correspondent Charles Clover discuss what this means for other US tech companies facing challenges in China. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a fraught, high-stakes auction, Sky and British Telecom agreed yesterday to pay £5.1bn over three years to air Premier League games. Henry Mance and Dan Thomas discuss the stunning figures and the impact on future pricing strategies for Sky, which will pay for the majority of the rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narendra Modi’s ruling BJP has suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of an anti-corruption party in Delhi’s city election, undermining the Indian prime minister’s image of invincibility and showing the extent of disillusionment with the government after only eight months in office. Fiona Symon talks to Amy Kazmin about the result. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

HSBC has had a torrid few days after details of misdemeanours at its Swiss private bank were exposed. Patrick Jenkins,financial editor, talks to George Dallas, policy director of the International Corporate Governance Network and Martin Arnold, banking editor, about the potential ramifications for current management at the bank. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around 140m Indian schoolchildren will undergo de-worming treatment this week as New Delhi kicks-off the world’s largest campaign against the damaging intestinal parasites. Fiona Symon talks to Amy Kazmin about the programme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some audio recordings posted to the internet and broadcast on pro-Islamist television channels have rattled Egypt’s rulers. The voices, described as those of Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and his two deputies, are discussing the Gulf states, Egypt’s biggest financial backers, in less than flattering terms. Fiona Symon discusses the tapes with Borzou Daragahi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a three-bedroomed flat in London’s commuter belt, a team of seven are toiling over the nation’s problems. Overseeing this is Deidre Sanders, AKA The Sun newspaper’s agony aunt of 34 years, Dear Deidre. She tells Emma Jacobs how her role has changed in the age of the internet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fracking has provided a boost to the US economy but fears about its impact on the environment have meant that it is not allowed in France, Germany or the state of New York. In the UK, a debate is raging over whether to allow the extraction of shale gas to go ahead. Andy Bounds visited Preston, one of the proposed fracking sites to talk to people on both sides of the argument. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.