FT News in Focus

Despite Narendra Modi’s announcement that he had managed to bring electricity to the last village in India, the reality is that tens of millions still lack power. Kiran Stacey and Jyotsna Singh visited some villages in Uttar Pradesh, where half the households are still waiting for connections.Read Kiran and Jyotsna’s article hereContribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should medical data be treated differently from other personal data, and what impact will Europe’s new GDPR rules have on medical research and health tech companies? Darren Dodd puts these questions to the FT’s Sarah Neville, Tina Woods of Collider Health and data protection and privacy expert Kristof van Quathem. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This summer’s World Cup will probably attract more viewers than ever, but millennials will be not be sitting in groups in front of their television sets as previous generations did. Murad Ahmed talks to FT columnist Simon Kuper about how new consumer habits are changing the business behind the global tournament. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Theresa May’s plan for leaving the European Union is being tested in parliament this week, with several key votes on amendments to Brexit legislation that could radically alter the outcome of her negotiations. Siona Jenkins asks the FT’s public policy editor James Blitz to preview the votes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The relationship between the US and its closest allies plunged to new depths at the annual meeting of the Group of Seven countries after Donald Trump clashed with fellow leaders on trade, and called for Russia to be readmitted to the group. The FT's Sam Fleming reports on what went wrong at the summit, and what to expect from the G7 in the future.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apple unveiled new tools this week to help consumers reduce their screen time and curb some of the techniques used by marketers to monitor people’s browsing activity. Leslie Hook asks the FT’s Tim Bradshaw whether this marks the start of a shift in the power balance between consumers and big tech companies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EU, Canada and Mexico have announced retaliatory tariffs in response to the White House move to slap steel and aluminium tariffs on its closest allies. The FT's Shawn Donnan explains the action, and how it will affect future trade negotiations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Millennials, a generation both celebrated and derided as individualistic, creative and entitled, have come of age. These digital natives have preferences and habits that pose a disruptive threat to everything from the media and entertainment to food and fashion. Elaine Moore discusses the millennial moment with the FT’s John Gapper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is in a precarious position after ejecting the government of Mariano Rajoy.  He is hoping to reverse cuts to social programmes and improve relations with secessionist leaders in Catalonia. Will he succeed or will he be forced to seek early elections? Hannah Murphy puts the question to the FT’s Madrid correspondent Michael Stothard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some big name fast fashion retailers are sourcing their inventory closer to home in order to get the latest pieces into the hands of their shoppers fast. But how is it possible such labour intensive production is taking place in one of the most expensive economies in the world? With the FT's Sarah O'Connor. This episode originally aired on the Behind The Money podcast.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK is among six EU member states referred to Europe’s highest court this month over a failure to clean up “significant and persistent” air pollution. So how bad is the problem and what impact is it having on our health? FT Science editor Clive Cookson put these questions to a panel of experts at a recent FT event in London. He spoke to Laurie Laybourn-Langton of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, Ian Mudway, air toxicity specialist at King's College London and Darran Messem of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Investment group JAB has agreed to buy UK sandwich and coffee shop chain Pret A Manger as part of its bid to take on Nestlé - the world’s biggest food company. Elaine Moore talks to the FT's Arash Massoudi and Javier Espinoza about the company behind the acquisition and where its global ambitions lie. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Financial markets have reacted with alarm to news that Italy will have to hold fresh elections after the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League, failed to form a coalition government. Martin Arnold discusses what this means for Italy, its banks and the wider eurozone economy with Miles Johnson, FT capital markets editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India is facing severe water shortages, with rivers drying up and water disputes erupting across the country. Yet there is little action from the government or public awareness about the need for conservation. Jyotsna Singh talks to the FT’s Amy Kazmin about how things got so bad and what can be done.Read Amy Kazmin's column here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giuseppe Conte, a relatively unknown academic, is to become the next prime minister of Italy after months of negotiations that followed an inconclusive election. But the new coalition has alarmed investors nervous that it will flout eurozone fiscal rules and lead Italy on a path to economic ruin. So, how worrying is the situation? Elaine Moore puts the question to the FT’s James Politi, and Miles Johnson.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Philip Roth, one of America’s greatest novelists, has died aged 85. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author rose to fame with Portnoy’s Complaint but was perhaps best known for his 1997 historical novel American Pastoral, set in his birth place of Newark, New Jersey. Jonathan Derbyshire discusses his life and times with FT arts editor Jan Dalley.Read the FT's obituary here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New European Union rules come into force this week, promising to give consumers in Europe and beyond more control over how their data is used. But are people ready to exercise this new power and how prepared are companies for the change? Ravi Mattu puts these questions to the FT’s Aliya Ram and to GDPR expert Julian Saunders. Read our FT analysis here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The decision is a setback for the Serious Fraud Office after years of investigation into the fundraising deal. However four former executives at the British bank, including its ex-chief executive John Varley, still face criminal charges over the cash injections the bank arranged from Qatari investors to survive the financial crisis. Patrick Jenkins discusses what the ruling means for Barlcays and the SFO with the FT's Jane Croft and Martin Arnold Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America’s housing wealth has staged a complete recovery since the financial crisis, but the holdings are increasingly skewed towards older borrowers and away from the young, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. The FT's US economics editor Sam Fleming explains.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A big rise in the number of people registering to pay tax in India has allowed the government to begin to build a stable tax base for the first time in its post-independence history. Jyotsna Singh asks the FT's Kiran Stacey how prime minister Narendra Modi achieved this.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Iraq’s parliamentary election threw up a surprise result after Muqtada al-Sadr, a populist cleric once seen as the face of Shia resistance against the US occupation, looked like being the leader of the bloc with the most seats. Daniel Dombey discusses what this means for Iraq and the region with the FT’s Andrew England Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mahathir Mohamad has vowed to shed his previous strongman image and undertake widespread political and economic reforms as he returns to power after a stunning election victory. Victor Mallet discusses whether he will keep his promises with the FT's Ben Bland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wu Xiaohui, one of China’s best known tycoon’s, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for financial fraud, cementing the downfall of the one-time car salesman who catapulted himself to the pinnacle of global high finance over the past decade. Arash Massoudi talks to the FT’s Henny Sender and Don Weinland about what led to the former Anbang chairman’s fall from grace and what will become of the business empire he controlled - including New York’s Waldorf Astoria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The White House laid out measures to tackle high list prices for drugs last week, hitting out at "freeloading" foreign countries that benefit from US pharmaceutical research. The FT's David Crow explains.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook is expanding into online dating - a move some consider surprising so soon after the Cambridge Analytica scandal. So what exactly is the social media company planning and will its data hoard give it an unfair advantage over competitors? Andreas Paleit puts these questions to the FT’s Hannah KuchlerRead Hannah's article here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2001, economic policies backed by the IMF brought Argentina to its knees and many Argentines associate the fund with the social and economic chaos that followed.  But this week, a run on the currency forced President Mauricio Macri to return to the international lender. Jonathan Wheatley asks the FT's Benedict Mander what happens next  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comcast has held talks with US banks to secure up to $60bn in financing to gatecrash Walt Disney’s tie-up with 21st Century Fox. The FT's James Fontanella-Khan explains why the cable company is reattempting a bid for Fox, and what has spurred a wave of media deals in recent years. Sign up for the FT's Due Diligence email briefing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France, Germany and the UK, which played a key role in drawing up the Iran nuclear agreement, are braced for a decision by Donald Trump that could effectively scupper the deal. Alex Barker discusses Europe's likely response to the US decision with the FT's Michael Peel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China is now selling the kind of high-end weapons systems in which the US once specialised to Pakistan’s military, and is co-developing many others. Jyotsna Singh talks to the FT's Kiran Stacey about how this may tip the strategic balance in the region.    Read Kiran's article here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A portrait of Clara Serena, daughter of Peter Paul Rubens, was sold as an unexceptional work by New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art five years ago, but has now been re-appraised as the work of the Flemish master himself and not one of his followers as originally thought. James Pickford discusses the Met’s costly mistake with art historian Bendor Grosvenor.Read James’s article here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week, Hiroshima police released triumphant footage of officers running a 27-year-old fugitive to ground, but, as Leo Lewis reports from Tokyo, the arrest of Tatsuma Hirao brought to a close a 22-day operation that, at times, felt excessive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oil prices have risen as high as $75 a barrel for the first time in four years. What has driven the rally and will it continue? Hannah Murphy puts the question to the FT's Anjli Raval and David Sheppard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Egypt has adopted tough reforms in the past two years as part of a loan agreement with the IMF. Heba Saleh speaks to Amr al-Garhy, finance minister, about his efforts to put the country' debt levels on a sustainable footing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two US agencies that were set up to make mortgages more affordable to Americans. But the system was rocked during the 2008 housing slump and the government bailed them out. And now, critics say the home loan agencies are using taxpayer support to be a force in the commercial property market. The FT's Alistair Gray and John Authers discuss.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rape and murder of an eight-year old Muslim girl in India has highlighted the price paid by Indian girls and women for the stoking of hatred between India’s Hindu and Muslim communities. Jyotsna Singh discusses the recent rise in communal violence with the FT's Amy Kazmin.Read Amy's column here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré has been placed under formal investigation over corruption allegations relating to the activities of his family holding company Bolloré Group in Africa. Elaine Moore asks the FT’s Harriet Agnew and Alan Livsey how this will affect his long-running battle to create a European media powerhouse to rival Netflix Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Central American nation, ruled by Daniel Ortega for 22 of the past 39 years, has been convulsed by almost a week of anti-government protests in which at least 25 people have died. The FT's Jude Webber reports. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a year of fiery rhetoric, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un have agreed to a historic summit aimed at easing nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula. Elaine Moore discusses the issues at stake for both sides with the FT’s Bryan Harris and Demetri Sevastopulo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Global health leaders gathered in London this week in a bid to re-focus attention on malaria amid fears that flat global funding and the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance could halt or even reverse progress in fighting the disease. Andrew Jack discusses the latest strategies for defeating malaria the disease with Charles Nelson and Prudence Hamade of the Malaria Consortium and Alister Craig of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Music by David Sappa Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Santander has become the first international bank to launch a cross-border payments system based on blockchain, using the new technology with a view to taking on specialist fintechs such as TransferWise. The bank's executive chairman Ana Botín spoke to the FT about the new service, which is being offered initially to customers in Spain, the UK, Brazil and Poland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump presidency and the debate over sexual harassment have fuelled a surge in female Democrats running in upcoming local, state and federal elections in the US. The FT's Courtney Weaver explains. Read the full story here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US sanctions designed to punish the Kremlin for 'destabilising activities' have effectively barred the aluminium group Rusal and other companies controlled by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska from accessing the US financial system. Elaine Moore discusses the impact of the sanctions on Rusal and the global commodities markets with the FT's Henry Foy and Henry Sanderson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will come of the two day face-off between Congress and the Facebook chief executive? The FT's Hannah Kuchler explains.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Viktor Orban has been re-elected prime minister of Hungary after presenting his country as under continual attack: from liberal NGOs, the UN, the philanthropist George Soros and the EU. Gideon Rachman discusses what we can expect from Mr Orban's third term in office with the FT's Neil Buckley, who covered the election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the main global polluters China and the US have started to curb emissions, India is moving in the wrong direction. Jyotsna Singh discusses India’s energy policy and why coal continues to play such a big role in meeting the country's growing energy demand, with the FT’s Kiran Stacey. Read Nick Butler’s blog: India is the pivotal state in climate change stakes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An alleged chemical attack by the Syrian regime on a rebel stronghold outside Damascus has raised tensions in the region after the United States, Britain and France threatened coordinated action in response. Andrew England discusses the US military options and the risks of escalation with Rebecca Collard in Beirut and Katrina Manson in Washington. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The chaotic removal of Deutsche Bank's chief executive John Cryan and the rushed appointment of Christian Sewing as his successor has created confusion about the bank's strategy. Patrick Jenkins discusses the weekend's events and what they mean for the German lender with the FT's Olaf Storbeck and Laura Noonan. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Spotify's successful share offering this week, Ravi Mattu asks the FT's Anna Nicolaou why it opted for a direct listing, instead of a traditional initial public offering, and what's next for the innovative music streaming company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New US tariffs intended to punish Chinese industry for stealing American technology might actually hit General Motors’ exports of China-made Buicks to the US, while leaving most Chinese-owned carmakers unscathed, the FT's Charles Clover tells Ursula Milton.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four former Goldman Sachs employees have won the right to lead a class-action lawsuit over sexual discrimination, more than seven years after two of them accused the Wall Street bank of “systemically” favouring men over women. Martin Arnold discusses the case with the FT's Hannah Murphy. Music by Kevin MacLeod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.