FT World Weekly

Defence ministers from the Atlantic Alliance's 28 members are meeting in Brussels to discuss the reinvigoration of the alliance in the face of Russian aggression. The US is to make the biggest reinforcement of its forces in eastern Europe since the fall of the Soviet Union. Ben Hall discusses the development with Geoff Dyer and Sam Jones. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Greece about to default on its debts and if so, what happens next? Gideon Rachman and his guests Tony Barber and Martin Sandbu discuss what has gone wrong between Greece and its eurozone creditors and whether the political rifts can be repaired. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turkey's dramatic election results have set back the political ambitions and increasingly personalised rule of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gideon Rachman discusses what this means for the country's future with Daniel Dombey and David Gardner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government of Matteo Renzi has done badly in regional elections. Gideon Rachman and guests discuss whether his reformist project is now in trouble and what that would mean for the rest of Europe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite the arrest this week of several of Fifa's top officials, football's world governing body has re-elected Sepp Blatter as its president. Roger Blitz joins Gideon Rachman to discuss the implications of the scandal for the business of the global game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Narendra Modi's election a year ago was accompanied by hopes for economic regeneration but anxiety about his Hindu nationalist agenda. Gideon Rachman discusses the Indian prime minister's first year in office with Victor Mallet and James Lamont. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain's first majority Conservative government for 18 years is pushing for a renegotiation of its relationship with the EU and has promised an in-out referendum on membership by the end of 2017. Ben Hall discusses Britain's place in the EU with George Parker and Alex Barker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Greece is said to be about to run out of money and yet there's no sign of a deal with its creditors. Gideon Rachman is joined by Martin Sandbu and Kerin Hope to discuss whether a further crisis can be avoided. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Siona Jenkins, Gideon Rachman and Lindsay Whipp discuss the Japanese prime minister's visit to Washington as the US seeks to cement defence and trade ties with Japan, a key ally in its bid to push back against growing Chinese influence in Asia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EU leaders are scrambling to respond to the deaths of thousands of refugees who have drowned trying to cross the Mediterranean from Libya towards a better life in Europe. Ben Hall is joined by Peter Spiegel and Borzou Daragahi to discuss Europe's migrant crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Geoff Dyer and John Paul Rathbone to discuss the rapprochement between Obama's America and Castro's Cuba. How far can it go and what are the international implications? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Hall is joined by Roula Khalaf and Najmeh Bozorgmehr to discuss the civil war in Yemen, and the growing hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia, who are backing different sides in the conflict. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It seems odd that an international bank for building roads and airports in Asia should become a yardstick for the rise of China as a global power and of the relative decline of the US. But that is what Beijing appears to achieved with its Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank. Some of Washington's closest allies have signed up even though it had lobbied furiously to dissuade them from doing so. Ben Hall discusses the development with Alan Beattie and Ed Luce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Roula Khalaf and Sam Jones to discuss the controversial international talks on Iran's nuclear programme. What kind of a deal is on the table and can the talks succeed? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The popularity of Brazil's president Dilma Roussef has plummeted only months after she was re-elected in the face of a floundering economy, mass street protests and a corruption scandal. Gideon Rachman discusses what went wrong with Jonathan Wheatley and Samantha Pearson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isaac Herzog's centre left Zionist Union has overtaken Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in the polls, signalling that Israel's electorate, which appeared to be veering ever more to the right in recent years with security concerns taking priority, are tilting to the left on the back of economic concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Kathrin Hille and John Thornhill to discuss the murder of Russian opposition activist Boris Nemtsov. How has his death been handled by the Kremlin and the Russian media and to what extent is the prevailing atmosphere of war psychosis to blame? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nigeria's presidential election next month is the closest contest since the end of military rule in 1999 and is taking place against a worrying backdrop of civil conflict and economic trouble. Gideon Rachman is joined by Tom Burgis and William Wallis to discuss whether the country can hold together. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Islamist terrorists have grabbed headlines in the Arab world with horrific atrocities, but there are signs their influence may be on the wane. Gideon Rachman discusses the extent of their power with Borzou Daragahi and David Gardner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Ferdinando Giugliano and Stefan Wagstyl to discuss the growing stand-off between Greece and its eurozone creditors as the language becomes more uncompromising on both sides. What would happen if Greece left the eurozone and are politicians prepared to contemplate such an outcome? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The upsurge in fighting between pro-Russian separatist rebels and Ukrainian government forces has shown how little diplomatic leverage the west now appears to have with the Kremlin. There is an increasingly lively debate about whether the west should provide Kiev with arms to help it face down the secessionist onslaught. Ben Hall discusses the crisis with Neil Buckley, Geoff Dyer and Stefan Wagstyl. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saudi Arabia's new monarch King Salman takes over at a time of unprecedented challenges in the shape of regional chaos as well as a sharply falling oil price. Gideon Rachman is joined by Roula Khalaf and Simeon Kerr to discuss how stable the kingdom is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Hall is joined by Claire Jones and Ferdinando Giugliano to discuss the European Central Bank's battle against deflation and whether its long awaited bond buying plan will work Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has been through a traumatic week following several terrorist attacks and demonstrations by millions in response to the killings. Gideon Rachman is joined by Hugh Carnegy and Michael Stothard to discuss the impact of these events and whether France can ward off the forces of polarisation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Snap elections are being held in Greece later this month in which the radical left Syriza party is expected to come out on top. Gideon Rachman is joined by Kerin Hope, Athens correspondent, and Tony Barber, Europe Editor, to discuss the implications for Greek debt restructuring and the eurozone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following president Barack Obama’s announcement that the United States will begin normalising relations with Cuba, John Paul Rathbone, Latin America editor, joins Gideon Rachman to examine how quickly the island state's Soviet-style economy is likely to change and the implications for the wider region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shinzo Abe's decision to call snap elections only two years into his term perplexed many people. Was it simply cover for a U-turn on a planned rise in consumption tax or was the prime minister seeking a renewed mandate for more radical measures to kick-start growth? Ben Hall discusses what the elections mean for the future of the world's third-largest economy with Ben McLannahan and David Pilling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Neil Buckley and Kathrin Hille to discuss the state of the Russian economy, How well can it weather the impact of the falling oil price and falling Rouble, in addition to western sanctions? What are the likely political repercussions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Chuck Hagel stepped down as US defence secretary at a time when doubts are growing about the administration's ability to manage growing threats in the Middle East and Europe. Gideon Rachman discusses what the resignation means for American foreign policy with Geoff Dyer and Ed Luce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US and China surprised the world last week with an outline agreement in which both countries agreed to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Gideon Rachman is joined by Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent, and Paul Bledsoe, senior fellow on climate and energy in the German Marshall Fund in Washington, to discuss how big a breakthrough it is. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Until recently Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, was getting a great press, with the Mexican economy going well and important reforms pushed through, but now he seems to be in serious political trouble. Gideon Rachman is joined by John-Paul Rathbone and Jude Webber to discuss what has gone wrong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the prospects for some form of detente between Japan and China? Ahead of next week's Apec summit, where leaders of the two countries are expected to meet, Ben Hall discusses the reasons for the strained relations between the two countries with Beijing bureau chief Jamil Anderlini and David Pilling, Asia editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In next week's US mid-terms, the Republicans are looking to win back control of the Senate and increase their majority in the House of Representatives, giving them control of the legislative agenda and the ability to further constrain President Barack Obama during his final two years in office. Ben Hall discusses the elections and their and longer term repercussions with Richard McGregor and Ed Luce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Peter Spiegel, Brussels bureau chief, and Tony Barber, Europe editor, to discuss the threat that the European Commission will reject the budgets of some of Europe’s biggest nations, in particular France and Italy. Is such a move really possible and what would be the political and economic consequences? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by David Gardner and Daniel Dombey to discuss Turkey's role in the unfolding war against the jihadist movement Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Does Turkey share western war aims or is the government of President Erdogan more interested in crushing the Kurdish movements that are fighting Isis? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first round of voting in Brazil's presidential elections is over and the incumbent Dilma Rousseff will face a centre right candidate Aécio Neves in the second round. Gideon Rachman discusses the differences between the candidates and what is at stake with Joe Leahy and Jonathan Wheatley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scale and persistence of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have taken many by surprise. Gideon Rachman is joined by David Pilling, Asia editor, and Tom Mitchell, Beijing correspondent, to discuss the crisis and China's response. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With President François Hollande languishing at record lows in the polls, former president Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he plans to return to frontline politics, which almost certainly means a view to running for the presidency in 2017. Gideon Rachman is joined by Hugh Carnegy, Paris bureau chief, and Tony Barber to discuss his prospects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Barack Obama, the US president, promised in a televised address to destroy Isis, the self-proclaimed Islamist state in Iraq. Does that mean another western war in the Middle East is under way? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Roula Khalaf, FT foreign editor, James Blitz, former security editor, and David Gardner, FT correspondent in Beirut. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A late surge in support for Scotland's pro-independence camp a week ahead of the referendum has set alarm bells ringing among politicians in London. James Blitz is joined by Michael Stott and Mure Dickie to discuss the arguments being used to sway Scottish voters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The War in Ukraine, the rising tensions between Russia and the West, Vladimir Putin's objectives, and how ordinary Russians and Russia's other neighbouring states see the conflict. Neil Buckley, the FT's eastern Europe editor and Jack Farchy, Moscow correspondent, join Gideon Rachman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parts of Western Africa are gripped by the Ebola virus, with more than 670 dead in the current outbreak. Gideon Rachman is joined by Clive Cookson, science editor, and Javier Blas, Africa editor, to discuss how serious a threat the virus poses to the region and to the wider world, and what the international community can do to thwart its progress Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia and the west have been increasingly at odds following the shooting down of a Malaysian Airlines flight over Ukraine, an atrocity that has been widely blamed on pro-Russian separatists. What are Vladimir Putin's options, and what diplomatic accommodation be can be found to make the situation less volatile?Katherine Hille, Moscow bureau chief, and Neil Buckley, east Europe editor, join Gideon Rachman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As bombing reaches its ninth consecutive day, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu is facing criticism abroad for causing unnecessary bloodshed, and at home for not sending troops into Gaza. Gideon Rachman is joined by Siona Jenkins, Middle east news editor, and from Gaza by John Reed, Jerusalem bureau chief to look deeper at the broader Israeli/Palestinian conflict and how Hamas has been able to use the current crisis to drum up support as chaos in the middle east reaches levels unparalleled in recent decades Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany has summoned the US envoy following allegations that an agent working for Germany’s intelligence agency was spying for the US. Gideon Rachman is joined by James Blitz, former security correspondent, and Jeevan Vasagar, Berlin correspondent, to discuss what this means for already troubled relations between the Obama and Merkel governments, and how the two nations can resolve their differences in order to tackle the numerous shared geopolitical challenges they face. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced he will run in the country's first every directly elected presidential contest next month. Ben Hall is joined by Istanbul correspondent Daniel Dombey and FT columnist David Gardner to discuss how is the turmoil across the border in Syria and Iraq is changing the political dynamics ahead of the election, and whether an Erdogan victory would mean breaking the grip of Turkey's old elite, or just another step towards authoritarian rule. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Jean-Claude Juncker increasingly likely to be appointed as the next president of the European Commission, Gideon Rachman is joined by Tony Barber, Europe editor, and Peter Spiegel, Brussels bureau chief, for an in-depth look at what this would mean for the UK and for Europe as a whole. Also on the agenda are the growing dominance of Germany in the EU decision-making process and this week's European Council meeting in Ypres Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Isis’ lightning offensive has pushed Iraq to the brink of outright civil war and a return to the murderous sectarian bloodshed that nearly tore it apart in 2006. President Obama is considering limited military intervention to take on the terrorists but only if there are signs that Nouri al-Maliki, Iraq’s Shia prime minister does more to reach out to moderate Sunnis and Kurds. Geoff Dyer, US diplomatic correspondent, Roula Khalaf, foreign editor, and Guy Chazan, energy editor, join Ben Hall Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

About half the world's population is expected to watch the World Cup in Brazil, but the run up to the tournament has been troubled by demonstrations in Brazil and all-too-familiar allegations of corruption at the heart of Fifa, world football's governing body. Joe Leahy, Brazil correspondent, Roger Blitz, leisure industries correspondent, and JP Rathbone, Latin American editor, join Gideon Rachman to discuss the state of the World Cup. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Pilita Clark, environment correspondent, and Richard McGregor, Washington bureau chief, to discuss renewed efforts to tackle climate change. The Obama administration appears to have succeeded in making climate change a public health issue, and has set a target of reducing US power plant emissions by 30 per cent by 2030. Meanwhile rumours abound that China could include strict targets in its next five year plan, although sustaining economic growth remains its priority. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.