FT News in Focus
1,329 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 4 years ago - ★★★★ - 133 ratingsNews features and analysis from Financial Times reporters around the world. FT News in Focus is produced by Fiona Symon.
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Episodes
Obrador wins sweeping victory in Mexico's presidential elections
July 03, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.4 MBAndrés Manuel López Obrador has won a landslide victory in Mexico’s presidential elections, making the veteran leftist politician the most powerful president in more than a generation. Amlo, as he is popularly known, has promised to make the poor his priority and will have the capacity to unpick some of the market-friendly policies favoured by his predecessors. Daniel Dombey discusses what kind of president he will make with the FT’s Jude Webber in Mexico City. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...
Obrador wins sweeping victory in Mexico's presidential elections
July 03, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.4 MBAndrés Manuel López Obrador has won a landslide victory in Mexico’s presidential elections, making the veteran leftist politician the most powerful president in more than a generation. Amlo, as he is popularly known, has promised to make the poor his priority and will have the capacity to unpick some of the market-friendly policies favoured by his predecessors. Daniel Dombey discusses what kind of president he will make with the FT’s Jude Webber in Mexico City. See acast.com/privacy for...
What's driving the global M&A boom?
July 02, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.53 MBGlobal dealmaking reached $2.5tn in the first half of 2018, breaking the all-time high for the period. What's driving the consolidation and what might bring the boom to an end? The FT's Sujeet Indap and James Fontanella-Khan explain. Sign up for Due Diligence, the FT's must-read daily email briefing on M&A, corporate finance and private equity here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Britain’s DIY railway
June 30, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 11.9 MBWeeks of chaos on the railways of northern England in June resulted in angry denunciations of rail bosses, showdowns in parliament and long odysseys for frazzled commuters. But in one small corner of the rail network, locals and tourists were enjoying a taste of 1970s nostalgia. Andrew Bounds reports on Britain's DIY railway from Windermere in Cumbria. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
European Union faces tough choices on migration
June 28, 2018 16:50 - 8 minutes - 12 MBEU leaders are gathering for one of the most difficult summits in years, with member states divided over migration and the German chancellor Angela Merkel facing an ultimatum by her conservative coalition allies to come up with a pan-European approach. The FT’s Mehreen Khan and Michael peel discuss what’s at stake for the EU and Germany. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
European Union faces tough choices on migration
June 28, 2018 16:50 - 8 minutes - 12 MBEU leaders are gathering for one of the most difficult summits in years, with member states divided over migration and the German chancellor Angela Merkel facing an ultimatum by her conservative coalition allies to come up with a pan-European approach. The FT’s Mehreen Khan and Michael peel discuss what’s at stake for the EU and Germany. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Where does all our plastic waste go?
June 28, 2018 04:00 - 10 minutes - 14.1 MBDespite some efforts at recycling, more than half of all plastic waste created in the industrialised world has been exported for recycling elsewhere, mainly to China. But now Beijing has banned imports of most plastic waste. So where will the waste go now and how much of it is ending up in the ocean? Leslie Hook puts the question to Amy Brooks and Jenna Jambeck of the University of Georgia, who’ve recently published a study on the global trade in plastic waste Read the study by Amy Brooks a...
Millennials on the move
June 27, 2018 04:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBFor generations, ambitious young Americans flocked to the country’s biggest cities, looking for opportunity in commercial hubs like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. But the generation who came of age around the year 2000 is breaking the mould. Liberty Martin discusses how their choice of where to live is redrawing the map of America with the FT's Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson and Hannah Kuchler Read more here Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here Ho...
Car makers sound alarm over Brexit
June 26, 2018 04:00 - 11 minutes - 16.5 MBWith just nine months left before Britain leaves the European Union, the government remains deadlocked on key decisions relating to the single market and customs union. For the first time since the referendum two years ago, industrial giants like Airbus, BMW and Honda are sounding the alarm. Elaine Moore discusses their fears with the FT's Peter Campbell and Alex Barker. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Court ruling deals tax blow to US online retailers
June 25, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 11.5 MBThe US Supreme Court has overturned a ruling that enabled many ecommerce retailers to avoid collecting sales tax from customers. The FT's Jessica Dye explains the move, and the implications for the consumer economy. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Monsoon rains spell disaster for Bangladesh's Rohingya refugees
June 22, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 9.88 MBLast year, a violent campaign of military repression forced nearly 700,000 Rohingyas to flee from Myanmar into neighbouring Bangladesh. Now, seasonal Monsoon rains spell further disaster for the refugees, the FT’s South Asia correspondent Kiran Stacey tells Jyotsna Singh Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fate of ZTE highlights China's dependence on imported technology
June 21, 2018 04:00 - 11 minutes - 16.3 MBZTE, one of China’s biggest telecoms equipment makers, has been plunged into crisis after being barred from operating in the US. The company is being punished for shipping banned products to Iran and North Korea, but it is also at the centre of the US’s escalating trade war with China. Its plight has highlighted China’s reliance on imported silicon chip technology. Aliya Ram discusses the story with the FT’s Nic Fildes and Edward White. Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize ...
Millennials shake complacency of big food brands
June 20, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 12.4 MBChallenger companies have been taking on established food brands by catering to the tastes of millennials, who drink less alcohol, want to know what is in the food products they buy and are increasingly eco-conscious. Madison Darbyshire discusses how big food companies are responding to the challenge with the FT’s Scheherazade Daneshkhu Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trump's contrasting strategies towards Iran and North Korea
June 19, 2018 04:00 - 10 minutes - 14.8 MBPresident Donald Trump claims that after his summit with Kim Jong UN, nuclear-armed North Korea is no longer a threat to the US, but has torn up a multilateral treaty with Iran, which does not have nuclear weapons. John Murray Brown discusses what’s behind the US administration’s contrasting approaches to the two countries with the FT's Katrina Manson Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Antitrust in the era of 'big tech'
June 18, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.63 MBFew mergers in recent memory have been as contentious as the AT&T/Time Warner deal that was approved last week by a US district court judge. Rana Foroohar, the FT's global business columnist, explains what the verdict means for M&A activity, and how it might inform antitrust regulation in the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Why are so many Indian families left in the dark?
June 15, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.7 MBDespite 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 here Contribute to our listener survey and enter our prize draw here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
How can we make best use of health data?
June 14, 2018 04:00 - 13 minutes - 19 MBShould 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.
How will millennials be watching the World Cup?
June 13, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.5 MBThis 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.
Brexit amendments test Theresa May's authority
June 12, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.9 MBTheresa 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.
What next for the G7
June 11, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.18 MBThe 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 throws out a lifeline to smartphone addicts
June 08, 2018 04:00 - 9 minutes - 13.7 MBApple 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.
Allies hit back on US steel and aluminium tariffs
June 07, 2018 04:00 - 9 minutes - 6.24 MBThe 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.
The disruptive power of millennials
June 06, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.87 MBMillennials, 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The disruptive power of millennials
June 06, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 8.87 MBMillennials, 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 leader faces steep challenges
June 05, 2018 04:00 - 11 minutes - 15.4 MBSpain’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.
The dark side of fast fashion
June 04, 2018 04:00 - 19 minutes - 13.1 MBSome 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.
How is pollution affecting our health?
May 31, 2018 04:00 - 16 minutes - 22 MBThe 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 ...
JAB takes on Nestlé with Pret A Manger deal
May 30, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBInvestment 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.
Italy's political uncertainty roils markets
May 29, 2018 15:08 - 7 minutes - 9.95 MBFinancial 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’s growing water crisis
May 29, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.4 MBIndia 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.
Will Italy spark Europe's next crisis?
May 25, 2018 04:00 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MBGiuseppe 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: iconoclast and chronicler of the American condition
May 24, 2018 04:00 - 10 minutes - 15 MBPhilip 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.
GDPR is here at last. What does it mean for consumers and their data?
May 23, 2018 04:00 - 13 minutes - 17.9 MBNew 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.
UK court dismisses charges against Barclays over Qatar loan
May 22, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 9.04 MBThe 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 m...
Young Americans left out of US boom in housing wealth
May 21, 2018 04:00 - 8 minutes - 5.65 MBAmerica’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.
More Indians are registering to pay tax - how did Modi do it?
May 18, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBA 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 voters put faith in radical Shia leader
May 17, 2018 04:00 - 7 minutes - 10.8 MBIraq’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 returns as Malaysia reformer
May 16, 2018 04:00 - 11 minutes - 15.7 MBMahathir 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.
China tycoon falls from grace
May 15, 2018 04:00 - 12 minutes - 17.1 MBWu 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 acas...
Trump blames foreign countries for high drug prices
May 14, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 4.38 MBThe 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's foray into online dating
May 11, 2018 04:00 - 5 minutes - 7.17 MBFacebook 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 Kuchler Read Hannah's article here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Argentine president seeks IMF assistance
May 10, 2018 04:00 - 6 minutes - 9.07 MBIn 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 raises financing for Fox deal
May 09, 2018 05:00 - 6 minutes - 8.58 MBComcast 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.
Comcast raises financing for Fox deal
May 09, 2018 05:00 - 6 minutes - 8.58 MBComcast 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. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Europe braced for Trump decision on Iran
May 08, 2018 09:59 - 6 minutes - 9.22 MBFrance, 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.
Europe braced for Trump decision on Iran
May 08, 2018 09:59 - 6 minutes - 9.22 MBFrance, 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 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Pakistan leans on China for high tech weaponry
May 07, 2018 05:00 - 7 minutes - 9.82 MBChina 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.
The Rubens painting that fooled the Met
May 04, 2018 05:00 - 8 minutes - 11.7 MBA 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.
To catch a thief: Japan-style
May 03, 2018 05:00 - 2 minutes - 4 MBEarlier 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.
How much higher will oil prices go?
May 02, 2018 05:00 - 11 minutes - 15.2 MBOil 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.