Ft News

A devastating missile and drone attack on Saudi oil installations last week highlighted the vulnerability of global oil supplies to the threat of regional unrest. The attack was claimed by Houthi rebels fighting Saudi-backed forces in neighbouring Yemen, but Saudi and US officials were quick to point the finger of blame at Iran. Geoff Dyer discusses the repercussions of the attack for the region and the oil market with Andrew England, Middle East editor, and Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent. Contributors: Geoff Dyer, analysis editor, Andrew England, Middle East editor, and Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have seen a historic day for British politics as the Supreme Court ruled that Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue parliament for five weeks was unlawful. Siona Jenkins discusses what the ruling means for Brexit, for the prime minister, and for British democracy, with Jane Croft, law courts correspondent, and Neil Buckley, leader writer.  Contributors: Siona Jenkins, news editor, Jane Croft, law courts correspondent and Neil Buckley, leader writer. Producer: Fiona Symon and Persis Love  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China will be in the spotlight at this week’s UN climate summit in New York.  Beijing has taken steps to tackle its pollution problems in recent years, but is it working? Pilita Clark puts this question to Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief.  Contributors: Pilita Clark, business columnist, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2013, Edward Snowden was responsible for one of the biggest US intelligence leaks ever. He’s just published a memoir offering his version of the events. Janine Gibson was the Guardian’s US editor at the time and oversaw publication of the story. She shares her impressions of book and what it says about the man and his motives with Frederick Studemann, FT literary editor.Read Janine's story here Contributors: Janine Gibson, special projects editor, and Frederick Studemann, literary editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump has dashed hopes for an imminent peace deal with the Taliban that were intended to pave the way for the US to withdraw the last of its troops from Afghanistan. Jyotsna Singh discusses how this leaves the war torn country as it prepares for presidential elections at the end of the month, with Stephanie Findlay and Farhan Bokhari.Contributors: Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, Stephanie Findlay, South Asia correspondent, and Farhan Bokhari, Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chinese carmaker Geely is investing in German flying taxi start-up Volocopter. Josh Noble discusses China’s interest in this technology and the future of flying taxis wirh the FT’s motor industry correspondent Peter Campbell and global technology correspondent Tim BradshawContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Peter Campbell, motor industry correspondent, and Tim Bradshaw, global technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

UK prime minister Boris Johnson has been accused of constitutional vandalism by curtailing the opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of his government in the final weeks of the Brexit talks. The courts will now determine whether his decision to shut down parliament was legal or not. Henry Mance discusses what all this means for British democracy with constitutional expert Sionaidh Douglas-Scott and UK assistant news editor John Aglionby.Contributors: Henry Mance, chief features writer, Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, Anniversary Chair in Law at Queen Mary University in London, and John Aglionby, assistant UK news editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia has removed energy minister Khalid al-Falih, one of the most powerful figures in the global oil industry, and replaced him with a member of the royal family, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Katie Martin discusses the significance of the shake-up and how it relates to the Crown Prince’s ambitious plans for an IPO of state oil company Aramco with David Sheppard, Energy Editor, and Andrew England, Middle East editor.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, David Sheppard, energy editor, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Google is allegedly using hidden web pages that feed the personal data of its users to advertisers, circumventing EU privacy regulations that require consent and transparency. Madhumita Murgia, the FT's European technology correspondent, discusses the implications for both privacy and competition with Malcolm Moore.Conributors: Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, and Madhumita Murgia, European technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Italy's prime minister Guiseppe Conte lives to fight another day after a bid by the populist leader Matteo Salvini to unseat him and win power by holding snap elections failed. Katie Martin discusses whether the new alliance between the Five Star Movement and its former enemy, the Democratic Party, can last with Ben Hall and Miles Johnson.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor, and Miles Johnson, Rome correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Naspers, a publisher once condemned as a mouthpiece of the apartheid regime in South Africa, has quietly become one of the world’s biggest internet investors thanks to a stake in China’s Tencent. On 11 September it will list its global internet assets on the Amsterdam bourse, becoming Europe's biggest consumer internet company overnight. Arash Massoudi discusses how it got there with Joseph Cotterill in Johannesburg.Contributors: Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor, and Joseph Cotterill, Southern Africa correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many of us own a keyboard, which sounds more or less like a piano, but is not quite the same. Thomas Hale, Alphaville reporter, thought he’d like to buy the real thing, so he went looking in London. He tells James Pickford what he found. Read Thomas's article hereContributors: James Pickford, deputy editor of FT Money, and Thomas Hale, Alphaville reporter. Producer: Fiona Symon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist, opted to sail to the US from Europe this month, rather than catching a plane.  Her choice reflected a growing recognition that air travel carries a heavy cost to the environment. Sylvia Pfeifer, acting industry editor, discusses how airlines are responding to the challenge with Janina Conboye and Leslie Hook. Contributors: Sylvia Pfeifer, acting industry editor, Janina Conboye, industry reporter, and Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A new book about Koch Industries has shed light on the way this company, led by Charles Koch, shaped modern America. Frederick Studemann, literary editor, discusses Kochland: The Secret History of Koch Industries and Corporate Power in America with Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, US business editor. Read Andrew’s review here.Contributors: Frederick Studemann, literary editor, and Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, US business editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco is making a high stakes investment in India as the world’s largest crude oil exporter seeks to deepen its ties with the fastest growing energy consumer. Tom O’Sullivan discusses the proposed investment, announced by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, with Benjamin Parkin and Anjli Raval.Contributors: Tom O’Sullivan, deputy analysis editor, Benjamin Parkin, Mumbai correspondent, and Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tens of thousands of Russians have taken to the streets this summer to express their disaffection with a government that has failed to deliver economic growth or improve living standards for much of the past five years. Adrienne Klasa discusses this new mood of rebellion and how Russian president Vladimir Putin has responded with Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, and Russian sociologist Greg Yudin.Contributors: Adrienne Klasa, creative producer, world news, Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, and Greg Yudin, Professor of Political Philosophy at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Falling interest rates, weak trading volumes and automation have led to an exceptionally brutal summer for global investment banks, which have shed tens of thousands of jobs, particularly on trading desks. Stephen Morris, European banking correspondent, discusses the bleak outlook for bankers with Robert Armstrong, US financial editor.Contributors: Stephen Morris, European banking correspondent, and Robert Armstrong, US financial editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What will the world look like when machines are cleverer than we are? Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor, discuss how different writers have imagined the future in response to the advance of artificial intelligence.Contributors: Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The disputed Himalayan state of Jammu and Kashmir is in lockdown after India revoked its special status following a long running insurgency that led to thousands of deaths. Jyotsna Singh discusses what India plans to do next, and how neighbouring Pakistan, which also claims the territory, has reacted, with Amy Kazmin the FT's South Asia bureau chief.Contributors: Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, and Amy Kazmin, South Asia bureau chief. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US allegations that China is manipulating its currency burst into the open again this week when the renminbi was allowed to fall below seven to the dollar for the first time since 2008. Josh Noble discusses this latest front in the US-China trade dispute and its implications for investors and the global economy with Don Weinland, Beijing financial correspondent, and Michael MacKenzie, senior investment commentator.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Don Weinland, Beijing financial correspondent, and Michael MacKenzie, senior investment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.