Ft News

Apple’s chief designer Jonathan Ive is leaving after more than two decades in which his iconic designs for the Mac, iPod and iPhone turned one of Silicon Valley’s faded giants into the world’s most valuable company.  Janine Gibson discusses what this means for Apple and what Sir Jonathan will do next with Tim Bradshaw and Matthew Garrahan.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Janine Gibson, special projects editor, Matt Garrahan, news editor, and Tim Bradshaw, global technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Indigo, a Boston-based agritech start-up, plans to pay farmers to store carbon in soil - part of a growing field of climate-related agricultural practices that seek to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. Lauren Fedor discusses the growing focus on environmentally friendly farming methods with Leslie Hook and Emiko Terazono.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Lauren Fedor, technology reporter, Emiko Terazono, commodities correspondent, and Leslie Hook, environment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sotheby’s has gone under the hammer for $3.7bn ending 31 years of public ownership, with the venerable auction house sold to Patrick Drahi, billionaire founder of the European telecoms group Altice. Arash Massoudi discusses the sale and what it means for the art market with Harriet Agnew and Melanie Gerlis.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor, Harriet Agnew, FT Paris correspondent, and Melanie Gerlis, FT art market columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dementia is on the rise, with the numbers affected expected to treble to over 150m in the next 30 years. Clive Cookson discusses the latest treatments with London neurologist Nick Fox, and we hear reports from Edward White and Brooke Fox about initiatives in Taiwan and the US to help improve the lives of sufferers.This podcast is supported by Home Instead Senior Care, and is part of a wider FT Special Report on Dementia Care found at ft.com/reports/dementia-careContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Clive Cookson, FT science editor, Professor Nick Fox, director of the Dementia Research Centre at University College London, Edward White, Taiwan correspondent, Brooke Fox, New York reporter, Tang Li-yu, secretary-general of the Taiwan Alzheimer’s Association and Kevin Jameson, head of the Dementia Society of America. Producer: Ruth Lewis Coste  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The race for the US Democratic presidential nomination is hotting up with a huge field of 23 candidates all hoping run against Donald Trump in 2020.  Courtney Weaver has focused in on one of the candidates, Kamala Harris, and she talks to Neville Hawcock about how the campaign for the Democratic nomination is shaping up. Read Courtney's article hereContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Neville Hawcock, acting deputy editor, FT Weekend Magazine, and Courtney Weaver, Washington correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

ECB chief Mario Draghi this week surprised the markets by suggesting that the European central bank could introduce more stimulus to support the global economy. His signal, at an ECB forum in Sintra, Portugal, caused a furious reaction from Donald Trump. Katie Martin discusses the US president’s intervention and the remarks that prompted this with Claire Jones and Chris Giles.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Claire Jones, Frankfurt bureau chief and Chris Giles, economics editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The high-street fashion empire of Philip Green is on the rocks. The UK retail tycoon has secured creditor support for a complex three-year overhaul that will involve rent reductions, store closures and a halving of the company’s pension deficit reduction payments. But will this be enough to save the business? Matthew Vincent discusses this question with Jonathan Ford and Jonathan Eley.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Matthew Vincent, Lombard editor, Jonathan Ford, City editor, and Jonathan Eley, retail correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Facebook has revealed plans for a new global digital currency, claiming it will enable billions of people around the world without a bank account to make money transfers. Patrick Jenkins discusses the initiative and what it means for the banks with Nick Megaw, Caroline Binham and Elaine Moore.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, Nick Megaw, retail banking correspondent, Caroline Binham, financial regulation correspondent and Elaine Moore, deputy head of Lex. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

German media group Axel Springer is seeking to go private with the help of US investor KKR. Katie Martin discusses what both sides stand to gain from the move with Arash Massoudi and Tobias Buck.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor, and Tobias Buck, Berlin correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How will the struggle for power between China and the US play out and how will it determine the future world order? Fred Studemann puts this question to China expert Rana Mitter, who has reviewed a series of books looking at the issue from different perspectives.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Fred Studemann, books editor, and Rana Mitter, director of the Oxford University China Centre and author of 'Modern China: A Very Short Introduction'  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There’s been a worrying build-up of tensions in the Arab Gulf after the US accused Iran of making military preparations and responded by sending more troops and hardware to the region. This follows the US decision last year to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal and ramp up sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. Geoff Dyer discusses the risk that this could lead to military confrontation with Andrew England, FT Middle East editor.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Geoff Dyer, analysis editor, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As part of its trade war with the US, China has threatened to restrict exports of rare earths. These obscure minerals, on which the military and tech industries depend, are overwhelmingly produced in China. Katie Martin discusses how the world came to be so dependent on one country for such an essential part of the industrial supply chain with Lucy Hornby and Henry Sanderson.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Henry Sanderson, commodities correspondent, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain’s best known fund manager Neil Woodford is struggling to save his business after he was forced to freeze his flagship fund because it could not meet withdrawal demands from investors. Patrick Jenkins discusses what went wrong and who will be affected with Caroline Binham and Kate BeioleyContributors: Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, Kate Beioley, FT Money reporter and Caroline Binham, financial regulation correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Argentina’s Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is back. The former populist president left office in 2015 with the country on the brink of economic collapse. But if polls are to be believed, she has a good chance of returning to office in October as vice president, alongside her namesake and former chief of staff, Alberto Fernández. Jonathan Wheatley discusses how history may be repeating itself in Argentina with Benedict Mander in Buenos Aires.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Jonathan Wheatley, deputy emerging markets editor, and Benedict Mander, South Cone correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Natura, the Brazilian cosmetics company that owns The Body Shop, has agreed to acquire Avon Products in an all-stock deal that values the US-listed group at more than $2bn. Vanessa Houlder talks to Andres Schipani about the man behind Natura and his plans for the company.Contributrors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Vanessa Houlder, Lex writer, and Andres Schipani, Brazil correspondent.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The scientific study of different forms of the human race has a bad history, culminating in the atrocities of Nazi Germany.  But despite its discredited record, race science is enjoying something of a revival. Writer Angela Saini discusses her new book: Superior: The Return of Race Science with Fred Studemann and Clive Cookson.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Fred Studemann, FT books editor, writer Angela Saini and Clive Coookson, FT science editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Apple has faced a barrage of criticism about how it runs its App Store as regulatory scrutiny of the iPhone’s software and services marketplace mounts on both sides of the Atlantic. Madhumita Murgia talks to Tim Bradshaw about the case for and againstContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Madhumita Murgia, European technology correspondent and Tim Bradshaw, global technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

India's Narendra Modi begins his second term in office this week after a landslide election win. Jyotsna Singh discusses what he must do to live up to the high hopes of the armies of young people who voted for him with Amy Kazmin and Stephanie Findlay.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, Amy Kazmin, South Asia bureau chief and Stephanie Findlay, South Asia correspondent. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has unveiled a proposed €32.6bn all-share merger with Renault that would reshape the global automotive industry. David Oakley discusses how the deal came about and how it will affect Renault’s proposed tie-up with Nissan with Arash Massoudi and Peter CampbellContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, David Oakley, industry news editor, Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor and Peter Campbell, motor industry correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vladimir Putin hoped western sanctions would provide the impetus for Russia to create “national champions” in industries ranging from food and software to heavy machinery. But the fate of its first commercial airliner, the Sukhoi SuperJet 100, has shown up the flaws in this plan. Katie Martin discusses Russia's bid to develop globally competitive homegrown industries with Henry Foy, the FT's Moscow bureau chief.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor and Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.