Ft News

Britain's nine-year programme to cut its budget deficit has reached the midway mark. The results have been surprising: economic growth has returned, foreign investment is strong and employment is reaching record levels, but progress has been slower than expected and it seems the toughest part still lies ahead. Michael Stott is joined by Chris Giles and Jim Pickard to discuss the political implications. Chris Giles will answer questions about the cuts in a follow-up podcast next week. To take part, email audio@ft.com  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An audio recording this week has raised fears that the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant has a growing presence in the Arab world's most populous country. Fiona Symon spoke to Borzou Daragahi about the implications for Egypt and the region.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Guo Guangchang may be the most powerful Chinese businessman most westerners have never heard of. He co-founded China’s largest private conglomerate, the Fosun Group, which is bidding for control of Club Med, the French holiday chain, and may soon be buying a famous brand near you. Patti Waldmeir spoke to him over a vegetarian lunch in Shanghai about his philosophy of life and about getting rich in China.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big celebrations in Germany this weekend will mark the moment the cold war ended 25 years ago when the Berlin Wall, symbol of the iron curtain, fell. Quentin Peel and Stefan Wagstyl discuss what the anniversary means for Germany and its European partners.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The latest UN report on global warming found that the risk of runaway climate change can be prevented without seriously denting global economic growth. But it also warned that without deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, the frequency of climate-related disasters will rise. Fiona Symon discusses this, and the findings of another report warning about the depletion of groundwater resources, with Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Libya has had two rival governments since a militia group from the western city of Misrata seized the capital from the elected government in August, forcing it to relocate to the east of the country. Unless the two sides can resolve their differences, the country risks falling into the hands of pro-Isis forces. Fiona Symon spoke to Borzou Daragahi, Middle East correspondent, about the conflict in the oil rich north African state.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dilma Rousseff's re-election as president of Brazil this week prompted a currency and stock market sell off, giving a foretaste of the battle she faces to deliver the improvements to Brazilians’ living standards that her voters expect. Fiona Symon spoke to Joe Leahy, São Paulo correspondent, about the economic challenges she faces.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A Hungarian plan to impose the world's first internet tax has brought thousands onto the streets in protest. It has also drawn criticism from the European Commission, which said Viktor Orban's government should not be allowed to set a precedent with the proposed tax. Fiona Symon discusses the tax with Andrew Byrne, Budapest correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ukrainian parties that back closer ties with Europe have began talks on forming a coalition after winning the majority of seats in the country’s elections. It is a political victory for the west in its dispute with Russia over the future of Ukraine. But this is overshadowed by economic and security worries as the conflict in the breakaway Donetsk region continues. Neil Buckley, East Europe editor, talks to Fiona Symon about the challenges Ukraine’s new government will face.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tunisia was the first Arab country to throw off dictatorship during the Arab Spring of 2011 and it is the only one where the democratic revolution has lasted. But a weak economy has left many Tunisians disillusioned. On Sunday, they vote to choose a new parliament and Nahda, an Islamist party, is ahead in the polls, along with Nida Tunis, a secular party. Heba Saleh, who is in Tunis to cover the elections, spoke to Sayed Ferjani, one of Nahda’s leaders, about his party’s political hopes.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Swedish military is on high alert and has been conducting a large search operation after reports that a submarine - possibly Russian - surfaced off the coast of Stockholm. Moscow has denied that the submarine is Russian, but it comes amid growing worries in the Baltics about Russia’s potentially hostile intentions. Fiona Symon spoke to Richard Milne, Nordic and Baltic correspondent, about the incident.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, have suffered reverses in their battle to capture the Syrian-Turkish border town of Kobani, but the jihadi organisation has made gains in battles elsewhere in Syria and Iraq. Borzou Daragahi, Middle East correspondent, tells Fiona Symon about the latest developments  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, UK broadcasters announced plans for televised election debates between the leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties, plus Ukip's Nigel Farage - but there was apparently no room for Green party leader Natalie Bennett. In an interview with the FT's Barney Thompson, Ms Bennett explained why the Greens deserve to be heard in the TV debates.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Professor Jean Tirole of the Toulouse School of Economics, who won the Nobel economics prize this year for his insights into market dominance, talks to Ferdinando Giugliano about his views on the evolution of regulation and whether economics has become excessively mathematical  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The World Health Organisation has said it expects the Ebola epidemic in west Africa to peak by early December, before international action reverses the upward trend. Fiona Symon asked Clive Cookson, Science correspondent, about the findings  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, known as Isis, have been stepping up their attacks on two main fronts, the strategically important Syrian-Turkish border town of Kobani, and in the Iraqi province of Anbar to the west of the capital Baghdad. Fiona Symon spoke to Borzou Daragahi, Middle East correspondent, about efforts to curb their advance  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Frank Abagnale is a brilliant storyteller. But his story is more interesting than most. As a runaway teenager turned confidence trickster he swindled millions of dollars from banks and travelled free on airlines all round the world before serving time in prisons in France, Sweden and the US. His tale was immortalised in Steven Spielberg's film, Catch me if you Can. But for 38 years, he has been on the straight and narrow - offering his services free to the FBI and helping to combat fraud. Emma Jacobs spoke to him about how he turned his life around.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's ruling Conservative party is under pressure from a rightwing rival the UK independence party, which wants the UK to leave the European Union and to curb immigration, but Ukip is challenging the leftwing Labour party in an election in Labour's heartland of Greater Manchester. Andrew Bounds has been covering the campaign and spoke to representatives of the two main rival parties  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US-led air strikes in Syria have intensified in bid to prevent forces from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - known as Isis - from taking over a Syrian-Turkish border town inhabited mainly by Kurds. Turkey has been reluctant to offer military assistance but is under increasing pressure to do so. Fiona Symon asked Daniel Dombey, FT correspondent in Ankara, to explain the Turkish government’s position.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A UK government commission looking into the best way to improve Britain’s airport capacity will report its findings next year. In the run-up to the decision, the UK’s main operators have been lobbying for the commision to back their expansion plans. Charlie Cornish, chief executive of Manchester Airports Group, tells Andy Bounds that the UK does not need a hub airport and that he favours a ‘dispersed’ model to meet the country’s airport needs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.