Ft News

European voters go to the polls over the next three days to elect a new European parliament. Members of the FT's Brussels bureau discuss why these elections matter and how they are likely to affect the upcoming appointment of senior EU officials.Contributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter, Mehreen Khan, Brussels correspondent, Alex Barker, Brussels bureau chief and Jim Brunsden, EU correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Two investor resolutions at BP’s annual meeting in Aberdeen this week showed how pressure is building on oil companies to take action on climate change and chairman Helge Lund acknowleged the need to repurpose the business towards a low carbon future. Pilita Clark discusses how oil companies are responding to the climate crisis with Anjli Raval and Leslie HookContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Pilita Clark, business columnist, Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent, and Leslie Hook, environment correspondent. Producers: Danielle Manning and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Huawei’s transformation into a global consumer brand is under threat after the Chinese company was placed on a “banned entity” list by the White House.  Malcolm Moore discusses the background to the US move and what happens next with Nic Fildes in London and Louise Lucas in Hong Kong.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, Louise Lucas, Asia tech correspondent, and  in Nic Fildes, media and telecoms correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Pakistan says it has reached an agreement with the IMF on a $6bn loan. Jyotsna Singh discusses why Imran Khan sought IMF help despite promising not to do so, and what the political cost is likely to be for his government, with Stephanie Findlay and Farhan Bokhari.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, Stephanie Findlay, South Asia correspondent, and Farhan Bokhari, Pakistan correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fresh evidence of the pollution that pervades the world’s oceans has come to light with the discovery of huge amounts of debris littering the coastline of some remote islands in the Indian Ocean. Clive Cookson, FT science editor, discusses the evidence and its implications with Leslie Hook, FT environment correspondent.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, and Clive Cookson, science editor.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Twitter chief Jack Dorsey has been hailed by Silicon Valley acolytes for his personal fitness regime, but others question whether he really merits the role of wellness guru. Horatia Harrod discusses whether the Dorsey regime is worth emulating and what might be motivating his ascetic lifestyle with Jo Ellison, FT fashion editorContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Horatia Harrod, associate editor of FT Life & Arts, and Jo Ellison, fashion editor and columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Privacy is the new mantra for big tech executives keen to rebuild our trust in technology. But despite promises of end-to-end encryption, it seems the personal data we carry in our pocket is not secure from prying eyes. An Israeli company has been selling spyware that invades your smartphone via WhatsApp. Malcolm Moore discusses the revelations with Mehul Srivastava in Jerusalem and Robert Smith in London.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, Mehul Srivastava, Tel Aviv correspondent, and Robert Smith, capital markets correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The failure of trade talks between the US and China this week sparked the biggest fall in US stock prices since January. Katie Martin, the FT’s capital markets editor, discusses the impact of the dispute on global equities, bonds and currencies with Michael Mackenzie, the FT's senior investment commentator.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, and Michael Mackenzie, senior investment commentator. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Carlos Ghosn remains a hero in Lebanon, where his achievements are celebrated alongside other tycoons of Lebanese origin. But it is here that evidence was found that allowed Japanese prosecutors to build what could potentially be their most damaging charge against the former Nissan and Renault boss. Naomi Rovnick, Kana Inagaki, Leo Lewis and Chloe Cornish tell the story so far.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Naomi Rovnick, Live news reporter, Chloe Cornish, Middle East correspondent, Kana Inagaki and Leo Lewis, Tokyo correspondents. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What impact does body image have on our mental health? Darren Dodd discusses why our bodies are often a cause of shame and distress and what can be done about it with Chris O’Sullivan, of the UK’s Mental Health Foundation and London deputy head teacher Fionnuala KennedyContributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Darren Dodd, editor, FT Health, Chris O’Sullivan of the Mental Health Foundation and Fionnuala Kennedy, Senior Deputy Head of Wimbledon High School, part of the Girls’ Day School Trust. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

India’s election has turned into an ideological battle pitting an inclusive vision of a multi-faith nation against the view that Hindus should have sway. Jyotsna Singh discusses the tactics used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his opponents with with the FT's South Asia Bureau chief Amy Kazmin and correspondent Stephanie Findlay.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, Amy Kazmin, South Asia bureau chief and Stephanie Findlay, South Asia corresondent. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many of the products and services on display at Google’s developers’ conference rely on getting to know customers’ interests and preferences. The company also wants to reassure us that we can trust it to respect our privacy. But can we? Malcolm Moore puts the question to Richard Waters, the FT’s West Coast editorContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, and Richard Waters, West Coast editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Iraq’s second city Basra sits on top of some of the world’s biggest oil reserves that fuel the country’s economy. But life in the city serves as a warning for how rapidly ordinary people can pay the environmental price for mismanagement even as the petrodollars flow in. Leslie Hook, FT environment correspondent, discusses the city’s water crisis with Chloe Cornish, Middle East correspondent.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent and Chloe Cornish, Middle East correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China has spent hundreds of billions of dollars financing infrastructure projects across the world through its Belt and Road Initiative, which critics say has imposed ruinous debts on some countries.  Andreas Paleit discusses the global impact of the scheme for China and those taking part with James Kynge and Lucy HornbyContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Andreas Paleit, assistant companies news editor,  James Kynge, China global editor, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's high streets are in crisis as struggling retailers are forced into bankruptcy and the property market has a huge excess of space. Patrick Jenkins discusses what has caused this and if there is a remedy with Judith Evans and Jonathan Eley.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, Judith Evans, property correspondent, and Jonathan Eley, retail correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Steve Bannon was one of the most influential figures in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. He turned the Breitbart News website into a single platform for white supremacists, pro-lifers, neo-Nazis and climate change deniers. He has now moved to Europe. Neville Hawcock discusses what he’s doing here with Hannah Roberts who met him recently in Italy. Read Hannah's story hereContributors: Suzanne Blumson, executive editor, Neville Hawcock, FT Weekend magazine acting deputy editor and Hannah Roberts. Producer: Fiona Symon. Photo: Marco Bonomo  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The stand-off between Venezuela’s rival presidents turned violent after Juan Guaidó, who is backed by the US and more than 50 other countries, issued a call to his supporters to take to the streets to oust Nicolás Maduro from the presidential palace. James Wilson speaks to Gideon Long, FT Andean correspondent, who has been covering the events.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, James Wilson, deputy world news editor, Gideon Long, Andean correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Merger talks between Germany's two biggest banks have failed, leaving Deutsche Bank alone to address problems of underperformance and falling revenues. Patrick Jenkins discusses what went wrong and what happens next with Olaf Storbeck, FT correspondent in Frankfurt, and economist Isabel Schnabel.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, Olaf Storbeck, Frankfurt correspondent, and Isabel Schnabel, economics professor at Bonn University.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britons are increasingly doubtful that private companies run things more efficiently than the state. Privatised water utilities have come in for particular criticism and are among the companies targeted for re-nationalisation by the opposition Labour party. But would the cost be prohibitive? Gill Plimmer discusses this question with Jonathan Ford.Read Gill's article here. Listen to our privatisation series hereContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Jonathan Ford, City editor and Gill Plimmer, infrastructure correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US is ending the waivers it granted last year to allow some countries to continue to import Iranian oil. These were introduced to avoid a damaging oil price spike when Washington reimposed sanctions after withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran. Philip Georgiadis talks to Anjli Raval and Barney Jopson about the likely impact of the US move.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Philip Georgiadis, FastFT reporter, Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent and Barney Jopson, Middle East news editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.