Ft News

Earlier 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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Oil 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.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Egypt has adopted tough reforms in the past two years as part of a loan agreement with the IMF. Heba Saleh speaks to Amr al-Garhy, finance minister, about his efforts to put the country' debt levels on a sustainable footing.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are two US agencies that were set up to make mortgages more affordable to Americans. But the system was rocked during the 2008 housing slump and the government bailed them out. And now, critics say the home loan agencies are using taxpayer support to be a force in the commercial property market. The FT's Alistair Gray and John Authers discuss.    See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The rape and murder of an eight-year old Muslim girl in India has highlighted the price paid by Indian girls and women for the stoking of hatred between India’s Hindu and Muslim communities. Jyotsna Singh discusses the recent rise in communal violence with the FT's Amy Kazmin.Read Amy's column here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré has been placed under formal investigation over corruption allegations relating to the activities of his family holding company Bolloré Group in Africa. Elaine Moore asks the FT’s Harriet Agnew and Alan Livsey how this will affect his long-running battle to create a European media powerhouse to rival Netflix  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Central American nation, ruled by Daniel Ortega for 22 of the past 39 years, has been convulsed by almost a week of anti-government protests in which at least 25 people have died. The FT's Jude Webber reports.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a year of fiery rhetoric, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un have agreed to a historic summit aimed at easing nuclear tensions on the Korean peninsula. Elaine Moore discusses the issues at stake for both sides with the FT’s Bryan Harris and Demetri Sevastopulo.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Global health leaders gathered in London this week in a bid to re-focus attention on malaria amid fears that flat global funding and the emergence of drug and insecticide resistance could halt or even reverse progress in fighting the disease. Andrew Jack discusses the latest strategies for defeating malaria the disease with Charles Nelson and Prudence Hamade of the Malaria Consortium and Alister Craig of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. Music by David Sappa  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Santander has become the first international bank to launch a cross-border payments system based on blockchain, using the new technology with a view to taking on specialist fintechs such as TransferWise. The bank's executive chairman Ana Botín spoke to the FT about the new service, which is being offered initially to customers in Spain, the UK, Brazil and Poland.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Trump presidency and the debate over sexual harassment have fuelled a surge in female Democrats running in upcoming local, state and federal elections in the US. The FT's Courtney Weaver explains. Read the full story here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

US sanctions designed to punish the Kremlin for 'destabilising activities' have effectively barred the aluminium group Rusal and other companies controlled by Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska from accessing the US financial system. Elaine Moore discusses the impact of the sanctions on Rusal and the global commodities markets with the FT's Henry Foy and Henry Sanderson.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What will come of the two day face-off between Congress and the Facebook chief executive? The FT's Hannah Kuchler explains.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Viktor Orban has been re-elected prime minister of Hungary after presenting his country as under continual attack: from liberal NGOs, the UN, the philanthropist George Soros and the EU. Gideon Rachman discusses what we can expect from Mr Orban's third term in office with the FT's Neil Buckley, who covered the election.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While the main global polluters China and the US have started to curb emissions, India is moving in the wrong direction. Jyotsna Singh discusses India’s energy policy and why coal continues to play such a big role in meeting the country's growing energy demand, with the FT’s Kiran Stacey. Read Nick Butler’s blog: India is the pivotal state in climate change stakes  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An alleged chemical attack by the Syrian regime on a rebel stronghold outside Damascus has raised tensions in the region after the United States, Britain and France threatened coordinated action in response. Andrew England discusses the US military options and the risks of escalation with Rebecca Collard in Beirut and Katrina Manson in Washington.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The chaotic removal of Deutsche Bank's chief executive John Cryan and the rushed appointment of Christian Sewing as his successor has created confusion about the bank's strategy. Patrick Jenkins discusses the weekend's events and what they mean for the German lender with the FT's Olaf Storbeck and Laura Noonan. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After Spotify's successful share offering this week, Ravi Mattu asks the FT's Anna Nicolaou why it opted for a direct listing, instead of a traditional initial public offering, and what's next for the innovative music streaming company.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New US tariffs intended to punish Chinese industry for stealing American technology might actually hit General Motors’ exports of China-made Buicks to the US, while leaving most Chinese-owned carmakers unscathed, the FT's Charles Clover tells Ursula Milton.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Four former Goldman Sachs employees have won the right to lead a class-action lawsuit over sexual discrimination, more than seven years after two of them accused the Wall Street bank of “systemically” favouring men over women. Martin Arnold discusses the case with the FT's Hannah Murphy. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.