Ft News

China has unveiled retaliatory duties on food that it imports from the US, including pork, fruit and wine, in response to the Trump administration's tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Where do things stand in the trade dispute between the two countries? The FT's global trade editor Shawn Donnan explains.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US Department of Commerce will reinstate a controversial citizenship question on the next census, provoking fears that doing so would lower the response rate among immigrant and minority groups and have harmful political, economic and commercial implications. The FT's Sam Fleming explains.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a string of scandals at Uber last year that ended in the ouster of founder Travis Kalanick, investors looked to new chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi to bring financial discipline and fresh leadership to the privately held ride-hailing company. But he is facing new challenges that could alter the path to an initial public offering. The FT's Richard Waters and Shannon Bond discuss.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China is merging its largest state television and radio stations as part of a drive to broaden its global news footprint. But ultimately it has much bigger ambition, to become the world's foremost news provider, the FT's Emily Feng tells Hannah Murphy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT's Alex Barker and Jim Brunsden discuss whether the explicit mention of financial services in an annex to the “guidelines” on negotiating future relations between Britain and the EU amounts to a breakthrough for Britain.Read more on this story at ft.com/brexit  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Who or what is Cambridge Analytica, the company that has embroiled Facebook in a scandal over the misuse of its users' data? Brooke Masters puts the question to the FT's John Gapper, who has been investigating the origins of the firm.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Regulatory scrutiny of Facebook is ramping up around the world after claims that research firm Cambridge Analytica improperly obtained the data of about 50m users of the social network. The FT's Hannah Kuchler and Shannon Bond discuss what happened and who might be held responsible.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sherborne, Edward Bramson’s investment vehicle, has acquired a significant interest in Barclays, one of Britain's biggest banks, increasing pressure on management to turn round its recent faltering performance. Hannah Murphy discusses what this means for the bank with the FT’s Martin Arnold and Jonathan Guthrie.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Entrepreneurs in India have set up a private liberal arts university to promote the kind of original thinking they feel the country lacks. Jyotsna Singh discusses the state of higher education in India with Ashish Dhawan, one of Ashoka university's founders, and the FT's Amy Kazmin  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Stephen Hawking inspired generations with an interest in theoretical physics and the workings of the universe - all the while battling an incurable illness that would eventually leave him paralysed and unable to speak unaided. Ursula Milton discusses his legacy with the FT's Clive Cookson and Aliya Ram and Katherine Mathieson, chief executive of the British Science Association. Music by David Sappa  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump this week blocked Broadcom’s $142bn takeover of rival chipmaker Qualcomm, citing national security concerns. Ravi Mattu asks the FT's Richard Waters what prompted the president to intervene and what it means for other potential mergers in the sector.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump sacked Rex Tillerson as his secretary of state on Tuesday, making the US’s top diplomat the latest casualty of a White House that has been in near-constant conflict with some of the president’s most senior aides. Sam Fleming explains what led to the shake up, and what to expect from replacement Mike Pompeo.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

India is hoping GIFT City, a special economic zone in the western state of Gujarat and a pet project of prime minister Narendra Modi, can become India’s answer to Hong Kong: a haven for foreign investors to transact Indian securities with minimal tax and bureaucracy, and for domestic companies to raise funding in foreign currencies. Jyotsna Singh asks the FT's Simon Mundy how realistic this is.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Financial Times analysis shows that tax rates for multinationals have fallen since the financial crisis, despite growing political pressure to crack down. Alex Barker asks the FT's Rochelle Toplensky why, amid government cutbacks and higher tax rates for individuals, the world’s biggest public companies have escaped the pain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What do we do about the fact that within countries, some places are doing so badly, even when the national economy is doing pretty well? In the US, people are worried about the post-industrial heartlands. In the UK the deepest problems seem to be in old seaside towns like Blackpool. Andy Haldane, chief economist at the Bank of England, has been thinking a lot about this question. He's been touring some of the poorest parts of the UK and he spoke to the FT's Sarah O'Connor after one of his recent trips.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Air pollution is usually regarded solely as an environmental issue, but the toll it takes on public health has only recently begun to hit the headlines. Darren Dodd discusses the benefits of tackling the problem with the FT’s science editor Clive Cookson, the WHO's Maria Neira, and Laurie Laybourn-Langton, of the UK health alliance on climate change. Music by David Sappa  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Senate is set to begin voting this week on a bipartisan bill that, supporters claim, would rein in aspects of the Dodd-Frank banking act that have unfairly penalised smaller lenders. The FT's Ben McLannahan explains what is in the proposed bill and why it is gaining traction now.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rising youth unemployment in the Arab world has made it increasingly difficult for the region's autocratic governments to keep a lid on popular discontent. The FT’s Heba Saleh speaks to Ragui Assaad, an Egyptian professor of planning and public affairs at the University of Minnesota, about the root causes of the problem.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump has signalled his resolve to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on steel and 10 per cent on aluminium. Ben Hall asks the FT's Shawn Donnan how this will affect the American economy and whether the move will trigger a global trade war.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When India's prime minister Narendra Modi suggested that sellers of street food should considered to be employed, he alienated young voters hoping for more secure middle class jobs, the FT's Amy Kazmin tells Jyotsna Singh.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.