Ft News

India's ruling BJP and opposition Congress parties have been showering gifts on farmers ahead of parliamentary elections this year. But economists are worried about the long term impact of this competitive populism and suggest it won't do much to improve the lot of India's farmers. Amy Kazmin discusses the pre-election giveaways with Jyotsna Singh.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Amy Kazmin, South Asia bureau chief, Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How much sleep do we need and can we have too much of it? Darren Dodd discusses why sleep is now being seen as an acute health issue in developed societies with the FT’s science editor Clive Cookson and neuroscientist Matthew Walker, author of Why we sleepContributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter, Darren Dodd editor of FT Health, Clive Cookson, science editor, and Matthew Walker, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology and the director of the Center for Human Sleep Science at the University of California, Berkeley. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Which companies made the biggest headlines in 2018 and what's the outlook for 2019? Tom Braithwaite, FT companies editor, discusses the big corporate themes of this year and next with Katie Martin, capital markets editor.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Tom Braithwaite, companies editor and Katie Martin, capital markets editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gender pay gap reporting became compulsory for UK companies with 250 or more employees last year. But those hoping to see swift action from employers to narrow the gap will be disappointed. Financial Times analysis of the data lodged in April 2018 reveals that the gap has barely shifted from the previous year. Sarah O’Connor discusses the findings with Sarah Gordon and Aleksandra WisniewskaContributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter; Sarah O'Connor, investigations correspondent, Sarah Gordon, business editor and Aleksandra Wisniewska, data journalist. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

GlaxoSmithKline is combining its consumer health business with that of US rival Pfizer, paving the way for a separation of its core consumer and pharmaceuticals businesses within three years. Chief executive Emma Walmsley is betting the cash generated by the enlarged consumer unit will fund further investment in the pharmaceutical business ahead of the demerger. Matthew Vincent is joined by Sarah Neville and Arash Massoudi to discuss the merits of the deal and its implications for the health and pharmaceuticals markets.Contributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter, Matthew Vincent, Lombard columnist, Sarah Neville, global pharmaceuticals editor and Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor. Producer: Sam Westran  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Financial Times’s choice of Person of the Year is usually a reflection of their achievements. In the case of George Soros this year, his selection is also about the values he represents. Robert Shrimsley discusses the FT's choice with Lionel Barber and Roula Khalaf. This podcast was first published as a Big Read podcast. Read Roula Khalaf's interview with the billionaire philanthropist hereContributors: Robert Shrimsley, columnist, Lionel Barber, editor, and Roula Khalaf, deputy editor. Producers: Anna Dedhar and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Congo’s elections on Sunday were set to herald the country’s first transition of power by the ballot box, with President Joseph Kabila stepping down after 17 years in office. But an explosion of violence has caused the polls to be postponed. Orla Ryan discusses what happened with the FT’s Africa editor David PillingContributors: Joshua Noble, weekend news editor, Orla Ryan, journalist, David Pilling, Africa editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Investors on Wall Street sent their sharpest response to an interest rate rise since 1994 after the Federal Reserve defied pressure from Donald Trump by boosting rates for the fourth time this year. The FT's senior investment commentator Mike Mackenzie explains the market reaction, as well as what we learned from the Fed's outlook for the US economy.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big tech companies are under fire again for failing to disclose key information about how Russia used their services to promote a pro-Trump agenda both before and after the 2016 election. Kiran Stacey, FT Washington correspondent, talks to Fiona Symon about the allegations, contained in two reports written for the Senate intelligence committee, and their likely repercussions.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Kiran Stacey, Washington Correspondent and Fiona Symon, audio editor.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Malaysian prosecutors are seeking fines of over $3bn from Goldman Sachs and prison terms for two of its bankers for their alleged role in the country’s long running 1MDB scandal. Stefania Palma has been covering the story for the FT and she spoke to Tom Braithwaite about the latest developments.Contributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter, Stefania Palma, south-east Asia correspondent and Tom Braithwaite, companies editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Four years after Isis controlled as much as a third of Iraq and declared a caliphate, it has retrenched, but still has the power to carry out kidnappings, killings and bombings. Chloe Cornish talks to Andrew England about the continuing threat posed by the group to stability in the regionContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Chloe Cornish, Middle East correspondent and Andrew England, Middle East editor.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An EU-wide human rights sanctions regime is in sight after EU foreign ministers agreed to work on a Dutch proposal to end impunity for individual abusers no matter where they come from. This is thanks in no small part to the efforts of one man, Bill Browder, who has made it his personal mission to see such legislation adopted throughout the world. He spoke to Michael Peel recently during a visit to Brussels.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Michael Peel, Brussels diplomatic editor and Bill Browder, CEO and founder of Hermitage Capital Management. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain’s top accounting firms revealed this week that dozens of partners have been let go following inappropriate behaviour, including bullying and sexual harassment. Madison Marriage talks to Tom Braithwaite about how the story developed, and what the revelations tell us about sexual harassment policies at the Big Four in the Me Too era. Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Madison Marriage, accounting and tax corrrespondent and Tom Braithwaite, companies editor.  Producer: Sam Westran  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Five years after quitting the Nasdaq exchange, Michael Dell's technology company is set to return to the public market after a fierce fight over its valuation. The FT's US editor of the Lex column, Sujeet Indap, explains the backstory.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman targeted by Islamist extremists, has focused international attention on the country's draconian blasphemy laws and on its treatment of its Christian minority. Farhan Bokhari tells Jyotsna Singh why the issue is such a difficult one for Imran Khan, the prime minister, to resolve.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor; Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter; Farhan Bokhari, Islamabad correspondent. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Global carbon dioxide emissions are accelerating, despite pledges by nearly 200 countries to limit global warming. So what can be done? Can science provide the answers? Professor Nilay Shah, of London’s Imperial College, tells Clive Cookson about the findings of a recent report on the subjectContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Clive Cookson, science editor and Nilay Shah, professor of chemical engineering at Imperial College, London. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The arrest in Canada of Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, has triggered fears of renewed trade tensions between the US and China, just when markets had detected signs of a truce. Victor Mallet discusses the arrest and its implications with Louise Lucas, Nic Fildes and Adam Samson.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Victor Mallet, former Asia news editor, Louise Lucas, Asia technology correspondent, Nic Fildes, telecoms correspondent and Adam Samson, editor of FastFT. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The refusal of Hindu mobs to abide by a Supreme Court decision to allow women to worship at the Sabarimala shrine in Kerala has worried many people in India who fear it shows a dangerous tendency for the ruling party to back religious zealots and undermine the rule of law in India. Amy Kazmin discusses the dispute with Jyotsna SinghContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Amy Kazmin, South Asia bureau chief and Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter. Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon. Clips courtesy of Reuters.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Countries that signed up to the Paris climate accord are meeting in Poland to discuss how to put their pledges into action. How will the funds for investment be raised and how much has been allocated so far? Leslie Hook puts these questions to Zoe Knight and Alice Ross.Read more on this topic in the FT’s Special Report on Sustainable FinanceContributors: Barney Jopson, Middle East and Africa news editor, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, Zoe Knight, head of HSBC’s centre of sustainable finance and Alice Ross, wealth correspondent. Producers: Ruth Lewis-Coste and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Life-threatening allergic reactions are on the rise, particularly in western countries like the UK, Canada and the US. So what is causing this and how should the business and medical worlds respond? Maija Palmer puts these questions to Julianne Ponan, founder of creative nature, and to allergy experts Adam Fox and Tari Haahtela  Contributors: Naomi Rovnick, Live news reporter; Maija Palmer, deputy editor, special reports; Julianne Ponan, founder of superfood brand Creative Nature; Adam Fox, consultant in allergy at the Evelina London Children’s Hospital; Prof Tari Haahtela of Helsinki university. Producers: Ruth Lewis-Coste and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.