Ft News

Portugal's devastating forest fire is forcing the authorities to question whether land use or the wider issue of climate change may have contributed to the disaster. Peter Wise, the FT's Lisbon correspondent, explains the human and economic cost of the catastrophe, and says it could prompt a change in the way the country's forests are managed.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The dramatic rise of Anbang's owner Wu Xiaohui, arrested by China's anti-graft authorities this week, had baffled industry experts. James Kynge talks to the FT's Lucy Hornby in Beijing about Mr Wu's detention and its implications for business  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ireland has a new prime minister who this week named his cabinet. Vincent Boland, the FT's Dublin correspondent, discusses with John Murray Brown the significance of the appointment of Leo Varadkar, an openly gay politician who is the son of an Indian immigrant father and at 38 the youngest ever Irish leader.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US giant replaces its veteran chief executive, Jeff Immelt , with insider John Flannery as it faces declining share prices. The FT's Andrew Parker dissects the development with Ed Crooks and Andrew Hill  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A revolutionary discovery of fossils in Morocco suggests humans that lived 300,000 years ago may have looked like us, though they may not have thought like us, the FT's Clive Cookson tells Andrew Jack  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sunday's first round of voting in France's legislative elections are a crucial test of the level of support behind the new president Emmanuel Macron. Harriet Agnew discusses the polls with Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT's Leslie Hook tells Ravi Mattu about the company's latest efforts to rebuild its management team in the face of a series of scandals  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A long-standing reliance on oil and gas has prevented Russia from developing a renewable energy industry, but this may be beginning to change, the FT's Henry Foy tells Pilita Clark  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Business professionals in London talk candidly to Zosia Wasik about which policies and parties they favour ahead of this week's election  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The ability of the boutiques to out-earn much larger bank rivals is a reflection of how they have been able to convince corporate America that they can excel on the biggest deals, the FT's Sujeet Indap tells Patrick Jenkins. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

News that Goldman Sachs had bought almost $3bn worth of Venezuelan bonds sparked outrage this week and prompted Venezuelan opposition leaders to accuse the US bank of handing the country’s autocratic government a financial lifeline even as many of its people go hungry. Jonathan Wheatley discusses the controversy with Gideon Long, FT Andes correspondent, and Robin Wigglesworth, US markets editor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A top Russian banker has accused the American elite of waging a political witch hunt against Donald Trump and preventing any improvement in east-west relations. Martin Arnold, the FT's banking editor, discusses the comments by Andre Kostin of Russian state bank VTB, with Moscow correspondent Max Seddon. Picture credit: Charlie Bibby  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What kind of messages are voters most likely to remember during election campaigns? Zosia Wasik investigates which manifesto promises have made most impression on British voters ahead of next month's election.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT's Andy Bounds reports from a city in mourning in the aftermath of the terror attack at the Manchester Arena.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Brazil's long-running corruption probe has ensnared Michel Temer, the country's president, after an executive secretly taped a conversation that showed Mr Temer allegedly endorsing bribe paying. James Kynge asks the FT's Andres Schipani and Jonathan Wheatley where this leaves the country's crucial economic reforms.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund is investing $65bn in foreign asset managers as part of a plan to diversify the economy away from oil. Nearly a third of that will be put into a fund run by Blackstone to invest in US infrastucture. Andrew England discusses the move with Simeon Kerr, FT Gulf correspondent, and Arash Massoudi, M&A correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

France's newly elected president has co-opted politicians from the left and the right to try to win enough support to push through his ambitious reforms. Harriet Agnew discusses the battles ahead with Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, the FT's Paris bureau chief, and Michael Stothard, Paris correspondent  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fred Goodwin, disgraced former chief executive of Royal Bank of Scotland, may avoid appearing in court if last minute talks about a settlement with disaffected shareholders are successful. Patrick Jenkins discusses this week's events at the High Court in London with Jane Croft, FT law courts correspondent. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's most vocal pro-EU campaigner is hoping to “dent” the expected Conservative landslide victory in next month's UK election by backing candidates who pledge to work for the softest possible Brexit. She spoke to the FT's Robert Wright about her campaign, called Best for Britain.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Iranians go to the polls on Friday in what is effectively a referendum on whether to pursue closer ties with the west, or revert to the diplomatic isolation that preceded the nuclear accord in 2015. Najmeh Bozorgmehr, FT Tehran correspondent, talks to voters ahead of the poll.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.