Ft News

United Airlines has been shamed on social media and faces a potential lawsuit over the way it forcibly removed a passenger from a flight that had been overbooked. The chief executive’s half hearted series of apologies seemed to make things worse. Michael Skapinker discusses the case with Tanya Powley, FT transport correspondent, and Christian Pfrang, Lex columnist.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

On Sunday, Turks head to the polls to vote on a new constitution that, if passed, would cement President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s role as perhaps the most powerful president Turkey has known. John Murray Brown discusses the implications with Mehul Srivastava, FT correspondent in Istanbul.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jes Staley has made a point of underlining the importance of ethics since taking over as Barclays chief executive. But he is now under investigation for breaking rules surrounding the treatment of whistleblowers. Christopher Thompson discusses how bad things look for Mr Staley with Matt Nixon a specialist in reputation management, and the FT's Laura Noonan and Emma Dunkley. Music by Kevin MacLeod. Picture credit: Bloomberg  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT's James Politi reports from Sicily, an island with one of the highest levels of poverty in Europe, and where the populist Five Star movement has a growing appeal.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is challenging one-time front runner Francois Fillon for third place in France's presidential race and, with only two weeks to go, a third of voters are still undecided. Harriet Agnew discusses the latest twists in the French election campaign with the FT's Ann-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The appeal of the US as a tourism destination is falling as a result of the strong dollar and Donald Trump’s immigration policies, and airlines and travel companies say they are preparing for a difficult year. Madhumita Murgia talks to Murad Ahmed, the FT’s leisure correspondent, about the travel industry's response.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women account for the majority of recruits into banking but still make up barely 25% of senior executives, according to data compiled by the FT. Patrick Jenkins asks the FT's Laura Noonan what the data show about why women are still missing out on management in banking.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Raqqa in Syria looks set to be the next battleground as the US-led coalition seeks to crush Isis in the Middle East. The group is fighting to cling on in the Iraqi city of Mosul. Now Raqqa, its stronghold in Syria, is now almost entirely encircled by US-backed Kurdish forces. Fiona Symon asks Erika Solomon, the FT's Middle East correspondent, if this will be the group's last stand.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump says he will take unilateral action to tackle the nuclear threat from North Korea if China fails to put more pressure on the regime in Pyongyang. Emiliya Mychasuk discusses the US options with Demetri Sevastopulo, FT Washington bureau chief, who spoke to Mr Trump ahead of his first meeting with China's president Xi Jinping this week.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fewer than four weeks before the first round of voting in France's presidential election, former prime minister Manuel Valls has provoked outrage in the Socialist party by supporting centrist independent Emmanuel Macron rather than his own party's candidate, Benoît Hamon. But could an establishment endorsement join Mr Macron's investment banking past as a vulnerability against attacks from Marine Le Pen? Michael Stothard joins Harriet Agnew to discuss.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump ran for president on the promise of bringing back US coal mining jobs, and set out to do so on Tuesday by signing an executive order that intends to roll back many of his predecessor's actions against climate change. Ed Crooks, the FT's US industry and energy editor, explains why the president's move will not bring coal jobs back to the US economy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Poland's political divisions have spilled onto the European stage with a clash over Donald Tusk’s bid to be reappointed as president of the European Council. Neil Buckley, the FT's Eastern Europe editor, asks Henry Foy, the former Warsaw correspondent and Duncan Robinson, Brussels correspondent, what is driving this row and how will it affect Poland's standing in the EU in future.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Emmanuel Macron, the centrist front runner in France's presidential race, fought off repeated personal attacks from political veterans during a three hour televised debate on Monday. Harriet Agnew asks Michael Stothard, FT Paris correspondent, who came out ahead.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Martin McGuinness, the Irish politician who died this week, had made the transition from IRA terrorist leader to respected peacemaker. Jimmy Burns interviewed him in 1990 when peace talks were going on in secret, and he tells the FT's John Murray Brown what kind of man he encountered and what he thinks his legacy will be.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A media storm over extremist content on YouTube prompted the UK government and a host of companies to freeze their YouTube ads this week. Google has now published a plan to tackle the problem. Chris Nuttall asks the FT's Madhumita Murgia and Matthew Garrahan whether the tech company has done enough to satisfy its critics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

International banks considering relocating some business away from London in the aftermath of Brexit are increasingly favouring Frankfurt. Patrick Jenkins discusses why the German city appears to have the early edge over rival financial centres with Martin Arnold, the FT's banking editor, and Hubertus Väth, who is spearheading Frankfurt's lobbying effort. Music by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sweden takes in more refugees per capita than almost any other western country. But now it is cutting back as the strain on public services begins to show. The FT's Richard Milne visited Malmö, the Swedish city where most refugees arrive. He tells Orla Ryan what prompted the government to take action.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The scandal that has engulfed Francois Fillon, France's centre right presidential candidate, has left supporters confused and angry. Harriet Agnew talks to the FT's Anne-Sylvaine Chassany and Michael Stothard, about the latest developments and how they will affect the vote in April.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How do you attain that elusive but addictive experience of being “in the zone”? Lucy Kellaway talks to the FT's Andrew Hill and Emma Jacobs about the increasingly outlandish ways in which wealthy business executives are seeking to tune their brains.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Intel has just bought Mobileye, a leader in the fast-growing market for assisted-driving systems, for $15bn. Why was this small Israeli company so attractive to the semiconductor giant and will the deal pay off? Madhumita Murgia puts the question to the FT's Sujeet Indap in New York a John Reed in Jerusalem.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.