Ft News

In a country that features prominently in international corruption league tables, it is surprising to find a futuristic tax system that has significantly narrowed the gap between revenue due and revenue collected. Chris Giles, the FT's economics editor, visited Russia's Federal Tax Service to find out how the system works. He discusses whether the model could be applied elsewhere with Suzanne Blumsom.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, and Chris Giles, economics editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With the economy in trouble and relations with western allies strained, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's grip over Turkey’s ruling AK party is showing signs of weakening. Former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu tells the FT's Laura Pitel why he thinks the country needs a new vision.Contributor: Laura Pitel, Turkey correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon. Clips from edited interview with Ahmet Davutoglu and Reuters.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sterling has taken a beating in the currency markets, falling to a fresh two-year low against the US dollar on Tuesday. Michael Hunter discusses why this has happened and who will be affected with Katie Martin, the FT's capital markets editor.Contributors: Michael Hunter, markets reporter, and Katie Martin, capital markets editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The London Stock Exchange group has confirmed that it is in advanced talks to buy Refinitiv in a $27bn deal that would turn it into a global exchanges and data powerhouse. Patrick Jenkins discusses the proposed deal with Arash Massoudi, the FT’s corporate finance and deals editor.Contributors: Patrick Jenkins, financial editor, Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Roula Khalaf talks to Alec Russell about her meeting with Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who is now campaigning for his killers to be brought to justice. Contributors: Alec Russell, editor of FT Weekend, and Roula Khalaf, deputy editor.  Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many of those who voted to leave the European Union live in deprived towns and cities of the UK and were disillusioned with politics. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation teamed up with a think-tank, UK in a Changing Europe, to find out what policies they would like to see to improve their lives. Andy Bounds discusses the findings with Anand Menon, one of the report's authors. Read Andy's article hereContributors: Andy Bounds, Enterprise Editor and North of England correspondent, and Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London and director of the UK in a Changing Europe. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the past decade, some of India’s largest financial groups have made big investments in luxury property, notably an ambitious Mumbai tower that was supposed to set new standards in urban design. But the economic boom they hoped would spur demand failed to materialise. Jyotsna Singh talks to Benjamin Parkin in Mumbai about what went wrong and the resulting debt crisis that is holding back growth.Contributors: Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, and Benjamin Parkin, Mumbai correspondent. Proucers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Britain's new prime minister Boris Johnson has set himself a 100-day deadline to achieve Brexit, with or without a deal with the European Union. Siona Jenkins discusses his chances of achieving this with Miranda Green, deputy opinion editor, and Jim Brunsden, EU correspondent.Contributors: Siona Jenkins, editor, UK news, Miranda Green, deputy opinion editor, and Jim Brunsden, EU correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

NSO, an Israeli company whose spyware hacked WhatsApp, has told buyers its technology can now collect a targeted individual’s data stored in the cloud, according to people familiar with its sales pitch. Its tech is said to use industry-wide authentication techniques that have, until now, been thought to be secure. Malcolm Moore discusses the implications with Mehul Srivastava and Tim Bradshaw.Contributors: Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, Mehul Srivastava, Tel Aviv correspondent, and Tim Bradshaw, global tech correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Pilling takes us on a tour of the African ghetto he visited with Bobi Wine, the rap singer turned politician, who has confirmed he will challenge Yoweri Museveni for the presidency of Uganda in 2021.Contributors: Alec Russell, editor of FT Weekend, and David Pilling, Africa editor. Producer: Fiona Symon. Music clip: Kyarenga by Bobi Wine  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ursula von der Leyen was confirmed this week as the new European Commission president. Katie Martin discusses the challenges she faces, not least the Brexit negotiations, with Ben Hall and Mehreen KhanContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor and Mehreen Khan, EU correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It’s half a century since the launch of Apollo 11, the spacecraft that put the first man on the moon. Between 1969 and 1972 the moon had 12 human visitors but, since then, no-one. Now, however, there’s a new push to go back to our near neighbour and Donald Trump wants to speed things up. Naomi Rovnick, Henry Mance and Clive Cookson discuss the new lunar missionContributors: Naomi Rovnick FT Live reporter, Henry Mance, chief features writer, and Clive Cookson, science editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How bad is the problem of stress and burnout in corporate life? Lilah Raptopoulos carried out a reader-driven investigation into the topic with James Fontanella-Khan, the FT's corporate deals editor. They reveal their findings in this podcast. Read the story at ft.com/mentalhealth Listen to the Everything Else podcast hereContributors: Griselda Murray Brown, Commissioning editor, Arts, Lilah Raptopoulos, US head of audience engagement, and James Fontanella-Khan, corporate deals editor. Producer: David Waters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Concerns about maritime security in the Gulf are rising as relations between Iran and the west deteriorate over the slow breakdown of the nuclear deal struck by Tehran and world powers in 2015. Iran’s economy has been badly hit by the re-imposition of US sanctions, and in response, Iran says it is no longer sticking to agreed limits on its enriched uranium stockpile. Tom O’Sullivan discusses whether the deal can be saved with Michael Peel in Brussels, Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran and Middle East editor Andrew England.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Tom O’Sullivan, deputy analysis editor, Michael Peel, European diplomatic correspondent, Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Greece’s centre-right New Democracy party has returned to power after defeating the far-left party Syriza at the ballot box on a promise of reviving the economy through tax cuts, reduced bureaucracy and more foreign investment.  Katie Martin discusses the new government and the challenges it is facing with Ben Hall and Kerin Hope.Contributors: Naomi Rovnick, FT Live reporter, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor, and Kerin Hope, Athens correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hong Kong protests against a proposed extradition law that would allow criminal suspects to be handed over to China are continuing, despite a concession by the Hong Kong chief executive to suspend the proposed law. Naomi Rovnick discusses discusses what’s at stake for China and what the protesters are seeking to achieve, with Tom Mitchell in Beijing and Sue-Lin Wong in Hong Kong.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Naomi Rovnick FT Live reporter, Sue-Lin Wong, South China correspondent and Tom Mitchell, Beijing bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How can we make corporate life female-friendly? Deborah Hargreaves, former FT journalist and founder of the High Pay Centre think tank, spent a year talking to women to research this topic and she came into the studio to discuss her findings with Isabel Berwick and Josh Noble. Read Deborah's report hereContributors: Naomi Rovnick, Live News reporter, Isabel Berwick, editor of FT work and careers, Deborah Hargreaves, director of the High Pay Centre, and Josh Noble, weekend news editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The murder of a local politician by right wing extremists has shocked Germany and set alarm bells ringing about the rise of neo-Nazi violence in the country. Ben Hall discusses the groups behind the upsurge in political violence and how dangerous they are with Guy Chazan in BerlinContrbutors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor, and Guy Chazan, Berlin bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, criticised western liberalism and defended Russia’s role in Syria and Venezuela in an exclusive interview with the FT on the eve of the G20 summit at the weekend. Lionel Barber, FT editor, and Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, offer their impressions of the interview in conversation with Katie Martin. Read the interview transcript hereContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Lionel Barber, FT editor, and Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Modern life can be deafening — but for all the shouting, no one’s listening any more. This is the conclusion reached by FT columnist Jo Ellison after an uncomfortably noisy Eurostar journey. She discusses what’s gone wrong with Horatia Harrod. Read Jo's column here Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Horatia Harrod, associate editor of FT Life & Arts, and Jo Ellison, fashion editor and columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.