Ft News

Comedian and former Google employee Sarah Cooper tells Emma Jacobs about the inspiration for her new book on how to be successful without hurting mens feelings.How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men’s Feelings was published on October 30Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Sarah Cooper, author and comedian, Emma Jacobs, FT columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US this week called for peace talks to begin within a month to end hostilities that have pitted a Saudi-led coalition against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Heba Saleh spoke to Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, about how bad the crisis is and what needs to be done to stave off a catastrophic famine.Contributors: Barney Jopson, Middle East news editor, Heba Saleh, Middle East correspondent and Lise Grande, UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen. Producer: Fiona symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

IBM’s $34bn acquisition of Red Hat is the biggest transaction in the company’s history. Malcolm Moore discusses what chief executive Ginni Rometti is hoping to achieve and whether the gamble will pay off with Richard Waters, the FT's West Coast editor.Read Richards’s analysis hereContributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor and Richard Waters, West Coast editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FT’s Patti Waldmeir reports from Missouri - a key battleground in the US mid-term elections. Black voters are a tiny minority in the mid-western state, but African-American leaders are hoping that a high turnout by black voters could give the Democratic Senate candidate an edge. Read Patti's article hereContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor and Patti Waldmeir, North America correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Environmentalists fear Brazil's incoming president Jair Bolsonaro will relax curbs on deforestation and the result will be an assault on the rainforest that helps regulate the earth's atmosphere. Leslie Hook talks to Joseph Leahy about why the forest may be at risk under Brazil's new president, and at an ambitious plan to map the DNA sequences of species in the Amazon basin that could help preserve the forest.Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent and Joseph Leahy, Brazil bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The former chairman of the Federal Reserve talks to Gillian Tett about his life, legacy and what worries him about the current financial system. Contributors: Gillian Tett, US managing editor. Producers: Aimee Keane, Jennifer Sigl and Eric Krupke.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ellen MacArthur, former round the world sailor turned campaigner, tells Leslie Hook the companies that create packaging for their products are starting to understand the responsibility they hold for helping eliminate the waste.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ellen MacArthur and Leslie Hook, FT environment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The escalating trade dispute between the US and China has clouded the global economic outlook, with no signs of ending soon. This year, the US has slapped tariffs on $250bn worth of Chinese goods, while the Chinese have retaliated with tariffs on $110bn of US goods. The FT's Gillian Tett recently sat down with Kevin Rudd, former prime minister of Australia and current president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, to discuss the state of the trade disagreement and what it might take for the two countries to reach a truce. Contributors: Gillian Tett, US managing editor, Kevin Rudd, president of the Asia Society Policy Institute. Producers: Jennifer Sigl and Aimee Keane. Music by David Sappa.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An Indian government minister was forced to stand down last week in the wake of sexual harassment allegations. Jyotsna Singh talks to Amy Kazmin about why so many Indian women are coming forward to complain about harassment in the workplace and whether this will be a catalyst for change.  Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive 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.

SoftBank shares took a hit after agents of Saudi Arabia, its main funder, were accused of carrying out the gruesome murder of a Saudi journalist in Turkey. Malcolm Moore discusses what this means for the Japanese technology company with Kana Inagaki and Arash Massoudi.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, Kana Inagaki, Toyko correspondent and Arash Massoudi, corporate finance editor. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's Brussels summit ended on a conciliatory note for Theresa May after German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for more flexibility on both sides to engineer a breakthrough on Brexit. The FT's Alex Barker and Mehreen Khan report from the Justus Lipsius building, headquarters of the Council of the European Union.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Alex Barker, Brussels bureau chief and Mehreen Khan, Brussels correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Political uncertainty over Brexit and the threat of global trade wars has overshadowed a remarkable corporate success story in Europe. Martin Arnold discusses how companies on the Continent have bounced back since the financial crisis with Sarah Gordon, FT business editor and regional correspondents Harriet Agnew, Olaf Storbeck and Michael StothardRead more on Europe's corporate comeback hereContributors: Susanne Blumsen, executive editor, Martin Arnold, deputy companies editor, Sarah Gordon, business editor, Olaf Storbeck, Frankfurt correspondent, Harriet Agnew, Paris correspondent and Michael Stothard, Madrid correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There is growing evidence that the use of chemicals in agriculture is harmful to both the environment and human health. Maija Palmer discusses potential alternatives with Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, Adam Speed of the Crop Protection Association and Andrew Diprose, chief exec of Rootwave, a startup that uses electricity to kill weedsRead more on the future of food and agriculture hereContributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Maija Palmer, acting deputy editor of Special Reports, Helen Browning, chief executive of the Soil Association, Adam Speed of the Crop Protection Association and Andrew Diprose, chief exec of Rootwave. Producers: Ruth Lewis-Coste and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump’s decision to step up sanctions on Iran has set up a clash with European allies who still support the 2015 nuclear accord. Roula Khalaf discusses the repercussions of the clash with Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Katrina Manson and Michael Peel.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Roula Khalaf, deputy editor, Katrina Manson, US defence correspondent, Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent and Michael Peel, Brussels correspondent. Producer: Fiona SymonRead more on this story here  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Some of the world’s biggest retail and technology companies have recently entered the Indian market, enticed by rapid growth in the local telecoms network. Among these is Netflix, which has launched an original show, Sacred Games, targeting Indian audiences. Jyotsna Singh talks to Kiran Stacey about whether the video streaming service can repeat the success it's had in other parts of the world.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Kiran Stacey, South Asia correspondent, Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter; Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The online retailer will give an extra boost in pay to some long-time workers amid concerns over changes to its compensation policies as part of a minimum-wage increase. The FT's Shannon Bond explains the backlash, and what prompted Amazon to raise its minimum wage in the first place.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An electric scooter craze has taken hold in US cities from Washington to San Francisco. Tim Bradshaw talks to Malcolm Moore about what's their appeal and whether the craze will catch on in Europe.Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, and Tim Bradshaw, technology correspondent; Producer: Fiona Symon  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What can we do to combat mental health problems in the workplace? Darren Dodd, editor of FT Health, discusses possible solutions and why this matters with Beth Robotham, vice chair of the City Mental Health Alliance and Sean Russel, head of the West Midlands Mental Health Commission.Subscribe to our weekly health briefing here  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Melinda Gates talks to John Thornhill about her work to promote more inclusive global growth through widening access to the internet and why she thinks doomsday scenarios about robots stealing jobs are misguided.Pathways for Prosperity Commission  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China's Bytedance is poised to have a valuation higher than Uber and Didi if its latest fundraising succeeds. Malcolm Moore talks to Emily Feng about how the news and video sharing app became one of a handful of Chinese tech giants to go global, and asks whether such a high valuation can be justified.Read more on Bytedance here  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.