Ft News

Why do hackers do what they do? Understanding what motivates cyber criminals could be the first step in protecting yourself from attack. Reformed hacker Cal Leeming shares his insights with the FT's Maija Palmer  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Erik Brynjolfsson, director of MIT's Initiative on the Digital Economy, discusses the rise of artificial intelligence with the FT's Murad Ahmed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He explains how it will transform industries globally and what the second wave of robotic advancement entails. Music by Jon Luc Hefferman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a number of years of bonus restraint, some of the world's big banks have started to increase bonuses for junior staff. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, asks Laura Noonan, investment banking correspondent, what's behind the new trend. Music: Acid Jazz by Kevin MacLeod  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China's 2015 growth data, released this week, provides an opportunity for Beijing to argue that the underlying economy remains sound despite recent stock market chaos. Michael MacKenzie asks George Magnus, an associate at Oxford university’s China Centre and senior economic adviser to UBS, how reliable the data are and what China's leaders need to do to reassure investors and the markets.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The gig economy, exemplified by companies like Uber and TaskRabbit, is allowing employees more freedom, but at the same time it remains unclear how relationships between the workers and their employers are governed. Sarah O'Connor, FT employment correspondent, looked into the small print of some of the terms and conditions of these companies and tells Andrew Hill what she found.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Police have linked a terror attack in the Indonesian capital to the jihadi group Isis, heightening fears over the rise of Islamist terrorism in the world’s largest Muslim majority country. John Murray-Brown discusses the attacks and their repercussions with Avantika Chilkoti, the FT's Jakarta correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The food industry is struggling to find the next technological advancement to feed a growing population. For hundreds of years scientists have sought inventive ways to produce and package calories while advertisers have been learning how to change our tastes and perceptions. The FT's consumer industries editor Scheherazade Daneshkhu talks to food historian Polly Russell about the journey from liquid meat to meal worms. FT special report: The Future of the Food industry www.ft.com/reports/future-food-industry  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Chinese entertainment conglomerate will acquire Hollywood studio Legendary Entertainment for a cash sum of $3.5bn. What does the deal mean for the two leading global theatrical markets, the US and China? The FT's Matt Garrahan and Sujeet Indap discuss. Plus, Matt offers some predictions on what to expect from Hollywood in 2016. Music by Sunsearcher.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There's a deepening row over why the UK financial watchdog decided to drop a review into bank culture. Patrick Jenkins, FT financial editor, discusses the controversy with Emma Dunkley, the FT's retail banking correspondent and John Mann, opposition Labour MP and member of the influential Treasury select committee.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

BP is cutting 4,000 jobs across its exploration and production business, in a further round of cost cutting as oil companies continue to feel the pain of a plunging oil price. Matthew Vincent asks Chris Adams, FT energy editor, how the industry is standing up to the tough market conditions.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Just as he blazed a trail through the world of rock and roll, David Bowie also gave the world of finance something it had never seen before: pop bonds. Dan McCrum discusses these and other technological innovations embraced by the late pop star with Peter Campbell, FT technology correspondent. Music: Blackstar by David Bowie. Columbia label  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

New York is ripping out its ageing phone boxes and replacing them with more than 7,000 WiFi routers to give the city free and fast internet access. Senior US business correspondent David Crow talks to city residents about the new service. Music by Blue Dot Sessions.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A series of sexual assaults and thefts in Cologne on New Year’s Eve has shocked Germany and led to mounting criticism of the government’s immigration policies after it was reported that the attackers were of Arab or North African appearance. Joshua Chaffin talks to Stefan Wagstyl, the FT's Berlin correspondent, about the political fallout.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia's execution of a Shia cleric earlier this month led to a diplomatic rupture with Iran after hardliners in the Shia country set fire to the Saudi embassy in Tehran. Siona Jenkins discusses how Iranians view the dispute ahead of next month's elections with the FT's Tehran correspondent Najmeh Bozorgmehr.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Auto sales figures from the world's biggest economy brought some good news to an otherwise grim week for global markets. FT journalists analyse how US car manufacturers have recovered from one of the worst periods in the industry's history, and the key economic factors that bolstered sales growth. Music by Podington Bear.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Karim Tazi is Morocco’s most outspoken businessman - a rare example of someone prepared to challenge vested interests on issues ranging from corruption to human rights and democracy. He spoke to Heba Saleh, FT North Africa correspondent, at his headquarters in Casablanca, about his hopes for change For the full story go to: http://www.ft.com/business-arab-world  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Federal Reserve has finally raised interest rates in a widely expected move. What has really changed? The FT's Roger Blitz asks Roger Hallam of JP Morgan Asset Management how significant the move is and what signals were sent about the pace of future tightening.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Matthew Vincent relives a year of highs and lows in the corporate world with the FT's business editor Brooke Masters, including record merger and acquisition activity, trouble for commodities groups and a scandal that, for once, did not involve banks.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Under a new government, Canada welcomed hundreds of refugees this week as part of its plan to bring in 10,000 before the end of the year. Outlining the possible challenges ahead, the FT's Ravi Mattu reports from Toronto on the economic and social implications. Music by Podington Bear.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Spain's prime minister Mariano Rajoy is facing three youthful challengers in this weekend's elections. The FT's Josh Chaffin asks Tobias Buck, who has been covering the elections, whether his message of experience and stability will win over the country's voters.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.