Ft News

The Silicon Valley company's plan to spin off its $24bn stake in Alibaba suffered a second major setback this week when the IRS, the US tax authority, said it had serious concerns about deals similar to the one proposed by Yahoo. Aimee Keane speaks with San Francisco correspondent Hannah Kuchler about the authority's statement and what effect it could have on the potential spin-off.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In an excerpt from this week's episode of Alphachat, Cardiff Garcia speaks to US markets editor Robin Wigglesworth and US economics editor Sam Fleming about the potential implications of higher interest rates.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance is joined by John Paul Rathbone, Latin America editor, to discuss what went wrong for Brazil's economy, why the chairman of airline group United Continental resigned, and how the City of London has changed during the long reign of Queen Elizabeth II.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Three of China's most successful businessmen talk to the FT's Patti Waldmeir about their rags-to-riches stories, the difficulties they had to overcome and their recipe for a successful life.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

United Continental Holdings announced on Tuesday that the US airline's chief executive Jeff Smisek would resign in connection with a federal investigation linked to a key ally of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is running for the White House. Aimee Keane speaks with Ed Crooks to find out how the carrier found itself entangled in the probe. Read the full story by Ed Crooks and Gina Chon here.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Modern life forces us to do a multitude of things at once - but can we? Should we? Tim Harford, the Undercover Economist who has 150 things on his to-do list, talks to the editor of the FT Weekend Magazine about the myths, science and history of multi-tasking - and how to do it well. Music credit: Jahzzar, "Please listen carefully"  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance looks at how Europe woke up to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean, how we can learn to multitask better, and whether the banking industry is still just as broken as it was before the financial crisis.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China appears set to reveal a weapon so formidable it could upset the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region. The missile is likely to be wheeled through Beijing at a parade marking the second world war. James Kynge asks Charles Clover, FT Beijing correspondent, why defence experts see it as a potential game changer.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Europe is facing its biggest refugee crisis in decades, with Germany assuming the greatest burden for absorbing the asylum seekers. Gideon Rachman talks to Jeevan Vasagar, FT correspondent in Berlin, and Tony Barber, FT Europe editor, about the political strains caused by the crisis.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A bid by China’s Anbang Insurance to buy Novo Banco has collapsed, leaving the future of Portugal's biggest retail bank up in the air. Patrick Jenkins, the FT's financial editor, discusses the implications with Martin Arnold, FT banking editor, and Laura Noonan, investment banking correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hundreds of thousands of companies operating in Russia have been thrown into confusion by new data privacy rules that will help Moscow expand surveillance of its citizens. Kathrin Hille, Moscow Bureau chief for the Financial Times, spoke to some of them.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

S Africa bank chief rules out defence of the rand South Africa’s rand hit all time lows against the dollar this week as currency turmoil swept across emerging markets. Andrew England, the FT's Southern Africa bureau chief, spoke to Lesetja Kganyago, the central bank governor, about how he viewed the current market volatility.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Burgis takes a tour of the FT's podcasts and videos in a week when events in China shook the world, Corbynmania made headlines and a single email from Apple's chief executive saved his company $80bn.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A political crisis has erupted in Malaysia involving questions about how nearly $700m made its way into the prime minister’s personal bank account and the mismanagement of the country’s sovereign development fund. Ben Bland talks to David Pilling, the FT’s Asia editor, about the scandal.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Concerns about the Chinese economy and the country’s stock market gyrations have shown little sign of abating this week. Martin Sandbu asks the FT's economics editor Chris Giles, and US economics editor, Sam Fleming what impact this is likely to have on the wider global economy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An email from Tim Cook to 'Mad Money' television host Jim Cramer helped calm investors and save Apple nearly 80 billion dollars in its market value this week after global markets fell in reaction to turmoil in China. Ravi Mattu talks to Tim Bradshaw about the highly unusual move by the Apple CEO.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jeremy Corbyn, the surprise front runner in the UK opposition Labour party's leadership contest, speaks to Jim Pickard, the FT's chief political correspondent, about his views on the deficit, banks, media ownership and Nato.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance looks the recent flare-up of fighting in Ukraine, the tribulations of white collar workers, the valuation of new media companies Buzzfeed and Vox, and talks to Sarah O'Connor, employment correspondent, about the way Amazon treats its employees.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While some countries fret over banks that are too big to fail, South Korea is grappling with the concept of systemically important business executives. Simon Mundy tells Fiona Symon why a prominent business leader convicted of fraud was recently pardoned.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rising violence in eastern Ukraine has prompted the leaders of France, Germany and Ukraine to convene an emergency summit to try to halt the fighting; at the same time Kiev's talks with its creditors are at a critical point. Ben Hall discusses the twin crises with Neil Buckley and Elaine Moore.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.