Ft News

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's chief executive, has been forced on the defensive over stinging allegations about the retail company's management style. Matthew Vincent talks to Hannah Kuchler, FT correspondent in San Francisco, about the allegations and the differences in work culture between Seattle and Silicon Valley.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Iraq’s prime minister has responded to a wave of street protests by launching a sweeping overhaul of government to tackle corruption and strengthen his own powers. Fiona Symon asks the FT’s Middle East correspondent Erika Soloman whether he can succeed where previous efforts have failed.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance reviews Google's transformation from a profitable search engine to a tech conglomerate, China's decision to devalue its currency and the abuse of migrants by British employers, and talks to Andrew Hill, management editor about the best business books of the year.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is China's renminbi devaluation a move towards liberalisation or a desperate bid to halt the country's economic slowdown? Ben Hall discusses the move with James Kynge and Gabriel Wildau.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Google has announced a broad restructuring which sees the US technology company renamed Alphabet and puts its internet search business into a subsidiary company. Matthew Vincent asks Richard Waters why Google has decided to reinvent itself.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China's island building in the South China Sea has led to friction with countries that share maritime borders around the sea and with the US which remains the dominant power in the region. James Kynge asks Charles Clover, FT correspondent in Beijing, how China has reacted to the criticism.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Students who fail in the first round of recruitment after leaving education in Japan are excluded from the country's lifetime employment system and condemned to a precarious life of temporary contracts and part time work. Robin Harding, FT Tokyo correspondent, talks to one of them  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance rounds up this week's news with a look at London's Garrick Club, Obama's plan to combat climate change, and the first banker to be jailed for rigging rates.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In an excerpt from this week's episode of FT Alphachat, host Cardiff Garcia is joined by Alphaville colleague Matt Klein and FT reporter Anna Nicolaou to discuss Prime Minister Stephen Harper's call for an election as the country is threatened by recession.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia is considering borrowing money on the local market in order to fund a growing budget deficit caused by the drop in oil prices and its expensive war in Yemen. Fiona Symon talks to Simeon Kerr, FT Gulf correspondent, about the kingdom's options.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Obama's plan to impose emissions cuts on the US power sector is opposed by political rivals and some industry. How significant is the plan and can it succeed? Orla Ryan puts the question to Pilita Clark, FT environment corresponent and Barney Jopson, Washington correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Hayes, a former star trader at UBS and Citigroup, has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for conspiring to rig Libor, the first conviction in the global scandal over the manipulation of benchmark interest rates. Martin Arnold talks to Lindsay Fortado about the implications of the case.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Mance rounds up this week's news with a look at the fightback against hack attacks, why Britain's Conservative leader David Cameron should not be too complacent, and why annual appraisals at work may be on their way out.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fiat Chrysler recalled 1.4m vehicles last week amid fears the company's Jeep Cherokees could be compromised by hackers, sending shockwaves through the industry. Murad Ahmed asked Andy Sharman, the FT's motor industry correspondent how carmakers are dealing with the cyber security threat.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nato allies have welcomed Turkey's decision to step up its fight against Isis. But its decision to include Kurdish opponents as the target of its air attacks is causing some concern. Siona Jenkins discusses Turkey's strategy with Daniel Dombey and Alex Barker.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ten years ago the Chinese government ended the renminbi's strict peg against the US dollar. Since then the currency has gained in stature in world trade, investment and as a reserve currency, reflecting China's growing international influence. James Kynge asks David Pavitt of HSBC and Jinny Yan of Standard Chartered what further changes are in store. Read more at ft.com/renminbi. Music: David Sappa  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chinese equities have been in turmoil, suffering one of their worst days on record this week. FT Banking editor Martin Arnold asks Gabriel Wildau, the FT's correspondent in Shanghai, how damaging this is for the country's banking system.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Robert Shrimsley rounds up the best of the FT's week in audio and video, including a look at corruption allegations in Brazil, what the removal of a financial regulator says about changing political priorities in Britain, dangerous spreadsheets and the mysterious disappearance of ugly people. Plus, Michael Skapinker joins the show to explain why he thinks it no longer makes sense to own a car.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Much of the hope for Africa's progress in recent years has centred on Nigeria, with its emerging middle class and renaissance in business and the arts. Roula Khalaf asks William Wallis whether the country's new president can keep those hopes alive.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Brazil president's second term in office has had a shaky start, with a barrage of corruption allegations fuelling discontent over the country's economic woes and even talk of impeachment. Fiona Symon asks Joe Leahy, FT Brazil bureau chief, how bad things look for Dilma Rousseff.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.