Ft World Weekly

The upsurge in fighting between pro-Russian separatist rebels and Ukrainian government forces has shown how little diplomatic leverage the west now appears to have with the Kremlin. There is an increasingly lively debate about whether the west should provide Kiev with arms to help it face down the secessionist onslaught. Ben Hall discusses the crisis with Neil Buckley, Geoff Dyer and Stefan Wagstyl.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Saudi Arabia's new monarch King Salman takes over at a time of unprecedented challenges in the shape of regional chaos as well as a sharply falling oil price. Gideon Rachman is joined by Roula Khalaf and Simeon Kerr to discuss how stable the kingdom is.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ben Hall is joined by Claire Jones and Ferdinando Giugliano to discuss the European Central Bank's battle against deflation and whether its long awaited bond buying plan will work  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

France has been through a traumatic week following several terrorist attacks and demonstrations by millions in response to the killings. Gideon Rachman is joined by Hugh Carnegy and Michael Stothard to discuss the impact of these events and whether France can ward off the forces of polarisation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Snap elections are being held in Greece later this month in which the radical left Syriza party is expected to come out on top. Gideon Rachman is joined by Kerin Hope, Athens correspondent, and Tony Barber, Europe Editor, to discuss the implications for Greek debt restructuring and the eurozone.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following president Barack Obama’s announcement that the United States will begin normalising relations with Cuba, John Paul Rathbone, Latin America editor, joins Gideon Rachman to examine how quickly the island state's Soviet-style economy is likely to change and the implications for the wider region.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Shinzo Abe's decision to call snap elections only two years into his term perplexed many people. Was it simply cover for a U-turn on a planned rise in consumption tax or was the prime minister seeking a renewed mandate for more radical measures to kick-start growth? Ben Hall discusses what the elections mean for the future of the world's third-largest economy with Ben McLannahan and David Pilling.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Neil Buckley and Kathrin Hille to discuss the state of the Russian economy, How well can it weather the impact of the falling oil price and falling Rouble, in addition to western sanctions? What are the likely political repercussions?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Chuck Hagel stepped down as US defence secretary at a time when doubts are growing about the administration's ability to manage growing threats in the Middle East and Europe. Gideon Rachman discusses what the resignation means for American foreign policy with Geoff Dyer and Ed Luce.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US and China surprised the world last week with an outline agreement in which both countries agreed to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. Gideon Rachman is joined by Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent, and Paul Bledsoe, senior fellow on climate and energy in the German Marshall Fund in Washington, to discuss how big a breakthrough it is.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Until recently Mexico’s president, Enrique Peña Nieto, was getting a great press, with the Mexican economy going well and important reforms pushed through, but now he seems to be in serious political trouble. Gideon Rachman is joined by John-Paul Rathbone and Jude Webber to discuss what has gone wrong.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What are the prospects for some form of detente between Japan and China? Ahead of next week's Apec summit, where leaders of the two countries are expected to meet, Ben Hall discusses the reasons for the strained relations between the two countries with Beijing bureau chief Jamil Anderlini and David Pilling, Asia editor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In next week's US mid-terms, the Republicans are looking to win back control of the Senate and increase their majority in the House of Representatives, giving them control of the legislative agenda and the ability to further constrain President Barack Obama during his final two years in office. Ben Hall discusses the elections and their and longer term repercussions with Richard McGregor and Ed Luce.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by Peter Spiegel, Brussels bureau chief, and Tony Barber, Europe editor, to discuss the threat that the European Commission will reject the budgets of some of Europe’s biggest nations, in particular France and Italy. Is such a move really possible and what would be the political and economic consequences?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by David Gardner and Daniel Dombey to discuss Turkey's role in the unfolding war against the jihadist movement Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Does Turkey share western war aims or is the government of President Erdogan more interested in crushing the Kurdish movements that are fighting Isis?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The first round of voting in Brazil's presidential elections is over and the incumbent Dilma Rousseff will face a centre right candidate Aécio Neves in the second round. Gideon Rachman discusses the differences between the candidates and what is at stake with Joe Leahy and Jonathan Wheatley  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The scale and persistence of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have taken many by surprise. Gideon Rachman is joined by David Pilling, Asia editor, and Tom Mitchell, Beijing correspondent, to discuss the crisis and China's response.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With President François Hollande languishing at record lows in the polls, former president Nicolas Sarkozy has announced that he plans to return to frontline politics, which almost certainly means a view to running for the presidency in 2017. Gideon Rachman is joined by Hugh Carnegy, Paris bureau chief, and Tony Barber to discuss his prospects.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Barack Obama, the US president, promised in a televised address to destroy Isis, the self-proclaimed Islamist state in Iraq. Does that mean another western war in the Middle East is under way? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Roula Khalaf, FT foreign editor, James Blitz, former security editor, and David Gardner, FT correspondent in Beirut.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A late surge in support for Scotland's pro-independence camp a week ahead of the referendum has set alarm bells ringing among politicians in London. James Blitz is joined by Michael Stott and Mure Dickie to discuss the arguments being used to sway Scottish voters  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.