Ft World Weekly

Italian prime minister Mario Monti has said he'll resign, making elections likely to occur next February. But who is likely to win, or even who will run, remains unclear. Both Mr Monti and Silvio Berlusconi are possible candidates. Guy Dinmore, FT bureau chief in Rome, Tony Barber, Europe editor, and Ferdinando Giugliano, leader writer, join Gideon Rachman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When European leaders resolved to finally solve the eurozone crisis, they swore that that a banking union would be a crucial part of the solution and that agreement would be in place by the end of this year. But with the latest negotiations bogged down, what's happened and does it pose a threat to financial stability in Europe? Patrick Jenkins, banking editor, and Alex Barker, Brussels correspondent, join Gideon Rachman to discuss.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Almost two years after the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, Cairo's Tahrir Square is once again the scene of angry demonstrations. This time, however, the object of protestors' anger is Mohamed Morsi, an elected president and leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, whose proposed reforms of presidential powers have sparked accusations that he is setting up a new dictatorship. Heba Saleh, Cairo correspondent, and Roula Khalaf, Middle East editor, join Gideon Rachman to discuss what's next for Egypt.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a short and bloody conflict in which at least 152 Palestinians and 5 Israelis died, a ceasefire has been declared between Israel and Hamas. In this week’s podcast, Gideon Rachman is joined by Tobias Buck in Gaza City and Middle East editor Roula Khalaf to discuss the recent fighting and its implications for the wider region  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China has just completed its carefully-scripted, once-in-a-decade leadership transition. The Politburo was cut from nine to seven members and incoming general secretary and president Xi Jinping will also become head of the military. With these remaining uncertainties settled, Jamil Anderlini, Beijing bureau chief; James Blitz, diplomatic editor, and David Pilling, Asia editor, join John Aglionby to discuss how the new leadership will cope with an increasingly demanding population and whether the world will engage with Beijing any differently  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does Barack Obama's reelection mean for the United States' relations with the world? FT editor Lionel Barber and Washington bureau chief Richard McGregor join Gideon Rachman to discuss the economic and geopolitical challenges facing the president in his second term.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

China's new leadership team is due be unveiled at the Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which begins next week in Beijing.The transition takes place against a troubled background. The economy is slowing and tensions are rising in a territorial dispute with Japan. Bo Xilai, who once expected to promoted in the reshuffle, is instead about to go on trial, and the outgoing premier, Wen Jiabao, has just been accused in the New York Times of using his position to accumulate huge wealth for his family. James Kynge, editor of FT China Confidential, and David Pilling, Asia editor, join Gideon Rachman to discuss the state of China at this crucial juncture.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The final US presidential debate focused on foreign policy, and both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney laid out their vision for America's place in global affairs. What does it mean for the world, and are US voters really paying attention to foreign policy? Borzou Daragahi, Middle East and north Africa correspondent, Geoff Dyer, US diplomatic correspondent, and James Blitz, diplomatic and defense editor, join Shawn Donnan to discuss the candidates' positions on Syria, Iran, China and their notable silence on Europe.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US presidential race is as tight as ever. President Obama appears to have ended his slide in the opinion polls following a much stronger performance in the second debate with Mitt Romney, but with less than three weeks until the election, what is likely to determine who wins the White House? Richard Macgregor in Manchester, New Hampshire, and Gary Silverman in New York join Ben Fenton to discuss.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hugo Chavez returns to power What does Hugo Chavez's return to power in Venezuela mean for his country, for Latin America, and for international politics? Gideon Rachman is joined by Richard Lapper, a Latin America expert who heads the FT's research on Brazil, and Phil Gunson, the Economist's correspondent in Caracas.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The consenus after the first US presidential debate last night was that Republican challenger Mitt Romney was the victor over president Barack Obama. But will this be enough to change an election in which Mr Romney has consistently trailed Mr Obama in the polls? Richard McGregor in Denver and John Gapper in London join Gideon Rachman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With the ECB committed to unlimited purchases of eurozone bonds, the German Constitutional Court in a forgiving mood, and the Dutch electorate surprising pundits by voting for pro-euro candidates, is the worst over in the euro crisis, or, with Spain still teetering, is this just another false dawn? Tony Barber, Europe editor, and Peter Spiegel, Brussels bureau chief, join Gideon Rachman.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Middle East is in turmoil following the murder of the American ambassador to Libya and assaults on various US embassies across the Muslim world. Roula Khalaf, Middle East editor, and Ed Luce, chief US commentator, join Gideon Rachman to discuss what recent events say about the internal stability of post-revolutionay Libya and Egypt and President Obama's policy towards the Middle East. How will these and the other regional concerns in Syria, Iran, and the Palestinian territories affect the US election?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A Party Congress next month is expected to confirm the once-in-a-generation leadership change atop the Chinese Communist Party. But things are not going to plan: the transition is occurring against a backdrop of a slowdown in the Chinese economy and now the mysterious disappearance from public view of Xi Jinping, just weeks before his expected elevation to lead the party. Jamil Anderlini in Beijing, Geoff Dyer in Washington and Tom Mitchell in London join Shawn Donnan to discuss the uncertainty in China.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Did President Barack Obama’s Democratic convention speech convince the American electorate that he is worth another four years in the White House? Or has Mitt Romney begun to swing the race towards the Republicans? With the opinion polls at level pegging, Gideon Rachman is joined by John McDermott in the studio and Richard McGregor down the line from Charlotte, North Carolina to discuss how the parties stand post convention  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's Republican Convention has been showcase for a strong next generation of potential leaders for the party, but is Mitt Romney's campaign also the last throw of the dice for a party that may need to adapt to a rapidly changing electoral demographics? Richard McGregor and John McDermott join John Aglionby to discuss the indications from Tampa.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the standoff over the extradition of Julian Assange continues London, John Paul Rathbone, Latin America editor, tells Gideon Rachman what Ecuador stands to gain - and lose - from giving the Wikileaks founder asylum in its embassy. Also: Alec Russell, former Johannesburg bureau chief, explains the violence and turmoil in the South African mining industry and its historical context.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mitt Romney’s decision to choose Paul Ryan as his running mate has energised the race for the White House. Is it a masterstroke or a terrible mistake? Gideon Rachman is joined by Washington bureau chief Richard McGregor and US economics editor Robin Harding to discuss where the truth lies and what Mr Ryan really stands for.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Gideon Rachman is joined by FT science editor Clive Cookson to discuss the significance of the Curiosity rover’s landing on Mars and the future of space exploration  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FT sports writers Matthew Engel and Simon Kuper join Gideon Rachman to provide their mid-term assessment of the London Olympics.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.