Ft World Weekly

The list of contenders for France's 2017 election will be finalised this week, as the socialists choose their candidate on Sunday. Gideon Rachman discusses what is set to be an unpredictable and closely fought battle for the presidency with Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, the FT’s Paris bureau chief, and former bureau chief Hugh Carnegy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, UK prime minister Theresa May laid out her plans for a 'hard' Brexit, as US president-elect Donald Trump expressed doubts about the EU's future and promised a 'quick' US-UK trade deal. How feasible would such a deal be? And is the west retreating from a free trade model that has taken decades to roll out? Daniel Dombey, the FT's Brexit editor, discusses with Brussels bureau chief Alex Barker and FT world trade editor Shawn Donnan.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A series of confirmation hearings for president-elect Donald Trump's controversial cabinet nominees began in the Senate this week, with Democrats eager to grill candidates. How smooth is the process likely to be and who is vulnerable? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Courtney Weaver, the FT's White House correspondent, and Barney Jopson, the US policy correspondent in Washington.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The new year began with a terrorist attack on a nightclub in Istanbul which left 39 dead - the latest blow to hit a country still reeling from the aftermath of a failed coup last year and the political purges that followed. Gideon Rachman discusses Turkey's prospects with Daniel Dombey and Mehul Srivastava  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Daniel Dombey asks Gideon Rachman, the FT's chief foreign affairs columnist, and Fred Studemann, features editor, how the big events of 2016 - Brexit, the US election, and Syria - will play out on the world stage in the coming year.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump created a diplomatic storm earlier this month by speaking on the telephone to Taiwan's leader - the first such official communication since 1979. He then suggested he might ditch US adherence to the One China policy - a bedrock of ties between the two world powers. Does he really mean to change US policy and if so what will the consequences be for US-China ties? Ben Hall puts the question to the FT's James Kynge and Demetri Sevastopulo.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr Natalie Roberts has spent several years on the front lines of conflict zones as an emergency doctor for Médecins Sans Frontières, providing medical care to critically injured and malnourished patients. She talks to the FT's Maggie Fick about her time working for the humanitarian organisation in war-torn Yemen. To read more about MSF and the FT Seasonal Appeal visit FT.com/appeal. Diary clips and photo courtesy of MSF.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Will Fidel Castro's influence over Cuba outlast his death, and will the Trump presidency reverse the detente with the US begun by Barack Obama? Gideon Rachman puts these questions to John Paul Rathbone, the FT's Latin America editor, and Geoff Dyer, Washington correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

François Fillon, a former prime minister, looks on course to become the surprise presidential candidate of the centre-right in next year's French presidential elections. James Wilson asks Anne-Sylvaine Chassany, Paris correspondent, and Ben Hall, world news editor, what his appeal is and how he would fare in a contest against the far-right populist leader Marine Le Pen.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Does the election victory of Donald Trump represent an opportunity or a threat to Europe? Gideon Rachman discusses the mixed reaction across the continent with George Parker, the FT's political editor in London, and diplomatic correspondent Arthur Beesley in Brussels.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump's momentous victory has stunned America's allies but also delighted populists and strongmen leaders around the world, notably Russia's Vladimir Putin. Ben Hall discusses the world response with Gideon Rachman and Guy Chazan.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chinese president Xi Jinping was anointed as the “core” leader of the Communist party last week, paving the way for a return to strongman rule. So is China moving towards a more autocratic system? Gideon Rachman discusses the question with the FT's Beijing correspondent Lucy Hornby, and James Kynge, former bureau chief in the capital.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Wallonia, a Belgian region, has rejected the proposed Ceta trade deal with Canada, all but torpedoing the agreement for good. What does this mean for the EU's trade liberalisation agenda, transatlantic trade and the UK's Brexit negotiations? The FT's world news editor Ben Hall speaks with Brussels bureau chief Alex Barker and our diplomatic correspondent, Arthur Beesley.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vladimir Putin has been playing brinkmanship in Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Is the Russian president a master strategist or are his moves merely opportunistic? Gideon Rachman discusses the question with Neil Buckley the FT's East Europe editor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

South Africa has been shaken by news that the country's respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan is facing fraud charges in what appears to be the latest episode in a power struggle with President Jacob Zuma and his allies. Many suspect the charges are trumped up and designed to give Mr Zuma total control of the levers of power. Ben Hall discusses what happens next with Joseph Cotterill and Andrew England  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

At the UK Conservative party conference this week we got a clearer sense of Theresa May's Brexit vision, with the prime minister announcing that the process for leaving the bloc will be formally set in motion early next year. So what are the implications at this stage for Britain - and for Europe? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Daniel Dombey, the FT's Brexit editor, and Brussels bureau chief Alex Barker.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week Matteo Renzi, Italy's prime minister, set a date in December for his high-stakes referendum on constitutional reform. The vote will determine the political future of a leader already struggling with painful party defeats in local elections, troubles in Italy's banking system and a persistently weak economy. Ben Hall discusses with James Politi, the FT's Italy correspondent and Europe news editor Joshua Chaffin.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After a brief ceasefire, the war in Syria has been renewed in all its horror. Is there anything that can stop it? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Geoff Dyer, US diplomatic correspondent and Erika Solomon, Middle East correspondent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US presidential election has taken a dramatic new turn with the sudden illness of Hillary Clinton, and a tightening in the opinion polls. Could Donald Trump actually win? Gideon Rachman discusses with the FT's chief political commentator Philip Stephens and Shawn Donnan, the world trade editor based in the Washington bureau.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Angela Merkel is facing a new challenge to her leadership after the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany dealt her party a stinging blow in a regional election on Sunday. What threat does the success of the populist party pose for German stability and for Merkel's chance of remaining as chancellor? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Stefan Wagstyl, the FT's Berlin bureau chief and Fred Studemann, comment editor.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.