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Europeans are worried about a new mood of trade protectionism in the US. What are the implications for world trade and how will Europe respond? John Murray Brown discusses the issue with Shawn Donnan, the FT's world trade editor, and Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief. Music by David Sappa. Picture credit: Bloomberg See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
German officials fear Russia may try to influence the outcome of its September election, in the same way it was alleged to have interfered in the US presidential election. Christine Spolar discusses the potential threat and what Russia would gain by such an action with Neil Buckley. FT East Europe editor, Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief and Sam Jones, FT defence editor. 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.
As bank profits feel the pressure, savers suffer pain and populism is on the rise, criticism of the ECB's loose monetary policy is increasing, say James Shotter and Stefan Wagstyl. With parliamentary elections due next year, the argument over ultra-low interest rates will not go away See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The EU this week began expelling migrants from Greece and sending them back to Turkey - a controversial policy that has been criticised as a possible violation of the Geneva Convention and caused rioting in Greek refugee camps. However, there are signs that the influx into Greece is slowing. Can the system work? Peter Spiegel put the question to Alex Barker in Brussels and Stefan Wagstyl in Berlin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats suffered a setback in regional elections last weekend. How wounded is the chancellor and have German politics changed fundamentally under the pressure of the refugee crisis? Gideon Rachman puts the question to Fred Studemann and Stefan Wagstyl. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The German chancellor must disarm hostility among her partners at the EU summit when she seeks agreement on a deal over the refugee crisis, says Stefan Wagstyl See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
A series of sexual assaults and thefts in Cologne on New Year’s Eve has shocked Germany and led to mounting criticism of the government’s immigration policies after it was reported that the attackers were of Arab or North African appearance. Joshua Chaffin talks to Stefan Wagstyl, the FT's Berlin correspondent, about the political fallout. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The German Chancellor's 'refugees welcome' message transformed her in the eyes of the world from cautious leader to a bold one with strong convictions, says Stefan Wagstyl. There may be a political price for her to pay and her gambit may fail, but Angela Merkel is reshaping Europe See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Germany's chancellor Angela Merkel is facing an array of problems ranging from the scandal at Volkswagen to the arrival of up to a million refugees in the country. Gideon Rachman discusses the extent of Germany's difficulties and whether it amounts to a crisis with Stefan Wagstyl and Andy Sharman. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Germany's population is ageing rapidly, making it harder for employers to find enough workers and threatening its position as Europe's largest economy. Angela Merkel's policies are not helping, Stefan Wagstyl reports See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Gideon Rachman is joined by Ferdinando Giugliano and Stefan Wagstyl to discuss the growing stand-off between Greece and its eurozone creditors as the language becomes more uncompromising on both sides. What would happen if Greece left the eurozone and are politicians prepared to contemplate such an outcome? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
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.
A few months ago, no-one had heard of Pegida but this week the German group, which stands for Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West, mustered 25,000 supporters in the city of Dresden to march against immigration and the growing presence of Islam in Europe. Fiona Symon talks to Stefan Wagstyl about the origins and aims of the group. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Big celebrations in Germany this weekend will mark the moment the cold war ended 25 years ago when the Berlin Wall, symbol of the iron curtain, fell. Quentin Peel and Stefan Wagstyl discuss what the anniversary means for Germany and its European partners. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
This week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in Washington for talks with President Barack Obama, and Ukraine will top the agenda. Washington has led the way on sanctions, imposing asset freezes and travel bans on dozens of senior Russians and scores of companies, in an attempt to show Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that his interference in Ukraine will bring rising economic costs. The EU on the other hand, seems deeply resistant to tougher economic sanctions, given the much more important ties between Europe and Russia. In this week’s podcast, Ben Hall, world news editor, is joined by Geoff Dyer, Washington correspondent, and Stefan Wagstyl, Berlin bureau chief, to discuss how the two leaders should handle the escalating situation See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
It's been a nervous few days on Chinese stock markets in the wake of last week's cash crunch, which saw interbank lending rates in China rise to as high as 28 per cent. The Chinese central bank has made reassuring statements, but some commentators have talked about China being on the brink of a new financial crisis. Stefan Wagstyl, emerging markets editor and editor of the FT beyondbrics blog, and Simon Rabinovitch, Shanghai correspondent, join Shawn Donnan to look at the state of the Chinese economy. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
As Pakistan prepares to go to the polls in the first transfer of power between one democratically elected government and another since the foundation of the state, optimists say the elections will mark an important turning point for the country. But pessimists point to the background of violence against which the elections are taking place and the continuing parlous state of the economy. To assess this, Gideon Rachman is joined by Victor Mallet, South Asia bureau chief, and Stefan Wagstyl, emerging markets editor See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
The Brics started life as a marketing gimmick dreamt up by Goldman Sachs to promote emerging markets, but the notion has taken on a life of its own and this group of nations - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - are now a formal organisation who have just met for their fifth summit. In this week's podcast, Gideon Rachman is joined by Stefan Wagstyl, editor of beyondbrics, and Andrew England, South Africa correspondent, reporting from Durban, where the group has agreed to set up a Brics-led development bank. But do the Brics matter, what unites and divides these nations, and are we likely to still be discussing this group in ten years' time? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In this week's show: Japan - the aftermath of the quake and the desperate efforts to avert a meltdown at nuclear plant Fukushima, with Mure Dickie and Stefan Wagstyl, and the continuing unrest in the Middle East with David Gardner, Robin Wigglesworth and Simeon Kerr. Presented by James Blitz. Produced by LJ Filotrani See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the podcast this week: We ask whether the resignation of four officials earlier this week marks the end of the Berlusconi era; we look at the results of the Food and Agriculture Organization food outlook report, published yesterday, about rising prices and what this means for emerging markets and we ask what is the future for Ireland as it teeters on the edge of accepting a bailout loan from the EU and the IMF. Presented by Gideon Rachman with David Gardner, Martin Sandbu and Stefan Wagstyl in the studio, Geoff Dyer in Beijing and Guy Dinmore in Rome. Produced LJ Filotrani See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.