Ft Big Read

Electric cars are the future, and so are the batteries that power them. Yet, these batteries are dependent on cobalt, which has linked the electric vehicle industry to one of the most unstable countries in the world, and to practices like child labour. This, along with the metal’s high cost, has started a race to replace cobalt.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

YouTube video bloggers broadcast their lives on the Google-owned platform in the hope of attracting followers, fame, and money, say Hannah Kuchler and Emma Jacobs. They are overwhelmingly young and can build multimillion dollar businesses, but stars are few and even for them, popularity can bring huge stresses and pressures   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Three years ago Volkswagen was caught cheating with emission tests, but they were not the only carmaker manipulating the data. Brussels is introducing a more robust regime but the manufacturers are already finding ways of undermining it, says Patrick McGee  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The country saw a huge surge in investment after the global financial crisis but this has brought huge domestic debt and slower growth. Tom O'Sullivan, the FT's deputy analysis editor, asks Shanghai bureau chief Gabriel Wildau and global China editor James Kynge what impact this is having on daily life. Produced by Anna Dedhar. Image by Dreamstime  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Digital distraction lurks everywhere. Google and Apple have taken steps to address smartphone addiction, but critics say the big tech groups have not regulated enough to cure hardcore addicts, say Tim Bradshaw and Hannah Kuchler. What's the solution to Silicon Valley's struggle between responsibility and revenue? Produced by Molly Mintz   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

India has a quickly growing gross domestic product and emerging middle class that is reaping rewards on foreign companies. Netflix entered India in a blaze of promotion and with a bag full of cash. The streaming service thinks the country is an untapped market, says Kiran Stacey. Will Netflix’s strategy succeed in scoring 100 million subscribers in India? Or will they fail to understand the country’s consumers? Produced by Molly Mintz  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Donald Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin has prompted scrutiny and caused controversy, as have US sanctions against Moscow and a Forbes list of Russian oligarchs republished by the US Treasury. However, the US president’s policies on Russia may become clearer when he meets the Russian leader and attends the Nato summit, says Courtney Weaver. Will Putin play his cards right, or will Trump outplay the strongman? Produced by Molly Mintz  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Beijing's ‘Made in China 2025’ industrial initiative has made government officials in America worried. The underlying motivation of the Trump administration’s protectionist mood and trade war with China is American anxiety about China’s rapidly growing technological prowess, says Shawn Donnan. Is investment the newest warfare tactic? And if so, how can it be stopped? Produced by Molly Mintz  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Theresa May’s moment of truth is coming. In the two years since the Brexit vote, the British cabinet is still negotiating with itself and the EU. With the impending release of a white paper and an important cabinet summit at Chequers, the prime minister is edging towards an agreement that looks like a single market for goods but not services, says FT Political editor George Parker. Is this political madness, or is the UK’s economic future close to being resolved? FT podcasts feedback: Please tell us what you like and don’t like about our shows at ft.com/podcastfeedback and enter our prize draw  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears simultaneously powerful and vulnerable ahead of the upcoming June 24 snap elections. The long-time leader of Turkey has used a mixture of both hope and fear to energise voters at a time of great economic uncertainty and amid an ongoing state of emergency, but opinion polls don't guarantee an outright victory in the first round of the presidential contest or a majority in parliament for the Turkish president, says Laura Pitel. FT podcasts feedback: Please tell us what you like and don’t like about our shows at ft.com/podcastfeedback and enter our prize draw  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The former mayor of Mexico is set to win the country's presidential election on July 1. The politician is pledging to eradicate corruption. But while his supporters think he is a man of integrity and honour, his critics fear he is a danger to the country, says Jude Webber. FT podcasts feedback: Please tell us what you like and don’t like about our shows at ft.com/podcastfeedback and enter our prize draw   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The mines have closed, the jobs have gone and Mansfield in Britain’s East Midlands has turned Conservative. But to have a chance of power Labour’s leader needs the backing of the party’s traditional supporters, says Joshua Chaffin  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fifa will decide in June who will host the 2026 football tournament, with a US-led bid the favourite to win. But resentment against Donald Trump is helping Morocco gain support, says Murad Ahmed  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Antarctica contains vast untapped natural resources. But it is governed only by a treaty system that faces growing geopolitical challenges, say Leslie Hook and Benedict Mander. Many interested parties would like to exploit its riches. How can the continent be protected?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Almost a year after four Arab states imposed a blockade on Qatar, the Gulf nation is spending hundreds of billions on infrastructure to boost its economy. From Doha, the FT’s Simeon Kerr reports on Qatar’s economic struggles and whether the US is making matters better or worse for its strategic partner. Produced by Joshua Oliver  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a plan to extend national health insurance to roughly half a billion of his country's poorest citizens. But critics say the plan will overwhelm the healthcare system and drive costs out of control. The FT's Amy Kazmin report. Produced by Joshua Oliver  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the race to develop artificial intelligence technology, American engineers have long had an edge but access to vast amounts of data may prove to be China's secret weapon. Louise Lucas and Richard Waters report on the contest for supremacy in one of this century’s most important technologies.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa's new president, faces a slew of challenges from corruption to education and the economy. The FT's David Pilling and Alec Russell are joined by Mmusi Maimane, leader of South Africa's leading opposition party, to discuss the country's future. Produced by Joshua Oliver.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Thousands of Venezuelans are fleeing disease, violence and economic collapse — creating the worst refugee crisis in recent Latin American history. The FT's Gideon Long and Andres Schipani report from Colombia and Brazil, where communities and humanitarian groups are struggling to cope. Produced by Joshua Oliver  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Superstar partners are drawing salaries akin to those of top bankers and sports stars, as upstart firms challenge the traditional seniority-based compensation system. James Fontanella-Khan, Sujeet Indap, and Barney Thompson report. Produced by Joshua Oliver.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.