Ft Big Read

FT investigation: Kara Scannell and Gina Chon reveal that although the US tech sector leads the world, the American government's computers are frighteningly vulnerable to hacking attacks  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Women are Japan's squandered asset, says Leo Lewis. The country has one of the best-educated and most underused female populations in the world. Shinzo Abe is trumpeting legislation that aims to encourage more women into work but critics say sweeping change is needed to create new jobs and boost growth  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A damning report from Germany's banking regulator has capped a dreadful period for the bank. Investors say the incoming CEO will need to instigate a management clear-out to restore trust. Martin Arnold, Patrick Jenkins and James Shotter report  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Burgis looks at North Korea's alliance with the Queensway Group, a syndicate of Hong Kong based investors. Such ventures as a taxi fleet with the KKG brand are part of a much larger endeavour by Pyongyang to cut international business deals  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Igor Zyuzin's Mechel mining and metals group has debts of over $7bn and state-owned creditors are pursuing it, but amid Russia's economic woes the Kremlin cannot afford to let it collapse, Courtney Weaver and Jack Farchy introduce a corporate Houdini  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Foy, Kathrin Hille and Richard Milne report from the border between the eastern edge of Europe and Russia, where Nato and Moscow have ramped up military exercises in response to perceived violations and divisions over Ukraine. But how much appetite is there for more conflict?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Toyota is back at the top of the global auto industry five years after safety lapses savaged its reputation, sales had plunged and losses soared. Kana Inagaki goes to the Japanese carmaker's HQ to assess the reality of the rebound  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Italy is making tentative steps on the road to recovery. Europe's third largest economy reported first quarter growth of 0.3% this month, its best performance in three years. James Politi tests the mood among ordinary Italians.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Unesco is considering whether to put the Great Barrier Reef - the world’s largest living organism - on its ‘danger’ list, while environmentalists are pitched against Australia’s Big Coal. Jamie Smythe reports  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jack Farchy explains why we should worry about who will succeed the presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, two septuagenarian strongmen who have ruled their central Asian countries since the break-up of the Soviet Union  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Borzou Daragahi reports from an increasingly polarised Middle East where in Cairo, Ayman Ramzy's confession on a TV chat show that he did not believe in God shattered his life as a teacher, bringing him vilification in the streets and turning him into a prisoner in his own home  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Vincent Boland reports from Dublin as Ireland prepares for a referendum on marriage equality. Opinion polls suggest the country is poised to become the first in the world to adopt same-sex marriage through a popular vote. The ballot itself is testament to a more liberal spirit taking hold in a country long dominated by the Catholic Church  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Martin Arnold and Patrick Jenkins examine whether HSBC's new strategy can revitalise Europe's biggest bank, a wounded giant under attack from regulators, politicians and investors and overstretched by trying to keep up with rivals  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lionel Barber describes how Li Keqiang, China's second most powerful man, told the FT that his country had no desire to create a new world order  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cynthia O'Murchu explains how the arrest of Yves Bouvier casts a harsh light on how art is bought, stored and sold, raising questions over whether the market is vulnerable to manipulation  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

James Crabtree looks at the reality behind the vow of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi to double production at Coal India in five years amid a looming energy crisis and an industry marred by inefficiency and corruption and facing rising concern over pollution.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Gordon and Arash Massoudi reveal the clash of cultures - and personalities - that threatened the 42bn euro cement merger between Holcim and Lafarge  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Big US food groups have missed a major shift in the nation's tastes, says Gary Silverman. Brands as famous as Campbell's Soup are now languishing on the back shelves of supermarkets while a more health-conscious millenial generation seeks fresher, more natural foods.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

David Cameron, prime minister of a Britain that looks to outsiders increasingly like a 'Disunited Kingdom', tells Lionel Barber and George Parker that he deserves five more years to finish the job of confirming the country's status in the world  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Erika Solomon looks at the mayhem in Syria,where opposition fighters who took up arms four years ago, are now struggling to navigate the war that seems to be addressing every agenda except the one that they care about - ending the Assad regime.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.