FT News in Focus

The US Federal Reserve may be about to raise rates for the first time in nine years, but the European Central Bank is moving in the opposite direction. The FT's Claire Jones asks the ECB's chief economist Peter Praet to explain why, and how the Fed's move is likely to affect economic conditions in the eurozone.

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As the Paris climate talks draw to a close, Pilita Clark, FT environment correspondent, assesses the chances that a strong and binding agreement to combat global warming will emerge and looks at the highlights of the past fortnight in Paris.

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Oil prices fell again this week to their lowest in almost seven years, with the benchmark Brent Crude dropping below $40 a barrel. What factors will continue to drive prices in the next 12 months? FT energy experts discuss. Music by Gianluca Sgalambro.

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Venezuela's opposition has scored a historic victory in this week's parliamentary elections. For the first time in 17 years it will control the national assembly - a result that could further the country's political divide or prompt drastic change. John Paul Rathbone, FT Latin America editor, discusses the result with Andres Schipani, FT correspondent in Caracas.

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The rise of Airbnb and other online accommodation start-ups has led analysts to say that the multibillion-dollar hotel industry is being disrupted. The FT's Murad Ahmed and Malcolm Moore discuss whether hotel chains should fear new digital groups.

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For years after the 2003 invasion, Americans relied on Iraqis to navigate a country whose terrain and sectarian loyalties were little understood. But many Iraqis who risked their lives to help the Americans now feel abandoned. Siona Jenkins talks to the FT's Christine Spolar and two of her former Iraqi colleagues whose hopes of resettlement in the US have recently been dashed.

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Mark Zuckerberg pledged this week to give away 99 per cent of his Facebook shares, currently worth about $45bn, during his lifetime. How will this change the shape of the social networking company and Silicon Valley philanthropy? FT correspondents discuss. Music by Kevin McLeod. Clip courtesy of Facebook.

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Valeant was once considered a runaway success story, and one that upended the pharmaceutical sector. A series of crises engulfed the company in recent months, slashing nearly two thirds off its market valuation and forcing the company to tear up its forecasts for 2016. Correspondent David Crow explains. Read the full story at ft.com/valeant.Music: "Brand New Record!" by Steve Combs

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Seven of the UK's big banks have passed the Bank of England's latest stress tests, which are designed to assess their ability to withstand a crisis - but only just. Patrick Jenkins discusses the results with Caroline Binham, FT financial regulation correspondent and Stephen Hall from KPMG.

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Adele has broken the record for first-week album sales in the US, vindicating her strategy of withholding the release from streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. Ravi Mattu asks Robert Cookson, the FT's digital media correspondent, how she did it and whether it's a tactic others might follow.Music: "Hello" from Adele's album '25' by XL Recordings

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