Before the world went into lockdown, Rebecca Watson found herself in a very different kind of confinement

An occupied home has utility no empty shop can match

The need for an effective fight against coronavirus trumps other considerations

About 85 per cent of voters think the country is heading in the wrong direction

Foreign investors have learnt the hard way that short-termism can be a virtue, not a vice

Jeremy Corbyn defends party's processes for dealing with racism after Ephraim Mirvis's criticism. Conservatives put opposition to independence at heart of Scottish campaign. Sterling slips as Labour makes inroads on Tories' polling lead.

Tokyo’s Topix dropped 2.5% at the open, taking the benchmark index down more than 30% for the year. The move followed S&P 500 index's collapse of 12 per cent on Monday, marking the biggest one-day fall since the crash of October 1987.

Renowned investor warns market correction is not over but there is value in commodities

Efforts to improve diversity and inclusion must not be sidelined as companies rebuild

Dutch and French trade ministers say Covid-19 has focused minds on global trade and climate change

Cafés, restaurants and secondary schools to reopen in phased easing of restrictions

EU has reservations about allowing Britain to link to its carbon cap-and-trade system after Brexit

The coronavirus outbreak has accelerated the decline of America’s favourite shopping institution

The race for the US Democratic presidential nomination is hotting up with a huge field of 23 candidates all hoping run against Donald Trump in 2020.  Courtney Weaver has focused in on one of the candidates, Kamala Harris, and she talks to Neville Hawcock about how the campaign for the Democratic nomination is shaping up. Read Courtney's article here

Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Neville Hawcock, acting deputy editor, FT Weekend Magazine, and Courtney Weaver, Washington correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Sotheby’s has gone under the hammer for $3.7bn ending 31 years of public ownership, with the venerable auction house sold to Patrick Drahi, billionaire founder of the European telecoms group Altice. Arash Massoudi discusses the sale and what it means for the art market with Harriet Agnew and Melanie Gerlis.

Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor, Harriet Agnew, FT Paris correspondent, and Melanie Gerlis, FT art market columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Modern life can be deafening — but for all the shouting, no one’s listening any more. This is the conclusion reached by FT columnist Jo Ellison after an uncomfortably noisy Eurostar journey. She discusses what’s gone wrong with Horatia Harrod. Read Jo's column here 

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Horatia Harrod, associate editor of FT Life & Arts, and Jo Ellison, fashion editor and columnist. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Concerns about maritime security in the Gulf are rising as relations between Iran and the west deteriorate over the slow breakdown of the nuclear deal struck by Tehran and world powers in 2015. Iran’s economy has been badly hit by the re-imposition of US sanctions, and in response, Iran says it is no longer sticking to agreed limits on its enriched uranium stockpile. Tom O’Sullivan discusses whether the deal can be saved with Michael Peel in Brussels, Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran and Middle East editor Andrew England.

Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Tom O’Sullivan, deputy analysis editor, Michael Peel, European diplomatic correspondent, Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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It’s half a century since the launch of Apollo 11, the spacecraft that put the first man on the moon. Between 1969 and 1972 the moon had 12 human visitors but, since then, no-one. Now, however, there’s a new push to go back to our near neighbour and Donald Trump wants to speed things up. Naomi Rovnick, Henry Mance and Clive Cookson discuss the new lunar mission

Contributors: Naomi Rovnick FT Live reporter, Henry Mance, chief features writer, and Clive Cookson, science editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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NSO, an Israeli company whose spyware hacked WhatsApp, has told buyers its technology can now collect a targeted individual’s data stored in the cloud, according to people familiar with its sales pitch. Its tech is said to use industry-wide authentication techniques that have, until now, been thought to be secure. Malcolm Moore discusses the implications with Mehul Srivastava and Tim Bradshaw.

Contributors: Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, Mehul Srivastava, Tel Aviv correspondent, and Tim Bradshaw, global tech correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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In the past decade, some of India’s largest financial groups have made big investments in luxury property, notably an ambitious Mumbai tower that was supposed to set new standards in urban design. But the economic boom they hoped would spur demand failed to materialise. Jyotsna Singh talks to Benjamin Parkin in Mumbai about what went wrong and the resulting debt crisis that is holding back growth.

Contributors: Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, and Benjamin Parkin, Mumbai correspondent. Proucers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon

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Many of those who voted to leave the European Union live in deprived towns and cities of the UK and were disillusioned with politics. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation teamed up with a think-tank, UK in a Changing Europe, to find out what policies they would like to see to improve their lives. Andy Bounds discusses the findings with Anand Menon, one of the report's authors. Read Andy's article here

Contributors: Andy Bounds, Enterprise Editor and North of England correspondent, and Anand Menon, Professor of European Politics and Foreign Affairs at King's College London and director of the UK in a Changing Europe. Producer: Fiona Symon

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US allegations that China is manipulating its currency burst into the open again this week when the renminbi was allowed to fall below seven to the dollar for the first time since 2008. Josh Noble discusses this latest front in the US-China trade dispute and its implications for investors and the global economy with Don Weinland, Beijing financial correspondent, and Michael MacKenzie, senior investment commentator.

Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Don Weinland, Beijing financial correspondent, and Michael MacKenzie, senior investment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Many of us own a keyboard, which sounds more or less like a piano, but is not quite the same. Thomas Hale, Alphaville reporter, thought he’d like to buy the real thing, so he went looking in London. He tells James Pickford what he found. Read Thomas's article here

Contributors: James Pickford, deputy editor of FT Money, and Thomas Hale, Alphaville reporter. Producer: Fiona Symon.

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Saudi Arabia has removed energy minister Khalid al-Falih, one of the most powerful figures in the global oil industry, and replaced him with a member of the royal family, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman. Katie Martin discusses the significance of the shake-up and how it relates to the Crown Prince’s ambitious plans for an IPO of state oil company Aramco with David Sheppard, Energy Editor, and Andrew England, Middle East editor.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, David Sheppard, energy editor, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Many US Democrats had pushed for an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump after the Mueller probe into Russian meddling in the last US election released its findings. But it took a July telephone conversation between Mr Trump and Ukraine’s new president to persuade Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the US house of Representatives, that it was time to act. Katie Martin discusses what happens next and what we know so far with Demetri Sevastopulo, Washington bureau chief.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, and Demetri Sevastopulo, Washington bureau chief. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The FT's Sue-Lin Wong spent several months with members of Hong Kong's youthful pro-democracy movement and their supporters. She tells Andreas Paleit what she learnt about their hopes and fears for the future.

Read Sue-Lin's magazine story here

Contributors: Andreas Paleit, companies desk editor, and Sue-Lin Wong, South China correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The stage has been set for the next, potentially decisive, act of Brexit after the UK parliament voted to back a December election and the EU formally signed off a delay to Britain’s departure until the end of January. David Bond discusses what happens next with Laura Hughes, parliamentary correspondent, and Sam Fleming, Brussels bureau chief.

Contributors: David Bond, Brexit editor, Laura Hughes, parliamentary correspondent, and Sam Fleming, Brussels bureau chief. Producers: Persis Love and Fiona Symon

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Ukraine has found itself at the centre of the US impeachment inquiry, just as new president Volodymyr Zelensky set out to fulfill his election promise to end corruption. Pilita Clark asks Ben Hall, the FT's Europe editor, what it is about Ukraine creates so much trouble in far flung places and whether it could end up harming Donald Trump's chances of re-election.

Contributors: Pilita Clark, business columnist, and Ben Hall, Europe editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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A sleep loss epidemic is making its mark on the workplace, but what are its causes and what should businesses do to ensure their fatigued employees get a good night’s kip? Louise Aston and James Wilson talk to Darren Dodd about where employers are going wrong and what needs to be done.

This podcast forms part of FT Health at Work magazine, supported by Vitality. 

Business in the Community's Sleep and Recovery Toolkit for employers can be found here, and their responsible business podcasts, here. James Wilson’s website is available here.

Contributors: Darren Dodd, editor of FT Health at Work magazine, Louise Aston wellbeing director at Business in the Community and, James Wilson, sleep specialist. Producer: Persis Love

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Around the world a pensions crisis is looming. Retirees are having their pensions cuts while governments and fund managers look for new strategies. Josephine Cumbo, pensions correspondent and Robin Wigglesworth, global finance correspondent tell Claer Barrett why pension funds are investing in riskier assets and what this means for the future of retirement.

Contributors: Claer Barrett, personal finance editor, Josephine Cumbo, pensions correspondent and Robin Wigglesworth, global finance correspondent. Producer: Persis Love

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Taylor Swift’s anger over the sale of her back catalogue shines a light on the role of investment in today’s music industry. Anna Nicolaou and Jamie Powell tell Alex Barker about Swift’s dispute with her former record label and how investments are changing in the streaming era of music.

Contributors: Alex Barker, global media editor, Anna Nicolaou, US media correspondent and Jamie Powell, Alphaville reporter. Producer: Persis Love

Music credit: Taylor Swift, Shake It Off, Big Machine Records

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Wildlife conservation used to be largely financed by wealthy donors and governments. Now, efforts to attract institutional investors are showing significant potential, as a recent Rhino Bond launched by the Zoological Society of London, the FT’s seasonal appeal partner this year, showed. Oliver Withers, ZSL’s head of conservation finance and Aunnie Patton Power, expert in innovative investing and impact finance talk to John Aglionby about the changing landscape of conservation financing. Visit the FT’s seasonal appeal page to donate here

Contributors: John Aglionby, assistant UK news editor, Oliver Withers, ZSL’s head of conservation finance and Aunnie Patton Power, expert in innovative investing and impact finance. Producer: Fiona Symon. Editor: Breen Turner

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As the UK general election approaches, all parties are stepping up their rhetoric on climate change. What are their manifesto pledges and are they even realistic? Jim Pickard and Nick Butler talk to Leslie Hook about what a new government could spell for the environment and the need for an international approach to tackling the climate crisis.

Contributors: Leslie Hook, environment and clean energy correspondent, Jim Pickard, chief political correspondent and Nick Butler, energy commentator. Producer: Persis Love

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Paul Volcker, who died at the weekend, was one of the most influential monetary policy makers of the 20th century. The FT’s Gillian Tett spoke to the former central banker at his home in New York last year about his views on good government, regulating finance and US China relations. In this podcast, she shares some excerpts from the conversation.

Contributors: Katie Martin, markets editor, and Gillian Tett, chair of the FT editorial board (US). Producers: Fiona Symon and Aimee Keane

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2019 was the year when Saudi Arabia launched a long awaited share offering in state oil company Aramco, when Softbank lost its gloss, when accounting giants tightened their belts and when capitalism went 'woke'. Janine Gibson discusses the corporate year and what it spells for next year with Tom Braithwaite and Brooke Masters.

Contributors: Janine Gibson, editor, special projects, Tom Braithwaite, companies editor, and Brooke Masters, comment and analysis editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The former boss of Nissan and Renault has performed a stunning vanishing act. Earlier this week, he fled from his house in Tokyo and took a private jet to Lebanon, evading bail conditions, police, prosecutors and private detectives, and avoiding a trial on charges of financial misconduct. How did a man under constant surveillance and with one of the most recognisable faces in the country escape the Japanese authorities? Leo Lewis and Tom Braithwaite discuss the story.

Contributors: Tom Braithwaite, companies editor and Leo Lewis, Tokyo correspondent. Producer: Persis Love. Photo credit: Eric Piermont / AFP

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Iranian military leader and commander of the Quds Forces, Qassem Soleimani, was killed on the 3rd of January in a targeted US air strike at Baghdad airport, Iraq. What did Soleimani mean to Iranians and why did the US order the airstrike that killed him? Najmeh Bozorgmehr discusses the story with Andrew England.

Contributors: Andrew England, Middle East editor and Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent. Producer: Persis Love

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Two decades ago, international telecoms companies came close to dominating a global market. Nowadays however, the vision of a global telecoms company seems to be dwindling. Patricia Nilsson and Nic Fildes discuss why.

Contributors: Patricia Nilsson, media correspondent and Nic Fildes, telecoms correspondent. Producer: Persis Love

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Caroline Criado-Perez won the latest Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award with her book Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men. She spoke to Andrew Hill, the FT’s management editor, about the consequences for women and for society as a whole of using men as the default model.

Contributors: Andrew Hill, management editor, and Caroline Criado Perez. Producers: Marc Filippino and Fiona Symon

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Shortly before his departure as FT editor, Lionel Barber was granted a rare interview with Angela Merkel, whose period in office is nearing its end. In conversation with Marc Filippino, Mr Barber offers his thoughts on the German chancellor as she battles to keep the flag of multilateralism flying in an increasingly unilateralist world.

Contributors: Lionel Barber, former FT editor, and Marc Filippino, audio producer. Producers: Marc Filippino and Fiona Symon

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The US Federal Reserve has begun to consult the public, particularly in poorer parts of the country about monetary policy. As a result, policy wonks at the central bank have begun to reconsider the impact of their decisions on communities far from the centres of power. Brendan Greeley discusses the so-called Fed Listens sessions with Patrick Jenkins.

Contributors: Patrick Jenkins, Deputy Editor and Brendan Greeley, US economics editor. Producers: Fiona Symon and Persis Love. Photo credit: Alex Wong/Getty

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Global warming is set to cause a significant rise in sea levels as the world's polar ice melts. The Netherlands is the best-protected delta in the world, with centuries of experience in holding back the floods. As climate change takes its toll, can Dutch expertise help save the world’s cities that are most at risk? Simon Kuper looked into this question for the FT's weekend magazine and he tells Esther Bintliff what he discovered. Read Simon's magazine article here

Contributors: Simon Kuper, FT columnist, and Esther Bintliff, FT Weekend Magazine deputy editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The full impact of the deadly Sars-like virus that has spread across China will take time to assess. But it’s clear there will be significant damage to the region’s economies and perhaps also to the reputation of China’s leaders for failing to tackle the coronavirus early enough to prevent its spread. Andreas Paleit discusses the political and economic impact of the outbreak with Tom Hancock, recently back from Wuhan, James Kynge in Hong Kong and Sue-Lin Wong in Shenzhen.

Contributors: Andreas Paleit, companies desk editor, Tom Hancock, China consumer industries correspondent, Sue-Lin Wong, South China correspondent, and James Kynge, global China editor. Producers: Fiona Symon and Persis Love.

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Arab Gulf leaders have been splashing out on sport. Officials in the Gulf states say the investment is part of their effort to diversify oil-dependent economies, but critics accuse them of using sport to deflect attention from poor human rights records. Arash Massoudi discusses the impact of the oil money flowing into football and other sports with Murad Ahmed, sports correspondent, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Sign up to join Arash and Murad at next month’s FT Business of Football Summit here 

Contributors: Arash Massoudi, corporate finance and deals editor, Murad Ahmed, sports correspondent, and Andrew England, Middle East editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The sentencing of Trump ally and political strategist Roger Stone was mired in controversy after the US president criticised a juror and the original prosecutors in the case. The same week, Donald Trump granted clemency to seven white collar criminals. Does the president have too much power over the judicial system? Brooke Masters discusses with Edward Luce and Kadhim Shubber.

Contributors: Brooke Masters, opinion and analysis editor, Edward Luce, US national editor and columnist and Kadhim Shubber, US Legal and enforcement correspondent. Producers: Fiona Symon and Persis Love.

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Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist policies have sparked protests and intercommunity violence across India. Against this backdrop, a proposed data protection bill that will allow his government free rein to spy on its citizens is causing particular concern. Madhumita Murgia discusses the bill with Benjamin Parkin in Mumbai.

Contributors: Madhumita Murgia, European technology correspondent, Benjamin Parkin, Mumbai correspondent. Producers: Persis Love and Fiona Symon

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Antarctica is barely accessible to humans but the ice-covered landmass - and the oceans around it - shelter rich wildlife, including many penguins. It also holds the keys for understanding the future of our planet, which is why scientific research into the isolated continent is stepping up. But as human activity encroaches, do we need to do more to protect Antarctica? Clive Cookson, FT science editor, talks to Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, about her recent trip to the region. Read Leslie's article here

Contributors: Clive Cookson, science editor, and Leslie Hook, environment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Introducing the FT News Briefing. It is a rundown of the global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. If you enjoy it, subscribe to the FT News Briefing wherever you get your podcasts, or listen at FT.com/newsbriefing.

Monday, March 16

The Federal Reserve cut interest rates to zero and joined forces with other central banks in a bid to prevent a severe economic downturn caused by the coronavirus outbreak. The FT’s Gillian Tett unpacks the sweeping measures. Plus, the rapid spread of the coronavirus and the ensuing travel restrictions have led to one of the worst months on record for the airport industry, and French industrials group Air Liquide is asking would-be buyers of its hand sanitiser unit to offer a higher sum in the wake of the outbreak. 

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The FT News Briefing is a rundown of the global business stories you need to know for the coming day, from the newsroom of the Financial Times. If you enjoy it, subscribe to the FT News Briefing wherever you get your podcasts, or listen at FT.com/newsbriefing. 

Western governments pledged trillions of dollars in stimulus measures to limit the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday. The FT’s global business columnist Rana Foroohar explains what it could mean for Wall Street and Main Street. Plus, Impossible Foods raises $500m in a round that will help the US-plant based burger group to see through the economic upheaval caused by the current crisis, and Joe Biden solidifies his status as the frontrunner to take on Donald Trump in November.

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Life in Europe's coronavirus hotspots: Foreign affairs columnist Gideon Rachman discusses how the coronavirus epidemic has been handled in Italy and Spain with the local FT correspondents, Miles Johnson in Rome and Daniel Dombey in Madrid. How are citizens reacting to the lockdown and what will be the long-term political and economic impact?

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