Chamonix’s cable car back in business after two months, albeit with strict social-distancing measures

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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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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The murder of a local politician by right wing extremists has shocked Germany and set alarm bells ringing about the rise of neo-Nazi violence in the country. Ben Hall discusses the groups behind the upsurge in political violence and how dangerous they are with Guy Chazan in Berlin

Contrbutors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor, and Guy Chazan, Berlin bureau chief. 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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Britain's new prime minister Boris Johnson has set himself a 100-day deadline to achieve Brexit, with or without a deal with the European Union. Siona Jenkins discusses his chances of achieving this with Miranda Green, deputy opinion editor, and Jim Brunsden, EU correspondent.

Contributors: Siona Jenkins, editor, UK news, Miranda Green, deputy opinion editor, and Jim Brunsden, EU 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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Roula Khalaf talks to Alec Russell about her meeting with Hatice Cengiz, fiancee of the murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who is now campaigning for his killers to be brought to justice. 

Contributors: Alec Russell, editor of FT Weekend, and Roula Khalaf, deputy editor.  Producer: Fiona Symon

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With the economy in trouble and relations with western allies strained, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's grip over Turkey’s ruling AK party is showing signs of weakening. Former prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu tells the FT's Laura Pitel why he thinks the country needs a new vision.

Contributor: Laura Pitel, Turkey correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon. Clips from edited interview with Ahmet Davutoglu and Reuters.

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In a country that features prominently in international corruption league tables, it is surprising to find a futuristic tax system that has significantly narrowed the gap between revenue due and revenue collected. Chris Giles, the FT's economics editor, visited Russia's Federal Tax Service to find out how the system works. He discusses whether the model could be applied elsewhere with Suzanne Blumsom.

Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, and Chris Giles, economics editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Tens of thousands of Russians have taken to the streets this summer to express their disaffection with a government that has failed to deliver economic growth or improve living standards for much of the past five years. Adrienne Klasa discusses this new mood of rebellion and how Russian president Vladimir Putin has responded with Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, and Russian sociologist Greg Yudin.

Contributors: Adrienne Klasa, creative producer, world news, Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, and Greg Yudin, Professor of Political Philosophy at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Google is allegedly using hidden web pages that feed the personal data of its users to advertisers, circumventing EU privacy regulations that require consent and transparency. Madhumita Murgia, the FT's European technology correspondent, discusses the implications for both privacy and competition with Malcolm Moore.

Conributors: Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, and Madhumita Murgia, European technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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UK prime minister Boris Johnson has been accused of constitutional vandalism by curtailing the opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny of his government in the final weeks of the Brexit talks. The courts will now determine whether his decision to shut down parliament was legal or not. Henry Mance discusses what all this means for British democracy with constitutional expert Sionaidh Douglas-Scott and UK assistant news editor John Aglionby.

Contributors: Henry Mance, chief features writer, Professor Sionaidh Douglas-Scott, Anniversary Chair in Law at Queen Mary University in London, and John Aglionby, assistant UK news editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Chinese carmaker Geely is investing in German flying taxi start-up Volocopter. Josh Noble discusses China’s interest in this technology and the future of flying taxis wirh the FT’s motor industry correspondent Peter Campbell and global technology correspondent Tim Bradshaw

Contributors: Josh Noble, weekend news editor, Peter Campbell, motor industry correspondent, and Tim Bradshaw, global technology correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Donald Trump has dashed hopes for an imminent peace deal with the Taliban that were intended to pave the way for the US to withdraw the last of its troops from Afghanistan. Jyotsna Singh discusses how this leaves the war torn country as it prepares for presidential elections at the end of the month, with Stephanie Findlay and Farhan Bokhari.

Contributors: Jyotsna Singh, Delhi reporter, Stephanie Findlay, South Asia correspondent, and Farhan Bokhari, Producers: Jyotsna Singh and Fiona Symon

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In 2013, Edward Snowden was responsible for one of the biggest US intelligence leaks ever. He’s just published a memoir offering his version of the events. Janine Gibson was the Guardian’s US editor at the time and oversaw publication of the story. She shares her impressions of book and what it says about the man and his motives with Frederick Studemann, FT literary editor.

Read Janine's story here

Contributors: Janine Gibson, special projects editor, and Frederick Studemann, literary editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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As the world’s largest carbon emitter, China will be in the spotlight at this week’s UN climate summit in New York.  Beijing has taken steps to tackle its pollution problems in recent years, but is it working? Pilita Clark puts this question to Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief. 

Contributors: Pilita Clark, business columnist, Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, and Lucy Hornby, deputy Beijing bureau chief.  Producer: Fiona Symon

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A Chicago start-up has found a way of turning microbes into edible protein, part of a growing trend towards a microbial revolution in food. Leslie Hook discusses why investors are increasingly interested in this area with Emiko Terazono, commodities correspondent, and Clive Cookson, science editor.

Contributors: Leslie Hook, environment correspondent, Emiko Terazono, commodities correspondent, and Clive Cookson, science editor. Producers: Fiona Symon and Persis Love

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Catalonia erupted this week after a Spanish Supreme Court decision to jail a group of separatist leaders for their part in organising an illegal independence referendum. The regional government attacked the sentences and thousands took to the streets in protest. Katie Martin discusses what happens next, with Daniel Dombey, FT correspondent in Madrid.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, and Daniel Dombey, Madrid correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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This selection of economics must-reads from the last six months take on capitalism, inequality, trade, AI, the law and more. Martin Wolf tells Frederick Studemann about the books we should all be reading this winter.

Watch a video of the conversation here.

Contributors: Frederick Studemann, literary editor and Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator. Producer: Persis Love



Photo credits: Viking, Penguin Books, The Centre for International Governance Innovation, John Murray Press, Harvard University Press,Harvard University Asia Center, Transworld Publishers Ltd, Princeton University Press 

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Alexei Navalny has been a thorn in the side of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for a decade, braving persecution and imprisonment and remaining apparently undaunted. Max Seddon met him for lunch in a food court in southeast Moscow and he tells Alec Russell, editor of FT Weekend about the encounter.

Contributors: Alec Russell, editor of FT Weekend, and Max Seddon, Moscow correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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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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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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After years of economic pain, Greece is in an upbeat mood. But can the country’s fresh political leadership overcome deep-seated problems holding back growth? Katie Martin discusses this question with Kerin Hope in Athens and Ben Hall, Europe editor.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Kerin Hope, Athens correspondent, and Ben Hall, Europe editor. Producers: Persis Love 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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Russia’s president Vladimir Putin has been in power for two decades and now it looks as though he intends to stay indefinitely. He has launched an overhaul of the country’s power structures that could allow him to extend his control after his official term ends in 2024. Katie Martin discusses the move with Max Seddon in Moscow and Ben Hall, Europe editor.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Max Seddon, Moscow correspondent, and Ben Hall, Europe 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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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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EY highlights significance of litigation finance company’s action against Argentine oil group

Biggest creditors attack government’s proposal to restructure $65bn of foreign debt

Drugs traffickers hit by coronavirus-induced slowdown and seizures, says UN agency

US regulator cautions against using chloroquine outside of hospitals or clinical trials

Severin Schwan unapologetic for outspoken criticism of state responses to coronavirus

Boss of clothing retailer deserves a premium; Astra’s eyes on big prize

US-run trial of Gilead coronavirus therapy demonstrates ‘significant positive effect’

Research paper published in journal Nature identifies number of alternative treatments

First country to get a vaccine could have an economic as well as a health advantage

US-led trial shows positive results in hastening recovery time for coronavirus patients

State-backed utility under pressure as it plans to invest in new coal mines

American producers are coming under pressure on several fronts

Supplier says sector should be ‘back of the queue’ for additional government support

Suffolk residents cry foul as French group seeks to continue process despite lockdown  

Epidemiologist Anders Tegnell says other countries could face big ‘second wave’

First-quarter volatility deals $39bn blow to SNB as it steps up fight for Swiss franc

Mike Mackenzie’s daily analysis of what’s moving global markets

Short bets rise to highest level of 2020 over Brexit and Covid-19 concerns

Currency softens beyond key level as investors brace themselves for more interest rate cuts

Two experts debate the long-term impact on inflation of the Covid-19 rescue packages