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? For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

FT News in Focus

Introducing: The Rachman Review

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.Friday, March 20Republicans in the US Senate have introduced legislation to inject more than $1tn of fiscal stimulus into the economy as it grapples with the coronavirus outbreak. Sir Paul Tucker, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England and current chair of the Systemic Risk Council, says it’s time for policymakers and bankers to prepare for a wartime setting if conditions deteriorate. Plus, the only US drugmaker that makes a potential treatment for the coronavirus raised the price nearly 100 per cent in January as the outbreak wreaked havoc in China.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Republican $1tn plan, Paul Tucker on damage limits

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. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Rana Foroohar on the trillion dollar fightback, Biden sweep

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.Tuesday, March 17Governments in all large western economies took drastic measures to limit public movement on Monday in an urgent effort to arrest the spreading coronavirus pandemic while US stocks plunged despite a set of emergency measures laid out by the Federal Reserve on Sunday. Plus, an analysis by the Financial Times finds that the UK and the US have key weaknesses in their healthcare systems which could trigger a collapse if put to the test by the outbreak.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

World on lockdown, markets melt, hospitals suffer

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 16The 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.  For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Introducing the FT News Briefing: Fed cuts to zero, airport pinch, hand sanitiser sale

Growing a beard, praying in public and calling someone overseas. These are some of the 'offences' for which Uighur Muslims have been sent to internment camps in the Xinjiang region of China, according to a leaked document known as the Karakax list. Adrienne Klasa talks to the FT reporters who discovered the document, Christian Shepherd and Laura Pitel. Read the FT story hereContributors: Adrienne Klasa, creative producer, Christian Shepherd, Beijing correspondent, and Laura Pitel, Turkey correspondent. Producers: Persis Love and Fiona Symon For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Persecution of China's Uighur Muslims exposed

As the coronavirus continues to spread, what is the risk that this will push the global economy into recession and what can central bankers and policymakers do to help avoid this? Katie Martin discusses the economic shock caused by the virus with the FT's economics editor Chris Giles.Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, and Chris Giles, economics editor. Producers: Fiona Symon and Andrew Georgiades For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Will coronavirus cause a global recession?

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 hereContributors: Clive Cookson, science editor, and Leslie Hook, environment correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Secrets of the South Pole

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 For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Is India becoming a Big Brother state?

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. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Is Trump abusing his power over the judiciary?

Victory for Iran's hardliners in this month’s parliamentary elections has come at the cost of a despondent population suffering under the weight of renewed US sanctions. With the future of the nuclear deal in doubt and isolationist leaders in the ascendant, Andrew England, Middle East editor, and Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent, discuss what happens next.Contributors: Andrew England, Middle East editor, and Najmeh Bozorgmehr, Tehran correspondent. Producers: Fiona Symon and Mehrnosh Khalaj. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Iran hardliners surf wave of despair

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 For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

The oil money flowing into sport

Investors have begun to shun companies that make their money from fossil fuels because of concerns about global warming. So what does this mean for the oil and gas companies whose future profits depend on continuing to exploit the hydrocarbon assets they have acquired around the world? Pilita Clark discusses the implications with Lex columnist Alan Livsey and energy editor David Sheppard. Read Alan's analysis here Contributors: Pilita Clark, business columnist, Alan Livsey, Lex columnist, and David Sheppard, energy editor. Producer: Fiona Symon For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Are oil and gas turning into stranded assets?

K-Pop has never been more popular. However, a recent string of high profile controversies including a rape conviction and two suicides have sullied the image of the Korean cultural export. Edward White talks to Patricia Nilsson about what makes a K-Pop star, why the singers are under so much pressure, and what the industry means to the country’s economy.Contributors: Edward White, Seoul correspondent and Patricia Nilsson, Media reporter. Producer: Persis Love For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

K-pop: shaped by fans and shaken by scandals

Shares in Elon Musk’s pioneering electric car company Tesla have skyrocketed. Tom Braithwaite discusses whether the company will be able to maintain its current momentum and hold off competition from traditional carmakers with Jamie Powell and Richard Waters.Contributors: Tom Braithwaite, companies news editor, Jamie Powell, Alphaville reporter, and Richard Waters, West Coast editor. Producer: Fiona Symon For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy

Can electric car pioneer Tesla maintain its momentum?

News features and analysis from Financial Times reporters around the world. FT News in Focus is produced by Fiona Symon.