Saudi Arabia's state oil company Aramco is making a high stakes investment in India as the world’s largest crude oil exporter seeks to deepen its ties with the fastest growing energy consumer. Tom O’Sullivan discusses the proposed investment, announced by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani, with Benjamin Parkin and Anjli Raval.

Contributors: Tom O’Sullivan, deputy analysis editor, Benjamin Parkin, Mumbai correspondent, and Anjli Raval, senior energy correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Italy's prime minister Guiseppe Conte lives to fight another day after a bid by the populist leader Matteo Salvini to unseat him and win power by holding snap elections failed. Katie Martin discusses whether the new alliance between the Five Star Movement and its former enemy, the Democratic Party, can last with Ben Hall and Miles Johnson.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Ben Hall, Europe editor, and Miles Johnson, Rome correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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The French luxury goods group LMVH has made a surprise $14.5bn offer for Tiffany’s, the New York jeweller immortalised in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.  Harriet Agnew and Vanessa Holder talk to Katie Martin about whether the takeover bid will succeed and the merits for both sides in the current geopolitical climate.

Contributors: Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Harriet Agnew, Paris correspondent and Vanessa Houlder, Lex writer. Producers: Persis Love and Fiona Symon

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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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Beijing has ordered government offices and public institutions to remove all foreign computer equipment and software within three years as part of its bid for self-reliance in office technology. Malcolm Moore discusses the ramifications for Chinese and US companies and for the global supply chain with the FT’s Yuan Yang in Beijing.

Contributors: Malcolm Moore, technology news editor, and Yuan Yang, Beijing technology correspondent.  Producer: Fiona Symon

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Last week Boris Johnson lead the conservative party to its biggest victory in over 30 years on a promise to “get Brexit done”. What should the UK expect from its new government and how has business reacted to the election? George Parker and Adam Samson talk to Siona Jenkins about what the next five years could bring.

Contributors: Siona Jenkins, editor, UK news, George Parker, political editor and Adam Samson, global head of Fast FT. Producer: Persis Love. Photo credit: Leon Neal/PA

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Questions about the future of fossil fuels are putting new pressure on companies and financial institutions. How are they responding and should they be doing more? Pilita Clark talks to Huw van Steenis, chair of the sustainable finance committee at UBS and a former adviser to Bank of England governor, Mark Carney, and Billy Nauman, reporter for the FT’s Moral Money. 

Contributors: Huw van Steenis, chair of the sustainable finance committee at UBS, Pilita Clark, business columnist and Billy Nauman, reporter and producer, moral money. Producer: Persis Love. Photo credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty

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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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Jeanine Añez settles in for long haul as pandemic adds to political uncertainty

Some officials are using Covid-19 to jump on the neoliberal-bashing bandwagon

Stimulant given as ‘likely’ reason for lower infections but authorities stress health risks

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

Energy, water and other utility groups keep services going despite lockdowns and cuts

Well-capitalised businesses will have an increased advantage for the next few years

Investment group that owns US malls pledges to help groups weather coronavirus crisis

‘Cat-and-mouse game’ pitches central bank against market forces

Large foreign financing requirement and small reserves leave Erdogan facing cash crunch

Market Questions is the FT’s guide to the week ahead

Rial to be changed to the toman after five decades of inflation

Analysts fear unintended consequences of central bank’s vast foreign-currency holdings

Stuart Levey, known for tough enforcement of sanctions on Iran, will head digital currency project

Higher education should not be treated as just another business

Regulators must ensure that lenders’ defences are sufficiently robust

Potential adversaries could seek to exploit vulnerabilities triggered by pandemic, warn analysts

Big-name investors such as Elliott and Caxton act on concerns over debasement of money

Christian Noyer believes projects available to consumers are a way off yet

Industry associations demand detail to manage risk of trading from home

Frantic trading across financial markets pushes revenues up at the exchange and financial data group

Charity Commission intervened over £350,000 of payments to Duke of York’s private secretary

Watchmakers press on with new releases, despite the coronavirus

Tim Hayward helps the FT's Daniel Garrahan turn his kitchen into a Parisian bistro

The video app loved by teenagers is powered by artificial intelligence and protectionism

Downfall of carmaker’s former boss sets up clash between country’s old guard and its reformists

Rise of volatility and dispersion was supposed to bring a change of fortunes versus passive

Companies suffer steep share-price falls while Luckin implosion highlights risks

Central bank support and rising hopes for economic reopening spark April rally

Bids complicate Chinese investor’s efforts to buy out whole of troubled company

Oil price collapse triggered by coronavirus pandemic almost halves Anglo-Dutch group’s earnings

Charging 2 per cent to hold assets when returns are low is wrong, writes Sebastian Mallaby

Legislation cuts taxes for some enterprises while increasing VAT

Pretoria has waived rules that prevented mining groups generating electricity for their own use

Restrictions have hampered miner’s ability to move money out of the country

Wall Street’s late sell-off came on top of Europe’s worst-ever single day performance

Country becomes first in world to halt all stock, bond and currency trading

Lobby groups led by UK Finance warn there is likelihood of ‘severe’ impact to borrowers

Non-bank lenders put on downgrade watch as sector braces for wave of borrowers not paying

The time it takes for employees to be assessed is putting companies in delicate legal territory

Company to refund fraction of policy premiums to reflect reduction in driving