Former prime minister intervenes with warning that both Tories and Labour ‘pose a risk’ to country, Conservative manifesto in the spotlight, Lib Dems change tune with calls to avert Johnson majority, Sterling rallies as Tories extend lead.

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.

Jeremy Corbyn unveiled 451 pages of leaked documents, which he claimed show details of trade talks between the UK and US. The Labour leader said the discussions included Washington's demand for providing access to the NHS for American healthcare companies.

Neither Labour nor the Conservatives have offered a "credible prospectus" for government in the election, the Institute for Fiscal Studies said this morning, in a damning assessment that highlighted the gulf between different political visions for Britain.

The Conservatives vowed to bring in a new state aid system to protect British industry after Brexit, as the party finesses its message to Leave voters ahead of election day.

The Labour and Conservative parties are making a final push on key issues — border security and rail fares — as the election campaign nears the home stretch. Brexit concerns are also bubbling again.

Live coverage of the UK election campaign.

Live coverage of the UK election campaign.

Live coverage of the UK election campaign.

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn spar in a televised debate just six days before the general election.

Live coverage of UK election campaign.

Live coverage of the UK election campaign.

Live coverage of the UK election campaign.

The pound has soared more than 2 per cent in its biggest rise since 2017 after an exit poll has projected a strong victory for Boris Johnson’s Conservative party.

The Conservatives secure the biggest majority in parliament since Margaret Thatcher with Labour's 'red wall' crumbling; stocks in London surge while the pound has soared more than 2 per cent in its sharpest rally in nearly three years

A live blog from FT.com

More volatility ahead as US oil storage capacity is depleting, analysts warn

The US president holds ownership interests in golf resorts in Scotland and Ireland

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, criticised western liberalism and defended Russia’s role in Syria and Venezuela in an exclusive interview with the FT on the eve of the G20 summit at the weekend. Lionel Barber, FT editor, and Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief, offer their impressions of the interview in conversation with Katie Martin. Read the interview transcript here

Contributors: Suzanne Blumsom, executive editor, Katie Martin, capital markets editor, Lionel Barber, FT editor, and Henry Foy, Moscow bureau chief. 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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What will the world look like when machines are cleverer than we are? Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor, discuss how different writers have imagined the future in response to the advance of artificial intelligence.

Contributors: Fred Studemann, Literary editor, and John Thornhill, Innovation editor. Producer: Fiona Symon

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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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Rowena Chiu, former assistant to Harvey Weinstein, tells the story of her alleged abuse by the former Hollywood producer and discusses how to prevent non-disclosure agreements from being used to silence the victims of crime with Pilita Clark and Kate Beioley.

Contributors: Pilita Clark, business columnist, Rowena Chiu, former assistant to Harvey Weinstein, and Kate Beioley, legal correspondent. Producer: Fiona Symon

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Britain's party leaders have made lavish promises to win favour with voters ahead of next month's election. Chris Giles, FT economics editor, discusses the main parties' pre-election pledges and their likely impact on the economy with Siona Jenkins.

Contributors: Siona Jenkins, editor, UK news, and Chris Giles, economic editor. Producers: Fiona Symon and Persis Love

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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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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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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

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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.

Tuesday, March 17

Governments 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. 

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Varying efforts to stem rise in homicides across Latin America have failed

Regime claims 8 people died in plot connected to foiled coup attempt launched from Colombia

Donald Trump denies Washington played role in alleged attempt to assassinate Maduro

Venezuela’s president airs video of former US soldier accused of taking part in thwarted plot

Partnership that would prioritise UK could produce 100m doses by year-end if treatment is effective

Investors have bet on Gilead’s remdesivir as solution to coronavirus crisis

As Beijing connects the region, the Philippines weighs ‘shutdown’ risk

Decline leads to a drop in wholesale prices as businesses close

Loan scheme worth up to £100m a month would allow suppliers to assist struggling customers

Shutdowns likely to shift energy use from fossil fuels towards wind and solar

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

Chipmaker likely to be interested in app’s traffic data rather than its customers

Potential cost cuts should not be used as justification for a UK telecoms tie-up

Finding love in a time of corona is tricky, converting activity into paid accounts is harder yet

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

S&P 500 falls after Big Tech raises red flags over virus impact and US-China tensions ratchet higher

Country’s finance minister seeks to reassure investors on impact of Covid-19

Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro is building the case for his own impeachment

Near-unconditional cash transfers are the most efficient form of relief

Economic woes go well beyond the coronavirus crisis

New workers could suffer the scarring effects of lockdown for decades