Belgian prime minister calls for EU to normalise ties with Russia
Rightwing nationalist Bart De Wever challenges full support for Ukraine in quest for lower energy prices
French far right makes first-round gains in municipal elections
Local votes are a crucial test of parties’ strength and appetite for alliances ahead of 2027 presidential contest
UniCredit launches €35bn Commerzbank takeover offer
Italian lender steps up long-running pursuit with plan to increase its near 30% stake in German bank
FTAV’s further reading
IPOs; private credit; autocoding; the IMF; and Anthropic
2022 redux?
War makes it possible.
‘One Battle After Another’ wins Best Picture at Oscars
Satire on immigration takes home one award after another, including Paul Thomas Anderson’s first directing accolade
India seeks greater ‘chemistry’ with EU capitals as ties deepen
Also in this newsletter: Arguments against an EU gas price cap
Canadian pension funds hit by private equity slump
Submit your questions to Katie Martin: are markets heading for a shock?
Take part in a live Ask an Expert Q&A with the FT’s markets columnist on Thursday March 19 at 1pm GMT
FirstFT: Trump warns European allies on Nato over Hormuz plea
Also in today’s newsletter: global inflation fears and French local elections
Central banks set to pivot in a hawkish direction
Reaction to the supply shock will set the tone for the months ahead
Online MBA 2026
As generative AI comes of age, its use in online MBAs poses tough questions for business schools and students. Plus, the value of flexibility and why top athletes opt for remote learning
The best of TV and streaming this week
Nicole Kidman stars in Patricia Cornwell adaptation ‘Scarpetta’; Louis Theroux goes ‘Inside the Manosphere’; C4’s reboot of ‘A Woman of Substance’ — plus infidelity drama ‘DTF St Louis’; social media documentary ‘Molly vs the Machines’; and water company exposé ‘Dirty Business’ (★★★★★). Reviews by R
Transcript: US shale producers not yet tempted by $100 oil
Victoria Craig talks to Sam Fleming and Stephanie Findlay
Reeves must tackle ‘badly broken’ student loans, Cambridge chancellor says
Chris Smith criticises ‘absurd position’ graduates find themselves in and calls for more vocational education
The UK is struggling to achieve its aims on clean energy
Our economy remains highly fossil fuel-dependent partly because we are not electrifying in the desired way
Unforgettable looks from the Oscars red carpet
The good, bad and ugly fashion from the biggest night of the year in Hollywood
Was Revolut’s banking licence worth the wait?
Group would be wise to move gradually with its lending ambitions
Canadian pension funds count cost of private equity slump
Rising interest rates bring prolonged downturn to the buyout industry
Netanyahu’s rivals compete to outdo him over Iran
Israel’s opposition parties criticise PM’s management of war even if they express strong support for offensive
Retail investors pull billions from private capital’s credit gold mine
Flood of redemptions threatens to stall one of Wall Street’s most important sources of growth
Syngenta to build $120mn agricultural science centre in UK
Investment by Swiss-based group contrasts with pharma companies withdrawing funding from British research facilities
Private credit is key to keep Main Street moving
Despite recent concerns, it helps sustain job creation and economic growth
India’s restaurants stop deep frying food as gas crisis bites
South Asia reels from global energy crisis sparked by the US-Israeli war on Iran