Fed policymakers are set to meet today, the world's most unaffordable property and why you shouldn't fear robots

Fed policymakers are set to meet today for the first time since their epoch-ending decision to raise rates in December. But simmering concerns over China, the global economy, commodities and financial market valuations have left some wondering whether the US central bank might have jumped the gun. (FT)

In an op-ed in the FT, Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund group Bridgewater, writes that the Fed should hold off on another rate rise. (FT)

In the news

Opec calls for co-operation The oil cartel’s secretary-general has called on the world’s largest oil producers to help arrest the worst price collapse in decades, as one of Russia’s biggest oil companies said it would not oppose joining the group in output cuts. (FT)

Malaysia PM funds traced to Saudi royals A $680m transfer to the Malaysian prime minister’s bank account that sparked a political crisis was made by the Saudi royal family, Malaysia’s attorney-general said on Tuesday. Najib Razak is battling a scandal overallegations of the misappropriation of more than $1bn dollars linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad state investment fund. (FT)

The world’s most unaffordable housing That dubious title goes to Hong Kong, wheremedian home prices were 19 times the median income last year. Sydney came in second place for the most unaffordable property, while London ranked eighth. (FT)

China slump shakes African economies The slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy has sapped its once seemingly insatiable hunger for Africa’s commodities — and many of the continent’s economies are tumbling as a result. (NYT)

Zika virus to spread The mosquito-borne virus, which has been linked to brain damage in thousands of Brazilian babies, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, according to the World Health Organisation. (FT)

‘Putin is corrupt’ The US Treasury has told the BBC that it considers Russian President Vladimir Putin to be corrupt. The US government has already imposed sanctions on Mr Putin’s aides, but it is thought to be the first time it has directly accused him of corruption. (BBC)

It’s a big day for

Apple The tech company announces earnings amid concerns that it may experience its firstdown year for iPhone sales. (FT)

Read our full coverage of the Week Ahead.

Food for thought

Greek debt is the key to the refugee crisis The two major European crises of the past six months share two common main actors: Greece and Germany. The FT’s Gideon Rachman argues that the EU can use the lessons of Greece’s debt to deal with the refugees flooding that country’s shores. (FT)

A seat for your doll A Thai airline is to allow passengers to buy seats for life-like dolls that their owners treat as real children due to their belief they possess supernatural powers . Dolls with tickets will be served snacks and drinks, but will be barred from occupying the emergency exit rows. (Bloomberg)

Why you shouldn’t fear robots Anxieties about super-intelligent machines are scientifically unjustified, argues Luciano Floridi. “No AI version of Godzilla is about to enslave us, so we should stop worrying about science fiction and start focusing on the actual challenges that AI poses.” (FT)

Wall Street’s battle of the bankers How a lawsuit between two erstwhile colleagues couldtransform the industry’s hiring and retention policies. (FT)

Japan’s sumos fight back A victory by the wrestler Kotoshogiku has raised new hopes of the country staging a comeback in championships, after years in which a lack of training has led to a decline in its dominance. His win “should be a good kick in the pants” for other homegrown wrestlers,” said retired champ Tochiazuma. (NAR)

How the surest bet in Hollywood went bust Ryan Kavanaugh, the head of Relativity Media, hobnobbed with Bradley Cooper and Channing Tatum, connected the film industry’s biggest producers with Wall Street’s top executives and claimed to have an algorithm that could accurately predict a movie’s success. But his record never lived up to his sales pitch. (NYMag)

Video of the day

Why TV is buying into news satire FT media correspondent Henry Mance examines why Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US, has taken a 40 per cent stakein satirical news site The Onion, reflecting a wider move by TV companies to attract millennial consumers. (FT)