Exit Party by Emily St John Mandel — all-too-plausible visions of dystopia
This beautifully written novel portrays two equally terrifying views of the world in 2031 — total anarchy or safety under a repressive state
Israel’s hapless British defenders
Many Jews still feel kinship to Israel, but refusing to recognise its failings is not an act of support
A music power couple’s LA garden sings ‘with its own voice’
Landscape architect John Sharp’s drought-tolerant oasis brings a little Hollywood glamour to a historic house
Big Tech has replaced Big Oil as Public Enemy No 1, says US shale boss
Diamondback Energy CEO Kaes Van’t Hof says oil companies are no longer viewed as pariahs by young people seeking a well-paid career
Is now really the time to worry about a new China shock?
Be careful what you wish for
DAU — the art house strikes back in staggering Soviet-set masterpiece
Twenty years in the making, this headspinning biopic of Nobel-winning physicist Lev Landau makes its debut at the Venice Film Festival
Pressure — Andrew Scott is superb as D-Day’s weatherman
The actor brings intense gravity to his central turn in the second world war film based on David Haig’s stage play
Foreign Office to appoint first female head after Mandelson turmoil
Lindy Cameron becomes top civil servant at the department that was rocked by the sacking of predecessor Olly Robbins
UK banks don’t have a windfall to tax
The so-called big four are in decent shape, but hardly world beaters
Ryanair investors revolt over Michael O’Leary’s €150mn pay deal
Airline boss has defended bumper remuneration packages, saying they are contingent on meeting stretching targets
England’s mayors to be allowed to introduce unlimited tourism tax
Hotel rooms, bed and breakfasts and Airbnb-type rentals face new levy
New AI health tools need ‘L-plates’, says UK review
Proposals following national consultation on health tech regulation call for live monitoring as AI moves deeper into patient care
FirstFT: Government buyback fails to halt rise in Treasury yields
Also in today’s newsletter: Witkoff and Kushner’s failed diplomacy and reaction to Apple’s new folding iPhone
HSBC finance chief Kaur to step down in latest reshuffle
Announcement comes less than two years after her appointment
Latham & Watkins buys Nvidia servers to set up in-house AI systems
Law firm is customising open-weight models as alternative to OpenAI and Anthropic
Rose Chalalai Singh’s dinner with the dervishes
The chef heads to Istanbul for fishing, dancing and feasting with the founders of Nackiyé
On Europe’s economy, let’s ditch the lazy stereotypes
Despite careful, consistent labour market reforms, the continent has not lived down to its image as work-shy
The capital wars are coming
Expect more intense competition for the world’s savings
Trump’s coal revival push fails to reverse fuel’s long decline
Coal-fired electricity generation falls 11% in first half of 2026 as cheaper power sources such as natural gas grow
Franklin Templeton turns the tide as Western Asset crisis recedes
Asset manager moves past painful chapter to extend franchise in public and private markets and reach $1.8tn in assets
Hard left holds key to Germany’s first far-right state premiership
Leftist BSW party emerges as kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt after Sunday’s regional election
ECB expected to raise rates to fight inflation shock
Renewed rise in oil price puts pressure on central bank to raise rates for second time this year
Diana, Princess of Wales’s ‘revenge dress’ comes up for auction
The eyes of the world were on Diana on the night Prince Charles admitted infidelity — so she dressed to kill. Now, that black off-the-shoulder gown is to be sold by Sotheby’s
Prediction markets ‘rife with insider trading’, warns EU watchdog
Esma’s concerns on risks of fast-growing sector contrast with US’s more welcoming stance