NextEra and Dominion in talks over tie-up to create $400bn US utility giant
Discussions come amid booming demand for electricity to power AI data centres
US federal prosecutors scrutinise BlackRock private credit fund
Wall Street’s top cops examine valuation practices at BlackRock TCP Capital Corp
Letter: If Starmer’s a robot, Burnham’s a marionette
From Barrie Bain, Wadhurst, East Sussex, UK
Letter: The Surtees novel said it all
From Charles D Francis, Anstruther, Fife, Scotland, UK
Letter: What is it about Austrian writers and ocean liners?
From Konstantinos Magliveras, Athens, Greece
Letter: Penitent pilgrims
From Veronica Whitty, Wallsend, Tyne and Wear. UK
Letter: How student dissertations are now alarmingly shallow
From Melanie Ehren, University Professor, Leiden, The Netherlands
Letter: Putting the cost of the Iran war in some perspective
From David Spirakis, London W2, UK
Letter: So who will be licensing the Trump trademark?
From Peter Shay, Hong Kong
Letter: New York Metropolitan Opera’s fickle fans
From J M L Stone, London W1, UK
Letter: Doing the Vatican rag!
From Jane Swan, Delabole, Cornwall, UK
Letter: Markets don’t exist in a liminal cosmic space
From Laura Segafredo, former managing director, BlackRock; Co-host, ‘Moral Revolution’ podcast, Westfield, NJ, US
FT Crossword: Polymath number 1,387
FT Crossword: Number 18,374
Trump Fed nominees oppose terms of keeping Powell as temporary chair
The central bank said the incumbent would remain chair pro tempore until Kevin Warsh is sworn in as early as next week
Boeing shares slide as Trump’s China summit deals disappoint
US president says Beijing will expand agriculture and oil purchases
Global bonds tumble on fears of inflation shock from Iran war
US 30-year Treasury yield closes week at highest level since 2007
Transcript: Burnham eyes Labour crown as Starmer clings on
Lucy Fisher talks to Anna Gross, Miranda Green and Jim Pickard
Demand for skin injectables fails to sag as squeezed consumers prioritise their looks
Dermatology giant Galderma says customers are not skipping their jabs despite rising inflation
Trump undecided on Taiwan arms sale after summit with Xi
US president raises doubts about $14bn weapons package for Taipei after two days of meetings in China
Carney strikes deal over new Canadian pipeline
Carbon tax deal lays the land for increased oil and gas production and shipping of fossil fuels to Asia
Brand Burnham strong in Makerfield as voters prepare for ‘hinge moment’
Greater Manchester mayor’s reputation gives Labour a chance of luring back residents from Reform UK
Bond market freakout
The odds of a global inflation problem are rising. Bond markets are taking note
UK government will ‘grind to a halt’ amid leadership race, say ministers
Key initiatives at risk of being disrupted as Burnham seeks to replace Starmer in contest that could last months