Virgin Media O2 owner eyes broadband deals to take on BT Openreach
Telefónica’s Marc Murtra vows to ‘help’ UK subsidiary better compete with Openreach network
Gilt market slump deepens as traders bet on BoE rate rise
UK government bond market under renewed pressure as oil surpasses $100 a barrel
Nigel Farage takes stake in bitcoin company run by Kwasi Kwarteng
Reform UK leader invests £215,000 in Stack Bitcoin
Stagflationary forces are building
A weakening US labour market and financial strains come as the Iran war and surging oil prices spark concerns about inflation pressures
German chancellor’s party suffers narrow defeat in key regional election
Greens hold on in Baden-Württemberg state while AfD almost doubles vote share
Octopus’ £3.5bn trading group which . . . values itself?
None of that pesky public market stuff
EU and Middle East leaders dial in to crisis talks as war with Iran spirals
Also in this newsletter: Why Frontex does not want to be Europe’s ICE
Millions turn to AI for pension planning
Plus, Berkshire’s buyback, hedge funds rethink EM, and Michelangelo and Rodin at the Louvre
G7 to discuss joint release of emergency oil reserves
Middle East war has triggered surge in crude prices that threatens global economy
FirstFT: Markets tumble as oil soars past $110 a barrel
Also in today’s newsletter: German state election and Swiss regulation
A bad jobs report
Plus, AI and productivity
Transcript: Oil price surge risks upending global economy
Victoria Craig speaks to Claire Jones and Susanna Savage
The best of TV and streaming this week
Dark infidelity drama ‘DTF St Louis’ (★★★★★); ‘Molly vs the Machines’ is a rage-inducing documentary on social media; erotic fantasy ‘Vladimir’ — plus ‘Dirty Business’ (★★★★★) about England’s polluting water companies. Reviews by Rebecca Nicholson
Is the Green Party too radical for Britain?
As Zack Polanski’s leftwing outfit gains momentum in the polls, its more unconventional policies are under scrutiny
Farage misses out on Trump meeting as their relationship cools
British populist politician aimed to reinforce his view about the UK’s Chagos Islands deal in conversation with US president
Public register will require developers in England and Wales to declare land options
Ministers want to deter anti-competitive behaviour such as ‘land banking’ and help smaller housebuilders
FTAV’s further reading
Whole Foods jail; AI x jobs; the US; journalism; Noma; essays; the Fed; Hormuz; and mammals
Gisèle Pelicot’s compelling story demands to be heard — the pick of new audio books
Emma Thompson’s narration captures the tone of Pelicot’s ‘A Hymn to Life’, while Francis Spufford delivers one of the most absorbing novels in recent memory
Which economies will pay the biggest price for the Iran war?
American consumers will feel pain at the petrol pump, but US is a net energy exporter unlike its European allies
Drones: a strategic tool for defence and markets
Tech groups such as Quantum are winning investor support in Europe, boosting the region’s venture capital industry
Kharg Island: Iran’s oil lifeline that Trump has left untouched
How US deals with crucial export hub could shed light on its longer-term strategy towards Iran
Germany seeks to emulate Japan in shoring up critical minerals
BMW and Rheinmetall push for joint purchasing of raw materials to reduce reliance on China
Global trading system under ‘unsustainable’ pressure, warns UK
Significant reforms required to halt breakdown of rules-based order, says British government
Iran war will leave a complex geoeconomic legacy
Markets suggest the ramifications are likely to drag on and spread