Beginning Middle End — memory, motherhood and starting over

A shape-shifting sea god anchors Valeria Luiselli’s playful, searching novel of broken families and second chances

Iran war reignites debate over US energy-permitting reform

Changes would enable infrastructure to be built faster in order to bolster the country’s energy security

Blackstone says pace of withdrawals slowing at flagship private credit fund

Investor concern over potential losses led to a surge in customers seeking to pull out money this year

Oil price surge drives global bond sell-off

Brent crude’s rise towards $100 threatens a prolonged surge in inflation and resetting interest rate expectations

Oil jumps to $98 after Houthis attack two Saudi Arabian tankers

Yemeni rebels said they used missiles and drones to target the vessels Encelia and Layla

The return of the political professional

After years of duds and dilettantes, true operators have returned to Downing Street — but that won’t guarantee success

Submit your questions: How will Burnham govern the UK?

Join a live Ask an Expert Q&A with the FT’s northern England correspondent Jennifer Williams, columnist and Inside Politics writer Stephen Bush and UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley today at 1pm (BST)

FirstFT: Jes Staley faces questions over his links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein

Also in today’s newsletter: surge in oil prices reignites fears of an inflation shock and Google’s cash flow turns negative

Will Burnham go big or go home?

Reasons to be sceptical about the UK’s new prime minister

Ireland stresses Europe’s need for alumina amid spat over Russian-owned plant

European Commission weighs whether Aughinish Alumina factory in County Limerick should face sanctions

EU fines Google €890mn in test of Trump’s threats to protect Big Tech

EU competition chief says it is bloc’s ‘duty to defend rule of law’ while delivering ‘strong message’ to search giant

14 watches for an aquatic odyssey

Timepieces that will take you to the big blue

My life as a columnist is divided in two: before Brexit and after

The events of 2016 revised my worldview and taught me how to be shouted at

Houthi attacks threaten to cut off Saudi Arabia’s oil lifeline

Asian refiners may wait an extra month for crude as tankers abandon the route through Bab al-Mandab

Nestlé shares tumble as coffee and cocoa prices hit profits

Swiss food group’s new leaders are attempting a sweeping turnaround after years of underperformance

A stealth fighter jet could blow a hole in Healey’s budget

To fly, Tempest and the GCAP need to defy the history of failed joint national projects

Ford hopes Spain tie-up with China’s Geely will revive European business

Two carmakers say they will form a manufacturing joint venture at US group’s Valencia plant

Burnham’s high-risk start may help him get ahead of political pain

PM’s bet on time-consuming Whitehall reform could mean he is building up the case to seek a mandate of his own

Macquarie names banking head to succeed Wikramanayake as CEO

Greg Ward appointed to lead Australian investing giant

Burnham to cut business rates for pubs and clubs

Prime minister says move will help boost high streets across UK

EasyJet profits tumble as Middle East war hits consumer confidence

Quarterly earnings at low-cost airline drop to £85mn

Japan’s AI play and Taiwan’s space ambitions

The inside story on the Asia tech trends that matter, from Nikkei Asia and the Financial Times

Modi vows ‘swift’ justice for India exam leaks

Prime minister makes first comments on scandal that triggered protests in Delhi this week

How to be a bull on the S&P 500

Start by focusing on earnings