This week is our summer books and films spectacular, full of recommendations of things to read and watch. First, Lilah is joined by literary editors Fred Studemann and Laura Battle to explore the FT's Summer Books special. They suggest a range of light summer reads, sharp non-fiction, deep dives, thrillers and classics to take on your summer holiday, and talk trends in book publishing. Then, deputy arts editor Raphael Abraham recommends the top films to look out for this summer. After watching 24 films in less than a week at the Cannes film festival, he's filtered the new releases down to a must-see list.--------------Tell us about your own favourite new books and films! We’ll share them alongside the episode on our social platforms. Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap.--------------Links and mentions from the episode: Here’s Laura’s list of the best fiction summer reads: ​​https://on.ft.com/3AvtuPg. The whole summer books special is at http://ft.com/summerbooks.Books mentioned:–Audiobooks: Bad Actors by Mick Herron and Ulysses by James Joyce–Novels that span centuries: To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara and Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel–Beach read: You Made a Fool of Death with your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi–Fun non-fiction: Circus of Dreams by John Walsh–Empire books: Legacy of Violence by Caroline Elkin and In the Shadow of the Gods by Dominic Lieven–BRussian influence: Putin’s People by Catherine Belton and Butler to the World by Oliver Bullough–AI simulation: The Anomaly by Hervé Le TellierStories mentioned: –Marriage in all its divine tedium: https://on.ft.com/3KXOBfm–Edward Luce on whether America is headed for another civil war: https://on.ft.com/3yJ43az–Fred’s BookTok column: https://on.ft.com/3GEC5AdFilms to watch this summer, from Raph:–Aftersun: https://on.ft.com/3uUt9lJ–Nitram: https://on.ft.com/3auhgvs–Hit the Road–McEnroe–Three Thousand Years of Longing: https://on.ft.com/3nMshLK–Elvis: https://on.ft.com/3P1Uaeu—-------------Special offers for FT Weekend listeners, from 50% off a digital subscription to a $1/£1/€1 trial can be found here: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast--------------Original music by Metaphor Music. Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner and Sam Giovinco.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FT’s UK chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley and FT columnist Stephen Bush discuss what’s next for the country after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Plus, as the fears of recession grow, commodity prices are falling. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Boris Johnson bows to pressure and quits after days of turmoilTwitter Space: Boris Johnson has announced his resignation. So what’s next? Commodities slump as recession fears stamp out fierce rallyUnhedged newsletter The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pressure mounts on UK prime minister Boris Johnson to resign, but the pound holds steady. Plus the Chinese government is pushing for more students to study Marxism. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Cabinet ministers call on Boris Johnson to quit as UK prime ministerPound traders look past UK political turmoilSupreme Court ruling casts doubt on powers of US regulatorsChina’s Marxism majors prosper amid labour market woesThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two high-profile UK ministers resigned on Tuesday, oil prices had its biggest one-day drop since March, and a Chinese electric car company outsold Tesla in the first half of the year. Plus, Chinese electric vehicle battery companies are on a fundraising blitz. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Boris Johnson on the brink after chancellor and health secretary quit UK cabinetWarren Buffett-backed Chinese group BYD overtakes Tesla in global electric vehicle salesChina taps markets for $10bn to cement clean tech supremacyChurch of England taps debt markets with ‘Cranmer’ bondsThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European power prices hit record high as Russia curtails gas supplies, foreign investors have dumped a record $33bn of Indian shares since October, and the FT’s chief economics commentator Martin Wolf discusses the global economy.Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:European power prices hit record high as Russia curtail gas suppliesForeign investors dump record $33bn of Indian stocks since OctoberPolicy errors of the 1970s echo in our times The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we return to one of our favourite episodes, to ask the question: what does it mean to defy death? Rock climber Leo Houlding tells us about his terrifying family holidays, scaling vertical cliff-faces with his two young kids. We also explore radical life extension with science writer Anjana Ahuja. How close are we scientifically to extending the human lifespan to 150 or 200? What are the implications when we get there? And do we really want to live forever? Links from the episode: — Leo Houlding’s extreme family holiday in Wyoming’s wild west: https://www.ft.com/content/0bcba30a-bb46-4bc1-8a7d-9166dc43a5e8  — Anjana Ahuja on whether we can live forever: https://www.ft.com/content/60d9271c-ae0a-4d44-8b11-956cd2e484a9 — Inside the life extension market, with Tiffanie Darke: https://www.ft.com/content/867e647b-c0e8-4aeb-9777-fedff7ec3476 Want to say hi? Email us at ftweekendpodcast@ft.com. We’re on Twitter @ftweekendpod, and Lilah is on Instagram and Twitter @lilahrap. If you want a great discount on an FT subscription or a $1/£1/€1 month-long trial, we’ve got you: http://ft.com/weekendpodcast Mixing and sound design by Breen Turner, with original music by Metaphor music.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Supreme Court cut back the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, US stocks lost $9 trillion in the first half of 2022, and frustration with China’s zero-Covid policy is pushing its middle class to try to leave the country. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:US Supreme Court curbs EPA’s power to regulate greenhouse gas emissionsUS stocks on course for worst first-half slump in more than 50 yearsCovid in China: Xi’s fraying relationship with the middle classThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley.Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese stocks are set for their largest monthly rise since 2020, Meta frustrates app developers by charging for VR apps, and Revlon’s bankruptcy filing sheds light on what it takes to stay relevant in the beauty industry. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Chinese stocks set for largest monthly rise since 2020Meta sparks anger by charging for VR appsHow the beauty industry left Revlon behindStatutory inquiry into Captain Tom charity launchedThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A former White House aide testified that former President Donald Trump tried to commandeer his limousine on January 6, an independent report advises the UK to suspend use of live facial recognition over privacy concerns, and environmentalists are concerned about the impact of global timber trade disruption. Plus, access to mail-order abortion pills is shaping up to be the next legal battleground.  Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:UK should immediately ban use of live facial recognition, warns report Ukraine war hits global timber trade and adds to risks for forestsAbortion pills in demand after reversal of Roe vs Wade The FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia is on course to default on its debt for the first time since 1998, and Credit Suisse has become the first domestic bank to be found guilty of a corporate crime after a court found the lender failed to stop the laundering of Bulgarian drug money. UK travel chaos could widen this summer as travel unions threaten strike activity. Subscribe to the FT News Briefing on Apple Podcasts or SpotifyMentioned in this podcast:Russia set for first debt default since 1998 as payment deadline passesCredit Suisse found guilty over Bulgarian drug money failingsIs Britain headed for a summer of strikes?US company spending on private jets for personal use hits 10-year highThe FT News Briefing is produced by Fiona Symon, Sonja Hutson and Marc Filippino. The show’s editor is Jess Smith. Additional help by Peter Barber, Michael Lello, David da Silva and Gavin Kallmann. The show’s theme song is by Metaphor Music. Topher Forhecz is the FT’s executive producer. The FT’s global head of audio is Cheryl Brumley. Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.