Natwest boss becomes latest City figure caught in AI social media scam July 3, 2026 The boss of Natwest has become the latest City figure to be depicted in an AI scam across social media. Paul Thwaite – the chief executive of the FTSE 100 bank – was posted on X alongside journalist Emily Maitlis in a deepfake picture attempting to create a BBC radio interview. The picture was shared [...]
Ferdinand, Crouch, Foster: How footballers have built media empires for the future July 3, 2026 Footballers need to retire eventually. Calum Hopkins takes a look at how they can do it in a changing media landscape. With the World Cup knockouts well underway, it is time to consider whether the people sitting in the studio continue to have the power. We are seeing a massive shift in football; the audience [...]
Richard Desmond puts £1bn Westferry development up for sale July 3, 2026 A £1bn residential development on the doorstep of London’s financial district has been put up for sale by its billionaire owner, City AM can reveal, in the latest twist in a long-running saga over the future of the project. The Westferry Printworks, which is owned by former newspaper baron Richard Desmond and promises to deliver [...]
Fifa accused of bullying in attempt to kill off multi-billion class action claim July 3, 2026 Fifa has been accused of using bullying tactics in a bid to kill off a class action lawsuit claiming billions in lost earnings from football’s governing body on behalf of current and former players. Justice For Players is pursuing a mega claim deriving from the European Court of Justice’s landmark Diarra Ruling, which declared Fifa’s [...]
Why brands can fail miserably at sponsoring Wimbledon July 3, 2026 With the Grand Slam in full swing, Sam Milne discusses why brands still manage to fail at Wimbledon Pimm’s, strawberries and cream, pristine grass courts, and royalty and sporting legends intermingling evoke only one place: Wimbledon. It’s one of the few global sporting events that feels timeless, and minus the players themselves, an image from [...]
Ryanair warns of ‘passport queue chaos’ with new EU border system July 3, 2026 Ryanair has warned the EU’s new biometric border system will cause “passport queue chaos” this summer and called on European governments to halt the rollout until after the busy travel season. The budget airline said the new system “is not ready” for the large volume of people travelling to Europe over the summer and urged [...]
World Cup boost fails to land UK services sector on front foot July 3, 2026 A World Cup boost failed to drag the UK’s services sector to growth last month after it recorded its fastest rate of decline in three-and-a-half years as businesses braced for the Andy Burnham coronation. The latest Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) from S&P Global showed a reading of 48.8 in June, falling from 49.3 in May. [...]
UK fintech Starling to axe 130 roles in AI-powered simplification drive July 3, 2026 Starling is gearing up to cut some 130 roles in a bid to streamline its operations following a fall in profit over the last year. The London-based fintech told staff this week it would restructure its banking and tech operations as it leveraged AI across operations ahead of an influx of new projects. It said [...]
As it happened: Stocks rise as oil lower; Iran threatens ‘forceful response’ over Strait of Hormuz July 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The rate of traffic flowing through the Strait of Hormuz is gradually picking back up in a major boost to the oil market. Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil prices – held steady at near $72 per barrel on Friday morning. It marked a similar level [...]
Devolution will create losers too July 3, 2026 Devolution is a laudable endeavour, but it will widen the gap between thriving and struggling areas as much as closing it, writes Sanjay Raja.