David Brent was supposed to be a satire, now he looks like a model for political leaders August 5, 2026 Attention-seeking, self-absorbed and desperate to be liked, David Brent was meant to embody everything a leader should not be – but today’s media landscape rewards the very qualities Ricky Gervais satirised, says Tim Focas A Tiktok clip has gone viral for comparing Andy Burnham to David Brent. His cheesy mannerisms, dad dancing and guitar playing [...]
Wenger rubbishes Infantino sell-off plan as senior Fifa figures desert president August 4, 2026 Fifa development chief Arsene Wenger has denied any involvement in the doomed sell-off plan that has left president Gianni Infantino fighting to save his job. Wenger said he only heard about the proposal – to raise $4bn from selling stakes in a new commercial vehicle that would manage the World Cup to private investors including [...]
As it happened: Oil prices tumble as Bessent says US-Iran deal imminent; miner stocks rally August 4, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM FTSE 100 liveblog. The price of oil tumbled on Tuesday afternoon after a senior Trump ally said that a deal over control of the Strait of Hormuz could be agreed with Iran in the coming days. The price of Brent crude – the international benchmark for oil – tumbled [...]
Donald Trump is creeping towards a shrewd sanctions policy August 4, 2026 President Trump is shifting toward a more solidly pro-Ukraine position which, while welcome, will require careful calibration to mitigate potential global trade disruptions and address corporate enablers of the Russian war effort, says Derek Grossman President Trump’s warm welcome on Tuesday to Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, shows that he is moving, fitfully, toward a [...]
Trump regime distances itself from Infantino as under-fire Fifa boss faces calls to quit August 3, 2026 The Trump administration has denied answering the call of Gianni Infantino as the under-fire Fifa boss scrambles to save his job. Infantino is facing a possible vote of no confidence from Fifa members following last week’s fierce backlash to his plan to sell stakes in a new subsidiary that would hold the commercial rights to [...]
As it happened: UK stocks cool after Astrazeneca drags; Trump and Iran clash over peace talks August 3, 2026 Welcome back to the City AM liveblog. The London stock market is starting the new week relatively mixed after Donald Trump hinted a deal between US and Iran on the Strait of Hormuz is near, but was contradicted by communication from Tehran. The US President has said that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Iran [...]
Trump suspends strikes amid new peace hopes August 2, 2026 President Trump has said the “perimeters of a deal” have been agreed with Iran, prompting him to call off strikes in the Middle East. The US president said that Iran and Gulf region countries had “asked” the US to suspend strikes due to the workings of a new peace deal. In a Truth Social post, [...]
Fifa refuses to back down on World Cup sell-off in face of European boycott July 31, 2026 Fifa has refused to abandon its plans to sell off stakes in a new $20bn commercial vehicle despite all Uefa nations vowing to boycott future World Cups if it proceeds. All 55 European nations in Uefa, including England’s Football Association, yesterday voted to support a boycott of all Fifa tournaments in protest at the divisive [...]
Uefa to boycott World Cup over Infantino’s Fifa sell-off following unanimous vote July 30, 2026 All European nations have vowed to boycott the World Cup if Fifa proceeds with plans to sell off stakes in a new commercial vehicle following a Uefa crisis summit. England’s Football Association and the other 54 members of European governing body Uefa held emergency talks today to discuss their response to Fifa’s proposal. All Uefa [...]
Vehicle production drops in first half of year July 30, 2026 British car manufacturers produced considerably fewer vehicles in the first six months of this year, according to fresh figures from the industry’s largest trade group which warned that tariffs and domestic policy decisions were weighing on an already struggling sector. Vehicle production fell by 7.5 per cent between January and July compared to the same [...]