BP removes chair Albert Manifold over ‘serious’ governance and conduct concerns
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

Oil company is FTSE’s biggest faller as chair departs immediately after only eight months in the role

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BP has removed its chair, Albert Manifold, with the oil company’s board saying it had serious concerns about “important governance standards, oversight and conduct”.

The FTSE 100 company announced Manifold’s departure with immediate effect on Tuesday, without giving further details. He had lasted only eight months in the role.

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B&Q blames sales dip on wet Easter but predicts heatwave gain
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

DIY chain owner Kingfisher is top FTSE 100 riser as it sticks to full-year profit outlook

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A wet and cold Easter hit sales of barbecues and garden products at the home improvement chain B&Q, but it hopes to make up lost ground during the current heatwave.

Kingfisher, which owns B&Q along with Screwfix in the UK, and Castorama and Brico Dépôt across six European countries, said like-for-like sales at established outlets in the UK and Ireland dipped 0.9% between February and April.

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Next boss warns over ‘dramatic fall’ in UK entry-level jobs
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

Peer’s comments come as Milburn report is likely to find government has failed to tackle youth unemployment

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The boss of Next has sounded the alarm about a “dramatic fall” in the number of entry-level jobs in the UK that is driving up youth unemployment, saying the retailer now receives twice as many applicants for each role than two years ago.

Lord Wolfson said the clothing and homeware chain, where he has been chief executive since 2001, typically received 10 applications for every job in its shops in 2024 but that number has now risen to 19.

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Ferrari shares fall after launch of first EV as Jony Ive design proves divisive
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

Some analysts question whether design of Luce, starting at $640,000, lives up to sportscar brand’s heritage

Ferrari’s share price has dropped after it revealed a long-awaited first electric vehicle, with a minimalist look created by the former Apple design chief Jony Ive that departs from the Italian manufacturer’s petrol sportscars.

The Luce, starting at $640,000 (£545,000), has a range of 329 miles (530km) thanks to its battery capacity of 122 kilowatt hours, the company said, with four motors that can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in 2.5 seconds, with a top speed of more than 310km/h (193mph).

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Mother of boy who may have died in TikTok challenge urges No 10 to ban social media
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

Ellen Roome, whose son, Jools Sweeney, was 14 when he died, wants a ban put in place for under-16s

The mother of a teenager who believes he died in a TikTok challenge gone wrong has said Downing Street has been too slow to move towards a social media ban for under-16s, and accused the government of “kicking it down the road”.

Ellen Roome, the mother of Jools Sweeney, 14, is among the families who will meet Keir Starmer on Tuesday as a consultation on a possible social media ban closes this week.

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Spotify boss defends move to AI music, saying it is better than ‘slop’
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

Streaming platform says remix tool agreed with Universal Music Group will protect artists from piracy

Spotify’s chief executive has defended the company’s move into AI-generated music, claiming it offers users and creators a better alternative to piracy and unregulated AI slop.

Last week, the platform announced a new feature in which premium users will be allowed to create their own, AI-generated remixes and song covers using music from participating artists.

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French teenager Moïse Kouamé underlines huge promise by beating Marin Cilic
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

• Home hopeful is youngest man to win in Paris since 1991

• Medvedev loses in five sets; Norrie out injured

The real surprise here was that it took so long to come. Moïse Kouamé had expertly handled his nerves and high expectations to begin his first French Open main draw match on the front foot, he had demonstrated his enormous promise by playing so well, and he had paired his form with total self-assurance. Finally, with the 17-year-old up two sets to love and on his way to a perfect start, his 5,000-strong audience responded with an impromptu rendition of La Marseillaise.

Their crooning provided the soundtrack for one of the statement wins of the tournament as Kouamé, the latest young star to command France’s attention, underlined his massive promise by spectacularly closing out his first grand slam match with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-1 win over the former US Open champion Marin Cilic. Kouamé is the youngest player to win a men’s singles grand slam match since 2009 and the youngest at Roland Garros since 1991.

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Jonas Vingegaard obliterates Giro d’Italia rivals with stage 16 win in Swiss Alps
Posted on Tuesday May 26, 2026

• Dane collects fourth stage victory of this year’s race

• Gall comes in second, with Hindley in third place

Jonas Vingegaard underlined his dominance on uphill finishes at the Giro d’Italia, launching a solo attack on the climb to Carì to claim victory on stage 16. It was the Dane’s fourth stage win of the race and further tightened his hold on the leader’s jersey, with overall honours now looking increasingly assured.

On Monday’s rest day, Vingegaard declared his desire to win a stage while wearing the pink jersey, and quickly followed up that promise in Switzerland on the 113km ride from Bellinzona. His lead at the top is now more than four minutes.

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