Two presidents with no shame gave a masterclass in how to alienate the world

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Let’s not go as far as that preposterous peacock, Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who had clearly been sniffing his own hype when he declared that this World Cup had been “the greatest human, social and cultural event that mankind has witnessed”.

And that was before Spain even lifted the trophy.

But it has been memorable. Many of us had wondered whether this would be a World Cup remembered more for problems played out off the pitch than matches played on it. Would stadiums be half-empty because of price-gouging? Would ICE officers be rounding up visitors to the US on suspicion of being brown? Would Donald Trump turn up at a load of matches, forcing fans to queue for hours to get through security checks? Indeed, would the insatiable and unquenchable egos of Infantino and Trump overshadow everything else?

Shorts

NEWS

The European countries where pensioners are the wealthiest

The European Central Bank (ECB) has revealed the countries where pensioners are the wealthiest, in its annual report on household finances from across 22 EU member states.

Highest net wealth

The latest figures show that pensioners aged 65 to 74 in Luxembourg have the highest average net wealth, with a staggering €1.19m.

In second place is Ireland, where pensioners are worth an average of €415,700.

In third is Malta with the average net wealth of €408,300.

Followed by Belgium at €274,500.

Then France at €270,800 on average.

Spain at €221,900.

Cyprus at €212,900.

Germany at €211,600.

Portugal at €202,100.

Austria at €197,400.

Italy at €193,500.

Netherlands at €192,000.

Where does the UK sit?

Although the UK was not included in the EU roundup, its pensioners may be among the wealthiest in Europe, figures suggest.

The 2025 data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows 65-74-year-olds in the UK held an average household wealth of £502,500 – or €590,686. That tops the ECB’s figures for Ireland (second place) by nearly €175,000.

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28-times less than counterparts

In final place with the least amount of household wealth among pensioners was Latvia, with just €42,100 in the bank on average.

That means Latvian pensioners have roughly 28 times less than their counterparts in Luxemborg.

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Why one-bed flat owners are struggling to sell their homes

Dan Bermingham-Shaw has had his studio flat up for sale for 90 days now and has had no viewings. The 32-year-old living in South London bought his flat in 2022 for £225,000 and put it up for sale in April this year for £230,000.

Land Registry figures suggest average property prices have grown about 7 per cent over the past four years, but Dan found that even his 2 per cent increase was proving too much for prospective buyers.

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‘Zero viewings and zero offers’

Dan had to drop his price by £6,000 last month – to £224,000 – but still has had no luck and is now considering pausing the listing and relisting at a later date. His case is not isolated.

He said: “I’ve had zero viewings and zero offers, and despite the advert apparently having thousands of hits on Rightmove and Zoopla, not a single person has ‘saved’ or ‘liked’ the property to indicate they’re considering it.”

Demand far lower than supply

Matt Dawson, director of Westwood Property Services, based in Sidcup, south-east London, told The i Paper that demand for these properties was far lower than supply, and he had had some potential buyers view close to 20 homes that match their criteria.

As a result of increased stock in the market, Dawson said prices have taken a fair hit.

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First-time buyers struggling

Sizing up

According to Zoopla, 72 per cent of one-bedroom flats for sale this year remain unsold nationally.

Stagnant market

Some 44 per cent of UK homes listed in the past three years failed to sell, citing overambitious pricing, Zoopla found.

Affordability crisis

Zoopla’s Richard Donnell said affordability concerns among first-time buyers mean many were unable to offer what sellers wanted.

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What we know about Holly Willoughby’s new YouTube channel

TV presenter Holly Willoughby has teased a new YouTube channel to host an upcoming lifestyle series.

The former This Morning presenter, 45, hinted at the “exciting new project” in a post to social media last week, which also revealed its pink and red branding.

‘Inspiring’ guests and cooking segments

Willoughby’s lifestyle series is set to cover topics such as practical advice, fashion, beauty and health.

The TV personality will chat to celebrity guests like Stanley Tucci, Emma Bunton and Katherine Ryan.

Other “inspiring” guests will include a tech safety campaigner, chefs, a florist and a make-up artist.

The channel will also feature This Morning-style cooking segments, a focus on fashion, and will provide practical health guidance.

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First project since 2023

Two episodes will be released per week, after its premier on 28 July.

It will be available on YouTube and across social media.

It marks Willoughby’s first project since stepping down from This Morning in 2023 after 14 years.

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Inside ITV’s This Morning scandal

Willoughby’s departure followed co-host Phillip Schofield’s sudden decision to leave ITV after admitting to an “unwise, but not illegal” affair with a young male colleague on the show.

After taking a break from the show, Willoughby returned to This Morning in June 2023, issuing a live on-air statement expressing that she felt “let down”. She added that the team had given love and support to someone who had been untruthful.

news

All the areas affected by South East Water hosepipe ban

South East Water has imposed a hosepipe ban on its customers after a sustained period of hot weather, high demand and lower than average rainfall.

The temporary ban begins at midnight on Saturday, but customers are being urged to abide by it “immediately”.

Hosepipe ban hits 2.4 million

South East Water had already imposed a hosepipe ban in Kent, but has now extended it to other counties – affecting a total of 2.4 million people.

The ban was extended to protect the Thames river, which had low levels of water following successive heatwaves. Another reason for the ban is because underground aquifers are under “severe stress”.

“The area has only received 64 per cent of average rainfall since March, and we’ve also faced three heatwaves,” the provider explained.

Here are all the areas impacted:

Kent

Sussex

Surrey

Hampshire

Berkshire

‘We have not taken decision lightly’

Sussex and Kent have had restrictions in four of the last five years, while Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire have not had one in place for 14 years.

The company said it had “not taken this decision lightly”, but that water was being drawn from its storage tanks faster than it could be treated and refilled.

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What you cannot do during a hosepipe ban

Water a garden or plants using a hosepipe.

Clean any type of vehicle, as well as houses, walls, windows, paths, patios and ‘artifical outdoor surfaces’ with a hosepipe.

Fill or maintain a swimming pool, paddling pool, pond or ornamental fountain with a hosepipe.

Draw water, using a hosepipe, for recreational use such as hot tubs.

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Andrew and Tristan Tate to face court after Florida arrest

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are expected to face a US court today after UK police requested their extradition over an investigation into alleged sexual offences.

The pair, who are already facing 21 existing charges, were arrested by US Marshals in Miami on Sunday in relation to allegations from four additional victims.

What have they been charged with?

Andrew Tate, 39, has been charged with: seven further counts of rape, three counts of facilitating sexual trafficking, three counts of assault and 19 additional charges for offences relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.

Tristan Tate, 38, was charged with one count of sexual assault, two counts of rape and three counts of arranging or facilitating trafficking for sexual exploitation.

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‘Bury them in a foreign prison’

Their lawyer Joseph McBride claimed that the brothers were being held “in solitary confinement” and would face a Florida court “first thing” on Monday local time.

He called their arrest “un-American and unconscionable”, adding that the UK Government “wants to bury them in a foreign prison for the rest of their lives”.

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Pair deny wrongdoing

The 38 additional charges relate to alleged offences between July 2010 and August 2017, the Crown Prosecution Service said. The pair have previously denied any wrongdoing.

Andrew and Tristan were previously arrested along with two women in Romania in December 2022, and were charged the following June with rape, human trafficking and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women.

Police statement

We understand the interest that this case will generate, but we would urge the public not to speculate and to allow the legal process to be carried out correctly. There is no place for male violence against women and girls, and we will continue to work tirelessly to support victims.

Karena Thomas, Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable

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World’s biggest jackpot game Powerball to launch in UK

The world’s biggest jackpot game, Powerball, is set to launch in the UK this week, allowing Britons to compete for the chance to win uncapped prizes.

It will be the first time the game has operated outside of the US and will offer UK players jackpots starting at £12m, which can grow into the billions.

Opening draw worth £311m

For £4 per line, UK players will be able to buy into the game from Tuesday, operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery said any winnings would be paid out over 30 years.

The Powerball jackpot is currently estimated at $416m (£311m). If it continues to roll until the UK launch, Britons will be in with a chance to win it in the opening draw on Thursday.

New UK-only feature

The game will have a UK-only feature: an extra “match two main numbers” prize tier available for £8.

The “match five main numbers” tier offers a fixed prize of £1m, while other prize tiers will vary depending on number of winners.

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‘Jackpots soar into billions’

Powerball jackpots can soar into the billions, offering breathtaking sums with the potential to transform lives and communities. We’re encouraging players to get involved when tickets go on sale and we’ll be crossing our fingers for our first UK winner.

dr pauline swift, the charity chair of blood pressure uk

OBITUARY

Broadcaster Edward Stourton dies aged 68

Broadcaster and journalist Edward Stourton has died aged 68.

Stourton, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2014, died on Saturday surrounded by his family, the BBC announced.

‘Warm intelligence and wit’

Stourton’s career spanned more than 40 years including a decade on Radio 4’s Today programme.

The presenter’s former Today co-host James Naughtie praised Stourton’s “warm intelligence and wit”, adding he was “one of the best colleagues”.

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A look at Stourton’s life and career

In his 2023 memoir Confessions, Stourton revealed he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer a decade earlier, which had become incurable. Stourton continued to work until recently.

His BBC work also included Panorama, Assignment, Correspondent, as well as a phone-in programme on Radio 4, Call Ed Stourton. Stourton is survived by his wife Fiona, who is a senior television producer, two sons, a daughter and a step-daughter.

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Five things Burnham will do this week

Later today, Andy Burnham will emerge from Buckingham Palace, in an official government car, as prime minister of the United Kingdom.

But what happens once he turns his back on the assembled media and goes through the black door of No 10?

First five things Burnham will do

Letters of Last Resort

Burnham must decide what his personal instructions are if Britain comes under nuclear attack – known as letters of last resort. The handwritten letters are to the commanders of the UK’s four nuclear submarines.

Appoint a cabinet

He will then appoint his first cabinet, and finalise his team of senior advisers – something he will want to get right after Keir Starmer presided over infighting in No 10 in his first weeks.

Early diplomacy is vital

Trump and Zelensky

A phone call to Donald Trump in the first week of office is unavoidable. Burnham will also have to call other leaders who are strategically or politically important to Britain, including President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine.

Make decisions early about government

If Burnham wants to do a big redesign of No 10 and build his pledged “No 10 North” – then this should be announced straight away.

The final step

Because he has not had to face a contest, the incoming prime minister has been coy about his policy agenda, beyond his broad vision for devolution and a big focus on social care.

But if he wants to bring about real change, he will need to get going in the first week on what domestic policies he wants to introduce. This task will also include making decisions on leftover policies from Starmer.

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Trump clearly enjoyed handing out the medals and trophies. But it was quite right that he was doing that: the US was the principal host nation – of course he would be there. It was no different from a member of the Royal Family handing out the prizes at Wimbledon. I had no problem with the US President taking centre stage last night – though don’t get me started on Infantino wearing a suit and tie with white trainers.

Mercifully, for nearly all this World Cup, it has been the excitement of the football itself that has enthralled me – although we will come to the excruciatingly awful bits in a moment.

If you’re from Cape Verde, you’re going to look back at this with unbelievable pride and affection. They held Spain to a goalless draw in the group stages and took Argentina to extra time in the round of 32. The Egyptians and Moroccans were fabulous, too, while DR Congo stretched England all the way in the round of 16.

Scotland had the best party ever and drank Boston dry, while Norway turned us all into rowers once their drums banged. The stadiums have been magnificent.

At 39, Lionel Messi is still a dazzling magician. There was a final (and maybe overdue) bow for Ronaldo; Haaland was all Viking valour, Mbappé a genius. We eyed the future with budding and dazzling Spanish megastar Lamine Yamal – just 19 and still wearing braces on his teeth. And we sang “Hey Jude” at the top of our voices, in honour of our true superstar, Jude Bellingham.

So, hats off to the beautiful game. But before I get carried away, let’s come back to earth with a bump.

The worst of this sporting event was served up by Fifa itself, ably aided and abetted by the US President. The sheer, foetid rottenness of what happened over the red card delivered to US striker Folarin Balogun is impossible to exaggerate.

Sport only flourishes if everyone agrees to the rules it is played by. And in football, if you get sent off, you miss the next game. Everyone knows it. VAR can overturn if the red card was unfairly given, but once the authorities have decided, they’ve decided. That’s it. Unless, apparently, Trump decides to intervene.

On the night when England played Mexico, I was in the Azteca Stadium. There were 80,000 Mexicans and about 3,000 England fans. It was wild. Our cheers were entirely drowned out. But the moment when Infantino’s face came up on the big screens from his perch in the VIP box, there was utter unity. Everyone jeered him together.

The following day, when I flew back to the UK, my taxi driver had the Belgium vs USA game on in his car. I spoke no Spanish, he spoke no English, but we laughed together as the Belgians kicked the crap out of the US in a game that Balogun was allowed to play in only after Trump’s meddling.

If a study is made on how to lose friends and alienate people, this is the example, par excellence.

It is easy to say politics should be kept out of sport, but when has that ever been possible? This may seem like the carping of a man who’s been fed on a diet of sour grapes, but I remember when the England team at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar were told that if they went onto the pitch with rainbow armbands they would be sanctioned. Fine. No politics and sport.

However, when the Argentinian players – including Messi – were holding up a banner after the England game proclaiming that the Falklands belonged to Argentina, wasn’t that just a teeny bit political? But Fifa has done nothing about it so far. This is a governing body that doesn’t lose sleep over principles.

One last thing: It is also not normal that a host nation (the US) spends the last week of the tournament bombing the hell out of one of the countries that had been competing in it (Iran).

Maybe it’s me, but my expectations were so low about this World Cup that I think the football has won out. Or maybe I should phrase that differently: knowing what geniuses Trump and Infantino are at making themselves the centre of attention, they’ve remained largely backstage but for the red-card intervention.

There was one other notable intervention from the leader of the free world. Trump did publicly comment on Thomas Tuchel’s England tactics against Argentina in the semi-finals. Admitting he knew nothing about football, he said he couldn’t understand why England stopped playing offence and only played defence after they went ahead.

You might know nothing about the sport, Mr President, but on that observation at least, you had tens of millions of Englishmen and women nodding in agreement.

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