65 h. ago Belgian insurer buys Sheilas’ Wheels owner Esure in £1.3bn deal

Ageas acquisition will unite two ‘complementary’ firms to create UK’s third-biggest home and motor insurerBusiness live – latest updatesThe Sheilas’ Wheels owner, Esure, will be sold to the Belgian insurer Ageas in a £1.3bn deal that will create the UK’s third-biggest home and motor insurer.Ageas is buying the UK insurer from the private equity firm Bain Capital in a deal funded through a combination of surplus cash and debt or equity. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago The Guardian view on Donald Trump’s Congo deal: mineral riches for protection | Editorial

Faced with regional chaos and shrinking options, Kinshasa seeks terms of trade that echo the old extractive order in modern disguise“The vilest scramble for loot that has ever disfigured the history of human conscience” is how Joseph Conrad described colonial-era concessions granted to private companies for Congo’s natural resources in Heart of Darkness. Under Donald Trump, that scramble may be back. If news reports are right, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is offering the US a blunt deal: minerals for military help – a slice of sovereignty traded for a shot at stability.The concern is this isn’t a return, it’s a sequel. For three decades, Washington supported Joseph-Désiré Mobutu, a cold war ally and brutal dictator who looted the Congo until his 1997 fall. That history of power politics still casts a long shadow. The Trump administration openly favours muscle over diplomacy. Fadhel Kaboub, an associate professor of economics at Denison University, notes that Biden-era ...

Politics

5 d. ago Best Easter egg deals 2025 on Lindt, Cadbury, Waitrose and more

Whether you’re a chocoholic or wanting to stock up on gifts ahead of Easter, these deals will help you save

Economics

5 d. ago Ange Postecoglou vows to identify and deal with mole at Tottenham

Manager says leaked information is hurting clubSpurs hire ex-Arsenal chief executive Vinai VenkateshamAnge Postecoglou has said there is a mole at Tottenham who is leaking sensitive team news and working against what he and the players are trying to achieve. The manager, who is preparing for Sunday’s Premier League game at Wolves, said he had a “fair idea” of the identity of the individual and was working to deal with the situation.The subject came up as Postecoglou was questioned about Wilson Odobert’s fitness and at about the same time – on an unrelated topic – that Spurs announced the hire of the former Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham. He will join in the summer and take the same title that he held at Arsenal, which would appear to be bad news for Tottenham’s chief football officer, Scott Munn. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago April deals: 10 of the best pub and restaurant offers for Easter 2025

Here is a list of the offers available for Easter 🍴

Economics

7 d. ago Best cheap travel deals to book in April 2025: Flights and hotels

Need a holiday? Bag a getaway for less this month

Economics

8 d. ago US troops in Europe to stay ‘where they are’, says top general – Europe live

Gen Christopher Cavoli says he is planning to keep forces in same locations amid concerns over deployments in Poland and LithuaniaThe US administration is reportedly considering withdrawing up to 10,000 US soldiers from central and eastern Europe, according to a report by US broadcaster NBC News.The unconfirmed plans are understood to be looking at reducing US presence in Poland and Romania, despite what regional leaders see as a growing threat from increasingly aggressive Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Tariffs driving India to strike trade deals, finance minister says ahead of UK talks

Nirmala Sitharam says turmoil forcing countries to seek accords beyond old ideological and political tiesIndia is seeking to strike more trade deals with other countries at a time of “global uncertainty”, its finance minister, Nirmala Sitharam, said before talks with the UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves.Sitharam, who serves as finance and corporate affairs minister in Narendra Modi’s government, said she was hopeful the UK and India would finalise a free trade deal “sooner rather than later”. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago Summer cruise deals have just dropped for 2025 – and these are the best

The best cruise deals as the busy summer sailing season approaches

Economics

8 d. ago Chinese nationals captured fighting for Russia in Ukraine, says Zelenskyy – Europe live

Ukrainian president says forces captured two Chinese men fighting for Russia in eastern Ukraine and calls for response from BeijingThe US administration is reportedly considering withdrawing up to 10,000 US soldiers from central and eastern Europe, according to a report by US broadcaster NBC News.The unconfirmed plans are understood to be looking at reducing US presence in Poland and Romania, despite what regional leaders see as a growing threat from increasingly aggressive Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago EU sanctions policy ‘failed’ to make impact on Russia, says Hungarian minister – Europe live

Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, claims sanctions ‘hit European economy more than Russian economy’Péter Szijjártó, a frequent visitor to Moscow despite the continuing Russian aggression against Ukraine, also told Bloomberg that the EU’s sanctions policy “has failed” as he claimed it “hit European economy more than the Russian economy”.He said that Hungary’s view on rolling over the existing sanctions will “depend a lot on the geopolitical circumstances”, with Budapest closely following the progress of Trump-led talks with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Ursula von der Leyen speaks with Chinese premier on trade and ‘avoiding further escalation’ – Europe live

European Commission president meets Li Qiang about Europe and China’s ‘responsibility to support reformed trading system’ and push for negotiationsGermany has temporarily suspended accepting new refugees via a UN resettlement programme, pending the outcome of the coalition negotiations and the new government formation, the German press agency DPA reported.The DPA’s report said that almost all resettlement applications will be suspended until the new government takes office, with only “well advanced” cases expected to be processed. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Donald Trump rejects EU’s proposals for ‘zero for zero’ tariffs deal on cars and industrial goods – Europe live

US president tells reporters offer ‘is not good enough’, putting further dent in European hopes for negotiated solution instead of trade warUS president Donald Trump openly rejected the EU’s proposals for a “zero for zero” tariffs deal on cars and industrial goods, telling reporters in the Oval Office it was not good enough.His comments are not entirely surprising as European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič already indicated there were no signs that the offer, made originally in February, would be taken up. Continue reading...

Economics

9 d. ago Ben Jennings on the price of a trade deal with the US – cartoon

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Economics

9 d. ago Best Easter egg deals 2025 on Lindt, Cadbury, Tony’s Chocolonely and more

Whether you’re a chocoholic or wanting to stock up on gifts ahead of Easter, these deals will help you save

Economics

1 week ago Simba is giving shoppers £526 of free bedding to 'significantly improve' sleep

The deal is set to end on April 11, 2025 - that's next Friday

Economics

1 week ago Spring into savings and discover Easter deals on beauty, fashion and more

Egg-cellent deals await you this Easter

Economics

1 week ago Best beauty Easter eggs of 2025 that get you luxury brands like Medik8 and Elemis for less

Some of the offerings are worth over £200, saving shoppers more than £140 on premium brands and products

Politics

1 week ago Not just the Jubilee: The best events in Rome in 2025, from art to archaeology

The Papal Jubilee is Rome’s biggest deal in this year, but 2025 is also filled with exciting art exhibitions, festivals and events worth travelling for

Politics

1 week ago From Chipotle to Moe’s – all the restaurants offering deals on National Burrito Day

Most restaurants are offering a buy one, get one free deal on April 3

Economics