Mike Ashley’s Frasers follows Hugo Boss bid with offer for Australia’s Accent
UK billionaire’s fashion group offers £166m for takeover of 77.1% of shares in shoe firm it does not already own
FCA & Rules
Listen to manufacturers and unions: high electricity prices are killing industry | Nils Pratley
The manufacturing lobby group Make UK and the Trades Union Congress have picked a bad moment to plead for urgent relief for the nation’s industrial companies from sky-high electricity prices. The cabi…
Australia’s Sigma drops out of talks to buy UK’s Boots
The Australian pharmaceutical group Sigma Healthcare has dropped its pursuit of the UK retail chain Boots, abandoning a takeover estimated to be worth $10bn (£7bn).
A £350 swimming pool fee ruined our easyJet holiday
My partner and I paid £2,150 for a week’s all-inclusive break in Marrakech with easyJet Holidays.
Banknote imagery expert panel minutes – 15 April 2026
The Chair opened the meeting, thanking members for sending across their wildlife nominations.
Banknote imagery expert panel minutes – 24 April 2026
Time: 10am to 1pm | Location: Bank of England, Threadneedle Street, London, EC2R 8AH and MS teams
Banknote imagery expert panel minutes – 10 March 2026
The Chair opened the meeting, highlighting the importance of the decisions to be made in selecting a shortlist of wildlife, thanking panel members for their involvement, and asking them to introduce t…
Oil price falls to three-month low and markets rally after US-Iran peace deal – business live
Whilst the deal is very good news for markets it looks like tough conversations will have occur in the 60-day window to ensure the peace is sustainable. As an example, the Senate needs to approve any …
Social media to be banned in UK for under-16s, Starmer announces
UK prime minister says move will bring ‘real change for our children’ amid growing concerns over harmful online content
Investment fraud in UK soared to more than £220m lost last year, trade body says
Increasingly elaborate investment scams involving gold, cryptocurrencies and wine have soared in the past year with more than £220m lost to the fraud, according to a report.
Britain ‘faces deindustrialisation’ without relief from high energy prices, survey warns
Make UK says manufacturers’ feedback shows sector at risk of collapse as it calls on Treasury to take action
Gina Rinehart makes ‘significant investment’ in Elon Musk’s SpaceX
Australian billionaire says investment reflects her confidence in world’s first trillionaire after his record-breaking IPO
Oil prices tumble amid hopes strait of Hormuz will soon reopen
US-Iran peace deal sparks immediate drop for Brent crude but analysts warn complex negotiations lie ahead, potentially halting further significant drops
Europe is starting to break up with US big tech. But it’s still abiding by the Silicon Valley rulebook | Max von Thun
The European Commission has unveiled its plans for digital sovereignty. Its proposals betray a disappointing lack of vision
Why I sold my business to my staff
Staff at Softstar Shoes in Oregon have discovered a newfound enthusiasm for eking out resources and growing profits.
Starmer to announce ‘Australia plus’ ban on social media for under-16s
Keir Starmer will ban under-16s from major social media apps such as TikTok, Instagram and X in sweeping restrictions described as “Australia plus”, the Guardian understands.
Welcome to California: land of plunder and hypocrisy | Mark Arax
From gold to water, California’s wealth was built on extraction. The AI boom is reviving an old question: who pays the price?
UFC to pay White House fighters in crypto issued by Trump company
Some fighters will receive bonuses in ‘stablecoins’ issued by Trump family business World Liberty Financial
Running a small business has become almost impossible | Letter
Rosie Wolfenden says that under the current tax system, and with rising costs, traditional business models are no longer viable
Jamaica’s beach access crisis: ‘We shouldn’t be forced to fight for what is already ours’
Activists argue business model is ‘plantation tourism’ designed to benefit elite and disadvantage most Jamaicans
Ministers could give billions raised by business rates to England’s regions
Exclusive: devolving tax is part of plans to give local areas more power in areas including justice, health and education
Me, worry? For US small businesses, Trump’s tariffs are now a non-issue
In two weeks, I’m speaking to a group of companies in the packaging industry about issues affecting their businesses this year. I’m going to discuss the economy, navigating higher costs, leveraging ne…
Jamaican beach access campaigners go to court to fight privatisation of coast
Activists are challenging colonial-era law and demanding ‘free, legal, unfettered, forever rights’ to use beaches
‘Have I been influenced, or is this actually me?’ How personal taste fell out of fashion
What are you into? What floats your boat? What music, films, clothes, art, books – anything, really – do you actually like? Do you find these questions more difficult to answer than you would have don…