Business

Aviva has agreed a deal to buy rival company Direct Line for £3.7bn ahead of a Christmas Day deadline. The insurance firm announced the agreement with its smaller competitor a few weeks after a £3.3bn bid was turned down in November. A deal for the two firms would make them a force in motor insurance,

Cadbury says it is “disappointed” after losing its royal warrant after 170 years. The chocolate maker behind festive favourites such as Heroes and Dairy Milk is among the brands that have had their warrants withdrawn under King Charles. The development was reported in a list published by Buckingham Palace’s Royal Warrant Holders Association. Warrants are

It would be easy to dismiss tabletop gaming as a “geeky” hobby played by young boys in the basements of their homes. For those who have never enjoyed the rush of playing a miniature wargame, it may come as a surprise that it is in fact a multi-billion-pound industry loved by people from all walks

An electric cargo bike logistics company which counts the fashion giant Zara among its partners has launched an urgent hunt for new backers. Sky News has learnt that Zedify, which has raised millions of pounds from investors including Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, is working with Interpath Advisory on a review of its financing options. Zedify

Retail giants including Asda, Marks & Spencer, Primark and Tesco will mount a new year campaign to warn Rachel Reeves that plans to hike business rates on larger shops will put jobs and stores under threat. Sky News has learnt that some of Britain’s biggest chains – which also include J Sainsbury, Morrisons and Kingfisher-owned

Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England governor, will join Rachel Reeves on a visit to China next month aimed at strengthening financial services trade ties between the two countries. Sky News has learnt that Mr Bailey and Nikhil Rathi, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, will both accompany the chancellor on the January trip.

Tesla has recalled almost 700,000 of its electric vehicles because of an issue with the warning light on the tyre pressure monitoring system. Its warning light may not remain illuminated between drive cycles, failing to warn the driver of low tyre pressure and increasing the risk of a crash, the manufacturer said. The issue affects

The group which represents hundreds of European football teams including Liverpool, Manchester City and Bayern Munich has dismissed the latest bid to revive a European Super League project as a “disruptive” campaign led by “separatist self-interested clubs”. Sky News has obtained a memo circulated to the board of the European Club Association (ECA) by its

The UK’s biggest water company has been fined £18.2m for “unjustified” dividends which the regulator said broke shareholder payment rules. Thames Water has been hit with the penalty by water regulator Ofwat over the combined £195.8m in dividends paid in October 2023 and March 2024. It’s the first time Ofwat has used such enforcement powers

The owner of the New York Sun is racing to salvage a £550m takeover of The Daily Telegraph after a period of exclusive negotiations to clinch a deal came to an end. Sky News has learnt that Dovid Efune is in London for talks with Telegraph executives, investors and advisers on the transaction amid growing

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The Observer is to fall under the ownership of Tortoise Media, a fledgling digital start-up, in a binding deal signed after weeks of controversy about the fate of the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper. Guardian Media Group (GMG) and the Scott Trust announced on Wednesday morning that the title will be acquired by Tortoise, even as

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A planned strike over the festive season at Scotland’s busiest airport has been called off. North Air fuel tanker drivers based at Edinburgh Airport had planned to walk out for almost three weeks in a dispute over a rejected 4.5% pay offer. Unite the union had warned of disruption to flights as North Air is

Apple CEO Tim Cook (center) speaking alongside Indonesian Minister of Communication and Information Budi Arie Setiadi (right) and Indonesian Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita during a press conference after meeting with Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta on April 17, 2024. Bay Ismoyo | Afp | Getty Images Indonesia’s efforts

The boss of NatWest Group’s high street branch network is to step down early next year as the company prepares for a return to full private sector ownership. Sky News has learnt that David Lindberg, who joined NatWest just over four years ago, will leave in the first quarter of 2025. He is said to