UK mortgage rates jump as lenders pull products as Iran war threatens economy – business live

Oof! Average UK mortgage rates have jumped this morning.Data provider Moneyfacts has reported that the average 2-year fixed residential mortgage rate has risen to 5.20% today, up from 5.10% on Friday. It was just 4

European takeover battle hots up with UniCredit’s ‘unfriendly attack’ on Commerzbank

Two European banking powerhouses have become embroiled in a €35bn (£30bn) takeover battle after Italy’s UniCredit stepped up its long-running pursuit of German lender Commerzbank, despite strong opposition from the German government.UniCredit first took a stake of 9% in Commerzbank in September 2024 and has since built up its holding to just under 30%. It said on Monday it was pushing to increase that holding further and push the rival lender into formal merger talks.Under German law, a shareholder that has a more than 30% stake is required to make a takeover bid. The Milan-headquartered bank said on Monday it was planning a share swap that would imply a €30

Google scraps AI search feature that crowdsourced amateur medical advice

Google has dropped a new artificial intelligence search feature that gave users crowdsourced health advice from amateurs around the world.The company had said its launch of “What People Suggest”, which provided tips from strangers, showed “the potential of AI to transform health outcomes across the globe”.But Google has since quietly removed the feature, according to three people familiar with the decision.A Google spokesperson confirmed “What People Suggest” had been scrapped. The move came as part of a “broader simplification” of its search page and had nothing to do with the quality or safety of the new feature, the spokesperson said

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra review: its huge screen blocks shoulder surfers from spying on you

Samsung’s latest Ultra superphone promises to keep shoulder surfers out of your business with a first-of-its-kind privacy display built into its huge 6.9in screen.The Guardian’s journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more

Toto Wolff says Verstappen’s car is cause of driver’s misery, not new regulations

Toto Wolff has dismissed criticism of the new Formula One regulations from Max Verstappen as a result of the “horror show” Red Bull car the four-time champion is having to drive.Verstappen has not been alone in his outspoken criticism of the new rules and after he was forced to retire from the Chinese GP on Sunday he delivered his most damning condemnation yet of the emphasis on electrical energy deployment and recovery.“It’s terrible,”he said. “If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like. Not fun at all

Iowa State’s Audi Crooks is a velveteen unicorn – and March’s biggest matchup problem

Crooks is one of college basketball’s most fascinating stars, blending power and touch in a throwback game that could carry the Cyclones deep into MarchThe basketball gods really have a thing for Iowa. First came Caitlin Clark at the University of Iowa, a scoring sensation who dominated headlines and sparked cultural debates. Now, the state’s other major college program, Iowa State, has been blessed with Audi Crooks – a thunderclap in her own right.Where Clark dazzled the masses with moon ball shots and moxie off the dribble, Crooks is the kind of talent that makes other players of stature sit up and take notice, the junior center with a feel beyond her years. A 6ft 3in ballast in the paint, Crooks belongs to a protected class of hooper, the velveteen giant – post players who win with touch as much as brute force