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Hans van Leeuwen

This Month

Meet the train fanatic making global rail travel a whole lot easier

The founder of the online guide seat61.com, Mark Smith has turned his singular passion for train travel into a worldwide resource.

March

Michael Hintze at his office in London “You can’t out-trade a machine, but you can out-think it,” he says.

Hedge fund veteran Michael Hintze on the rise of machines, and returns

It has been a year since the billionaire investor sold his storied London fund. Now he’s back with a new fund in the midst of a rapidly shifting market.

Aristocrat has operated in Britain for almost 30 years.

Aristocrat takes gaming groups to UK court over Buffalo brand

The ASX-listed giant is hauling a group of offshore gaming companies into a UK courtroom, alleging that they have ripped off one of its most popular slot games.

Macquarie-backed build-to-rent player Goodstone Living has signed a GBP 116m deal to develop and manage a parcel of 360 homes at Dagenham Green, on the site of the former Ford stamping factory.

Inside Macquarie’s $237m punt on the east London riverside

It has taken four years, but the wealth giant’s British build-to-rent vehicle Goodstone Living seems to be finding its feet – on the site of a famous former Ford factory.

Trump’s deal with Putin will terrify the West

If Russian president Vladimir Putin can get his US counterpart, Donald Trump, dancing to his tune, eight decades of trans-Atlantic solidarity could be ruptured.

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Former Perth Glory owner Tony Sage, before the club’s finances went downhill.

This Perth entrepreneur is surfing the Trump wave

Barely two years ago Tony Sage hit a low, losing control of Perth Glory soccer club. Now, thanks to Trump, he’s facing an open goal in Greenland and Ukraine.

Trump admires Vance’s socks in the Oval Office.

Even Ireland cops a blast of Trump’s Oval Office wrath

Donald Trump unleashed on the Irish prime minister in what’s become a new tradition - the excruciating Oval Office armchair chat. But he paused to admire J.D. Vance’s socks.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer en route to parliamentary questions on Wednesday.

Starmer follows Albanese not Europe, as UK responds to Trump tariffs

The British prime minister has opted not to hit back with retaliatory tariffs, and instead wants broader trade talks with the US.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, accompanied by Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Valery Gerasimov, second left, visits military headquarters in the Kursk region of Russia.

Putin is cornered but can still outfox Trump

The Russian president is at a crossroads in his quest to reconquer Ukraine. How he responds will reveal if he’s a cunning card sharp or a delusional dreamer.

National security adviser Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

‘Two to tango’: Trump challenges Putin to sign Ukraine peace deal

American and Ukrainian officials emerged from talks in Saudi Arabia with a plan for a 30-day halt to the war, putting the ball in Russia’s court.

Sanjeev Gupta, pictured at one of his plants in 2017, is presiding over a manufacturing empire in crisis.

Whyalla collapse disrupts Gupta’s plans to save British steel mills

Last month, the industrialist said he was on the verge of striking a deal to repay billions of dollars. But a deadline to finalise it is in doubt.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky ‘ready to work’ with Trump to secure peace deal

The Ukrainian said he wanted to “make things right” with the US president and lauded his “strong leadership”, after he abruptly froze military aid.

Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, Britain’s Keir Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron in London on Sunday.

Starmer, Macron seek to wrest Ukraine initiative back from Trump

European leaders have hatched plans to develop their own Ukraine peace deal that they’ll sell to the US president, including a peacekeeping “coalition of the willing”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump says Zelensky has a bad hand. But he still holds an ace

The US president can put the Ukrainians in peril, but cannot force them into peace. This gives Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron a chance to deal the Europeans back in.

Listed UK veterinary company CVS Group has been buying up vet practices in Australia. 

Why a British vet giant is circling Australia

London-listed pets-and-vets company CVS Group has already spent more than $200 million on buying vet practices Down Under. Here’s why the UK player is so keen.

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Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer meet at No 10 Downing

‘Full backing’: Europe rallies for Zelensky after Oval Office meltdown

Keir Starmer made a show of hugging the Ukrainian leader outside Downing Street, and will be joined by leaders from all over the Continent for crisis talks.

February

As Trump sides with Putin, Europe’s urgent race to rearm

If the US military ships out, the Europeans will need speed, cohesion and piles of money – not exactly attributes they’re famous for.

Fancy a golden visa? Greece looks like a bargain.

Don’t like Trump’s $8m ‘gold card’ visa? Try Europe for $413,000

The president wants to charge almost $8 million for a visa. Yet for as little as $413,000, you can buy a flat in a Mediterranean country and get permanent residency too.

President Donald Trump meets France’s President Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office.

Trump, Macron bromance: ‘We’re gonna get this’ Ukraine deal done

The French president wants to heal the trans-Atlantic relationship. Meanwhile, Trump says a deal on Ukraine’s minerals is imminent.

Christian Democratic Union leader Friedrich Merz is set to become the next German chancellor.

Germany’s new leader may face Trump with one hand tied behind his back

Friedrich Merz faces urgent economic and geopolitical crises. But to form a coalition he needs to turn foes into friends – and that will make it hard to govern.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/by/hans-van-leeuwen-h159q1