PRESS DIGEST-British Business - April 16

April 16 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Investors have approved a plan by Aviva AV.L to cancel 450 million pounds ($596.30 million) of supposedly "irredeemable" preference shares seven years after a city backlash forced the FTSE 100 insurer to abandon a previous attempt.

- Ralph & Russo has filed for protection from creditors three years after it was rescued out of bankruptcy by American investors.

The Guardian

- British trade secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, will travel to Beijing to revive a key trade dialogue with China despite saying it had been naive to allow Chinese investment in sensitive sectors.

- British trade secretary has refused to rule out redundancies at the Scunthorpe steelworks, despite calls from trade unions to end the programme of job losses started by its former owners.

The Telegraph

-High street bosses including Curry's CURY.L Alex Baldock and Maplin Electronics's Ollie Marshall raised concerns that Chinese suppliers were already directing shipments that were previously intended for the United States to the Britain.

-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is closing in on a new partnership with the European Union (EU) that could put a trade deal with the White House at risk.

Sky News

-The City financier Edi Truell has tabled a fresh proposal of 132.17 pence per share to buy De La Rue DLAR.L, the Bank of England's currency printer.

- British gambling technology firm Playtech PTEC.L is set to name former DAZN executive John Gleasure as its next chairman.

($1 = 0.7547 pounds)