Tuesday newspaper round-up: Huawei, British Airways, Sports Direct, Inmarsat

Huawei equipment will continue to be used in the UK’s 5G mobile networks for now after the government delayed a decision on whether it should be restricted or banned over concerns that the Chinese government could use it to spy on countries. Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, said the UK had no choice because it is still gauging the impact of US sanctions on Huawei. – Guardian

The travel plans of hundreds of thousands of British Airways passengers face the threat of disruption next month after pilots at the airline voted to go on strike over pay. In the ballot, 93% of BA’s 4,000 pilots voted in favour of taking industrial action after rejecting a three-year pay deal. Strike dates have yet to be announced by the pilots’ union Balpa, which must give two weeks’ notice of any action. – Guardian

Sports Direct has abandoned legal action against Debenhams' plan to close some stores but is continuing to fund another objecting landlord. After falling into administration in April in a move that wiped out shareholders, the department store chain creditors approved closing 50 of its 166 shops and reducing rent on more than 100 as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). – Telegraph

The Gambling Commission has hired investment bankers from Rothschild to pick the next operator of the National Lottery. Camelot, which has been owned by a Canadian pension fund since 2010, has run the National Lottery since its launch in 1994. It is likely to face stiff competition for the right to hold onto the monopoly, which expires in 2023. Former Express and Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond has already expressed interest, calling for the lottery to be returned to British hands. – Telegraph

Dozens of Britain’s biggest companies are at risk of being besieged by activist investors because they are generating lacklustre returns for shareholders, a leading City stockbroker has warned. Centrica, the £5.1 billion business behind British Gas, Kingfisher, the B&Q owner, and Next, the £7.3 billion retailer, are among 54 vulnerable companies, Canaccord Genuity’s Quest team said yesterday. Quest publishes research, produced using its proprietary equity analysis tool, which is highly regarded in the City. – The Times

The government is intervening in the £2.6 billion takeover of Britain’s largest satellite communications provider to review the deal on national security grounds. Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, has asked the Competition and Markets Authority to examine the security implications of the acquisition of Inmarsat by Apax and Warburg Pincus, the private equity firms, and two Canadian pension funds and report back by September 17. – The Times