Press Round-Up Short (Premium)
Friday newspaper round-up: Saudi Arabia, Marks and Spencer, Oxford Nanopore
Ministers aim to secure a multibillion-pound investment from Saudi Arabia to fund renewable energy and infrastructure projects in the UK after yesterday’s announcement of a £10 billion deal with the United Arab Emirates. Kwasi Kwarteng, the business secretary, visited Saudi Arabia in June for talks with its foreign minister, and negotiations are understood to be under way with Boris Johnson’s investment envoy Lord Grimstone of Boscobel. - The Times.
Sunday newspaper round-up: Melrose Industries, Rolls Royce, Flutter Entertainment
The boss of one of Britain’s major engineering groups has urged ministers not to intervene in a flurry of US takeovers of British companies, saying the UK must protect its reputation as an open, trading economy. Simon Peckham, chief executive of the FTSE 100 giant Melrose Industries, said that rather than fretting over British corporate gems being owned by foreign buyers, the UK should be encouraging home-grown firms to buy up companies abroad. - Sunday Times.
Sunday newspaper round-up: Ryanair, China's central bank, IAG
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has warned that airfares will be “dramatically higher” next summer as passengers rush to return to Europe for their holidays. The outspoken airline chief executive said huge demand for holidays would coincide with fewer flights, which would mean a spike in prices for holidaymakers — not just for flights, but also for hotels. - Sunday Times.
Sunday newspaper round-up: Breast cancer, Food shortages, IAG
The trial of a new drug to treat an aggressive form of breast cancer has “shattered expectations” raising hopes of a “cure”, according to its maker, AstraZeneca. The British pharmaceuticals company said three quarters of women in the trial of its new drug, Enhertu, had shown no progression in their disease after 12 months compared with just a third treated with a different medicine. - Sunday Times.
Sunday newspaper round-up: Petrol, Rio Tinto, Morrisons
Government sources told The Times that soldiers would be put on notice to drive petrol tankers, amid panic buying by motorists that had seen most forecourts run dry. Military personnel were expected to have to help within days. The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents most petrol stations in the country, estimated that between and half to 90% of forecourts had run out of supplies. - Sunday Times.
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Energy bills, Pret A Manger, BT, Evergrande
Ministers are considering ways to cut energy bills for the poorest households amid soaring gas prices as analysis suggests a typical low-income UK family will be £1,750 worse off by next April. On Tuesday Boris Johnson brushed away worries about a wider cost of living squeeze and shortages this winter, saying “Christmas is on”. But government sources said there were concerns, with discussions already under way about whether to extend or raise existing discounts on energy bills available to those on the lowest incomes, with prices set to rise by an average of 12-13% – or £139 a year – from October.