What the other papers say this morning – 02 June 2014
FINANCIAL TIMES
Tony Blair to call for Europe reform
Tony Blair will today call for Europe to reform itself in the wake of victories for anti-EU parties across the continent last week. In his first big speech on the subject since the European election results last weekend, the former prime minister will tell leaders in Brussels to learn the lessons of the success of parties such as the UK Independence party in Britain and the National Front in France.
Andrew Tyrie attacks IMF criticism By
A senior Conservative party MP has rounded on the International Monetary Fund for advising Britain to drop its austerity programme, saying the body would have been better keeping quiet. Writing in the Financial Times, Andrew Tyrie has attacked the IMF over its advice to British policy makers during the past few years, which began by recommending fiscal stimulus before changing its mind and praising the UK’s economic approach.
China largest industrial robot buyer
China, once the manual labour “workshop of the world”, has become the largest buyer of industrial robots. The country bought one in five robots sold globally in 2013, overtaking tech-savvy Japan for the first time, in its attempt to drive productivity gains. China bought 36,560 industrial robots last year, a rise of almost 60 per cent against 2012, according to new figures from the International Federation of Robotics.
THE TIMES
Shire secures $5bn funding for US bid
Shire has lined up a $5bn credit facility from banks led by Citigroup to finance a takeover offer for NPS Pharmaceuticals, an American developer of a new drug for sufferers of a debilitating bowel condition. A former London hospital doctor with ties to both companies is acting as a go-between.
Claim after mis-sale ‘deadline’
Small businesses that have fallen on the wrong side of a deadline to claim compensation for mis-sold interest rate products have been given hope. The High Court has refused to let a bank strike out a claim brought by a customer over a mis-sold interest rate product because it was time-barred.
The Daily Telegraph
IGas plans fracking in East Midlands
Fracking will take place in the East Midlands next year for the first time, under plans from shale gas explorer IGas. Andrew Austin, IGas chief executive, told the Telegraph it was preparing to submit planning applications to drill and frack to test the flow of gas at two new locations, one either side of the Pennines.
LDC in talks for mini Autodata
The private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group has entered into exclusive talks to acquire car data firm Clifford Thames in a deal that could value the business at up to £50m.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
EUROPE
Boeing sees robust demand for 777
Boeing expects sales of its current 777 widebody jet to remain strong, as the world’s largest plane maker seeks to maintain production levels before a replacement version of the large, twin-engine aircraft is introduced at the end of the decade.
Lewis Katz killed in plane crash
The co-owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, Lewis Katz, was killed along with six others when their private business jet crashed shortly after taking off from a small airfield outside Boston on Saturday night.