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Important information: The value of investments can go down as well as up so you may get back less than you invest. Investors should note that the views expressed may no longer be current and may have already been acted upon. This is a third-party news feed and may not reflect Fidelity’s views.

Sunday newspaper round-up: EasyJet, Direct Line, Cairo

(Sharecast News) - EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji.Ioannou has called time on his long-running feud with the "scoundrels" running the carrier. Haji-Ioannou has admitted that his war with easyJet boss Johan Lundgren was motivated by his fear that it would not get through Covid-19. His latest remarks come as the company is preparing to re-enter the ranks of the FTSE 100. They also come after attempts by easyJet to fill the gap in the market left by the collapse of Monarch and Thomas Cook, with Lundgren and chairman Stephen Hester having tried to shift focus towards selling holidays instead of just flights. - The Sunday Times Sir Peter Wood believes that Direct Line, the insurer he founded in 1985 has been "terribly" managed for years, leaving it a potential target for bidders. Indeed, given a decent price, that is exactly what he thinks should happen, Wood told the Mail on Sunday. Belgium's Ageas tabled a £3.1bn bid during the previous week, but that was not enough, Wood added. Wood further described the share and cash deal offered by Ageas as "messy". He was also "sure" that other offers would materialise. - Financial Mail on Sunday

A delegation of Hamas officials arrived in the Egyptian capital for talks to try and reach a ceasefire deal. It followed indications that Tel Aviv was ready to accept a phased six-week agreement for the release of hostages and a truce before the start of Muslims' holy month of Ramadan. Negotiators from Qatar and the U.S. had also arrived in Cairo to take part in the talks. A response from Hamas was anticipated on Sunday or Monday. - Guardian

Ministers are under pressure to present their plans should Thames Water collapse, an outcome that could cost taxpayers billons of pounds. The rescue plans drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are known as "Project Timber" and according to Thames Water executives have a value of £5bn. The supplier is facing a £190m loan in April that its bosses have already said that it will not be able to meet. - The Sunday Telegraph

St.James's Place has put aside £426m to cover compensations to clients who allege that it fraudulently charged for annual reviews of client portfolios that were never conducted. The provision also follows the 15,000 complaints lodged with law firm AMK Legal on their behalf over the past three months. - The Sunday Times

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Friday newspaper round-up: Thames Water, British Steel, OITS
(Sharecast News) - Andy Burnham is under further pressure to take control of ailing Thames Water from a cross-party group of MPs who are calling for ministers to break off talks with the US hedge funds who are effectively running the company. Adding their voices to demands that the prime minister takes public control of the company, which has debts of £20bn and is being controlled by a group of 100 hedge funds and distressed-debt investors, the MPs said in a report that ministers should consider emergency legislation to take control of its financial affairs to stabilise the company. - Guardian
Thursday newspaper round-up: Gambling advertising, diesel prices, Revolut founder
(Sharecast News) - The UK should introduce a ban on almost all gambling advertising to protect public health, a cross-party group of peers has urged, prompting fury from the lobby group for bookmakers and casinos. In a 173-page report, the House of Lords liaison committee said the government had been "too passive" in response to an explosion of digital advertising and social media influencers promoting the gambling sector. - Guardian
Wednesday newspaper round-up: Global defence bank, KPMG, Frasers Group
(Sharecast News) - John Healey is in talks with the Canadian government about joining a new global defence bank intended to help allies rearm to counter mounting security threats, just weeks after Rachel Reeves rejected the move. The chancellor is understood to be actively considering a bid to join the proposed Canada-led defence, security and resilience bank (DSRB), which proponents say could help the UK fund defence projects at lower cost, before planned talks with his Canadian counterpart this week. - Guardian
Tuesday newspaper round-up: Red Sea islands, BoE bond selling, energy imports
(Sharecast News) - Yemen's Houthi militants have seized two strategic islands in the Red Sea, reinforcing the Iran-backed group's ability to control a key shipping route, as concerns mount that the world is facing a new oil supply crisis. The seizure of the islands of Greater and Lesser Hanish is the latest in the militant group's swift advance across Yemen's Red Sea coast, after the capture of the port of Mokha and Perim island in the Bab al-Mandab strait. - Guardian

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