Sunday newspaper round-up: Easyjet, dark trading, Tempest fighter jet, Keir Starmer, Premier Group Recruitment, Lebanon

(Sharecast News) - Easyjet could become the latest company to exit London's struggling stock market after US investment fund Castlelake said it was considering a takeover approach, according to The Times. The disclosure triggered a formal "put up or shut up" deadline under City rules. A successful bid would add the airline to the growing list of Londonlisted firms snapped up by overseas buyers taking advantage of depressed UK valuations.

Banks have accused the London Stock Exchange of trying to curb competition after the exchange warned that rising levels of offexchange "dark trading" risked destabilising share prices, The Times reported. LSE deputy chief executive Charlie Walker said he was "deeply concerned" about unofficial trading venues widening price gaps. But industry groups UK Finance and AFME argued that private trading improves market choice and efficiency, rejecting claims it weakens price formation.

Britain's nextgeneration Tempest fighter jet was set to be delayed by several years as funding for the programme was unlikely to be released until the mid2030s, The Telegraph revealed. The aircraft, being developed with Japan and Italy under the Global Combat Air Programme, was originally due to enter service in 2035 but was now unlikely to arrive until the late 2030s or even 2040s. The project was expected to cost more than �12bn.

Keir Starmer has been accused of "watering down" welfare checks to prevent the benefits system from buckling under a record backlog of mentalhealthrelated claims, according to The Telegraph. Officials warned that soaring Personal Independence Payment applications - now at 3.9m claimants - risked overwhelming the system. New rules will extend review periods to as long as six years, a move Labour says will save money but which critics argue will fuel further growth in the welfare bill.

A recruitment boss who bought back the assets of his collapsed company despite nearly �3m in debts has fallen behind on agreed repayments, The Guardian reported. Premier Group Recruitment went into administration owing �2.9m, including �647,000 to HMRC, before its assets were acquired by a new firm set up by majority shareholder Andrew Woosnam. The new company initially promised �600,000 in instalments and even advertised an allexpenses paid Las Vegas trip for staff, but was now struggling to meet its payment schedule.

Lebanon's prime minister has accused Israel of pursuing a "scorchedearth policy" in the country's south as Israeli forces expanded ground operations and issued fresh evacuation orders, The Guardian reported. Nawaf Salam warned of a "dangerous" escalation and called for an immediate ceasefire, saying Israeli strikes were destroying towns and forcing residents to flee. Israel's military said its troops had advanced further into Lebanon, including across the Litani river, as part of efforts to strengthen its defensive line.