Monday newspaper round-up: Iraq, Balfour-Carillion, BoE...

11th Aug 2014 06:57

The United States is exploring options to evacuate thousands of Iraqi civilians trapped on a mountain in northern Iraq by Islamic militants after four nights of humanitarian relief airdrops, officials in Washington said. At least half of the 40,000 people besieged by jihadists on Mount Sinjar had escaped by Sunday night, aided by Kurdish rebels who crossed from Syria to rescue them. - The GuardianConstruction rivals Balfour Beatty and Carillion have reignited talks about a potential £3bn tie-up after a fiery breakdown in negotiations a fortnight ago. Carillion is understood to have made some concessions to lure Balfour's chairman Steven Marshall back to the table and the two sides have resumed contact. - The TelegraphThe Bank of England will deliver its strongest signal yet that interest rates are likely to rise by early next year when it publishes its latest outlook on the economy this week. The central bank is expected to endorse market forecasts for the first rate increase at Wednesday's quarterly Inflation Report. In the past three months, traders have brought forward their prediction from May to February. Economists think that Mark Carney, the governor, will also leave the door open to a possible increase before the end of the year. - The TimesIsrael and Hamas agreed to an Egyptian proposal for a new 72-hour ceasefire on Sunday night in a last-ditch attempt to avert a lengthy war in Gaza.Though most people in the coastal enclave welcomed the prospect of relief from the conflict, few expressed much optimism that any new pause - the eighth attempt at ending the fighting - would last. - The GuardianOil tycoon Alasdair Locke is understood to have struck a £200 million deal to acquire a chain of petrol stations from US-based Murphy Oil Corporation, which last month agreed to sell its troubled Welsh refinery as it retreats from the UK. - The ScotsmanAlex Salmond has admitted there is no acceptable 'Plan B' if an independent Scotland is barred from using the British pound. The First Minister said dropping the pound 'implies settling for what's second best' - but still insisted there will be a deal on a currency union with the rest of the UK. His admission came as Labour leader Ed Miliband revealed he will campaign against a currency union in the event of a 'yes' vote. - The Daily MailBC