Friday newspaper round-up: Thales, energy price cap, The Observer

New inheritance tax rules for farmers could be changed to make it easier for those 80 and over to hand down their farm without it incurring the tax, in what would be a partial climbdown by the government after a bruising row with farmers and a huge protest march in Westminster on Tuesday. The Treasury is understood to be assessing the impact of changes, including amending gifting rules for over-80s so they can pass on their farm to their family without having to live for seven years after making the gift. – Guardian

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is investigating suspected bribery and corruption at Thales Group, a multinational aerospace and defence electronics contractor. The company, which is headquartered in Paris and has a UK subsidiary employing more than 7,000 staff, is known in defence circles for its varied businesses, which include making missiles and launchers, supplying sonar systems for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarines and designing the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. – Guardian

Italy, Abu Dhabi and Cyprus are among a group of countries seeking to woo Britain’s rich following the government crackdown on nom-doms. Countries are holding events across London to convince the UK’s 67,000 non-doms – UK residents with tax domiciles elsewhere – to relocate in the wake of the election and Labour’s first Budget. – Telegraph

Energy bills for most households in Britain will rise by an average £21 to £1,738 a year from January, increasing the pressure on millions of people. Ofgem, the energy regulator, raised the price cap by 1 per cent, from £1,717 in the present quarter, in response to a rebound in wholesale gas prices amid mounting global political turmoil and extreme weather events. – The Times

The former editor of The Observer has criticised plans for it to be sold after its suitor warned it was “heading down a path to closure” if a deal cannot be struck. Paul Webster, who retired on Saturday after 28 years at the Sunday newspaper, said the proposed sale to the digital start-up Tortoise Media would “severely damage the reputation” of its owner the Scott Trust. – The Times