Tuesday newspaper round-up: New homes, AI, Mike Ashley

A Labour government would aim to announce the sites for a series of new towns within a year of taking office, with the promise that homes would be built in them by the end of a first term, Angela Rayner is to say in a speech. Giving more detail to a plan first outlined in Keir Starmer’s party conference speech in October, Rayner will tell a housing conference that Labour will strongly support private developers who create high-quality and affordable housing. – Guardian

The sectors of the global economy most heavily exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) are witnessing a marked productivity increase and command a significant wage premium, according to a report. Boosting hopes that AI might help lift the global economy out of a 15-year, low-growth trough, a PwC study found productivity growth was almost five times as rapid in parts of the economy where AI penetration was highest than in less exposed sectors. – Guardian

The decision to block a UAE-backed takeover of The Telegraph has damaged relations with the Gulf state, a former Cabinet minister has warned. Sir Brandon Lewis, the former Northern Ireland secretary, said that it “would be logical” if the handling of Redbird IMI’s bid had contributed to a diplomatic breakdown between the UK and UAE that puts billions of investment at risk. – Telegraph

TalkTalk founder Sir Charles Dunstone is preparing to inject fresh funding into the debt-laden broadband provider, as looming repayment deadlines stoke fears over its future. Sir Charles and TalkTalk’s other main shareholders have offered to inject £150m into the company to stave off a potential debt crisis, sources said. – Telegraph

Mike Ashley is eyeing up a stake in Exeter’s Princesshay estate, The Times has learnt, in what would be the first joint venture between the retail mogul and the King’s property company. Frasers Group, the FTSE 100 retailer majority-owned by Ashley, “is the frontrunner” to buy a 50 per cent interest in the estate from Nuveen, a retail property source said. – The Times