-Carluccio’s gave rival restaurant groups a fillip yesterday when it announced a £90 million bid from a Dubai hospitality conglomerate.

The Restaurant Group, which reported robust half-year results, rose by 15¾p to 258¾p, while Clapham House, itself the subject of a bid, was up 2¼p at 70¼p.   

-British Airways launched its first new long-haul aircraft in 11 years today as the carrier begins the process of modernising its ageing fleet.

The aircraft, a £200 million Boeing 777-300ER, also features new economy and premium economy seats in a significant upgrade to BA’s present passenger offering. 

-Chinese investors have approached several large Canadian and North American pension funds in an effort to build an international consortium and mount a “stealth” counter-bid for Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.

People close to the situation told The Times that the approaches clearly signal Beijing’s interest in owning the Canadian company and in derailing the $39 billion (£25.2 hostile bid for the company by BHP Billiton, the Anglo-Australian mining group.

-Samsung is challenging Apple in the emerging market for tablet computers with a handheld device called the Galaxy Tab that is smaller and lighter than the iPad.

The Galaxy, based on Google’s Android operating system, features a seven-inch touch screen that is smaller than the iPad’s 9.7-inch screen and is regarded as the first serious contender to Apple’s plans to dominate the market for devices that sit between smartphones and laptop computers.

-And finally...A toddler hooked on cigarettes shows he has kicked the habit - after going into rehab at two!

Little Aldi Rizal, who threw tantrums if he could not puff 40 fags a day, was sent for therapy by child protection officials. 

After three months of intensive treatment he has managed to beat his cravings and is playing normally for the first time.

New sourced every weekday from The Times.