Newsround: what Thursday's papers say

The top stories in Thursday's newspapers:

THE IRISH TIMES

- On its front page, the paper reports that the government has received further evidence that its tax revenues are falling short of expectations, with concern mounting in political circles that expected increases in public spending will come under pressure if the trend continues. Exchequer figures published yesterday showed tax revenues were €344 million, or 2.4 per cent, below expectations last month.

- It also reports that French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen attacked one another from the first moments of their television debate last night. Le Pen accused the outgoing administration, of which Macron was part, of having chosen what she called "savage globalisation, Uberisation, precariousness and the war of all against all".

- In its business section, the paper reports that Central Bank governor Philip Lane has rejected suggestions that the economy is one the brink of another housing bubble and said the bank's mortgage-lending rules will ultimately act as a drag on property prices.

- It also says that almost all Irish senior executives believe a hard Brexit is inevitable with less than a quarter considering a deal is possible in two years, according to a survey. However, the executives were optimistic that Brexit could eventually be good for Ireland with 86 per cent suggesting the state will become a more attractive place for business as a result of Brexit.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- Theresa May has accused "European politicians and officials" of threatening Britain and trying to sabotage her attempt to win the general election in an apparently deliberate move to stoke Brexit tensions with Brussels. The prime minister claimed that events of recent days showed that "there are some in Brussels who do not want these talks to succeed, who do not want Britain to prosper".

- The paper also reports that the US Federal Reserve said the recent slowdown in US growth was likely to prove temporary as it stayed on course for a further increase in short-term interest rates as soon as next month.

- The euro zone economy has shown more signs it has escaped its post-crisis doldrums as figures yesterday indicated that growth in Europe's single currency area accelerated at a faster pace than either the UK or US in the first quarter. The economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the opening quarter, according to a flash estimate from Eurostat.

- In its Companies & Markets section, the paper reports that Standard Chartered plans to establish a new EU subsidiary in Frankfurt, becoming one of the first banks to select Germany's main financial centre as its alternative European hub to cope with the disruption of Brexit.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- Farmers and producers are facing a massive threat to exports after a British supermarket giant piled the pressure on competitors to stop stocking Irish beef. Co-op became the first retailer to push for a British-only campaign, announcing it would sell only British fresh meat.

- Gardaí have launched an investigation into Athlone Town FC amid allegations of match-fixing and irregular betting patterns. It reports the Garda Economic Crime Bureau was alerted by the FAI which shared information on irregular betting patterns it had received from Uefa.

- Facebook plans to hire another 3,000 people to review videos and other posts after getting criticised for not responding quickly enough to murders, suicide and other violent acts shown live on its service. The company already employs 4,500 people to identify crime and other questionable content for removal.

- In its business supplement, the paper reports that Intel has secured planning permission for a massive extension to its factory in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, which will enable it to compete for as much as $4 billion of investment in the future.

IRISH EXAMINER

- The paper reports that the opening salvo has been fired in the Fine Gael leadership battle after Leo Varadkar called for a TV debate and took a swipe at rival Simon Coveney about when the upcoming contest will begin.

- It also says that dozens of Central Bank staffers have been paid almost half a million euro in sweeteners to agree a longer notice period in the event of them resigning. Figures in the latest annual report show that 28 employees were given the lucrative incentive, over and above their existing salaries, last year.

- Television licence fees will not be applied to laptops or similar devices after a decision by Communications Minister Denis Naughten to reject department advice on the proposed charge.

- Businessman Ben Dunne expects his expanding gym business to generate revenues of over €10.3 million in its current financial year. Dunne said combined revenues for the group topped €9 million in the 12 months to the end of last May while operating profit for the entire group totalled €3.2 million.