Newsround: what Thursday's papers say

The top stories in Thursday's newspapers:

THE IRISH TIMES

- The paper reports that women remain hugely under-represented in the senior ranks of most of the state's colleges and universities, new figures show. While just over half of all lecturers in the seven universities are female, these numbers fall dramatically at higher grades such as associate professor (29 per cent) and professor (21 per cent).

- A man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping a Spanish student in a tent in Dublin had been ordered to stay from a city centre location as part of bail conditions that relate to another offence he is currently charged with, the paper says.

- The government's new blueprint for reducing greenhouse emissions in Ireland by 80 per cent before 2050 contains 106 actions but admits substantial uncertainty as to whether the targets can be achieved, the paper reports. The National Mitigation Plan includes a pledge to in effect electrify the entire two million-strong Irish car and van fleet by 2030.

- In its business supplement, it reports that shares in Independent News & Media plunged by 19.5 per cent after it issued a profit warning yesterday amid falling newspaper circulation, advertising revenues and Brexit "uncertainty" with sources signalling pre-tax earnings will fall about 20 per cent below expectations.

FINANCIAL TIMES

- Theresa May called on the BBC to pay men and women equally after the corporation published the names of its 96 employees paid more than £150,000 a year, exposing a stark gap between male and female broadcasters. Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans was the highest-paid star with a salary of between £2.2 million and £2.5 million a year.

- Morgan Stanley wrapped up reporting season for Wall Street's biggest banks yesterday by disclosing a four per cent drop in fixed income trading revenues during the second quarter. All of the banks revealed a drop in bond, commodities and currency trading, reflecting the low volatility in global markets in recent months, the paper says.

- Poland and the rest of the EU are on a potential collision course after Brussels warned that it was "very close" to demanding an unprecedented action against Warsaw for its moves to muzzle the country's highest courts. A proposed law to allow Poland's government to replace Supreme Court judges would have a significant impact on judicial independent, the EU said.

- The FT's Big Read is on the global economy as it reports that the gap between rich and poor nations is narrowing, mostly because of China. Meanwhile, populist pressures in high-income economies are being driven by flat or falling wages and a slowdown in their sources of dynamism.

IRISH INDEPENDENT

- The paper also reports on the rape and false imprisonment of a Spanish student in Dublin at the weekend, reporting that Gardaí released the alleged rapist from custody without charge despite the suspect already being out on bail for a string of offences.

- Health insurers have been accused by their watchdog of deliberately targeting younger, healthier consumers at the expense of older people, the paper says. Firms are using benefits on plans and pricing for different products to divide the market with some of the more attractive health insurance plans targeted at younger families, who are less likely to make claims.

- Consumers will no longer have to pay surcharges for using credit cards from the start of next year as new European Union rules ban the charge that can add two per cent to the cost of goods and services. The change will come into force on January 13.

- In its business supplement, the paper reports that former Central Bank deputy governor Cyril Roux questioned plans by governor Philip Lane to deal with staff shortages at the regulator, arguing they would lead to a significantly "lopsided" resource allocation in which he believed financial regulation would lose out.

IRISH EXAMINER

- An Garda Síochána is in crisis and must urgently change now or risk failing to ever reform, the head of the commission into the future of policing has warned. Kathleen O'Toole issued the warning as pressure continued to mount on Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan over the garda college finances.

- The paper also reports that it is "too early" to tell how many Irish vehicles will be affected by the recall of around three million Mercedes cars and vans across Europe. Daimler, which owns Mercedes, said the recall was part of a €220 million investment programme to cut emissions.

- Jobs Minister Frances Fitzgerald has been criticised for the failure of key agencies such as Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland to fill new Brexit-related positions with just 17 of 70 roles filled despite the allocation of millions of extra euro for the recruitment of staff to help firms prepare for Brexit.

- In its business section, the paper reports that the National Competitiveness Council has warned that Irish living standards and prosperity face "a serious and imminent threat" if Ireland fails to rein in costs. It also warns the government against taking steps that would narrow the tax base.