Author: WTX News

Financial Times – Threat to Thames Water’s survival spurs interim nationalisation plans Summary of the front page Work is being done to prepare for an interim nationalisation of Thames Water, says the Financial Times. The paper says that, amid the turmoil, the price of a 2026 bond sold by Thames Water’s parent company, Kemble Water Holdings, has plunged by 35p to 50p. It also quotes Cathryn Ross, interim co-chief executive, saying earlier this month that the company has made a “very large loss and that is not ideal in terms of raising capital”. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave…

The Guardian – Crisis talks as Thames Water faces £10bn deficit Summary of the front page The government has “no true grasp on the costs” involved in preventing a collapse of Thames Water, which is facing a £10bn deficit, according to The Guardian. Rescue measures under discussion among ministers and regulators include placing Thames Water into temporary national ownership in order to secure a refinancing package. The paper says the package would need public funds and could also lead to higher bills for customers. It quotes an unnamed minister who says the government has “no true grasp on the costs”…

Metro – Thames on the brink Summary of the front page Metro splashes on the crisis at Britain’s biggest water firm, Thames Water – with ministers drawing up a bail-out plan amid growing concerns about its financial stability. The paper says the company has £14bn in debts and is believed to be trying to raise £1bn from its shareholders as part of a bailout. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers

Daily Express – Don’t you dare block boats bill Summary of the front page The Daily Express leads on House of Lords peers being warned they face a “showdown” if they attempt to block new laws stopping small boats. The government has pledged to fight any attempts in the House of Lords to “water down” legislation under which migrants entering the UK illegally would be sent to Rwanda. A government source tells the paper: “We will not be doing this the polite way. There will be a showdown.” Madonna’s stay in a NYC intensive care unit also makes the front…

The Sun – Madonna intensive care dash Summary of the front page The Sun newspaper reports on the Queen of Pop Madonna putting her tour on hold after being admitted to an intensive care unit. The paper says the 64-year-old was diagnosed with a bacterial infection after being found unresponsive and that eldest daughter Lourdes, 26, is believed to have been with her throughout. The front page also pictures Kim Kardashian. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers

Daily Mirror – ISIS plots major UK attack Summary of the front page The Daily Mirror reports that Iraq’s top counter-terror officer, General Abdul Wahab el-Saadi, has warned that an Islamic State cell in Britain is planning to carry out a terror attack. Speaking in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, el-Saadi said the cell’s plot had been uncovered by his troops and that it intended to target a public gathering. The front page also reports on Madonna’s health scare noting the star had been in intensive care. Today’s top stories Like this article? Leave a comment UK National newspapers

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Named and shamed: Boris allies accused of ‘disturbing’ attacks on democracy The Independent says Boris Johnson’s allies have been accused of undermining democracy with a “coordinated campaign of interference” which put “unprecedented” pressure on the committee investigating whether the ex-PM lied to parliament over Partygate. The privileges committee has published its new special report highlighting comments by Tory MPs who criticised the cross-party MPs during their 14-month inquiry. Nadine Dorries, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Andrea Jenkyns and Priti Patel are among those named in the report after comments they made about the probe, which some described as a “witch hunt” and “kangaroo…

Partygate: privileges committee accuses seven Tory MPs and three peers of trying to interfere with its inquiry The Guardian says The Commons privileges committee has criticised in particular seven MPs and one peer for posting tweets, or giving comments to the media, that it described as “some of the most disturbing examples of the co-ordinated campaign to interfere with” its inquiry into Boris Johnson. The quotes are set out in an annex to the report. The MPs are: Nadine Dorries, the former culture secretary (who seems to be the worst offender – four of her remarks are quoted) Jacob Rees-Mogg,…

Thames Water has significant issues to address, Ofwat says The water regulator Ofwat has said Thames Water – the UK’s largest water company, has “significant issues to address” and needs to improve its “financial resilience.” Thames Water serves a quarter of the UK population and is currently attempting to secure extra funds as its struggles with debt. The UK government has said it was ready to intervene if the company collapsed and there have been talks over potential nationalising of the company. Regardless of the outcome, water supplies will continue as normal. In a statement, Ofwat said it had been…

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Thai police detained Twitch streamer Ice Poseidon for giving lap dances to his friends while wearing nothing but lingerie at a restaurant in Bangkok.

At least 150 arrests in violent protests over France police killing Mass protests, following the killing of a teenager, have led to at least 150 people being arrested across France. France has been dealing with a second night of protests which were caused by the fatal shooting of Nahel M. The 17-year-old was shot dead at point-blank range as he refused a traffic stop and attempted to drive away. The officer accused of killing Nahel, who said he had fired because he felt his life was in danger, is in custody on charges of voluntary manslaughter. It has been reported…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk Thursday’s front pages report on the news that the UK’s largest water company, Thames Water, could be close to collapse. There have been emergency meetings and plans are being drawn up as the crisis deepens. There are also reports the government could seek to nationalise the company. Thames Valley chaos The Guardian leads with an unnamed minister saying the government has “no true grasp of the costs” involved in stopping the collapse of the company – which serves 15 million customers. The paper says the company could have a hole of £10bn in its…

‘The water would have come in at such a pressure that, once it reached the critical point, it would have happened almost instantly.’

More and more Germans are swapping meat products for plant-based proteins, according to Germany’s Ministry for Agriculture, but not everyone is ready to give them up.

Arteta has welcomed Havertz to the Emirates Stadium.

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The US coast guard has issued a statement.

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A man tore up and burned a Koran outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday, an event that risks angering Turkey as Sweden bids to join NATO, after Swedish police granted permission for the protest to take place.

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