Hong Kong's CKI emerges as leading contender for Thames Water, The Times reports
(Reuters) -Hong Kong's CK Infrastructure Holdings (CKI) has emerged as a leading contender to take over Thames Water and could assume control within weeks if Britain's largest water utility is placed into special administration, The Times reported on Tuesday. CKI has indicated it would be prepared to operate under tougher penalties for environmental breaches, a regime that Thames Water's creditors say is financially unviable, the report said. Thames Water did not respond immediately to a Reuters request for comment outside regular business hours, while CKI could not be immediately reached for comment. Earlier on Tuesday, Reuters reported that Britain had appointed FTI Consulting to advise on contingency plans for heavily indebted and loss-making Thames Water to be placed into a special administration regime. Thames Water is seeking to avoid nationalisation by securing 5 billion pounds ($6.75 billion) of financing from senior bondholders.
Source:The Times
August 13, 2025 04:06 UTC
Knee-replacement implant used on thousands of NHS patients known to be faulty for years
A knee replacement involves removing damaged surfaces of the femur (thigh bone) and the tibia (shin bone) and replacing them with artificial components. Debbie says the pain resulted from the knee implant slipping from the tibia and wearing away the bone. She has since had a second knee replacement, but the problems caused by the initial failed implant have caused long-lasting health problems, she says. As part of their knee replacements, both Debbie and Diana had received a specific implant section, known as a "stemmed option tibial component", also known as a "tibial tray". In broad terms, this section lacked a layer of plastic contained in earlier, well-regarded versions of the NexGen replacement knee.
Source:The Times
August 13, 2025 02:14 UTC
England cricketer blocked from promoting OnlyFans in The Hundred
Poll Should sports leagues allow athletes to promote their personal brands on platforms like OnlyFans? England fast bowler Tymal Mills has been denied permission by the England and Wales Cricket Board to display his OnlyFans account logo on his bat during The Hundred cricket tournament in August 2025. He further emphasized that his channel would give subscribers "a closer, more personal look into life as a professional cricketer. "Mills, who holds the record as the leading all-time men's wicket-taker in The Hundred, maintains that the material on his OnlyFans channel is "completely safe. The platform retains approximately 20% of the fees, with creators receiving the remaining 80%.While OnlyFans is widely known for hosting adult content, it is not exclusively dedicated to such material.
Source:The Times
August 13, 2025 01:18 UTC
Heat alert in UK: Warnings issued across parts of England; here's how to stay safe
Image credits: getty imagesHeat exhaustion and heatstroke amid heat alertImage credits: Getty ImagesHow to stay safe? Image credits: Getty ImagesThe time to spend some time indoors seems to be here in the UK. As temperatures soar to mid-30s Celsius, amber heat health warnings have been issued across parts of England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has announced heat health warnings for the East Midlands, West Midlands, the East of England, London and the South-East from 9 am on Tuesday to 6 pm on Wednesday.Yellow warnings have been issued in the south-west, Yorkshire, the Humber, north-west and north-east for the same days.The agency said the heat was likely to have a significant impact on health and social care services, including potential for a rise in deaths, specifically among those over 65 and with health conditions.Additionally, forecasters have said constant days of high temperature could lead to the UK recording its fourth heatwave of the summer of 2025. A heatstroke might require immediate treatment.According to the NHS, heat exhaustion has symptoms such as feeling faint or dizzy, excessive sweating, clammy skin, nausea or vomiting, and muscle cramps.Confusion, no sweating, temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius, hot and dry skin, nausea or vomiting, loss of consciousness, and convulsions or seizures as signs of a heatstroke.To prevent heatstroke or heat exhaustion during the unbearable heat, ensure proper hydration, stay away from the sun during the hottest hours of the day, limit physical activities, cover up in suitable clothing when going outside and make sure the indoors are cool.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 23:31 UTC
Wigton Motor Club to host annual Classic and Motorsport Show
Wigton Motor Club will be hosting its 34th annual Cumbria Classic and Motorsport Show on Sunday, August 17. Featured classes this year are Italian cars and rally cars, and the main event will be reuniting Malcolm Wilson OBE with his first rally car, an Escort Mk1, which has been carefully restored by Neil Kirkham. Also, on display will be one of M Sport’s latest Ford rally cars. There are more than thirty car clubs with ‘fantastic’ displays, and new this year will be the Allard Owners Club. The club is the largest car club in the region, with over a thousand members and promotes a wide range of motorsport and classic car events.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 22:43 UTC
Wisconsin Woman Convicted in Failed Assassination Attempt in Birmingham, England
As he began to open his car door, the veiled woman walked toward him, raised a handgun and pulled the trigger. Mr. Ali scrambled back into his vehicle, threw it into reverse and sped off, security footage from a nearby house showed. “It is sheer luck that he managed to get away unscathed,” a local prosecutor, Hannah Sidaway, said. On Tuesday, Aimee Betro, 45, an American woman from Wisconsin, was convicted in the failed assassination attempt against Mr. Ali. A jury in a court in Birmingham found her guilty of conspiracy to murder, firearm possession and importing ammunition after a three-week trial.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 20:20 UTC
Over 70s face UK driving bans if they fail eye tests
The UK is one of only three European countries to rely on self-reporting of eyesight problems that affect driving, leading ministers to consider compulsory eye tests every three years for drivers aged over 70 and a driving ban for those who fail. The shake-up could also see the drink drive limit in England and Wales to be lowered in line with Scotland’s laws. Ministers are also considering tougher penalties for uninsured drivers and failing to wear a seatbelt. Last year, 1,633 people were killed and almost 28,000 seriously injured in traffic incidents, and numbers have remained relatively constant following a large fall between 2000 and 2010. Other proposals are reported to include allowing the police to bring prosecutions for drug-driving on the basis of roadside saliva tests rather than blood tests as increasing numbers of drivers are being caught with drugs in their system.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 18:22 UTC
'Desperate times': Shambles Kitchen break-in in York
The door to Shambles Kitchen was damaged as the culprit or culprits forced their way into the sandwich business in a brazen attempt to steal cash. The incident is the latest in a spree of recent low-level crimes in York city centre. The break-in at Shambles Kitchen is believed to have taken place at about 6am today, Tuesday 12 August (Image: Newsquest)Owner Simon Long said nothing was taken as Shambles Kitchen is a cashless operation, but the door to the business now needs to be replaced after the four panels of glass were broken and the lock was damaged. "Shambles Kitchen has been open for ten years and never had a break in before. There's been a spate of people smashing the locks, breaking in and looking for cash in York.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 16:21 UTC
The Queens, Bradley Fold , is at the heart of the community
Tell us a bit about yourselfI’m Julie Coffey, and I’m the new landlady since the pub re-opened in June. So, when The Queens became vacant, I applied, never thinking I’d be successful, having no bar experience. We’ve got Smart darts – which means you can play darts with anyone in the world, either individuals or teams. I’ve got a football team ready to go – the Radcliffe Rangers are moving here – and two darts teams. I want to get back to the times when everything revolved around your local pub, watching Sunday league, supporting the darts team, a real community pub.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 15:11 UTC
Where to watch 2025 New Zealand Masters for FREE: Schedule, UK times, draw and players involved in Auckland
Where to watch 2025 New Zealand Masters for FREE: Schedule, UK times, draw and players involved in AucklandDarts' spell Down Under continues this week as some of the sport’s biggest names compete in the New Zealand Masters. The latest World Series event comes less than a week after Luke Littler triumphed at the Australian Darts Masters with an 8-4 victory over Mike De Decker in Wollongong, Sydney. New Zealand Masters: Date and where to watchThe event will begin on Friday, 15 August, and come to a close the next day on Saturday, 16 August. 2 Luke Littler is looking to go one further in New Zealand this year, a week after winning the Australian Darts Masters Credit: Shutterstock EditorialNew Zealand Masters: FormatThe New Zealand Masters includes a total of 16 players. New Zealand Darts Masters: Prize money details Total prize pot: £60,000 Winner: £20,000Runner-up: £10,000Semi-finalist: £5,000Quarter-finalist: £2,500First-round losers: £1,250New Zealand Masters: Draw and playersAs mentioned, Littler, Humphries and Price are the leading PDC representatives, with Bunting and Dobey involved too.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 14:57 UTC
Rachel Reeves admits there is ‘more to do’ on jobs as payrolls fall
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Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 14:02 UTC
The Times Scotland announces new editor
David McCann has been appointed editor of The Times and The Sunday Times in Scotland. David McCann: “I’m privileged to be leading the most dynamic newsroom in Scotland.” Photograph: Supplied by News UK. The Times says David McCann has served as the paper’s interim editor since former editor Magnus Llewellin’s departure in June. McCann brings a wealth of experience to the role, having joined the title as news editor in 2018 before being appointed deputy editor the following year, added the publisher. Richard Bogie, managing director of News Scotland, said: “We are thrilled to appoint David as editor.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 13:44 UTC
Addressing healthcare inequalities in prisons: the vital role of nursing
Citation: Guttridge H et al (2025) Addressing healthcare inequalities in prisons: the vital role of nursing. Exploring the unique challenges to providing person-centred care in the prison setting highlights the complex interaction of factors that result in health inequalities. As a result, healthcare disparity between prison populations remains, leading to further healthcare inequalities in the prison system (NHS England, 2023). Staff trainingImproved health education, appropriate staffing and standardised training are highlighted as possible solutions to reduce health inequalities. ConclusionThere are clear disparities and inequalities in healthcare and wellbeing provision, both in the prison service and between prisons.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 13:18 UTC
Travelling to these countries can put you at risk: CDC issues Level 2 alert for Germany, UK, and others amid rising poliovirus concerns
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Poland, Spain, and other countries following the detection of poliovirus circulation. This highly contagious virus spreads through airborne droplets and fecal contamination, targeting the nervous system. While most infected individuals show no symptoms, severe cases can cause muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, paralysis, or even death if breathing muscles are affected. Globally, polio has been detected in 39 countries and territories over the past year, particularly in Africa and the Middle East. Global Outlook and Prevention EffortsWhile wild poliovirus has been eliminated from most developed nations, vaccine-derived strains can still appear in under-vaccinated populations.
Source:The Times
August 12, 2025 12:54 UTC