Thames Water lenders offer'golden share' to head off nationalisation Image caption, Thames Water's lenders want to let local authorities have more involvement Thames Water's main lenders are offering the government a golden share and more control for local authorities in a bid to stop the troubled supplier from being nationalised. The government recently rejected a previous rescue proposal, and the BBC understands the lenders are preparing a legal challenge in case the new Andy Burnham-led government takes the firm into public hands. In his first speech as prime minister on Monday, Burnham said he wanted to see greater public control of life's essentials. The new proposal offers local authorities greater involvement in the firm, similar to the relationship between United Utilities and Greater Manchester agreed when Burnham was the city's mayor. The London & Valley Water (L&VW) consortium of lenders had already proposed a £10bn deal to prevent Thames Water from entering administration.

The UK government borrowed slightly less than expected in June, according to official figures published as new prime minister Andy Burnham began setting out measures to cut living costs for households. Borrowing - the difference between spending and income from taxes - was £16bn last month, £7.9bn lower than at the same point last year, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. Separate figures also showed the unemployment rate remained unchanged between March and May, with the UK statistics body saying the labour market was relatively steady. However while the borrowing figures were better than forecast, the UK is still carrying significant public debt. 'I made £100,000 of TikTok sales in one day': The business of live shopping The Papers: 'Burnham era begins' and'King Kev' Your tips on getting a fussy child to eat, and six recipes they'll love Mum's'tears of joy' as daughter released from hospital What will Andy Burnham's first day be like?

US President Donald Trump has signed an order imposing a 50% tariff on a wide range of goods imported from Canada, in retaliation for what he called unequal treatment of US cars, dairy and alcohol. The duties take effect on 19 August and mark a major escalation in trade tensions between the North American neighbours. The White House said the tariffs were necessary to protect American businesses. Goods targeted range from everyday consumer items like wine and hockey sticks to industrial goods such as commercial cement. However, several key exports will be spared, such as energy, potash, critical minerals and fish.

The lenders to Thames Water are preparing a legal challenge in case a Burnham-led government attempts to nationalise the UK's biggest water company. Burnham - who takes over as PM on Monday - has previously said he wants to see greater public control of the water and energy sectors and has called for Thames Water to be nationalised. Thames Water is about £20bn in debt. Its lenders had proposed a deal to write off nearly half of that and inject new cash in return for some leniency from future pollution fines, but this deal has previously been rejected by the government as being weak and bad for consumers and the environment. Sources close to the creditors have told the BBC that in the event of full nationalisation, they would pursue payment in full of the outstanding debts as has happened in previous cases, which could leave the government with a multi-billion-pound bill. Fears first emerged three years ago that Thames Water could collapse and on Thursday, the firm warned it has enough cash to last until the end of this year .

Russians are returning to cash, as mobile internet shutdowns disrupt card payments, and more businesses seek to dodge tax under mounting financial pressure more than four years into the war with Ukraine. Russia has added 1.56tn roubles (£14.8bn; The spike comes amid a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, which have repeatedly led the Kremlin to shut down mobile internet across large swathes of the country, leaving many unable to pay by card. The government says the aim of the shutdowns is to counter the drone strikes. Having cash on hand gives you some sense of control and security, one woman in Moscow told the BBC on condition of anonymity.

I'll just do that later, this thing can wait, maybe a short break first... We've all been there: putting off certain tasks then being left with essays up to the wire, loads of messages unread and that bedroom sort-out that just never happens. A fifth of us are guilty of regularly procrastinating but the type of procastinator we are can reveal something deeper about us, say researchers. Are you a dreamer or rebel? What does it all mean, and can you fix it? The cause can be hidden or buried, says Dr Itamar Shatz, a lecturer at Cambridge University who is publishing a book on the subject this week.

A celebration of life service and procession has been announced in Swansea following the death of Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler. The Total Eclipse of the Heart singer died unexpectedly on 8 July, aged 75, at a Portugal hospital, as a result of the illness that she was being treated for, her family said in a statement released on the star's official website, external . At the time, tributes poured in from a host of friends and stars including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bryan Adams and Rod Stewart. It has now been confirmed that her coffin will be brought to her Mumbles home on 15 August at 15:30 BST, with people invited to pay their respects by lining Newton Road at 15:15. Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins - also known for hits including Holding Out For A Hero and Here She Comes - is survived by her husband of more than 50 years, Robert Sullivan.

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. Figure caption, Green Party leader says he hasn't been offered state security Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called for the government to provide him with extra security, warning I am worried about it both for myself and for all party leaders. The politician said he hadn't been offered anything at all after being asked for his thoughts following Ann Widdecombe's death. I am worried and I have been worried for a long time. I would encourage the government to provide me with extra security, but that is a choice for them, he told BBC Breakfast.

Why has British Steel been nationalised? British Steel has been taken into public ownership after years of uncertainty over the future of the steelworks. It comes months after the UK government took control of the company's plant in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, though it was still owned by China's Jingye Group. What is British Steel and why is it important? British Steel's Scunthorpe plant employs 2,700 people, about three-quarters of the company's workforce.

Firefighters are spending a third day tackling a major wildfire which has led to evacuations in the Cairngorms. The blaze started in heathland at Ryvoan Bothy, near Nethy Bridge, late on Wednesday morning and had spread across 3.7 miles (6km) by Thursday afternoon. A number of homes and businesses, including campsites and a ski resort in the Glenmore Forest Park area have been closed and evacuated as a safety precaution. A helicopter joined the firefighting efforts on Thursday night. Nine fire appliances and specialist resources remained at the scene on Friday morning.