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Thames Water agrees new £122m fine payment plan

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Thames Water agrees new £122m fine payment plan


Troubled utility giant Thames Water has agreed to pay an initial £24.5 million of its record £122.7 million in fines by the end of September, under a payment plan sanctioned by regulator Ofwat.

The industry watchdog, which levied the penalties in May for failures concerning sewage treatment and the payment of dividends, stipulated that a fifth of the total fines would be due in this first instalment.

Thames Water has stated that these fines will not be covered by customer bills.

However, the payment of the remaining 80 per cent is contingent on the financial stability and future of the debt-laden water supplier, which is currently teetering on the brink of potential temporary nationalisation.

This means the majority of the fines may not be settled for up to five years.

Ofwat confirmed that the outstanding amount will be paid either 30 calendar days after Thames Water secures a rescue financing deal and demonstrates sufficient cash liquidity, or, if the company is placed into a special administration regime by the Government, 30 calendar days after it exits the insolvency process.

The regulator has set a final “backstop date” of March 31, 2030, for the full payment of the remaining penalties.

Thames Water says the fines will not be paid out of customer bills (PA Wire)

The fines were originally due by August 20, but Thames Water requested a revised payment schedule citing its ongoing financial difficulties.

Campaign group River Action slammed it as a “sweetheart deal”.

James Wallace, chief executive of River Action, said: “It is outrageous that Thames Water has been allowed to kick its fine down the road.”

Lynn Parker, senior director of enforcement at Ofwat, said: “This payment plan continues to hold Thames Water to account for their failures but also recognises the ongoing equity raise and recapitalisation process.

“Our focus remains on ensuring that the company takes the right steps to deliver a turnaround in its operational performance and strengthen its financial resilience to the benefit of customers.”

Ofwat announced the fines in May after it said an investigation into Thames Water’s sewage treatment works found “a series of failures by the company to build, maintain and operate adequate infrastructure”.

The utility giant was ordered to pay £104.5 million for the sewage probe, plus £18.2 million for breaking rules over dividend payments, the industry’s first dividend-related fine.

The fines were originally due by August 20, but Thames Water requested a revised payment schedule citing its ongoing financial difficulties

The fines were originally due by August 20, but Thames Water requested a revised payment schedule citing its ongoing financial difficulties (Getty)

Ofwat pointed to nearly £170 million worth of dividend payments by Thames in October 2023 and March 2024, which the watchdog said were not justified.

But the fines come at a time when Thames is already under extreme financial stress and its chief executive Chris Weston has previously told MPs that if the company faced fines that were too high, it would struggle to get new investment.

Thames Water is feared to be edging closer to a potential temporary nationalisation after the Government appointed insolvency specialists FTI Consulting earlier this month to step up contingency planning in case the supplier collapses.

These plans could see Britain’s biggest water firm placed into a special administration regime (SAR), meaning it would be put into an insolvency process.

Thames Water, which has 16 million customers, remains locked in talks over a rescue funding deal with a number of senior creditors.

But it recently raised doubts over whether the creditors’ refinancing and restructuring plans could be completed, which could ultimately result in a state rescue deal.

In a statement on Wednesday, Thames Water said: “The company continues to work closely with stakeholders to secure a market-led recapitalisation which delivers for customers and the environment as soon as practicable.”



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Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for August 28, 2025 – check list – The Times of India

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Top stocks to buy today: Stock recommendations for August 28, 2025 – check list – The Times of India


Top stocks to buy today (AI image)

Top stock market recommendations: According to Aakash K Hindocha, Deputy Vice President – WM Research, Nuvama Professional Clients Group, Nykaa, Kaynes, and Dr Reddy’s Laboratories are the top buy calls for today. Here’s his view on Nifty, Bank Nifty and the top stock picks for August 28, 2025:Index View: NiftyAfter an inside bar formation on Monday, Nifty opened with a gap down reeling all throughout the session ahead of its trading holiday on Wednesday. The index has closed below its trailing support of 24800 allowing for further downside to be opened for 24500 / 24350. Nifty has also formed a bearish head and shoulders formation on daily charts with a neck line support seen at 24450. A break below the same post monthly expiry could reel in further pressure on the index.Bank NiftyUnderperforming Nifty, Bank has broken its support of 55050 opening for a test of sub 54000 odd levels to begin with. The index has also closed at a 3.5 month low on daily charts ahead of its monthly expiry scheduled on Thursday. 55000 is likely to act as resistance on the upside while the index slides below sub 54000 levels in the coming week.NYKAA (BUY):

  • LCP: 231.65
  • Stop Loss: 223
  • Target: 252

Stock has been gaining traction ever since its 3 year triangle breakout seen in June 2025. For now NYKAA has given the highest ever close in past 3 years of trading along with a huge cup and handle breakout on daily and weekly charts. This opens up for a 18-20% trading buy target on the stock, yet we would advise for an initial uptick being 250+ on this leg.KAYNES (BUY):

  • LCP: 6197
  • Stop Loss: 5980
  • Target: 6620

After a cup and handle breakout in early August 2025, stock has been consolidating near the breakout zone for the past 4 weeks now. Last week’s price action suggests further move northwards from CMP as the stock has completed multiple retests of its ongoing breakout.Dr Reddy’s Laboratories (BUY):

  • LCP: 1263
  • Stop Loss: 1230
  • Target: 1355

Sustaining above its 200 DMA support, DRREDDY’s has also given a bullish flag breakout on daily charts. This allows its initial upside to open for the 1350-1360 zone where it could meet another potential breakout on upside.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market and other asset classes given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)





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India may ask EU for concessions on lines of its deal with US – The Times of India

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India may ask EU for concessions on lines of its deal with US – The Times of India


NEW DELHI: Government is going to push for bridging the gaps on several contentious issues in trade talks with the European Union next month, while also demanding that the trading bloc offer concessions on carbon tax on the lines of the deal with the US, an official said Wednesday.“We are in the last mile, quite a few things are narrowing down. There are a handful of major issues and we are trying to narrow the gaps and then leave it to the leaders to take a political call,” the official said ahead of the next round of talks scheduled for Sept 8-12. EU commissioner for trade and economic security MaroS Šefcovicis also expected to travel to the Capital after the official level meeting to hold consultations with commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal.Both sides have set an year-end deadline to finalise the agreement and India is keen that it fills the missing link in Europe, having signed agreements with the UK and the four nation European Free Trade Association, comprising Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.The deals are part of efforts to push for a diversified trade basket that provides Indian exporters access to crucial markets. India already has trade pacts, from Australia to Asean, the UAE and Mercosur countries, and is seeking more deals.Sources suggested that govt will help exporters diversify, with the focus expanded from 20 countries to 50, while also coming out with export promotion measures to overcome the challenge of US tariffs. Intensive consultations are lined up with exporters in the coming days.Govt officials said based on the feedback, strategies to offset the impact of the US tariffs, including support from the Centre, will be devised.Outreach in countries, including the UK, Japan, and South Korea, to push textiles exports are also planned, with similar initiatives planned for other sectors. In case of textiles for instance, 40 potential markets have been identified and in each case a targeted approach is proposed, positioning Indian companies as reliable suppliers of quality, sustainable, and innovative textile products. Official said that export promotion councils (EPCs) will be the mainstay of the diversification strategy.





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Baby sleeping bags being sold online ‘pose suffocation risk’, Which? warns

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Baby sleeping bags being sold online ‘pose suffocation risk’, Which? warns



More than 30 baby sleeping bags found on online marketplaces including Amazon and eBay pose a suffocation risk, according to an investigation.

Which? said online marketplaces had been allowing the sale of baby sleeping bags similar or identical to products that were officially recalled by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) for suffocation risks.

A common characteristic of the products found by Which? were hoods which could cover a baby’s head and face and result in suffocation, the watchdog said.

The inclusion of hoods does not comply with the British Standards Institution’s safety standards for this reason.

Some of the sleeping bags Which? looked at, such as a teddy bear-style blanket on Amazon Marketplace, did not have arm holes, despite sleeping bags needing them to meet the safety standard.

Those without can cause a baby to slip down inside the sleeping bag, covering their face and risking suffocation.

Which? also found a sack-style sleeping bag listing on eBay which showed a baby being “positively swamped” by the item.

The consumer group also found five listings on Etsy that it was “concerned about”, with two appearing to be identical to recalled products, and the other three in a similar style and listed as sleeping bags.

Which? is urging shoppers to avoid baby sleeping bags with hoods or excess material, such as large bows or other novelty additions, which risk covering a baby’s head and face while they move around in their sleep.

It is best to always use a sleeping bag with arm holes as these help to stop babies slipping down inside the bag.

Other items to avoid included products sold as multipurpose items, such as a swaddle, stroller cover and baby cocoon as well as a sleeping bag, to ensure individual items conform to safety standards.

Which? said it was concerned the products continued to be sold despite market surveillance undertaken by the OPSS earlier this year.

The regulator undertook test purchasing for a range of items sold online, including baby sleeping products, and worked with online marketplaces to remove the listings.

However Which? said it found 35 potentially lethal sleeping bags still being sold just four months later.

Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer protection policy, said: “It’s outrageous that dangerous baby sleeping bags are still being sold on online marketplaces.

“Our previous investigations showed this is part of a wider pattern: unsafe products are removed, only to resurface. The only way to break this cycle is by holding online marketplaces legally accountable, with tough penalties for failures.”

An Amazon spokesman said: “We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws, regulations and Amazon policies.

“The products flagged are not in scope of the safety alerts shared by Which?.

“If customers have concerns about an item they’ve purchased, we encourage them to contact our customer service directly so we can investigate and help resolve their issue.”

An eBay spokeswoman said: “Consumer safety is a top priority for eBay. We work diligently to keep our site safe and prevent prohibited listings through seller compliance audits, block filter algorithms for unsafe listings, and AI-supported monitoring by our team of in-house specialists.

“These proactive measures have prevented millions of potentially unsafe products from being listed every year. Listings that violate eBay policy, including those identified in this investigation, are swiftly removed.”

Etsy has been approached for comment.



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