Dec 16 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on

the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not

verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

The Times

- Newcastle airport is planning to sell 49% shareholding

owned by Infrabridge for as much as 1 billion pounds ($1.26

billion) and Saudi investors are tipped as the front-running

bidders.

- Tata Steel has struck its maiden "green steel"

deal with construction equipment manufacturer J.C. Bamford

Excavators as it pushes ahead with the decommissioning of its

blast furnaces.

The Guardian

- Britain has announced 50 million pounds ($63.11 million)

of humanitarian aid for vulnerable Syrians across the Middle

East after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime.

- The UK home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has admitted the

government has a "complex arrangement" with China because of the

need for economic cooperation, against the backdrop of the

exclusion of an alleged Chinese spy with links to Prince Andrew.

The Telegraph

- TalkTalk is to cut hundreds of jobs as the debt-laden

broadband company scrambles to strip out 120 million pounds

($151.46 million) in costs.

Sky News

- Partners at the UK's fifth-biggest accountancy firm Grant

Thornton have voted to back the sale of a majority stake to

Cinven, the private equity firm.

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will announce a new

green energy deal with Norway to boost growth and protect

against spikes in international energy prices like those seen

when President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine.

The Independent

- UK high street retailers have been accused of recruiting

young workers as store assistants without basic employment

rights over the busy Christmas period.

- The British government has approved Czech billionaire

Daniel Kretinsky's 5.3-billion-pound ($6.69 billion) takeover of

Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services.

($1 = 0.7923 pounds)

($1 = 0.9517 euros)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)