Dec 17 (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

- The UK government is to take a "golden share" in Royal Mail as

part of an agreement with Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky

that paves the way for a 3.6 billion pounds ($4.57 billion)

overseas takeover of the former state postal operator.

- Arm Holdings chief executive Rene Haas has been

appointed as a non-executive director of AstraZeneca ( AZN ) as

part of a refresh of the board of Britain's most valuable public

company.

The Guardian

- Almost 90% of the UK workforce at telecoms company Lycamobile

have been told they could lose their jobs in an announcement

that leaves more than 300 staff fearing for their roles shortly

before Christmas.

- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is to visit British troops

serving on Russia's border after saying that Ukraine will

require more funding and capability.

The Telegraph

- Card Factory snubbed demands to oust chairman Paul

Moody after a backlash from investors over a lack of diversity.

- Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo was was named in court as

being a suspected Chinese agent by the British authorities after

a court order giving him anonymity was lifted.

Sky News

- NatWest Group's ( NWG ) retail banking chief executive, David

Lindberg, will step down next year as the company prepares for a

return to full private ownership.

- Thames Water is seeking High Court approval today for a 3

billion pound emergency loan to keep the troubled utility

afloat, in a crucial 48-hours for the company and the industry.

The Independent

- The Office for Environmental Protection said the Environment

Department (Defra), the Environment Agency (EA) and Ofwat failed

to comply with environmental law over regulating discharges from

combined sewer overflows (CSO) into England's rivers and seas.

($1 = 0.7882 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)