Jan 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

- BP BP.L will cut over 5% of its global workforce, it said on Thursday, as part of CEO Murray Auchincloss' efforts to reduce costs and rebuild investor confidence in the energy giant.

- Rio Tinto RIO.AX and Glencore GLEN.L have held early-stage talks about combining their businesses, that would create a commodities giant with a market value of around $158 billion.

The Guardian

- Britain gave the green light to Rocket Factory Augsburg to launch the first rocket into space from a site in northern Scotland on Thursday, potentially paving the way for regular commercial space missions from European soil.

- BT BT.L, the British Telecoms company, has scrapped its plan to convert 60,000 roadside cabinets into electric vehicle chargers after successfully installing just one, a setback for the UK's goal of 300,000 public chargers to support the rise in electric vehicles.

The Telegraph

- Elon Musk's pressure led the UK government to commission new grooming gangs inquiries, a minister has admitted, acknowledging the billionaire owner's role in expediting the investigations.

Sky News

- During a surprise visit to Ukraine on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that the UK will play its "full part" in peacekeeping efforts, emphasizing the conflict's broader impact on the UK, including the cost of living crisis.

- Heart With Smart (HWS), Pizza Hut's YUM.N dine-in franchise partner in the UK, was sold on Thursday to Directional Capital after a two-month search for investors following Rachel Reeves's October budget, with only one restaurant set to close.

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)

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