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Steel tycoon faces enforcement action from UK business regulator, which could lead to fine or disqualificationThe steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta is being prosecuted by Companies House for failing to file accounts for more than 70 companies listed in Britain.Gupta, who was once described as the saviour of steel" when he began rescuing failing British steelworks in 2017, is facing enforcement action from the UK's business register for the late filing, which could result in a fine or being disqualified as a director. Continue reading...

Proposal to commemorate TV series on historic tenement raises concerns about increase in selfie-tourism in cityHeritage campaigners have protested about a proposal from Netflix to erect a plaque commemorating its hit show One Day on a historic tenement in Edinburgh.Netflix has applied to Edinburgh city council for permission to fit the red plaque at the foot of steps on Vennel, a path beside the city's medieval wall which offers an Instagrammable view of the Grassmarket and the castle. Continue reading...

Pennsylvania candidate David McCormick led Bridgewater, which managed millions in Russian funds, documents showDavid McCormick, the Republican candidate for US Senate in Pennsylvania, led the largest hedge fund in the world while it managed and advised funds holding hundreds of millions of dollars in Russian debt, documents obtained by the Guardian show.Filings with the US Department of Labor, known as form 5500s, show that from 2017 to 2021, Bridgewater Associates managed funds holding as much as $415m in Russian sovereign bonds. Since 2019 these types of investment have been subject to increasingly stringent US sanctions, in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Steve Sailer to appear alongside a proponent of scientific racism' and a law professor suspended for racist' remarksA rightwing activist who last month trained poll workers for the Republican National Committee will speak in Washington DC on Thursday night alongside an extremist writer who is a proponent of scientific racism" and a law professor who was suspended after allegedly making racist, sexist and homophobic" remarks and inviting a white nationalist to address her class.Jack Posobiec, Steve Sailer and Amy Wax will appear together at the event, which will take place at the presidential suite at Washington DC's Union Station, according to ticketing information obtained by the Guardian. Continue reading...

Alexandria diocese plans to file prearranged chapter 11' after settlement with victims to avoid lengthy delays'A Roman Catholic diocese in north-west Louisiana appears ready to join 40 other organizations of its kind in the US by filing for federal bankruptcy protection as the church's worldwide clergy molestation scandal continues reverberating, according to a letter obtained by the Guardian.But the diocese in question - that of Alexandria, Louisiana - is first aiming to reach a global settlement with those who already have pending clergy abuse claims demanding damages from the institution before it then files what it called a prearranged chapter 11" financial reorganization. As the letter authored by local attorneys for the Alexandria church put it, the purpose of the strategy is to avoid the lengthy delays and huge professional fees" incurred by the May 2020 bankruptcy filed by Louisiana's archdiocese of New Orleans. Continue reading...

Feeding America thanks Swift for major donation in response to hurricanes Helene and Milton, following her previous philanthropy for tornado relief in TennesseeTaylor Swift has donated $5m to relief efforts connected to hurricanes Helene and Milton.The charity Feeding America thanked Swift, saying it was incredibly grateful ... This contribution will help communities rebuild and recover, providing essential food, clean water, and supplies to people affected by these devastating storms." Continue reading...

BBC says 37 of the women worked at Harrods, and earliest accusation of abuse dates back to 1977A further 65 women have come forward to the BBC with allegations of abuse by Mohamed Al Fayed going as far back as 1977.Since the broadcast of the BBC documentary Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods, in which five women claimed to have been raped by the billionaire, more women have come forward with claims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape, the BBC reported. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Letter from union leaders and renters' groups urges government to tackle root cause of unaffordable rentsUnions are calling on ministers to undo years of damage to the housing sector" by the previous Conservative government and honour its pledge to tackle the housing emergency by introducing a form of rent cap.Steve North, the president of Unison, the UK's largest union; Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), and Matt Wrack, the general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, are among seven major union leaders and 19 signatories, including thinktanks, renters' groups and an estate agency firm, to back the calls. Continue reading...

Reports say Georges Elhedery's plans part of restructure that would lead to merging global and commercial unitsThe new boss of HSBC is reportedly readying to axe some of the bank's most expensive senior bankers in a move that could save as much as $300m (229m) in costs.Georges Elhedery, who took over as chief executive last month, is planning to remove a layer of senior bankers as part of a restructure that would result in the bank's global banking and commercial banking units merging. Continue reading...

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Legal professional used software to generate a case citation list, but did not use documents that had undergone human verification

Online publication takes out two out of three nominations for digital media innovation, including interactive based around messages between friends in Gaza and US

Three in four teachers put a pupil's psychological needs before teaching at least once a week, UK survey revealsTeachers are picking up the pieces of the deepening crisis in children and young people's mental health, with many regularly helping pupils in distress on top of their classroom duties.Teachers say they are playing an important role in supporting pupils' often fragile mental wellbeing because so many who need help from the NHS are not receiving it, a UK-wide survey found.78% of teachers say pupils' mental health has got worse since they joined the profession.76% say only half or fewer of the pupils who they believe need help with their mental health receive it.74% say poor mental health support is damaging pupils' ability to learn. Continue reading...

In today's newsletter: Conservative MPs have whittled down the candidates to Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick. What does that say about the direction of the party? Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning. Well that was unexpected ...It took them a full three months, but yesterday, Conservative MPs finally whittled down the candidates to succeed Rishi Sunak to two: Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.US news | A weakening but still tremendously powerful Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida's west coast on Wednesday night as a category 3 storm, leaving more than 2 million homes without power while bringing catastrophic" winds likely to cause significant property damage.Middle East | At least 400,000 civilians in Gaza remain trapped by the latest Israeli offensive centred on Jabaliya refugee camp, according to UN agencies and human rights groups.Economy | Keir Starmer's promise to end austerity and rebuild public services will require tax increases of 25bn a year in the coming budget even if debt rules are changed to provide scope for extra investment spending, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.United Nations | Saudi Arabia narrowly failed in its bid to win a seat on the UN human rights council, a blow to Riyadh's efforts to boost the country's rights reputation abroad, four years after it was rejected in a 2020 bid to join the 47-member body.Politics | Rogue employers will be targeted by the Fair Work Agency, a beefed-up new enforcement authority, to protect sweeping changes to rights at work for millions of Britons set to be outlined in a watershed" bill published on Friday. Continue reading...

Victim-survivors in England and Wales cross-examined about alcohol consumption and what they were wearing, charity Victim Support findsThree-quarters of survivors of sexual violence are subjected to rape myths during cross-examination, such as being asked what they were wearing or if they were out for revenge, according to research.A report by the charity Victim Support said the court process was re-traumatising victims, with one telling researchers: You're a piece of meat being pulled through the court system."One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening.One-third faced accusations that pursuing justice was a way of seeking revenge.One-third experienced questions about their alcohol consumption or substance use.15% faced questions about what they were wearing.12% faced accusations that the incident was just regretful or bad sex.Half of the cases analysed were adjourned, some up to four times, often at the last minute, with no explanation.Lengthy waits of up to 11 months persisted at sentencing and, even when there was a guilty verdict, offenders who lived close to survivors were sometimes not remanded in custody. Continue reading...

Rail users say exceptions to rules that allow some peak-time use of railcards are confusingThe train operator Northern has been criticised for prosecuting young people, leaving some facing bills of hundreds of pounds, after they have used their railcards to save just a few pounds on morning journeys.Restrictions on a 16-25 railcard, which can also be bought by full-time students, mean that discounts can only be applied to an anytime" ticket before 10am if the fare is 12 or more, requiring cardholders to pay full fare for cheaper tickets. Continue reading...

Exclusive: photos of burnt belongings - including documents needed to apply for asylum - are the latest alleged evidence of brutality on EU bordersCroatia's border police force appear to be burning clothing, mobile phones and passports seized from asylum seekers attempting to cross into the European Union before pushing them back to Bosnia.A report with photographs of burnt belongings, along with testimonies of sexual assault and beatings meted out by the police, shared with the Guardian by the humanitarian organisation No Name Kitchen (NNK), are the latest alleged evidence of brutality against people migrating at EU borders. Continue reading...

Sector has hired 185,000 foreign recruits in last two years, figures show, more than offsetting drop in British workersOne in five care workers in England are now men, the highest level on record, according to new figures showing immigration is reducing the social care staffing crisis.Care work traditionally has been female-dominated but men now make up 21% of the workforce in England, the first time they have represented more than a fifth of care workers since records began. Continue reading...

Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will be the next leader of the Conservatives, after MPs selected the pair to go to a final vote before party members. But who will survive the rough and tumble of Tory hustings? Plus, Morgan McSweeney is now all-powerful in Keir Starmer's top team - but is this reset enough to stop the chaos in government? John Harris is joined by the Guardian's political correspondent Kiran Stacey to explore these issuesSupport the Guardian today: theguardian.com/politicspod Continue reading...

Woman taken to hospital in a critical condition after being attacked by the dogs

Former Beaumaris primary school student will receive biggest known payout by a state government to a sexual abuse survivor in Australia

Guardian US's chief reporter, Ed Pilkington, explores Donald Trump's plans for a second term as president if he wins next month's election, and how they would give him unprecedented powerBy the time Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021, he was frustrated by the limits of his office.As Guardian US's chief reporter, Ed Pilkington, explains to Michael Safi, Trump felt he had been held back as president not by the standard checks and balances of a democracy, but by a shadowy deep state". Continue reading...

The country had faced a campaign from rights groups who accused it of being unfit to serve on the Human Rights Council'Saudi Arabia narrowly failed in its bid to win a seat on the United Nations Human Rights Council, a blow to Riyadh's efforts to boost the country's rights reputation abroad, four years after it was rejected in a 2020 bid to join the 47-member body.Saudi Arabia is spending billions to transform its global image from a country known for strict religious restrictions and human rights abuses into a tourism and entertainment hub under a plan its Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, launched known as Vision 2030. Continue reading...

Raid centred on Jabaliya camp is worsening hunger and threatening polio vaccine campaign, says Philippe LazzariniHundreds of thousands of civilians in Gaza remain trapped by the latest Israeli offensive centred on Jabaliya refugee camp, according to UN agencies and human rights groups.At least 400,000 people are trapped in the area," Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the UN Palestinian refugee agency, Unrwa, posted on X on Wednesday, amid witness accounts of bodies lying uncollected in the streets because of the renewed fighting. Continue reading...

This blog has now closed. You can read our latest report on the Israel-Gaza war here and all our Middle East coverage here.We have more reports coming in of deadly Israeli attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza (see post at 07.54) and Bureij refugee camp, which is located nearby.Two Israeli airstrikes hit tents for displaced people in the camps earlier, the Associated Press reports. The bodies of nine people, including three children, were brought to the al-Aqsa martyrs hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah. Continue reading...

Judge says offending by Aran Sherani, who pledged allegiance to terrorist organisation, must be denounced'

Blake Wilson was killed when aircraft on unauthorised flight' struck roof of DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in August

Hailstones up to 7cm recorded, while roofs collapse at a supermarket and a martial arts studio

The chancellor desperately needs more money to finance growth and public spending so expect a bit of tweaking to supposedly strict constraints

Employment rights legislation has been widely heralded by trade unions despite some commitments being watered downRogue employers will be targeted by a beefed-up new enforcement agency to protect sweeping changes to rights at work for millions of Britons, set to be outlined in a watershed" bill published on Friday.The Fair Work Agency will be created as part of the government's employment rights legislation, which will include stronger protections against unfair dismissal and exploitative contracts. Continue reading...

Improvements to workers' rights to include day-one universal sick pay and an end to zero-hours contracts and fire and rehireLabour's employment rights bill is the biggest step towards enacting one of its key election offers: to make sweeping changes to rights at work and improve pay. Here are the main details of the legislation, though much of it will take more than two years to consult on and implement.Guidance - but not legislation - on the right to switch off, preventing employees from being contacted out of hours, except in exceptional circumstances.Legislation to end pay discrimination, which is expected to come separately in a draft bill that will include measures to make it mandatory for large employers to report their ethnicity and disability pay gap.A consultation on a move towards a single status of worker - one of the most important changes that has been left out of the bill, which Labour sources have said needs a much longer consultation period.Reviews into the parental leave and carers' leave systems. Continue reading...

Tata, described as a truly uncommon leader', credited with transforming Tata Group into a global conglomerateThe Indian business tycoon and former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata has died, aged 86.Tata, who had headed India's largest conglomerate for over 20 years, had been receiving intensive care at Mumbai hospital, according to Reuters.Additional reporting by Reuters Continue reading...

Treasury officials examining potential levy that experts say could raise as much as 17bn for the exchequerRachel Reeves is considering introducing national insurance on employer pension contributions as a way of raising revenue in the budget.Treasury officials are examining the potential levy, which experts have said could raise as much as 17bn for the exchequer. Continue reading...

Former soldier accused of escaping from Wandsworth prison offered to work as Iran agent for 25 years, court hearsA former British soldier accused of spying stole UK military secrets for Iran and drew up a list of personnel from the SAS and other special forces, his trial has been told.Daniel Khalife, 23, whose role as a member of the British army's communications wing gave him access to highly sensitive information, also offered to work as an agent for the Islamic Republic for 25 years in messages to Iranian intelligence handlers. Continue reading...

Kamala Harris's running mate urges popular vote system but campaign says issue is not part of Democrats' agenda

Ex-Tory minister hired by CTRD, which works with Saudi government, to advise on reform, governance and securitySir Ben Wallace, the former Conservative defence secretary, has taken up a new job advising Saudi Arabia on reform, governance and security.The former MP has been given permission to move into a role as senior adviser to a firm called CTRD, working with the kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a country criticised for its brutal record on human rights and oppression of women. Continue reading...

Audible gasps as apparent frontrunner is eliminated while political rivals are gleefulBookmakers have cut the odds on Kemi Badenoch becoming next Tory leader because there has been a surge of money going her way in the last 24 hours, according to Oddschecker, a betting prize comparison website. Leon Blackman, a spokesperson for the firm, said:Kemi Badenoch's sudden surge in support has shaken up the Conservative leadership market. Within a day, her odds have been slashed from 6/1 to 6/4, as she takes the lion's share of today's bets. While Cleverly remains the favourite, his hold on the top spot looks increasingly precarious. Continue reading...

Kamala Harris also joins call as US administration seeks to weigh in on Israel's plans

Prime minister champions migration in stance at odds with many European neighbours increasingly hostile to newcomersSpain plans to make it easier for newcomers to settle in the country, its prime minister has said, in remarks that touted migration as a potent tool to protect prosperity and set out an approach that sharply contrasts with much of Europe's attitude towards migrants.Spain needs to choose between being an open and prosperous country or a closed-off, poor country," Pedro Sanchez told the country's parliament on Wednesday. It's as simple as that." Continue reading...

North Carolina's Chuck Edwards condemns conspiracy theories about hurricane spread by those in his own partyA Republican congressman representing areas devastated by Hurricane Helene has implicitly rebuked members of his own party, including Donald Trump, by issuing a scorching rebuttal of misinformation and conspiracy theories spread by the former US president and his supporters about the storm and the government's response.Chuck Edwards, the member for North Carolina's 11th district, contradicted criticism from Trump and others of the Biden administration's handling of the disaster by voicing praise for a level of support that is unmatched by most any other disaster nationwide". Continue reading...

Decision on multimillion-pound development is being closely watched as a test of Labour's support for the creative industriesThe deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, has called in a rejected planning application for a multimillion-pound film studio development in what is being closely watched as a test of Labour's appetite to prioritise economic growth in the creative industries.A proposed 750m development at Marlow Film Studios that would have created 4,000 jobs was turned down for planning permission by Buckinghamshire council in May, citing concerns about the impact on the road network and use of the green belt. Continue reading...

France, Germany and the Netherlands have raised concerns over entry-exit system, originally due to launch in 2023Plans to fingerprint passengers entering the EU from 10 November are to be delayed for a third time after concerns were raised by France, Germany and the Netherlands, it has emerged.The introduction of the entry-exit system (EES) requiring non-EU citizens to have their fingerprints or photos taken before entering the Schengen area has already been delayed twice. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Failure to extend funding risks biggest setback to ending homelessness in recent history', Rachel Reeves toldRough sleeping is heading back to record highs unless Labour fills a looming 1bn shortfall in frontline funding when deals agreed by the last government expire in the coming months, dozens of homelessness charities have said.Amid what campaigners have called a wall of silence" from the government about how it will tackle fast-rising homelessness, 76 charity bosses this week told the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, any failure to extend existing funding risks the most significant setback in progress towards ending homelessness and rough sleeping in recent history".All forms of homelessness increasing.Severely disadvantaged people being evicted from supported accommodation and forced into rough sleeping.Extra strain on emergency services. Continue reading...

Former foreign and home secretary loses out in shock result in final round of MPs' votingRobert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are the final two candidates to become Conservative leader after James Cleverly was eliminated in the last round of voting among Tory MPs in a stunning turnaround of fortune.Cleverly had topped the third round of voting, but came third in the one on Wednesday, losing two MPs' votes to reach a total of 37. Badenoch came first, going from 30 votes on Tuesday to 42. Jenrick moved from 31 supporters to 41. Continue reading...

Countess of Chester senior nurse said placements would give Letby break' from stress, despite knowing she was under investigation over babies' deathsLucy Letby was encouraged by a senior nurse to undertake regular visits to Alder Hey children's hospital despite her being under investigation on suspicion of murdering babies, a public inquiry has heard.Letby, 34, was told the placements would give her a break from the stress here", weeks before police were called over the unexplained deaths and deterioration of newborns at the Countess of Chester hospital. Continue reading...

Queen and Whitney Houston also feature on Marie Curie's playlist of tracks chosen by those nearing final momentsThe importance and benefits of music in end-of-life care are well known. But now the first playlist curated by people nearing the end of their lives has revealed the songs that people find helpful.Frank Sinatra's My Way and The Beatles' Hey Jude are among the most popular songs chosen by terminally ill people to accompany them in their final moments, research has suggested. Continue reading...

Four teenagers and a man in his 40s carried out revenge' attack on Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, in January, court hearsTwo teenage boys were murdered in the street by four youths and a man in his 40s who had mistaken them for the perpetrators of an earlier attack on a house in Bristol linked to a long-running postcode rivalry, a court has heard.Mason Rist, 15, and Max Dixon, 16, were fatally attacked in Ilminster Avenue, in the Knowle West area of Bristol, on the evening of 27 January this year. Continue reading...

UK Antarctic Heritage Trust fills vacancy at world's most southerly post office, as well as recruiting team to monitor wildlife and carry out building repairsAs a professional tent master", whose work involves building big tops at music festivals, George Clarke has never run a post office - and certainly never counted penguins for a living.But these and other idiosyncratic tasks will become part of his daily routine when he joins a small team of new recruits to the coolest jobs on Earth", staffing the world's most southerly museum and post office in Antarctica. Continue reading...

Judge said he was forced to discharge jury in trial of schoolgirl owing to a great irregularity'A jury that has been hearing the trial of a girl accused of stabbing two teachers and a fellow pupil at a school in south Wales has been discharged because of a great irregularity".The girl, who was 13 at the time, had accepted that she took a bladed fishing multi-tool into her school and stabbed the two adults and the pupil but denied attempting to kill them. Continue reading...

Residents groups call for passing of secondary legislation for Leasehold Reform Act as promised in king's speech