Iran’s death toll from coronavirus rises by 119 to 21,020; spread of Covid-19 appears to be slowing in hard-hit Americas; India cases top 60,000 for eighth dayNon-woven face masks ‘better at stopping Covid spread’Obesity increases risk of Covid-19 death by 48%, study findsEU trade commissioner under pressure to quit over Covid breach‘They they’ll be left to die’: pandemic hits VenezuelaUK coronavirus live: latest updates 1.47pm BST France will not let its guard down against a still-virulent coronavirus but life must return to some kind of normality, the prime minister said on Wednesday, as a senior adviser to the government warned of a second wave in November.Prime minister Jean Castex said his government wanted to ensure the French could return to school, get back to work and enjoy a social life “as normally as possible”.The worst thing of all would be that we sink because we did not get things moving amid a social and economic crisis. 1.35pm BST Kenya’s president has extended a nationwide curfew for 30 days, saying coronavirus cases were rising in areas outside the capital.In a televised address, Uhuru Kenyatta also ordered bars and nightclubs shut for another 30 days - but increased the number of people allowed to attend weddings, funerals and other events.This crisis has however began to percolate to the counties. The new frontier of this invisible enemy is increasingly shifting to the counties and to our rural areas. Continue reading.........

Rolling live coverage of business, economics and financial markets as investors look ahead to virtual Jackson Hole central bank summitInvestors fish for central bank hints on more coronavirus stimulusProvident Financial cuts 300 jobs after losing millions Bank regulator ends new mortgage payment holidays from 31 October Oil prices sustained by shutdowns in storm-hit Gulf of Mexico 1.45pm BST US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has criticised British bank HSBC for allegedly shutting down accounts belonging to activists in Hong Kong.The United States is dismayed to learn the Chinese Communist Party continues to bully our British friends and their corporate leaders. HSBC maintains accounts for individuals sanctioned for denying Hong Kongers’ freedom, while shutting accounts for those seeking freedom. 1.26pm BST The economies of the wealthiest nations contracted by an “unprecedented” 9.8% in the second quarter of 2020, according to the OECD, the club for richer countries.The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) figures confirm that the UK suffered the worst contraction - 20.7% - among the G7 major economies. Continue reading.........

Critics say plan for fields off Svalbard threatens ecosystem and relations with RussiaNorway is planning to expand oil drilling in previously untouched areas of the Arctic, a move campaigners say threatens the fragile ecosystem and could spark a military standoff with Russia.A public consultation on the opening up of nine new Norwegian oilfields closed on Wednesday. The areas in question are much further north in the Arctic than the concessions the US president, Donald Trump, announced for Alaska earlier this month. Continue reading.........

Meteorological and environmental reasons cited as reasons for record low catchesSpanish fishing boats are landing only a tenth of their normal summer catch of octopus – an unheard of drop.To date, since 1 July they have caught just 38,000kg of octopus, compared with a normal average of 378,000kg over the same period. Income has slumped by 84%. Catches vary from year to year but such a huge drop is unprecedented. Continue reading.........

Prosecution lawyer criticises player’s lack of apologyManchester United captain has vowed to clear nameHarry Maguire should apologise if he doesn’t want Tuesday’s conviction hovering over him for years to come, the prosecution lawyer handling the case has told the Guardian.Proffering what could be a beam of hope for the embattled Manchester United captain, Ioannis Paradissis said an apology could pave the way for “a different sentiment” to prevail when Maguire, who has vowed to appeal against the conviction, attempts to overturn his 21-month sentence before a higher court. Continue reading.........

Report says racism is endemic in aid department’s HQ and network of offices abroadMany black, Asian and minority ethnic men working in the Department for International Development claim to have experienced prejudice at work including racist jokes and doubts about their legality as UK citizens.The government’s aid department has also been severely criticised for signing off an anti-sexual harassment campaign which portrayed BAME men following or restraining white women, in a report seen by the Guardian. Continue reading.........

Largest US childrenswear retailer blames Covid for move, as employees say they are struggling to buy food after wage cutsThe largest childrenswear retailer in the US has cancelled millions of dollars worth of clothing orders from suppliers in Ethiopia because of the coronavirus pandemic, pushing companies into debt and leaving employees facing pay cuts.The Children’s Place (TCP), which has more than 1,000 stores in the US and 90 around the world and had a turnover of $2bn (£1.5bn) last year, cancelled orders from Ethiopia in March and delayed payments by six months for orders completed in January and February, suppliers told the Guardian. Continue reading.........

Ted Hui and Lam Cheuk-ting held over incident in July 2019 when white-clad thugs attacked activists at train stationHong Kong police have arrested pro-democracy lawmakers over involvement in protests in 2019, including one who was injured when a large group of thugs attacked protesters and civilians at the Yuen Long transport station.The arrests come amid a crackdown on dissent and freedom of expression. Continue reading.........

Christopher Nolan’s latest blockbuster creates a palindromic origami of bizarre physics inside an 007-style thriller. If you’ve seen it, what did you think?Charged with the twin missions of kickstarting cinemagoing post-lockdown (outside the US, at least) and out-Nolanning every previous Christopher Nolan movie, Tenet carries a lot on its shoulders. The fact that it made it into cinemas is an achievement, but does it deliver? The critical consensus has been a qualified, often confused, “yes”, although opinions have differed widely, even among Guardian and Observer critics. One thing all will agree: as well as a fresh jolt of spectacle to revive the flatlining movie business, Tenet provides plenty to talk about and plenty to think about. Too much? Let’s talk about that. Continue reading.........

Pep Guardiola would love to link up again with forwardLegal battle with Barcelona may determine Messi’s futureManchester City believe they have a chance of signing Lionel Messi after the forward told Barcelona he wants to leave. Related: Where next for Lionel Messi after his decision to leave Barcelona? Continue reading.........

38-year-old singer, who had 21 Top 10 hits with Girls Aloud, says breast cancer ‘has advanced to other parts of my body’Sarah Harding, former member of pop group Girls Aloud, has announced that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.In a series of tweets, she wrote: Continue reading.........

Emily Thornberry labels ex-Australian PM a ‘Trump-worshipping misogynist’ amid reports of roleThe shadow trade secretary, Emily Thornberry, has condemned reports that Boris Johnson is preparing to appoint the former Australian prime minister Tony Abbott to a senior trade role, calling Abbott a “Trump-worshipping misogynist”.The Department of Trade declined to comment publicly on Wednesday but insisted no decision had yet been made, after the Sun reported that Abbott would be given a leading role on the board of trade. Continue reading.........