Oct 21 (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

- Microsoft MSFT.O and the British government have agreed a memorandum of understanding giving public sector organisations access to Microsoft's ( MSFT ) portfolio of AI-powered products and services.

- The hospitality industry has warned of a 900 million pounds ($1.17 billion) hit in the spring unless the UK chancellor reforms business rates in the budget.

The Guardian

- Leaked WhatsApp messages from the former Newcastle United minority co-owner Amanda Staveley suggest that Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's crown prince, was heavily involved in the takeover of the club.

- UK Health secretary Wes Streeting is to unveil plans for portable medical records giving every NHS patient all their information stored digitally in one place, despite fears over breaching privacy and creating a target for hackers.

The Telegraph

- Senior executives at Blockchain.com, a 5 billion pounds ($6.53 billion) London-headquartered cryptocurrency business, are facing prosecution over the company's failure to file its accounts on time.

- UK's Deputy Prime Angela Rayner has been given a permanent seat on the National Security Council after initially being sidelined by Sir Keir Starmer.

Sky News

- Negotiations between Rolls-Royce-backed RR.L Reaction Engines and the UAE's Strategic Development Fund, the investment arm of the UAE's Tawazun Council, about it anchoring a recapitalisation of the company have stalled.

The Independent

- Leaked recordings have sparked fears the British High Commission in Mauritius had its phones hacked around the time the UK opened negotiations for the handover of the Chagos Islands.

($1 = 0.7662 pounds)

(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)