Newsletter Nov 16, 2022

Jobless rate rises as UK prepares to tighten belts again

Britain's unemployment rate unexpectedly rose and vacancies fell for a fifth report in a row as employers worried about the outlook for the economy, official data showed on Tuesday, ahead of a tough government budget plan later this week.

In Burnley, Britain's cost of living crisis hits home

Skipping lunch each day and watching television in blankets to keep warm is not how Ann and Keith Hartley envisaged their retirement in Burnley, the northern English town hit hardest by Britain's cost of living crisis.

UK budget predicted to be a nightmare before Christmas

Britain will Thursday hike taxes and slash public spending in a government budget that signals a return to austerity despite a cost-of-living crisis and recession headwinds.

Sterling, Big Oil and homebuilders: The winners and losers from upcoming UK budget

The moment of truth is almost here for Britain's new prime minister Rishi Sunak and finance minister Jeremy Hunt.

G20 talks enter final day as emergency meeting held over Poland blasts

Leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) economies will hold a second day of talks on Wednesday, although the schedule at the summit was disrupted by an emergency meeting to discuss reports of a missile landing in Polish territory near Ukraine.

NATO, leaders to meet as Poland says Russian-made rocket kills two

NATO and global leaders will meet on Wednesday after a Russian-made rocket fell on NATO member Poland and killed two people, raising concerns that the Ukraine conflict could spill over its borders.

European shares flat as Vodafone's fall offsets gains in utilities

European shares were nearly flat on Tuesday as a sharp decline in British telecom group Vodafone, after it slashed its full-year forecasts, eclipsed gains in the utilities sector.

Cryptoverse: So long, Solana? Ether rival clobbered by FTX crash

Solana, a poster coin of the crypto future, is in trouble.

India's Tata to open 20 'beauty tech' outlets, in talks with foreign brands

India's Tata Group is planning to open at least 20 "beauty tech" stores where it will use virtual makeup kiosks and digital skin tests to get young, affluent shoppers to buy premium cosmetic products.

EU tells COP27 it will increase climate ambition

The European Union plans to update its emissions-cutting target under the Paris climate accord, the EU climate policy chief told the COP27 summit on Tuesday, with the upgrade expected before next year's United Nations summit.

Musk delays Twitter relaunch after fake account frenzy

In the original revamp users in the US could pay eight dollars for the verified checkmark and were left free to change their account names and impersonate existing accounts

U.S. FBI director says TikTok poses national security concerns

The U.S. operations of Chinese-owned TikTok raise national security concerns, FBI Director Chris Wray said on Tuesday, flagging the risk that the Chinese government could harness the video-sharing app to influence users or control their devices.

British man killed in Ukraine 'saved lives', inquest told

The UK has also confirmed the deaths of medic Craig Mackintosh and ex-paratrooper Simon Lingard, who was killed near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine this month.

Biafran separatist leader's brother challenges UK in London court

A lawsuit accusing the British government of refusing to acknowledge that jailed Biafran separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu was the victim of extraordinary rendition to Nigeria began at a court in London on Tuesday.

FIFA appeals for World Cup ceasefire in Ukraine

The president of the world football body called Tuesday for a one-month ceasefire in Ukraine to mark the World Cup, saying sport could bring people together.

England and Netherlands arrive in Qatar as Infantino calls for focus on football

England and the Netherlands will be the first World Cup heavyweights to arrive in Qatar on Tuesday as FIFA President Gianni Infantino again urged teams to focus on the football.