US treasury secretary accuses Beijing of trying to damage global economy, as US and China roll out tit-for-tat port fees – business live
Posted on Tuesday October 14, 2025

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsWhy has US-China trade war restarted and how have markets reacted?A flurry of takeover talk speculation has pushed up shares in budget airline EasyJet this morning.EasyJet’s shares are up over 7%, leading the risers on the FTSE 100 share index.“[The group] does not believe the redress methodology proposed by the FCA appropriately reflects actual customer loss or achieves a proportionate outcome.“...the FCA’s proposed approach to assessing unfairness does not align with the legal clarity provided by the supreme court judgement in respect of the “Johnson” case, which confirmed that the test for unfairness is highly fact specific and must take into account a broad range of factors. The group will continue to engage with the FCA in respect of these points.“Many motor finance lenders did not comply with the law or the rules. It’s time their customers get fair compensation. Recent court judgments show that liabilities exist no matter what.“We believe our scheme is the best way to settle the issue for both consumers and firms, and alternatives would be more costly and take longer. We recognise not everyone will get everything they would like. But it’s vital we draw a line under the issue so a trusted motor finance market can continue to serve millions of families every year.” Continue reading...

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UK labour market shows signs of stabilising after job losses
Posted on Tuesday October 14, 2025

Unemployment rate rises slightly to 4.8% but ONS says falls in and payroll numbers and vacancies are levelling offBusiness live – latest updatesBritain’s employment market has shown signs of stabilising after a sharp rise in job losses earlier this year blamed on tax rises introduced by Rachel Reeves.As the chancellor prepares for her 26 November budget, figures from the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate rose to 4.8% in the three months to August, up from 4.7% in July. City economists had forecast the rate to remain unchanged. Continue reading...

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UK retail sales growth cools amid fears over budget tax rises
Posted on Monday October 13, 2025

Inflation also hitting sales, says industry body, as Barclays says credit card spending fell in SeptemberUK retail sales growth cooled last month as concerns over inflation and looming tax increases in Rachel Reeves’s autumn budget weighed on British consumers.In a snapshot before the chancellor’s tax and spending event next month, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said total sales rose more slowly in September than in recent months. Continue reading...

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What does the end of free support for Windows 10 mean for its users?
Posted on Tuesday October 14, 2025

Computers running software will still work but steadily become more vulnerable to viruses and malwareFrom Tuesday Microsoft will no longer offer free support as standard for Windows 10, an operating system that is used by millions of computer and laptop owners around the world.Figures for September suggest four in 10 of those using Microsoft Windows worldwide were still using Windows 10, despite the introduction of its successor, Windows 11, in 2021. Continue reading...

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Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2 review: the most comfortable noise cancelling headphones
Posted on Tuesday October 14, 2025

Premium commuter cans upgraded with longer battery life, USB-C audio and improved sound, but still cost a lotBose has updated its top-of-the-line noise-cancelling headphones with longer battery, USB-C audio and premium materials, making the commuter favourites even better.The second-generation QuietComfort Ultra headphones still have an expensive price tag, from £450 (€450/$450/A$700), which is more than most competitors, including Sony’s WH-1000XM6. Continue reading...

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Jordan Pickford leads England defensive stability as World Cup spot beckons
Posted on Monday October 13, 2025

Keeper has kept eight clean sheets in succession but is keen to acknowledge the team ethicAs they like to say in the US, dee-fense wins championships. The sentiment is not an exclusively American thing. “Attack wins you games, defence win you titles,” Sir Alex Ferguson once said. And he should know, having won quite a lot of them with Manchester United.As England look forward to next summer’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, the idea has come to resonate, mainly because of how miserly they have been at the back under Thomas Tuchel. Continue reading...

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De Bruyne double in Belgium win deals huge blow to Wales’ World Cup hopes
Posted on Monday October 13, 2025

Craig Bellamy cited Nostradamus in the buildup, advising to expect the unexpected given the 4-3 thriller that unfolded the last time these nations met. But while Wales gave Belgium an early fright, two Kevin De Bruyne penalties and a Thomas Meunier strike paved the way to a comeback victory that all but quashes their hopes of automatically qualifying for the World Cup.Nathan Broadhead, on as a substitute, pulled a goal back but almost immediately Leandro Trossard struck to cap a victory this time featuring just the six goals. Joe Rodon headed in to give Wales a welcome leg up but Belgium stirred to maintain their pristine qualifying record; their last defeat in a qualifier here in June 2015, when Gareth Bale scored to propel Wales towards Euro 2016. Wales will likely have to do it the hard way if they are to reach North America next summer. Continue reading...

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