Business

Image copyright Reuters The UK will fall into recession next year if there is a no-deal Brexit, the country’s spending watchdog has said. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said economic growth would fall by 2% by the end of 2020 if it left the bloc without an agreement. This would effectively forgo about 18 […]

Image copyright Getty Images Shares in Asos have sunk after the online fashion giant said that this year’s profits are likely to be much lower than expectations. The retailer said sales growth in the US and Europe had been held back by problems at its warehouses. These problems meant that the range of clothes available

Image copyright Getty Images Water bills in England and Wales are set to fall by an average of £50 between 2020 and 2025, under plans published by the industry regulator. Ofwat said firms would also have to invest an additional £6m each day in improving services for customers. It comes amid widespread dissatisfaction with the

Image copyright Instagram Instagram is hiding the number of likes on posts in several countries, including Australia and Japan, in order to “remove pressure” on users. The trial which begins Thursday, means users will see a user name “and others” below posts, instead of the number, on their feed. Instagrammers can still view the number

Image copyright Alamy Image caption What do Beanie Baby toys have to do with satellite technology? There is a beloved story about the dimensions of the space shuttle. Apparently the booster rockets had to fit through railway tunnels designed to accommodate a horse and cart. In short, the space shuttle boosters were the width of

Image copyright iStock / Getty Images The number of electric car models available to consumers in Europe is expected to triple by 2021, according to European Union transport experts. The uptake of electric cars has been stalling, blamed on a lack of charging infrastructure and higher prices. Latest data shows carmakers will offer 214 electric

Image copyright iStock / Getty Images Workers whose jobs might become obsolete as a result of automation are to receive help in retraining from a new national government scheme. Up to 20 million manufacturing jobs around the world could be replaced by robots by 2030, according to analysis firm Oxford Economics. The scheme will support

Image copyright iStock / Getty Images Dutch airline KLM has caused an uproar on Twitter after telling a customer it might ask mothers to cover themselves while breastfeeding. KLM told Heather Yimm that breastfeeding on flights is allowed, but if other passengers are offended they may be asked to cover up. The airline’s response has

Image copyright Netflix Image caption The Netflix hit Stranger Things has just begun a third series Netflix added fewer paid subscribers than expected in the last three months, with the streaming service blaming price rises. Shares in the company sank 10% after Netflix added 2.7 million new customers worldwide in the April-June period, well below

Image copyright Getty Images Zara – and other brands like Pull & Bear and Bershka – have promised to only sell sustainable clothes by 2025. The company that owns these shops says all cotton, linen and polyester they sell will be organic, sustainable or recycled. Zara has 64 UK stores, and its parent company has