Business

Image copyright Getty Images Stocks around the world have fallen for a fifth day amid growing concern about the coronavirus outbreak. In London the FTSE 100 index of the largest, typically multi-national, firms fell 1.1% in early trading, mirroring similar falls on other European markets. In Asia, Japan’s Nikkei 225 index lost 0.8% and the […]

Image copyright Getty Images The new chancellor must raise taxes in his first Budget or break the government’s rules on borrowing, a leading economic think tank has warned. Rishi Sunak is under pressure to increase spending on the NHS, social care and schools. He has also inherited a fiscal target from his predecessor Sajid Javid

Image copyright Craig Barritt Drinks giant Diageo has warned that its profits will be hit this year, as bars and restaurants in China are forced to close because of the coronavirus outbreak. The Guinness-owner said that operating profits were likely to be £140m-£200m lower than expected, due to disruption in Asian markets. It joins companies

Image copyright Getty Images Virgin Galactic has said it will release more tickets for flights into space amid surging demand. Sir Richard Branson’s firm, which completed its first sub-orbital test flight in 2018, said it had received almost 8,000 registrations of interest for future commercial flights. That is more than double the amount it recorded

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Health workers at a railway station in China’s Guizhou province screen travellers China wants workers to quickly return to factories in areas less affected by the coronavirus. That has led companies and the government to step into the breach and provide free transport back to work. Millions of workers

Image copyright Sonova Image caption Most hearing aids are made by a 3D printing process You might not know it, but if you wear a hearing aid, you are likely to be part of the 3D printing revolution. Almost all hearing aids nowadays are produced using the technique. Also known as additive manufacturing, 3D printing

Image copyright Peter Baker Image caption Jill and Peter Baker paid just under £600 for a getaway to Rome and Venice More and more people are choosing to cancel holidays to Italy as the number of cases of coronavirus in the country continues to rise. But, despite Foreign Office advice against travel to a number

Image copyright Alamy “I wish someone would tell me what Kotex is.” So said a bemused young American man at a dinner party in the 1920s. Nobody would, of course. Kotex was a code word – an arcane reference to something meant to be a secret. Kotex was – and remains – one of the

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Bob Iger has led Disney since 2005 Disney boss Bob Iger, who led the media company through several blockbuster acquisitions and the launch of a streaming network, is stepping down as chief executive. Disney said it had appointed Bob Chapek, who previously ran the company’s parks and products division,

NEW YORK (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. has named Bob Chapek CEO, replacing Bob Iger, effective immediately. The surprise announcement Tuesday makes Iger executive chairman. Chapek was most recently chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products. Iger will remain chairman through the end of his contract Dec. 31, 2021. Iger said it was an