Debenhams to close 50 stores, EU votes to ban single-use plastics, and more top news

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Debenhams will close 50 stores after an annual loss of ￡492m, the worst in its 240-year-history. Britain's biggest standalone department store chain has struggled as high-street spending falls and costs rise. Debenhams said the largest losses came from non-cash write-downs on IT systems and store and lease provisions. Sky News reports 5,000 jobs will be put at risk by plans to close one-third of its 165 stores over the next five years. The retailer has issued three profit warnings this year.

The EU is banning single-use plastics in a bid to decrease ocean pollution. The European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a complete ban on plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink-stirrers and balloon sticks, as well as a reduction on food and drink containers like plastic cups by 2021. The UK will also have to adopt the rules if the ban becomes a fully-fledged directive before the end of a Brexit transition period.

Theresa May has hit out at the “unethical” use of non-disclosure agreements by employers, after a UK Court of Appeal has blocked a “leading businessman” at the heart of sexual harassment and racial abuse allegations from being named. The Daily Telegraph was prevented from identifying the senior executive after he spent close to ￡500,000 in legal fees in order to get an injunction against the outlet. The newspaper has spent eight months investigating "allegations of bullying and intimidation", described as the British #MeToo scandal.

UK car production has fallen to its lowest level in three years. Britain’s factories reported a 16.8% slide in output to 127,051 cars in September, a fall of 25,600. The Times reports eight out of ten UK-manufactured cars are bound for the export market, with more than half of those going to the European Union. It comes as Jaguar Land Rover prepares to shift all production of its Discovery model to Slovakia, and implements a three-day week until Christmas for part of its Castle Bromwich plant.

Just weeks after a British Airways data leak, rival Cathay Pacific has been hit by a data breach affecting up to 9.4 million passengers. The airline has confirmed personal information including passport numbers, identity card numbers, email addresses and credit card details were accessed during the data leak. It is currently in the process of contacting affected passengers. In September, British Airways revealed that the personal and financial details of 380,000 customers were stolen in a “malicious” data breach.

Idea of the Day: Science is the key to solving many of the world’s biggest problems, says 3M chief executive Mike Roman.

“It’s equally important to invest in talent, which means strengthening STEM education.”

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— Natalie MacDonald