Business & Economy

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The United Kingdom faces mounting pressure over AI financial risks as lawmakers warn of consumer harm. A parliamentary report says regulators have moved too slowly as artificial intelligence spreads. The Treasury committee argues oversight gaps threaten households, markets, and confidence in Britain’s financial system. Its findings arrive as firms accelerate adoption, often without consistent safeguards or accountability frameworks....

Published: 20 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The United Kingdom faces mounting pressure over AI financial risks as lawmakers warn of consumer harm. A parliamentary report says regulators have moved too slowly as artificial intelligence spreads. The Treasury committee argues oversight gaps threaten households, markets, and confidence in Britain’s financial system. Its findings arrive as firms accelerate adoption, often without consistent safeguards or accountability frameworks....

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The brazen influence of billionaires on global politics is becoming impossible to ignore, says Oxfam. Their latest report shows that 2025 saw a record number of billionaires created worldwide, with collective wealth reaching $18.3tn (£13.7tn). This staggering growth comes amid stagnating global efforts to combat poverty, hunger, and inequality. Since 2020, billionaire fortunes increased by 81%, or $8.2tn,...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Global financial markets slumped and safe‑haven metals surged after the Trump Greenland tariff threat reshaped investor sentiment with renewed geopolitical risk. The gold rally was swift as investors rushed to precious metals amid rising fears that U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to impose steep tariffs on several European nations could spark a destabilising trade conflict and weigh on...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. ScottishPower has been named the worst energy supplier for customer service, according to a new survey. The Which? report, compiled from nearly 12,000 energy consumers’ experiences, revealed that ScottishPower received the lowest customer satisfaction scores among Britain’s largest energy companies. The ranking highlights ongoing concerns over how some major suppliers, including ScottishPower, handle customer interactions, billing issues, and...

Published: 19 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK housing market shows early signs of recovery, as the UK property market sees the largest January asking price increase in a decade. Rightmove reported that the average asking price for a home jumped almost £10,000 in just five weeks, reflecting renewed optimism among sellers and buyers. This surge follows speculation over potential property tax changes in...

Published: 17 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online China has effectively blocked imports of Nvidia’s powerful H200 artificial intelligence chips, despite the processors having recently received clearance from the US government for export, according to reports that have deepened confusion over the rapidly escalating technology dispute between Washington and Beijing. The move has prompted parts suppliers linked to Nvidia’s supply chain to pause production, underlining the...

Published: 17 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Hundreds of taxpayers across the UK are facing prolonged financial strain as HM Revenue and Customs takes more than a year in some cases to repay overpaid tax and national insurance contributions, raising serious questions about fairness, accountability and administrative efficiency within the tax authority. An investigation has found that refunds which once took a matter of weeks...

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Canada-China trade has entered a critical new chapter as Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted a strategic partnership during his landmark visit to Beijing, the first by a Canadian leader in eight years. Carney emphasized that cooperation in agriculture, energy, and finance could deliver immediate benefits while reducing Canada’s heavy reliance on the United States. The renewed focus on...

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. South East Water CEO David Hinton is facing scrutiny after it emerged his Hinton bonus of £400,000 remains guaranteed, despite severe outages leaving thousands without water. The guaranteed Hinton bonus has sparked public debate over executive pay, with critics arguing such awards are unacceptable when essential services fail. Hinton, who has led the company since 2020, will receive...