Business & Economy

Published: 20 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The United Kingdom’s unemployment rate has fallen unexpectedly, offering a modestly positive signal about the labour market ahead of the government’s upcoming budget. Official figures show that unemployment dropped to 4.7 per cent in the three months to August, down from 4.9 per cent in the previous period, defying economists’ expectations of a further increase. However, the improvement...

Published: 20 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A new railway station planned for Bradford is expected to transform rail travel across northern England, strengthen connections between major cities and support economic regeneration in one of West Yorkshire’s most important urban centres. The government’s announcement marks a significant step forward for Northern Powerhouse Rail, a long-promised transport programme intended to improve journey times, increase service frequency...

Published: 20 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Voters in Alberta have decisively rejected a proposal to begin a process that could eventually lead to the Canadian province separating from the country, according to a projection by the Canadian public broadcaster CBC. The result represents a significant political victory for Prime Minister Mark Carney and supporters of national unity, while delivering a setback to separatists who...

Published: 20 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Donald Trump has taken his campaign to Kansas in an increasingly urgent effort to protect Republican control of the US Senate, acknowledging that the traditionally conservative state could be becoming more competitive ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. The president’s appearance at a rally near Wichita on Monday highlighted growing Republican concerns about an unexpectedly strong challenge...

Published: 20 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Luxury shops across Milan have closed early, removed valuable merchandise from display windows and reinforced their premises as Italy prepares to deploy 500 additional army troops to the city following days of protests, looting and clashes between demonstrators and police. The move signals a tougher government response to growing unrest over the rising cost of living and dissatisfaction...

Published: 19 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online UK-listed companies have issued profit warnings at their highest level in two years, as the war in the Middle East drives up energy prices, increases operating expenses and deepens uncertainty ahead of the government’s autumn budget. The latest figures point to mounting pressure on businesses already struggling with higher borrowing costs, unpredictable demand and the challenge of planning...

Published: 19 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Alberta has reached a pivotal moment in its relationship with Canada as voters head to the polls in a referendum that has exposed deep political divisions, raised difficult questions about the province’s economic future and revealed significant disagreements within the independence movement itself. The vote has become much more than a debate over constitutional arrangements, touching on energy...

Published: 19 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A small island in the Indian Ocean is at the centre of an escalating controversy over offshore online gambling, following allegations that businesses connected to a London-based family have helped establish a licensing pathway used by casinos operating outside established regulatory systems. The government of the Comoros, which includes the island of Anjouan, is seeking international assistance as...

Published: 17 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The UK government is considering a major overhaul of apprenticeship funding in England that would require employers to pay a larger share of training costs for older workers than for younger apprentices. The proposed changes are intended to tackle rising youth unemployment, reverse a prolonged decline in youth apprenticeship enrolment and encourage businesses to invest more heavily in...

Published: 17 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A decade after Britain voted to leave the European Union, Brexit is once again emerging as a significant issue in British politics, with growing public support for rejoining the bloc prompting renewed debate about the country’s economic future, political direction and relationship with Europe. As senior Labour figures consider closer alignment with the EU, new polling suggests that...