Business & Economy

Published: 15 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Poland’s transformation from a communist state struggling with shortages and economic uncertainty into one of the world’s 20 largest economies is reshaping the country’s relationship with its workforce, its European neighbours and its own future. After decades in which millions of Poles left their homeland in search of higher wages and better opportunities abroad, a growing number are...

Published: 15 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Global financial markets came under renewed pressure on Thursday as a sharp sell-off in technology shares intensified concerns about rising US inflation, potential interest rate increases and the growing debt associated with the artificial intelligence industry. Major technology companies and semiconductor manufacturers suffered significant losses across Asia, while European equities weakened and US stock futures pointed towards further...

Published: 15 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Brazil’s Congress has approved a constitutional amendment to reduce the maximum working week to 40 hours, marking a significant development in the country’s labour policy and delivering a potential political advantage to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ahead of the presidential runoff on 25 October. The reform could affect more than 30 million workers, particularly those employed...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online US President Donald Trump is heading to campaign rallies in Arizona and Montana after spending the previous 24 hours in Alaska, as mounting concerns over Republican electoral prospects place fresh pressure on the president and his party ahead of the midterm elections. Rising fuel prices, dissatisfaction with the cost of living and opposition to the war involving Iran...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Households across England and Wales could receive lower water bills after the industry regulator proposed requiring several water companies to return a combined £107 million to customers for failing to meet performance targets. Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and other providers are among those facing financial penalties, although customers in some areas could see their bills increase because competing...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company, has pledged $250 million worth of computing resources to support artificial intelligence safety and security research across the United Kingdom over the next five years. The commitment comes as governments, technology companies and academic researchers face growing pressure to understand the risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems, particularly autonomous agents capable...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online UK Chancellor John Healey is reportedly preparing a tax crackdown on major online marketplaces, including Amazon and eBay, as part of his first budget, in a move that could raise as much as £1bn for the Treasury and help fund business rates relief for struggling high street retailers. The proposed reforms would shift greater responsibility for collecting value...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The growing threat of cybercrime and online financial fraud is raising serious concerns among the leaders of the Bank of England and the International Monetary Fund, who warn that repeated attacks could weaken public confidence in the financial system. As artificial intelligence accelerates the speed and sophistication of criminal activity, financial authorities are urging technology companies, banks and...

Published: 14 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The United Kingdom has pushed back against growing European Union pressure to impose tariffs on Chinese vehicle imports, insisting that British trade policy will be determined by national economic interests rather than demands from Brussels. The position highlights continuing differences between London and European capitals as the UK seeks closer economic cooperation with the bloc while protecting its...

Published: 13 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The owner of British fashion brands Hobbs, Whistles and Phase Eight is investigating a cyber-attack that may have exposed customers’ personal information, raising fresh concerns about digital security across the UK retail industry. The incident has disrupted online shopping services at the three brands, while the company works with cybersecurity specialists to determine whether sensitive data has been...