Business & Economy

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Recruitment firms say an increasing number of UK companies are prioritising temporary and contract workers over permanent staff, reflecting ongoing caution in the labour market amid economic uncertainty and rising employment costs. Industry data suggests businesses are using short-term hiring models to maintain flexibility while avoiding long-term payroll commitments in a period of fluctuating demand. Recruiters report stronger...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online An additional £174 million has been earmarked to cover rising costs on the planned Lower Thames Crossing, as concerns grow over the “spiralling” budget of one of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects. The funding increase reflects continued pressure from inflation, construction costs and complex engineering requirements linked to the major road and tunnel development beneath the River Thames....

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Trade unions have criticised a reported year-long delay in connecting a major electric furnace project to the electricity grid in South Wales, warning that the setback could undermine industrial transition plans and threaten jobs. The dispute centres on infrastructure work linked to a new low-carbon steelmaking facility being developed by Tata Steel, which is intended to modernise production...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Public protests have erupted in Albania over a high-profile development project linked to businessman Jared Kushner, raising tensions between local communities, government authorities and international investors. Demonstrations have taken place in several locations, with protesters expressing concern over land use, environmental impact and the influence of foreign-backed investment in sensitive coastal and urban areas. The project, which has...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Residents across Cuba say they are living under extreme strain as prolonged and repeated power outages disrupt daily life, with many describing conditions of “no electricity, no gas, no sleep” amid worsening energy shortages. Households report frequent blackouts affecting lighting, refrigeration, water supply systems and basic communication, leaving communities increasingly isolated and vulnerable. In some areas, outages are...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online A conservation campaigner is working to persuade coastal fishing communities to farm giant snails instead of targeting endangered guitarfish, in an effort to reduce pressure on vulnerable marine populations. The initiative focuses on creating alternative sources of income for fishers whose livelihoods have traditionally depended on species increasingly threatened by overfishing and habitat decline. Guitarfish, a group of...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Senior figures in the global airline industry have warned that achieving the sector’s 2050 net zero emissions target is becoming increasingly unlikely due to technological, financial and infrastructure challenges. Aviation executives said progress toward large-scale decarbonisation has been slower than expected, particularly in the production and affordability of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which remains central to industry climate...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Former UK deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has claimed that parts of Silicon Valley, including staff and influential figures connected to Meta, have increasingly embraced Maga-style politics in a significant cultural and political shift within the technology industry. Clegg, who previously held a senior executive role at Meta, said attitudes in the technology sector have changed noticeably compared...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Gamers and digital rights campaigners are challenging major video game companies over the growing practice of shutting down online games and servers, arguing that consumers are losing access to products they legally purchased. The dispute centres on live-service and online-only games that become unplayable once publishers deactivate servers or end official support. Players say years of progress, purchased...

Published: 8 June 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online A job seeker who spent months applying for hundreds of positions says one simple change in approach finally helped secure employment after repeated rejection and frustration. The individual described sending applications across multiple industries without success before focusing more carefully on tailoring applications to specific roles and employers. Instead of using the same CV and cover letter repeatedly,...