Business & Economy

Published: 09 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Firmus Technologies has abandoned plans for a major stock market listing in Australia after failing to attract sufficient investor demand for its ambitious artificial intelligence data centre business, dealing a significant setback to one of the country’s most closely watched technology ventures. The proposed initial public offering, or IPO, was expected to value the company at approximately A$44...

Published: 09 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Plans for a major new public square in central Sydney have been thrown into uncertainty after the New South Wales government intervened in the project’s approval process, raising questions about its future, construction timetable and the balance between local decision-making and state-level oversight. The proposed Sydney Town Square, planned for the area opposite Sydney Town Hall, has been...

Published: 09 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Australia’s federal government has stepped in to delay a controversial decision by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills, following strong opposition from small businesses and industry representatives. Treasurer Jim Chalmers announced additional funding for the tax office on Friday, providing a transition period intended to give businesses more time to...

Published: 09 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online With the US midterm elections approaching, candidates in three closely contested Senate races have exchanged sharp personal attacks over the economy, immigration-related security concerns, tariffs, the war in Iran and abortion rights. The debates in Georgia, Michigan and Maine on Thursday highlighted the deep political divisions shaping the campaign, with both major parties fighting for control of the...

Published: 09 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for a ballistic missile strike targeting Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh airport, triggering fresh security concerns and contributing to widespread flight cancellations as tensions intensify across the region. Saudi authorities have not immediately confirmed the group’s claim, but reports from people briefed on the incident indicate that a Saudia Airlines passenger aircraft was...

Published: 08 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The ambitious plan to establish NBA Europe is attracting some of the biggest names in European football as the National Basketball Association prepares to reshape the continent’s basketball landscape with an investment programme worth around $10bn over the next decade. The proposed competition, which is now expected to begin in 2028, will combine elements of the American franchise...

Published: 08 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Sherrod Brown, the former Democratic senator from Ohio, is making opposition to the rapid expansion of data centers a central part of his campaign to return to the US Senate, arguing that the artificial intelligence boom is imposing hidden costs on ordinary residents while providing disproportionate benefits to wealthy technology investors. At campaign events across Ohio, Brown has...

Published: 08 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Global financial markets came under renewed pressure on Thursday as oil prices surged above $104 a barrel, government bond yields climbed and European and Asian shares fell amid growing fears over energy supplies and escalating attacks on commercial shipping in the Middle East. Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, rose sharply during trading, gaining about $4...

Published: 08 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Pressure is mounting on Australia’s tax office to reconsider its decision to stop accepting credit card payments for tax bills, as small business groups warn that the change could create new cashflow difficulties for thousands of operators. Government ministers have urged the Australian Taxation Office to continue discussions with businesses after a growing backlash over the planned ban....

Published: 08 October 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has urged environmental activists not to become “overexcited” about a landmark High Court ruling that invalidated the approval of a major coalmine expansion in the Hunter Valley, arguing that the judgment was narrow and technical and would not fundamentally change the state’s approach to regulating mining projects. The High Court’s decision has...