Business & Economy

Published: 19 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Household energy bills across the United Kingdom could fall significantly under new reform proposals. A recent report suggests that removing gas from price setting may reduce costs annually. Experts believe this change could save households up to two hundred pounds each year. The current UK energy system allows gas to determine electricity prices most of the time. In...

Published: 19 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Wage growth in the Office for National Statistics data slowed sharply during the latest reporting period. The figures highlight a cooling trend across the labour market. Analysts say the slowdown reflects easing demand pressures after prolonged economic uncertainty. Average earnings growth fell to 3.8 percent in the three months to January. This marked a notable drop from the...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online The escalating conflict involving Iran has intensified concerns over India’s energy security, particularly its reliance on imported natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). With supply routes through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted, analysts are assessing whether piped gas supplies — including domestic city gas networks — could face sustained pressure. India imports a significant portion of its...

Published: March 17, 2026The English Chronicle DeskThe English Chronicle Online India’s outsourcing and business process services sector, valued at approximately $300 billion, is confronting a structural challenge as artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes global corporate operations. The industry, long powered by large workforces delivering IT services, customer support, finance functions, and back-office operations, now faces pressure to demonstrate how it can adapt to automation-driven transformation. For decades, India has been a...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online A designer clothing store in Livingston has been targeted in a ram-raid in which suspects smashed a car through the premises before setting the vehicle alight in what investigators believe was an attempt to destroy evidence. Police said the incident occurred during the early hours, when a stolen or deliberately used vehicle was driven into the front entrance...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online The government of Sri Lanka has announced that Wednesdays will be designated as a non-working day for parts of the public sector as authorities intensify measures to conserve fuel amid ongoing energy supply constraints. The decision forms part of a broader national strategy aimed at reducing fuel consumption, easing pressure on foreign exchange reserves, and stabilising energy distribution...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Millions of residents across Cuba have been left without electricity following a major collapse of the national power grid, deepening concerns about the country’s ageing infrastructure and ongoing energy crisis. Authorities confirmed that widespread outages affected multiple provinces after the system experienced a significant failure. The blackout disrupted homes, businesses, hospitals, and essential public services, with reports indicating...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online Close Brothers Group has announced plans to cut approximately 600 jobs as part of a wider cost-reduction programme aimed at delivering £85 million in savings, marking one of the most significant restructuring moves by the UK banking group in recent years. The decision forms part of a strategic review designed to streamline operations, reduce expenses, and strengthen financial...

Published: 17 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The controversial RBA rate hike has ignited intense debate as global tensions continue rising sharply. The decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia to increase borrowing costs comes at a fragile moment for the world economy. With a deepening conflict involving the Israel, the Iran, and the United States, economists fear the timing may prove deeply problematic. At...

Published: March 17, 2026 The English Chronicle Desk The English Chronicle Online A disabled girl has spoken out after a distressing experience at a high street retailer left her feeling “like an alien,” sparking wider debate about inclusivity, accessibility, and the responsibilities of major brands toward customers with specific needs. The incident centres on a visit to a branch of JD Sports, where the girl and her family had gone...