Business & Economy

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Mayors and other local political leaders could be given greater powers to oversee water companies under proposals being considered by the UK government, potentially giving regional authorities a stronger role in decisions about investment, customer bills and environmental performance. The proposals form part of a wider debate about how the water industry should be governed and regulated, following...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Mayors and other local leaders could be given greater powers to oversee water companies under proposals being considered by the UK government as part of efforts to increase public control and accountability across the water industry. The plans could allow regional authorities to influence certain company spending decisions and provide greater scrutiny of executives over household bills, infrastructure...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Britain’s already deteriorating road network could face further damage in the coming months as the effects of an exceptionally hot summer combine with the legacy of a wet winter, according to warnings from the RAC and road-surface specialists. The organisations say motorists should prepare for more potholes as prolonged heat and intense ultraviolet radiation weaken asphalt surfaces, leaving...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The UK government’s plans to expand Heathrow Airport have come under renewed scrutiny after the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) said any expansion should be accompanied by measures requiring airlines to fully address their carbon emissions. In advice published on 16 September, the committee said Heathrow could not be expanded consistently with the UK’s carbon budgets and net-zero...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Young people across Britain face sharply different prospects when searching for work, with a new analysis showing that the availability of suitable job vacancies varies dramatically between local areas. The research, produced by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), found that Rotherham in South Yorkshire had one of the lowest levels of online job opportunities relative to...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. New historical research has found that wealth generated through the transatlantic trafficking and enslavement of Africans was deeply connected to Britain’s financial system, including the early development of the Bank of England and other major financial institutions. The research, compiled through the Register of British Slave Traders, suggests that the involvement of financial institutions and prominent financiers in...

Published: 16 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. UK inflation has climbed back above 3%, adding to the financial pressure facing households and businesses as higher energy and fuel costs feed through the economy. The latest figures arrive at a particularly sensitive moment, with the Bank of England preparing to decide whether to change interest rates and financial markets reacting sharply to rising oil prices and...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) is seeking to expand its presence in the defence sector by holding talks with NATO countries over potential sales of its newly developed Defender military vehicle, as European governments increase defence spending and manufacturers look for new sources of growth. The UK-based carmaker is positioning its revamped Defender Wolf Series II as a modern...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Fugitive property developer Jean Nassif launched an extraordinary series of accusations during a tense appearance before New South Wales’ corruption watchdog, declaring that he was not corrupt, defending his family and threatening to pursue legal action against the Australian government from overseas. Nassif, 58, gave evidence to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) from his bedroom in...

Published: 15 September 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Economists are urging the UK government to press the Bank of England to slow or temporarily halt its programme of selling government bonds, arguing that the policy is adding to borrowing costs at a time when the Treasury is already facing mounting financial pressure. The issue is set to come under renewed scrutiny this week as the Bank’s...