Business & Economy

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The future of the UK border project has been thrown into uncertainty after ministers halted a £110 million digital border scheme designed to ease post-Brexit trade friction. The ambitious UK border project was originally presented as a central pillar of Britain’s independent trade policy following departure from the European Union. Yet after years of delays, mounting costs and...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK unemployment rate has climbed to 5.2%, marking its highest level in nearly five years and signalling fresh pressure across Britain’s labour market. The latest figures confirm that the UK unemployment rate has risen steadily since 2022, while wage growth continues to cool. Economists now believe the changing UK unemployment rate may influence the next interest rate...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Senior banking figures are moving swiftly to design a Visa Mastercard alternative as geopolitical tensions raise new financial concerns. The decision follows mounting anxiety that political disputes could threaten access to US-owned payment networks. A high-level meeting chaired by Barclays UK chief executive Vim Maru will convene this Thursday in London. The gathering will bring together leading City...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A landmark greenwashing case against Santos Limited has been dismissed by Australia’s federal court, marking a pivotal moment in corporate climate litigation. The greenwashing case had drawn significant international attention, as climate advocates argued that the gas giant misled investors about its environmental commitments and future emissions targets. The decision represents a substantial setback for shareholder activism and...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Lloyds Banking Group is under scrutiny after using employee banking information during pay negotiations with unions, raising questions over Lloyds data privacy. The revelation has sparked concern among staff, who were informed at a February town hall meeting that the bank is investigating the controversial use of financial information. CEO Charlie Nunn acknowledged the “concern” this move caused...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Coles discounts case has moved into the spotlight as a major legal battle unfolds in Australia’s Federal Court. At the centre of the dispute are allegations that Coles discounts misled shoppers through pricing tactics described as technically accurate but fundamentally deceptive. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, widely known as the ACCC, argues that Coles discounts concealed...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. A new EV mileage tax in the UK is set to hit rural drivers hardest, research shows. Introduced in the autumn budget and scheduled for 2028, the 3p-a-mile charge targets electric vehicle owners as petrol duty revenues decline. Analysis indicates residents in the south-west of England could face bills nearly four times higher than London drivers, with rural...

Published: 16 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Trades Union Congress has called for the Bank of England to reduce interest rates, warning that stagnant consumer spending is dragging the UK economy behind its international peers. This thinktank probe highlights that households struggling with high borrowing costs are unable to sustain growth, while other industrialised nations continue to see rising consumer demand. The TUC emphasised...

Published: 12 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Schroders has confirmed a £9.9bn takeover by a US investor, marking the end of family ownership. The acquisition by Chicago-based Nuveen will create one of the largest fund managers globally, controlling approximately $2.5tn (£1.8tn) in assets. Schroders, a historic British asset management group, will continue operating from London with around 3,100 staff and retain its well-established branding under...

Published: 12 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The UK government’s flagship publicly owned energy company, Great British Energy, has confirmed that its permanent headquarters will be located in Aberdeen’s Marischal Square, marking a significant moment both for the city and for the country’s broader transition toward a greener economic future. The decision reinforces Aberdeen’s longstanding identity as a global energy capital while signalling a deliberate...