Business & Economy

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Boohoo owner’s £35m Debenhams fundraising plan has sparked fresh debate over potential tensions with Mike Ashley. Debenhams fundraising is highlighted as a crucial part of the company’s financial restructuring and turnaround strategy, aiming to reduce debts and strengthen brands such as Oasis, Warehouse, Pretty Little Thing, and Karen Millen. Analysts note that while all brands are now...

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 As global travel rebounds after the pandemic, 2026 has emerged as a record year for tourism — but the growth is happening in places that aren’t the usual tourist capitals, according to travel analysts and industry reports. Destinations that were once overlooked are now attracting travelers seeking authentic experiences, cultural depth, and untapped natural beauty. While traditional tourism...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online A 51‑year‑old woman in Glasgow has been convicted of fraud after defrauding her elderly aunt of more than £300,000 to fund the creation of a luxury gym inside a former church, court officials said. Margaret Cassidy misappropriated a total of £317,475 from her 89‑year‑old aunt, Elizabeth Murphy, between December 2020 and January 2022, according to prosecutors. Cassidy used...

Published: 14 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online YouTuber and wrestler Logan Paul has made history by selling his ultra-rare Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card for an eye-watering $16.492 million (£12 million), setting a new record for the most expensive trading card ever sold at auction. Paul originally bought the card in 2021 for $5.3 million (£3.9 million), already a record at the time. The Pikachu Illustrator,...

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 The chairman of Hyatt Hotels Corporation has resigned following revelations of past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted financier whose network of abuse and exploitation has prompted global scrutiny. The decision comes amid mounting pressure from shareholders, advocacy groups, and the public, who have demanded accountability from corporate leaders with any connection to Epstein. Sources familiar with the...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Former Conservative Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick is reportedly set to take on the role of Treasury spokesman for Reform UK, marking a high-profile addition to the party’s economic team and signalling its ambitions to position itself as a serious contender in national fiscal policy debates. Sources close to the party say the announcement will be made in the...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The UK unemployment rate has risen to its highest level in nearly five years, official figures reveal, intensifying concerns about the health of the labour market and the broader economy. Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over reached 5.1% between September and November 2025, up from...