Business & Economy

Published: 17 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Hundreds of taxpayers across the UK are facing prolonged financial strain as HM Revenue and Customs takes more than a year in some cases to repay overpaid tax and national insurance contributions, raising serious questions about fairness, accountability and administrative efficiency within the tax authority. An investigation has found that refunds which once took a matter of weeks...

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Canada-China trade has entered a critical new chapter as Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted a strategic partnership during his landmark visit to Beijing, the first by a Canadian leader in eight years. Carney emphasized that cooperation in agriculture, energy, and finance could deliver immediate benefits while reducing Canada’s heavy reliance on the United States. The renewed focus on...

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. South East Water CEO David Hinton is facing scrutiny after it emerged his Hinton bonus of £400,000 remains guaranteed, despite severe outages leaving thousands without water. The guaranteed Hinton bonus has sparked public debate over executive pay, with critics arguing such awards are unacceptable when essential services fail. Hinton, who has led the company since 2020, will receive...

Published: 16 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Concerns over UK energy supply chains have intensified after new warnings suggested heavy dependence on China could cost thousands of British jobs. A detailed assessment by the Institute for Public Policy Research has highlighted how vulnerabilities within UK energy supply chains may undermine economic stability and clean energy ambitions. The report, circulated widely across policy circles, argues that...

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online The UK government has unveiled ambitious plans for a major rail investment programme across the north of England, more than a decade after the first proposals for such a project emerged. The multibillion-pound scheme, known as Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR), is designed to deliver faster journeys, more frequent services, and upgraded stations, aiming to transform travel...

Published: 14 January 2026 | The English Chronicle Desk | The English Chronicle Online Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney arrives in China this week on a visit laden with promise, risk and global scrutiny, as Ottawa attempts to recalibrate one of its most complex foreign relationships at a time of deep economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The trip, the first by a Canadian prime minister to China since 2017, is being...

Published: 13 January 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Labour leader Keir Starmer has argued that his foreign trips are essential for addressing the cost of living. He told MPs that engaging directly in international negotiations would improve trade and security, which in turn would benefit the domestic economy. Starmer emphasized that global engagement, rather than isolation, was crucial for Britain’s economic stability. While many MPs prefer...

New York / Washington — January 2026 Trading Day: Trump crosses Fed Rubicon, market shrugs as former US President Donald Trump escalated his confrontation with the Federal Reserve, breaking long-standing political norms by openly pressuring the central bank, yet triggering little immediate reaction from global financial markets. Investors appeared largely unmoved, signalling confidence that the Fed’s institutional independence remains intact despite rising political noise. Trump’s remarks, delivered through public statements...

Washington — January 2026 Trump administration probe of Fed’s Powell draws pushback from senior lawmakers, economists and former central bank officials, who warn that political scrutiny of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell risks undermining the independence of the US central bank at a sensitive moment for monetary policy and financial stability. The investigation, initiated by officials linked to the Trump administration, has triggered an unusually forceful backlash from across the...

Washington — January 2026 Top Senate Republican says federal probe of Powell could pose challenge to Fed nominees after a senior Republican lawmaker warned that an ongoing federal investigation linked to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell may complicate the Senate confirmation process for future central bank appointments. Speaking in Washington, the influential senator said the probe raises governance and accountability concerns that lawmakers must consider before approving new Federal Reserve...