Business & Economy

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The John Lewis Partnership has announced it is abandoning a £500m plan to build almost 1,000 homes for rental in key UK locations. The scheme, which targeted Bromley, Reading, and West Ealing, had been in development since 2020 but is now deemed unfeasible due to a cautious property market and shifting economic conditions. The decision reflects broader challenges...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The looming closure of a famous Cornish brewery has plunged beer lovers and local workers into deep concern over the future of one of Britain’s most iconic ales. Doom Bar remains at the heart of the controversy, named after the dangerous sandbank off Cornwall’s Camel estuary and known as one of the UK’s best‑selling cask ales, but its...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Qantas has announced significant changes to its frequent flyer program to retain loyal customers and enhance engagement. The airline’s new approach allows members to roll over status credits, a shift designed to help passengers achieve or maintain higher tiers like gold and platinum. Previously, unused status credits reset annually, often frustrating travellers striving for elite benefits. By allowing...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The head of Britain’s largest trade union has issued a stark warning to Rachel Reeves, demanding decisive action on a multibillion-pound defence investment plan. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, stressed that tens of thousands of jobs could be jeopardised by political hesitation, urging ministers to fully commit to future defence contracts that support British industry. Graham argued...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Canada’s finance minister has signalled that Washington is unlikely to remove tariffs on Canadian goods any time soon, even as Ottawa seeks to resolve persistent trade friction with its largest trading partner. In comments to reporters in Ottawa, François-Philippe Champagne acknowledged that the United States views access to its market as something other countries must pay for,...

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has addressed renewed scrutiny of his past association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, telling staff at a recent Gates Foundation town hall that he “took responsibility” for his actions and expressed regret over the link. The comments come after new documents released by the US Department of Justice revealed repeated...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Engie UK Power Networks deal has reshaped Britain’s energy landscape with a £10.5bn agreement announced on Wednesday. The French utility giant has agreed to acquire the electricity distribution operator serving London and much of southern and eastern England. The transaction marks one of the most significant foreign investments in UK energy infrastructure in recent years. Paris-based Engie...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Inflation pressure has risen to levels that have renewed speculation about interest rate hikes and put the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cautious approach under scrutiny in economic and financial circles. Latest official figures show the annual inflation rate holding steady at 3.8 per cent in January, unchanged from the previous month but above forecasts, prompting concern that inflation...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Aston Martin cuts have sent shockwaves through Britain’s automotive industry this week. The iconic luxury marque confirmed plans to reduce its workforce by 20 percent. The decision comes as losses widened sharply and pressures mounted across global markets. Executives say the move aims to secure £40 million in annual savings. However, the announcement has raised concerns among employees,...

Published: 25 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Reserve Bank of Australia could raise interest rates twice in 2026 as inflation remains stubbornly high. Annual inflation held at 3.8% in January, driven largely by the cessation of government electricity subsidies, which sent household power bills nearly a third higher than last year. The abrupt end of federal and state rebates caused a rapid spike in...