Business & Economy

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...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online Royal Mail has attributed widespread delays in mail and parcel deliveries across the UK to severe weather conditions and a surge in staff sickness, acknowledging the impact on households and businesses that rely on timely postal services. The company warned that adverse weather, combined with high absenteeism among frontline workers, has disrupted normal operations and caused significant backlogs...

Published: 17 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The UK government is set to expand its innovative Jobcentre on Wheels programme, bringing mobile employment support vans to communities across Britain in an effort to break down barriers that prevent people from finding work. Following a successful pilot, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden said the service is designed to meet people “where they are,” including in...

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...