Life & Society

UK Banks Maintain £100 Contactless Limit Despite FCA Rule Change

Published: 19 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Shoppers in the United Kingdom will continue facing a £100 cap on contactless card payments, despite regulatory changes. The Financial Conduct Authority has removed the official limit, yet major high street and challenger banks have opted not to increase it immediately. Financial Conduct Authority made the change to give banks flexibility in response to consumer demand, inflation, and...

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Undercover officer deceived women with ‘grotesque and cruel’ lies, spycops inquiry told

Published: 08 March 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. An undercover police officer has admitted telling “grotesque and cruel” lies while emotionally manipulating two women during his deployment, the public spycops inquiry heard. Carlo Soracchi infiltrated leftwing and anti-fascist groups between 2000 and 2006, deceiving women into long-term sexual relationships while concealing his true identity as an undercover officer. The inquiry revealed that he fabricated stories about...

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Hindu Man’s Stand Sparks Hope in India

Published: 13 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online In a country often described as a tapestry of faiths, languages and identities, a single sentence spoken in a tense street confrontation has transformed an ordinary citizen into a national symbol. When Deepak Kumar declared, “My name is Mohammad Deepak,” he was not merely answering a question. He was making a statement about belonging, citizenship and coexistence that...

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South Africa’s Garden Route Gem Faces Looming Water Crisis

Published: 04 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online At first glance, Knysna appears untouched by crisis. The South African coastal town, famed for its turquoise lagoon, golden beaches and forested hills, has long marketed itself as one of the jewels of the Garden Route. Visitors come for the scenery, retirees settle for the mild climate, and local businesses thrive on tourism drawn by the promise of...

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