Politics

Published: 21 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online The husband of U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez‑DeRemer has been barred from the Department of Labor’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., after at least two female staffers accused him of sexual assault, according to multiple reports citing unnamed officials and police records. The decision has intensified scrutiny on the Labor Department’s leadership and workplace conduct. Sources familiar with the...

Published: 21 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online Retail magnate Les Wexner, the billionaire founder of L Brands and former owner of Victoria’s Secret, has told US lawmakers that he was “naive, foolish and gullible” and was “conned” by his longtime associate Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier at the centre of a sprawling criminal network. Wexner’s testimony comes as the House Oversight and Reform Committee intensifies its...

Published: 21 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online Microsoft co‑founder Bill Gates has abruptly withdrawn from delivering a keynote speech at India’s flagship AI Impact Summit, days after newly released Epstein files reignited scrutiny over his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The move dealt a notable blow to the high‑profile event, which has aimed to position India as a global leader in artificial...

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The UK government has recorded an unprecedented UK budget surplus of £30.4bn in January 2026. This figure, confirmed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), surpasses all previous January totals since records began in 1993 and reflects a dramatic £15.9bn increase compared to January 2025. Analysts say the UK budget surplus exceeds forecasts from the Office for Budget...

Published: 20 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online The United States has posted another staggering trade deficit figure, underscoring the limits of President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy to curb the nation’s imbalances in global commerce. Despite the administration’s aggressive levies on imported goods, new data show that the deficit remains near historic highs — particularly in the goods trade — raising questions about the effectiveness of...

Published: 20 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online New Mexico officials have announced the reopening of a criminal investigation into alleged illegal activity at the infamous Zorro Ranch, a property once owned by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The move comes after newly unsealed government files prompting renewed scrutiny of what may have occurred on the sprawling estate near Stanley, New Mexico. Attorney General Raúl Torrez confirmed that...

Published: 20 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, warning that the world will know within the next 10–15 days whether Tehran will agree to a nuclear deal with Washington — and that “bad things” will happen if no agreement is reached. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of his newly launched Board of Peace in...

Published: 20 February 2026, The English Chronicle Desk, The English Chronicle Online A report revealing that jobless migrant households in the UK received a combined £10 billion in government benefits has sparked widespread anger and debate. Critics say the figures highlight a growing strain on public finances and have called for urgent reform of welfare policies. According to the data, thousands of migrant households who are unemployed have accessed benefits...

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online The United Kingdom has not granted the United States permission to use British Royal Air Force (RAF) bases as staging points for potential military strikes against Iran, diplomatic sources and defence reporting confirm, a development that has added a new layer of tension between the long‑standing allies as relations strain over the escalating Middle East crisis. Under longstanding...

Published: 20 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The Australian Federal Police have confirmed they received reports of a crime after Pauline Hanson comments about Muslims sparked national outrage. The development has intensified debate across Australia and drawn international attention, including from observers in the United Kingdom. Officials stopped short of confirming whether a formal criminal investigation has begun. However, the acknowledgement that Pauline Hanson comments...