An interim report by the independent commission set up to review the water sector in England and Wales proposes sweeping changes to its structure, regulation, and investment strategy, aiming to restore public trust and ensure long-term water security, an expert has said.
UK Pension Scheme Bill provides welcome changes to industry
The UK government’s Pension Schemes Bill promises a number of significant changes and should be welcomed by the pensions industry, experts have said.
Supreme Court ‘joint loans’ ruling clarifies duties facing banks
Lenders making joint loans for non-commercial purposes should now identify all loans where one borrower receives an exclusive benefit and then ensure that the other borrower receives independent legal advice, an expert has said, after the UK’s highest court ruled that the existence of an exclusive benefit for one joint borrower raises a presumption that the other borrower may be under undue influence from the borrower receiving the exclusive benefit.
AI copyright questions put to EU court
The EU’s highest court could clarify whether rights press publishers have to control the reproduction of their content online are engaged where extracts of their content are displayed to users of generative AI (gen-AI) tools operated by other businesses.
UK apprenticeship funding cut to impact employers and education providers
The UK government’s plans to withdraw public funding for level 7 apprenticeships for individuals aged 22 and over will impact employers and training providers and make it harder for people to enter certain professions, experts have said.
Big shipowners take wind out of US sails, continue to order vessels from China
While a US port fee targeting ships linked to China has made some vessel buyers hesitant, major shipping companies – including Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world’s largest – are opting to continue working with Chinese shipyards, saying their competitiveness cannot be easily matched in the short term.
Despite the United States’ determination to challenge China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, MSC senior vice-president Marie-Caroline Laurent told the Nor-Shipping Forum in Oslo this…
Widow slams Malaysian anti-graft agency’s ‘vindictive’ pursuit of Daim’s estate
The widow of Malaysian tycoon and former politician Daim Zainuddin has hit back at the country’s anti-corruption agency, accusing it of being “vindictive” by continuing to seize assets from his estate in both Malaysia and the United Kingdom despite no criminal conviction.
On Thursday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) took control of Daim’s 58-storey Ilham Tower in Kuala Lumpur, alleging that it was tied to offences under the anti-money-laundering law.
This is despite the…
NSW government plans to allow greater union involvement in work sites, among work health and safety changes
Newly introduced work health and safety (WHS) legislation in New South Wales (NSW) is set to introduce an array of changes that both organisations and their workers should be aware of.
Navigating exemption clauses in technology contracts
Effective exemption clauses in technology contracts are important because they allow parties to allocate risks and to determine the scope and extent of liabilities when disputes arise, such as in situations of software failures, data loss and service interruptions.
Warning to UK snack manufacturers as tribunal confirms VAT treatment of mini poppadoms
Snack manufacturers should carefully consider a recent decision that held mini poppadoms do not benefit from a value added tax (VAT) zero rating to determine whether it impacts any of their VAT positions, experts have said.