Legal
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Russia’s central bank rebukes state over asset seizures
Russia’s central bank has accused state agencies of violating shareholder rights in a high-profile nationalisation case, exposing friction within Moscow’s financial establishment and raising fresh warnings for European companies with remaining exposure to Russia.
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Leadership on trial: the new reality of independent workplace investigations
Independent workplace investigations are now central to leadership accountability. Daniel Stander, an international employment lawyer in the London office of Vedder Price LLP, explains why UK employers must prepare for NDA reforms and ensure credible, well-scoped probes to safeguard reputation, culture, and compliance when allegations arise.
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HSBC alerts UK firms to data breach
HSBC warns of compromised identity documents after data breach. The bank reassured customers that its systems remain unaffected, urging vigilance against potential fraud. Affected individuals receive a complimentary Experian Identity Plus subscription and can access a dedicated helpline until 8 October 2025.
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SEON secures $80m as compliance needs rise
SEON secures $80m Series C funding led by Sixth Street. The AI-driven fraud prevention platform, based in Budapest and Austin, serves clients like Revolut and Spotify. It aims to enhance fraud detection and compliance amidst rising regulatory pressures.
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Firms overcomplicate Consumer Duty rules, FCA says
FCA warns firms against excessive compliance with Consumer Duty rules. The financial watchdog aims to simplify compliance, addressing concerns about regulatory burden and cost. The FCA seeks to clarify expectations and improve flexibility, ensuring businesses do not overinterpret requirements.
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Ex-EU chief warns of green backsliding — but businesses call for more ambition
Europe is losing climate ground, warns the bloc’s first commissioner. Former EU climate chief Connie Hedegaard has warned that political and corporate complacency is eroding the European Union’s environmental leadership. Her remarks follow a series of policy rollbacks and investor concerns over the credibility of Europe’s net zero transition.
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Whistleblowing in the wind
Whistleblowing reform in the UK remains a slow process. Francesca Titus examines the gaps in the Office of the Whistleblower Bill, from insufficient protections to missing financial incentives, and asks what companies should be doing now to prepare for a new era of corporate accountability.
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HMRC uses AI to monitor social media
HMRC confirms AI use in monitoring taxpayers’ social media accounts. The tax authority employs AI tools for analysing online posts in criminal tax fraud cases, raising concerns among MPs about potential errors due to automated systems.
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Hotels sue Booking.com over best‑price terms — pan‑European legal push unfolds
More than 10,000 hotels are suing Booking.com over “abusive practices”. The class action alleges years of restrictive pricing terms that eroded hotels’ margins and autonomy — an escalating battle over platform power and marketplace fairness.
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News Corp warns Trump over AI’s use of book content
News Corp warns Trump his books are targets for AI ‘theft’. News Corp has publicly cautioned Donald Trump that artificial intelligence tools are cannibalising the content of his books — including The Art of the Deal — as the company intensifies its calls for stronger copyright protection in the age of generative AI.