-
NatWest eases lending restrictions amid energy security pressures. The bank has relaxed its fossil fuel lending policies, reflecting increased energy security concerns and shifting national priorities despite global climate goals.
-
KPMG partner fined over AI training breach. An audit partner at KPMG Australia has been issued a $10,000 penalty after uploading internal training materials to an AI platform to complete an assessment, prompting renewed scrutiny of AI use, exam misconduct, and governance within professional services.
-
UK unemployment reaches highest level in five years. Official figures show the jobless rate rose to 5.2% in the three months to December 2025, as wage growth slowed and policymakers debated the impact of rising labour costs on youth employment and business hiring decisions.
-
ExtraHop launches new tools to power agentic security operations. The network detection and response company has introduced enhanced visibility, identity integrations, and Kubernetes telemetry capabilities designed to provide AI agents within security operations centres with the contextual data required to operate autonomously and respond to advanced threats at machine speed.
-
Federal judge halts expanded US merger disclosure requirements. A Texas court has blocked a rule that would have significantly broadened the information companies must provide in US merger filings, marking a setback for federal antitrust regulators and creating fresh uncertainty around the future direction of disclosure reform.
-
KKR acquires Arctos Partners for $1.4bn, reshaping private equity. The acquisition offers immediate access to a diversified sports portfolio and highlights a shift in private equity towards more sophisticated structures and governance amid increasing regulatory scrutiny.
-
UK IT teams lead Europe in future-readiness confidence. Yet fewer than four in ten describe their organisation’s AI capabilities as mature, despite widespread agreement that artificial intelligence will be central to long-term resilience.
-
Public affairs talent faces mass departures this year. New research suggests nearly two-thirds of professionals in the discipline plan to change roles within six months, raising concerns over mounting skills shortages and growing regulatory pressure.
-
Europe’s leaders move to strengthen economic competitiveness. At an informal summit this week, leaders agreed to fast-track measures aimed at reducing fragmentation within the EU.
-
President Trump and the EPA repeal Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding. The 2009 finding enabled regulation of emissions from carbon-heavy industries. Its repeal may save $1.3 trillion but removes regulatory authority, sparking criticism from environmental groups.
