ECB Speech: Dual Mandate and Supply Shocks

ECB Executive Board member Isabel Schnabel delivered a speech discussing the challenges of inflation and employment in an era of supply shocks and AI. She argued that a dual mandate for central banks often leads to similar policy prescriptions as a single mandate, especially when facing supply-side challenges.

Lagarde discusses women's empowerment, digital euro, leadership

ECB President Christine Lagarde discussed women's economic empowerment, financial education initiatives, and the digital euro in an interview with ELLE Magazine. The interview highlighted the ECB's new app promoting financial literacy through a step count challenge.

ECB: Nature Risks Impact Economy, International Cooperation Vital

The European Central Bank (ECB) highlights the significant impact of nature-related risks on the economy and financial system. It emphasizes the critical need for international cooperation among supervisors to manage these risks, citing that a substantial portion of corporate lending is to firms highly dependent on ecosystem services.

Eurosystem Appia Roadmap for Tokenised Finance Ecosystem

The Eurosystem has published the Appia roadmap, a strategic initiative to shape Europe's tokenised financial ecosystem. The roadmap outlines objectives and approaches for developing integrated, innovative, and resilient tokenised wholesale financial markets, with a blueprint expected in 2028. This initiative aims to ensure central bank money remains the anchor of the financial system amid digital transformation.

ECB Welcomes New Site for European School Frankfurt

The European Central Bank (ECB) has welcomed the City of Frankfurt's decision to select the former Bundesbank headquarters as the new site for the European School Frankfurt (ESF). The ECB expressed hope for swift progress on the new school site and requested a reliable interim solution.

DigitalBridge/Truespeed Merger Approved

The European Commission has approved the merger between DigitalBridge and Truespeed Communications Group Limited (TCGL). The decision, made under Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation, signifies non-opposition to the concentration, allowing the transaction to proceed.

Brookfield / Oaktree Merger Approval

The European Commission has approved the proposed concentration by which Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will acquire sole control over Oaktree Capital Group Holdings, L.P. The decision was made under the EU Merger Regulation, with no opposition to the transaction.

European Commission Merger Decision M.12248 SBG ABB ROBOTICS

The European Commission has approved the proposed concentration of SoftBank Group Corp. acquiring sole control of ABB Robotics Holdco 1 Ltd. The decision was made under Article 6(1)(b) of the Merger Regulation and Article 57 of the EEA Agreement.

Clifton et al. v. Johnson et al. - Texas Supreme Court Opinion

The Texas Supreme Court issued an opinion in Clifton et al. v. Johnson et al. (Docket No. 23-0671), reversing a lower court's judgment. The court clarified the interpretation of mineral conveyance deeds involving double fractions, specifically addressing the "presumed-grant doctrine" and the interpretation of "1/16 of the usual 1/8 royalty."

Texas Supreme Court Reverses Groundwater Conservation Case

The Texas Supreme Court reversed and remanded two cases involving Cockrell Investment Partners, L.P. and the Middle Pecos Groundwater Conservation District. The court found that Cockrell did not need to exhaust administrative remedies before seeking judicial review, as it was not a party to the original administrative proceedings.

S&B Engineers Constructors v Scallon Controls - Texas Supreme Court Case

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court's decision in S&B Engineers & Constructors, Ltd. and Zurich American Insurance Company v. Scallon Controls, Inc. The case concerns indemnification rights following a workplace accident settlement. The Court remanded the case to the trial court for further proceedings.

Texas Supreme Court Reverses Trial Court Judgment in AG v. Pflag, Inc.

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a trial court judgment in Office of the Attorney General v. Pflag, Inc. (Docket No. 24-0892), remanding the case. The dispute involved the Attorney General's use of a civil investigative demand (CID) to obtain documents related to potential Deceptive Trade Practices Act violations.

NuStar Energy L.P. v. Kelly Hancock - Franchise Tax Dispute

The Texas Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's decision in NuStar Energy L.P. v. Kelly Hancock, ruling that franchise tax receipts are sourced to the location of delivery, not the ultimate destination. This decision upholds the Texas Comptroller's rules on franchise tax sourcing.

Equinor Energy Lp v. Lindale Pipeline, LLC - Contract Dispute Reversed

The Texas Supreme Court reversed a lower court's judgment in the case of Equinor Energy LP v. Lindale Pipeline, LLC. The court found that Equinor did not breach its contract by purchasing water from other suppliers, as the wells in question were outside the scope of the contract's exclusivity clause.

Texas Supreme Court Reverses Appeals Judgment in Realme Case

The Texas Supreme Court reversed an appeals court judgment in the case of City of San Antonio v. Nadine Realme. The court held that a community Thanksgiving "fun run" qualifies as "recreation" under the state's Recreational Use Statute, thus limiting the city's liability for ordinary negligence.

State v. Jomo Kenyatta Berry - Criminal Convictions and Appeals

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed in part and remanded in part the conviction of Jomo Kenyatta Berry. The court affirmed the majority of the trial court's judgments but remanded for corrected judgment forms on specific counts.

Dewaine Love v. State of Tennessee - Habeas Corpus Petition Dismissal

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals dismissed Dewaine Love's pro se petition for a writ of habeas corpus. The court found that the petitioner's notice of appeal was untimely and that the interest of justice did not warrant waiving the requirement, thus affirming the trial court's summary dismissal.

State v. Lamar Denson - Criminal Appeals Opinion

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the trial court's judgments in the case of State v. Lamar Denson. The defendant was convicted of multiple drug and firearm offenses and sentenced to fourteen years incarceration. The appellate court addressed two issues regarding the denial of a motion to dismiss and the reopening of proof for a stipulation.

State v. Todd Lee White - Weapon and Resisting Arrest Conviction Affirmed

The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the conviction of Todd Lee White for unlawful possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and resisting arrest. The court upheld the trial court's denial of the defendant's motion to suppress evidence and his sentencing as a Range III persistent offender.

MassDEP Fines Contractor $51,000 for Hazardous Waste Violations

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has fined AMPM Restoration LLC $51,000 for violating hazardous waste and waste site cleanup regulations. The company transported hazardous waste to an unlicensed facility without proper licensing and failed to respond to MassDEP's information requests.

Videoslots Limited Fined £650,000 for AML and Social Responsibility Failures

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Videoslots Limited £650,000 for significant Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and social responsibility failures. The operator also received a warning and must undergo a third-party audit to rectify systemic issues in customer monitoring and AML controls.

Gambling Commission suspends Deadheat Racing operating licence

The UK Gambling Commission has suspended the operating licence of Deadheat Racing Limited due to concerns over licensing objectives, including suspected social responsibility and anti-money laundering failings. The suspension is immediate and requires the operator to focus on consumer fairness.

Done Brothers (Cash Betting) fined £825,000 for AML and social responsibility failures

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Done Brothers (Cash Betting) Limited, trading as Betfred, £825,000 for social responsibility and anti-money laundering failures. The operator will also undergo a third-party audit to ensure compliance with policies and procedures.

Man receives suspended jail sentence for illegal WhatsApp bookie

The UK Gambling Commission reports that Haydon Simcock received a 30-week suspended jail sentence for operating an illegal WhatsApp bookie business. He was also ordered to pay £230,000 in compensation and £60,000 in costs for failing to pay a customer's £269,000 balance.

Paddy Power Betfair Fined £2m for Social Responsibility Failures

The UK Gambling Commission has fined Paddy Power Betfair £2 million for social responsibility failures. The settlement resolves an investigation into customer interaction systems that failed to identify and address gambling harm in several instances, leading to significant customer losses.

Income Tax Construction Industry Scheme Amendment Regulations 2026

HM Revenue and Customs has issued the Income Tax (Construction Industry Scheme) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, effective April 6, 2026. These regulations amend the 2005 scheme, introducing new requirements for contractors regarding monthly returns and clarifying payment exemptions for public bodies.

EV Charge Point Operators Street Works Permits

The UK Secretary of State for Transport has enacted regulations bringing Section 49 of the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 into force. This change grants Electric Vehicle Charge Point Operators the legal right to carry out street works using a permit-based system, replacing the previous section 50 licensing regime.

Ofgem Decision on Market Arrangements for Multi-Purpose Interconnectors

Ofgem has decided to implement Offshore Bidding Zones (OBZs) with implicit trading arrangements as the preferred market model for Multi-Purpose Interconnectors (MPIs). This decision follows a consultation on market arrangements and aims to improve market efficiency and integrate offshore renewables. Further development of the regulatory framework is ongoing.

Ofgem: Electricity Distribution GSOP Payments Adjusted for 2026-2027

Ofgem has published guidance detailing adjustments to Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSOP) payments for electricity distribution network operators for the 2026-2027 regulatory year. These adjustments reflect inflation and are effective from April 1, 2026.

Ofgem Decision on NESO's Annual C9 Review Submission

Ofgem has responded to the National Energy System Operator's (NESO) annual submission of revisions to its Electricity System Operator licence condition C9 statements. Ofgem has decided not to use its veto powers, allowing the proposed revisions to proceed.

Ofgem Energy Trading Registration Database Update

Ofgem has updated the public version of the GB REMIT registration database, which contains non-confidential data on registered market participants. This data, including names and registration codes, is published monthly.

Bank of England Inflation Attitudes Survey Results

The Bank of England has published the results of its latest quarterly Inflation Attitudes Survey for February 2026. The survey assesses public perceptions of inflation, the Bank's work, and economic expectations, with key figures showing a slight decrease in current and expected inflation rates compared to November 2025.

Recycling Company Fined for Telehandler Incident Causing Life-Changing Injuries

Sheridan Skips Burnley Limited was fined £24,000 after an employee suffered life-changing injuries in a telehandler incident. The Health and Safety Executive investigation found the company failed to conduct adequate risk assessments and segregate vehicles from pedestrians.

Serious Fraud Office Completes E-Discovery Review of Past Convictions

The UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has completed its review of 66 past convictions that used its legacy Autonomy e-discovery system. The SFO found no material casting doubt on the safety of these convictions. A separate issue affecting approximately 20 cases due to digital container file expansion is also being reviewed.

SFO Secures 4-Year Prison Sentence for Aircraft Parts Fraud

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured a 4-year prison sentence for Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, director of AOG Technics, for orchestrating a £39.3 million aircraft parts fraud. The scheme involved selling over 60,000 parts with forged airworthiness certificates, causing significant disruption and financial loss to the aviation industry.

SFO Secures Confiscation Order Against Fraudster David Ames

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has secured a £283,321 confiscation order against David Ames, convicted of defrauding thousands through the Harlequin timeshare scheme. This order represents a significant step in asset recovery following Ames's 2022 conviction and 12-year prison sentence.

Serious Fraud Office Interim Director Appointment

Graham McNulty has been appointed as the Interim Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), effective April 2026. He brings extensive experience in law enforcement and combating economic crime to the role, succeeding Nick Ephgrave.

Ex-LCF CEO Michael Thomson and wife Debbie admit court order breaches

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has announced that Michael and Debbie Thomson, formerly associated with London Capital & Finance Plc (LCF), have admitted to multiple breaches of a court-ordered restraint. This admission has led to them being held in contempt of court. Sentencing is scheduled for April 2, 2026.

BEEDS UAT Environment for Statistical Taxonomy v1.3.1

The Bank of England has made a User Acceptance Testing (UAT) environment available for statistical reporting firms and software houses to test Statistical Taxonomy v1.3.1. This UAT window is open from March 30 to April 17, 2026, and is the final UAT before live submissions for end-May 2026 data.

Bank of England AI Roundtables Summary

The Bank of England published a summary of its AI roundtables held with regulated firms in February 2026. The discussions focused on the responsible adoption of AI and ML, with participants generally supporting the existing regulatory framework and not seeing an immediate need for new AI-specific guidance.

Bank of England: New Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation Appointed

The Bank of England has announced the appointment of Katharine Braddick as the next Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation and Chief Executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority, effective July 2026. This appointment follows a review of the PRA's existing initiatives to support lending and reduce business burdens.

UK Offices for Community and Common Transit Procedures

HM Revenue & Customs has updated the list of UK offices for Community and Common Transit procedures. The latest update on March 13, 2026, includes new data fields, removes non-live ports, and provides updated contact details for traders and customs officers.

HMRC List of Recognised Payroll Software

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has published a list of payroll software recognised for PAYE reporting. The guidance includes both free and paid-for options, with specific recommendations for businesses with fewer than 10 employees.

Construction Industry Scheme Administration Improvements

HM Revenue & Customs is simplifying the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) administration, effective April 6, 2026. Key changes include exempting payments to local authorities and requiring nil returns when no subcontractors are paid.

UK VAT Number Service Availability and Issues Update

HM Revenue & Customs has updated guidance on the availability of the Check a UK VAT number online service. The latest update from March 13, 2026, confirms potential service disruptions for new VAT registrations between March 16-20, 2026.

HMRC Guidance on Genuine Contact Methods to Avoid Scams

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has updated guidance on genuine contact methods to help individuals and businesses identify scams. The update clarifies that HMRC may use multiple communication channels, such as letters followed by emails or calls, and lists specific research contacts from IFF Research and Ipsos.

EU Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence at India Summit

The European Union, represented by Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, will attend the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi to strengthen cooperation with India on AI governance and innovation. The visit aims to advance the EU's approach to AI, emphasizing trust, innovation, and international collaboration.

New Delhi Declaration on AI Endorsed by 92 Countries

92 countries and international organizations endorsed the New Delhi Declaration on AI Impact at the AI Impact Summit 2026. The declaration outlines a shared global vision for collaborative, trusted, and resilient AI, structured around seven pillars of action and supported by voluntary global initiatives.

EU Endorses AI Declaration and Launches Legal Gateway Office

The European Union has endorsed the Leaders' Declaration at the AI Impact Summit in India and launched the European Legal Gateway Office to connect EU companies with India's ICT talent. The initiative also aims to strengthen global AI governance and promote AI innovation.

EU Commission Launches €75 Million EURO-3C Project for Telco-Edge-Cloud

The European Commission has announced the EURO-3C project, a €75 million initiative to build a federated Telco-Edge-Cloud infrastructure. This project aims to enhance Europe's digital service capabilities and reduce reliance on third-country providers.