The public consultation launched by the European Chemicals Agency (“ECHA”) on the topic of microplastics closed on 20 September 2019 with the submission of 477 comments. The consultation followed the publication by ECHA earlier this year...

One of the major challenges posed by the rapid growth in the use of AI is whether or not existing IP systems are adequate to deal with the ownership and exploitation of AI-assisted and AI-generated products, processes, works and designs, which is so...

The end of December 2019 saw the next step in the EU’s commitment to the adoption of a circular economy as the EU Commission published a road map on a new action plan which aims to speed up the transition to a circular economy. The new plan is...

On 10 January 2020, following the recent military escalation between Iran and the US, the White House issued Executive Order, "Imposing Sanctions With Respect to Additional Sectors of Iran" (“EO 13902”), which expands the already broad U...

  On 15 March 2020 the European Commission published Regulation 2020/402 (“Regulation”), which prohibits unlicensed export from the EU of certain personal and protective equipment. This measure is aimed at securing domestic supply o...

Communications need to be clear and timely Constantly review and maintain your customer communications content and strategy.  There is a regulatory expectation that firms will ensure consumers are adequately protected during severe disruption.&...

Please note that this is a developing situation and we will update this note on a regular basis when further information is available. Across the budget on 11 March 2020 and the subsequent COVID-19 briefing meetings the Chancellor of the Exchequer h...

The European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) has issued a public statement, “Actions to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the EU financial markets” urging national competent authorities not to prioritise supervisor...

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On Thursday 2 April 2020, the FCA issued draft guidance and Handbook changes to address the impact of Covid-19 on consumer credit customers who have credit cards, store cards and catalogue credit, personal loans and overdrafts. There is a short win...

On Thursday 9 April, the FCA confirmed measures to support consumer credit customers facing financial difficulty as a result of COVID 19 on personal loans, credit cards and overdrafts. Measures introduced by the new rules became applicable on Tuesda...

  On Friday 17 April 2020, the FCA issued a draft guidance for consultation on temporary forbearance measures to assist motor finance customers facing financial difficulty because of COVID-19. The consultation will close at 5 pm on Monday 20 Ap...

Please note that further information is expected and we will update this note when this is available. Set out below is a summary of measures that have been announced by governments in various jurisdictions in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. ...

  We are producing a series of videos in which some of our leading practices discuss the principal issues and opportunities in financial services as the COVID crisis abates, and we start moving into a new form of business as usual. Some of thes...

Listen as our panel answer some of the most common questions on post-COVID19 litigation trends - this was presented in conjunction with Ankura. A recording of the session can be listened to here. In this session we explored: a review of the economi...

Last December, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) launched an inquiry into racial harassment in Higher Education. On 23 October 2019 the EHRC published its report “Tackling racial harassment: universities challenged” under t...

  This week’s industrial action by University lecturers and other members of staff brings back into focus the risk of disruption on campus from students and others who are affected by the strike action. Disruption on campus can arise...

2019 was the year that the new regulatory landscape for Higher Education came to fruition.  Although the Office for Students (OfS) was established on 1 January 2018, it was not until 1 August 2019 that all its powers were fully implemented. So ...

Two important announcements this week are relevant to the UK’s immigration requirements for several years. Brexit is, of course, scheduled for 11pm on 31 January 2020. In addition, a report published yesterday makes recommendations for the fut...

The latest round of industrial action by University lecturers and other members of staff brings back into focus the risk of disruption on campus from students and others who are affected by the strike action. Disruption on campus can arise and ...

SPEAKER Alan Peter Cayetano breaks his silence on the closure of media giant ABS-CBN Corp. after a cease and desist order was issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and warned of “reckoning” for those responsible for the “mess”. “Last Tuesday we were all ambushed by the NTC,” Cayetano said in a statement posted on […]

OFFSHORE gaming operators and their service providers must settle all their tax liabilities before resuming operations, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez 3rd reiterated on Friday. “In order for POGO (Philippine offshore gaming operators) service providers to be allowed to operate, they must pay their 2019 income tax liabilities, or in the case of POGO franchisees, the […]

FILIPINOS are satisfied with President’s Rodrigo Duterte’s leadership in the country’s response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, according to a latest foreign online survey. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. shared to the media results of the “Global Crisis Perceptions” index released by insights firms Blackbox Research and Toluna. The global poll from April […]

FORMER Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas believes that 2016 Rio Olympics weightlifting silver medalist Hidilyn Diaz and 2015 Southeast Asian Games boxing welterweight gold medalist Eumir Felix Marcial have the strongest chances of winning the country’s first ever gold at the Olympics next year. Vargas, currently the president of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) and formerly the Philippine Basketball Association chairman, […]

Excessive use of force by the security forces during the Covid-19 pandemic has overwhelmingly been experienced in poor communities

The post They protested for food – the police fired rubber bullets appeared first on The Mail & Guardian.

The stigma around the plant needs to be addressed and citizens involved in new policies and processes in order for the market to change

The post Southern Africa’s cannabis industry offers opportunity for open-minded investors appeared first on The Mail & Guardian.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the role of universities in nurturing scientific inquiry and evidence-based policy-making to the fore

The post Covid-19: An opportunity for universities to regain public trust appeared first on The Mail & Guardian.

Within weeks, the Covid-19 epidemic was classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an epidemic of international significance, triggering a pre-agreed WHO response. By the end of the first week of April, more than 1.3 million people had been confirmed as infected, with over 65,000 deaths across the world. Many governments of developing, especially […]

The post Kerala Covid-19 Response Model for Emulation appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Kristalina Georgieva is the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

The post A Global Crisis Like No Other Needs a Global Response Like No Other appeared first on Inter Press Service.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has created an unprecedented human and economic crisis. Governments are taking strong actions, enforcing quarantines to reduce contagion, testing populations, building emergency intensive care units. Governments have also launched large fiscal stimulus plans to protect jobs and the economy, as well as temporary social protection programs such as income/food support, subsidies […]

The post Citizen Action is Central to the Global Response to COVID-19 appeared first on Inter Press Service.

With the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the planet and the governments of both wealthy and poorer nations overwhelmed by the demands of managing a response, the scheduling of this year’s critical UN Climate Summit is suddenly in doubt. COP26 (formally, the 26th annual Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) is […]

The post Is It Time to Postpone the 2020 Climate Summit? appeared first on Inter Press Service.

The international community is developing policy measures and actions to help the people most vulnerable to drought to take early action to avoid loss of life, and the heavy and growing losses of livelihoods and damage to property and ecosystems following droughts. The Intergovernmental Working Group on Drought (IWG) that is leading this initiative is […]

The post A Positive Policy Turn for People Most Vulnerable To Drought Worldwide appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Water security and profitability are the Achilles heels of the plan to modernise 60 hydroelectric plants in Mexico, drawn up by the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Most of them are power plants built more than 50 years ago, so the upgrading plan poses technical and feasibility challenges. López Obrador has insisted on […]

The post Mexico’s Plan to Upgrade Hydropower Plants Faces Hurdles appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAP

The post Asia-Pacific Response to COVID-19 and Climate Emergency Must Build a Resilient and Sustainable Future appeared first on Inter Press Service.

Both countries have a common language and common cultural practices with neighbours Kenya and Ethiopia.

WHO has warned that Africa could be become the next epicentre of the pandemic.

Ten of the patients are in Nairobi, three in Mombasa and one in Machakos.

Kenya reports a total of 649 cases, 207 recoveries and 30 deaths.

Internships provide a great way for small firms to recruit talent and potential successors.

It’s always worth listening to smart people with ideas that go against the grain.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's legacy depends on how he addresses the challenges raised by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Will Japan end up in the group of countries that is on the way to successfully containing the virus or in the group that experiences ...

As celebrities reveal details about their charitable giving during the COVID-19 pandemic, some feel it could be the start of a new attitude to donating ...

The NBA says some players can voluntarily return to their team practice facilities starting Friday, with some very specific conditions and only in places where ...

The 61-year-old, who led NPB in home runs in 1988, is enjoying his new role in charge of the Wei Chuan Dragons, who will join ...

Nina Thomas allegedly pointed a loaded gun at her husband's head upon finding him in bed with another woman last month, according to police in ...

The fate of the Serie A campaign remained in limbo on Thursday after state scientists met with soccer officials in a desperate attempt to save ...

The all-female W Series is launching an esports league for female drivers, with actual racing still suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.With its second season ...

Swimmer Katsuhiro Matsumoto is headed back to the drawing board

The decision to shelve detailed advice from the nation’s top disease control experts for reopening communities during the coronavirus pandemic came from the highest levels ...