Regulations 19 December 2025 - 2 April 2026

Federal Bank EPFO Payments Go Live: What Changes For Employers Paying PF Dues
···

Federal Bank EPFO Payments Go Live: What Changes For Employers Paying PF Dues

Federal Bank has rolled out Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation payments on its net-banking portal, offering customers an added digital option for settling Employee Provident Fund dues, according to the bank. The EPF serves as a retirement savings vehicle for much of India’s organised workforce. Timing is key here, with EPFO aiming to route more employer payments straight through direct bank connections. The retirement fund announced last year that starting April 1, 2025, its roster of empanelled banks would expand to 32. Payments made via these banks hit the investment pool on T+1—just one working day after the transaction—whereas payments through an aggregator take T+2.
May 8, 2026
Lloyds Banking Group plc Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision After FCA Final Rules
···

Lloyds Banking Group plc Keeps £1.95 Billion Motor Finance Provision After FCA Final Rules

LONDON, April 2, 2026, 13:04 BST. Lloyds Banking Group said Thursday it’s sticking with the £1.95 billion provision for motor finance compensation, following a review of final rules from the UK watchdog on the sector-wide payout scheme. After looking over the regulator’s decision, the company found no need to boost its reserves for now. Investors are set for another update when first-quarter results drop on April 29.
April 2, 2026
International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Stock Price: IAG Shares Rise on EU Jet Fuel Rules Challenge
···

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA Stock Price: IAG Shares Rise on EU Jet Fuel Rules Challenge

Shares in International Consolidated Airlines Group SA picked up 0.9% to 355.65 pence as of 1619 GMT, just ahead of London's close. Investors were digesting a Reuters story that British Airways parent IAG, along with other major European carriers, was getting ready to contest EU synthetic jet fuel regulations. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa also saw gains. Ryanair slipped. Despite today’s uptick, IAG remained 5.5% lower over the past five sessions. Costs have muscled their way back into the spotlight for airlines, making the policy debate especially urgent. British Airways on Monday moved to prolong its temporary flight reductions across the Middle East. Meanwhile, Brent crude climbed past $101 a barrel on Tuesday, with the Iran war still squeezing supply routes.
March 17, 2026
Tesla stock price slips as California ‘Autopilot’ ruling and EV rules lawsuit put regulators back in focus
···

Tesla stock price slips as California ‘Autopilot’ ruling and EV rules lawsuit put regulators back in focus

NEW YORK, February 19, 2026, 10:07 EST — Regular session Tesla shares lost ground Thursday, falling around 0.9% to $407.44 by mid-morning in New York. The move comes as new regulatory headlines around the company’s self-driving push filter through the market. For comparison, the Invesco QQQ Trust, which tracks the Nasdaq, slipped 0.4%.
February 19, 2026
China’s ‘Hidden’ Door Handle Ban Targets Tesla-Style Designs From 2027
···

China’s ‘Hidden’ Door Handle Ban Targets Tesla-Style Designs From 2027

BEIJING, Feb 4, 2026, 01:11 Starting in 2027, China’s industry ministry plans to outlaw "hidden" car door handles—those flush designs Tesla made famous and that Chinese automakers like Xiaomi have adopted. The move comes amid growing safety concerns. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/china-ban-hidden-car-door-handles-address-safety-fears-2026-02-03/
February 3, 2026
EU puts WhatsApp Channels under toughest Digital Services Act rules, giving Meta until May
···

EU puts WhatsApp Channels under toughest Digital Services Act rules, giving Meta until May

On Monday, the European Commission classified Meta’s WhatsApp “Channels” as a very large online platform under the Digital Services Act, increasing the company’s responsibilities to address illegal and harmful content. WhatsApp’s Channels saw an average of 51.7 million monthly users in the EU during the first half of 2025, surpassing the 45 million user threshold set by the law, the Commission noted. Meta now has until mid-May to meet the new requirements. This matters because Channels is designed for one-to-many broadcasts, not private messaging, allowing it to rapidly deliver content to large EU audiences. Brussels has been ramping up enforcement of the DSA, a broad regulation aimed at making major online platforms identify and mitigate risks related to illegal content
January 26, 2026
Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens
···

Japan’s New Mobile Software Competition Act Forces Apple and Google Changes: iOS 26.2 Opens Alternative App Stores, New Payments, and Choice Screens

Updated: December 19, 2025 — Japan’s long-anticipated Mobile Software Competition Act is now in full effect, and the first real-world impact is landing on phones. Apple has begun rolling out iOS 26.2 changes in Japan that allow alternative app marketplaces and expanded payment options, while Google is introducing search and browser choice screens and broadening programs that let developers offer billing alternatives. Japan Fair Trade Commission+2Apple+2 The regulatory push is aimed at loosening the grip of dominant mobile platforms on app distribution, default services, and in-app payments—a debate that has already reshaped app ecosystems in Europe and is increasingly spilling into other major markets. Reuters+1
December 19, 2025