Law360, London: A London judge ruled on 6 July 2026 that a group of insurers were not liable for Nord Stream's claim for up to €580 million to repair damage to its gas pipelines, finding that the explosions in 2022 fell within a war exclusion arising from the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Law360, London: Insurers of gas pipelines hit by explosions in 2022 said at the opening of their trial on 16 April 2026 that policy exclusions prevent payouts of up to €580 million on the basis that the blasts were linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Norfolk County Council has submitted a judicial review in response to the government's proposed Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) programme in Norfolk. The application follows formal correspondence sent earlier in June 2026 by deputy leader, Robin Hunter-Clarke to Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Steve Reed, setting out the council's opposition to the proposals and signalling its intention to pursue legal action. Under the proposals, Norfolk's current two-tier local government system, comprising the county council and district, city and borough councils, would be replaced by three unitary authorities. The council said the judicial review is at an early stage and the court will first decide whether to grant permission for the claim to proceed. If permission is granted, the case will move to a substantive hearing to examine the lawfulness of the government's decision-making process.

From A-day, the earliest age at which a member is allowed to draw benefits from a registered pension scheme, other than in ill-health.

FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028 (save for members of the firefighters, police and armed forces public service pension schemes). The Finance Act 2022 will also give members of registered pension schemes a right to take their benefits before age 57, if on or before 4 November 2021 they either had an ‘unqualified right’ to take benefits or were in the process of a substantive transfer to a scheme offering an unqualified right to a protected pension age of less than 57 on or before 4 November 2021. To benefit from this new 2028 protection, the rules of the pension scheme must have included (on 11 February 2021) an unqualified right to take the entitlement to scheme benefits before age 57. For further information, see Practice Note: Increasing the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) to 57—pensions impact. Normal minimum pension age (NMPA) Normal minimum pension age is the earliest age at which members

FORTHCOMING DEVELOPMENT: Section 10 of the Finance Act 2022 will increase the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) from 55 to 57 on 6 April 2028 (save for members of the firefighters, police and armed forces public service pension schemes). The Finance Act 2022 will also give members of registered pension schemes a right to take their benefits before age 57, if on or before 4 November 2021 they either had an ‘unqualified right’ to take benefits or were in the process of a substantive transfer to a scheme offering an unqualified right to a protected pension age of less than 57 on or before 4 November 2021. To benefit from this new 2028 protection, the rules of the pension scheme must have included (on 11 February 2021) an unqualified right to take the entitlement to scheme benefits before age 57. For further information, see Practice Note: Increasing the normal minimum pension age (NMPA) to 57—pensions impact. Normal minimum pension age (NMPA) • normal minimum pension

The earliest age (as defined in section 180 of the Pension Schemes Act 1993) at which, in the normal course of events, a scheme member may retire and receive full pension benefits.

The age defined in a pension scheme’s rules which is usually the earliest age at which the pension member of a defined benefit scheme can take pension benefits without a reduction for early retirement.

The date at which a member of an occupational pension scheme would normally retire, as specified in the rules of the scheme.

CASE HUB ARCHIVED—this archived case hub reflects the position at the date of the decision of 4 May 2023; it is no longer maintained. See further, timeline. Case facts Outline European Commission merger investigation into the proposed acquisition of Alumetal S.A. by Norsk Hydro (M.10658). The transaction involves horizontal overlaps in the market for the production and supply of aluminium foundry alloys and master alloys. Latest developments On 4 May 2023, the Commission unconditionally cleared the transaction. Parties •Norsk Hydro: (Hydro)Hydro is a Norwegian aluminium company with activities throughout the aluminium value chain from bauxite and alumina production to energy generation and aluminium recycling.•Alumetal S.A.: (Alumetal):Alumetal is a Polish producer of aluminium foundry alloys and aluminium master alloys with plants located in Poland (Kety, Gorzyce and Nowa Sol) and Hungary (Komarom). Background On 29 April 2022, Hydro announced that a tender offer

A conversation with Danijel Stevanović, Partner, Nina Rašljanin, Associate, and Srdjana Petronijevic, Partner, on key issues on foreign direct investment (FDI) control in North Macedonia. 1. What is the applicable legislation? North Macedonia does not have a foreign investment control regime comparable to those now arising in Europe in light of the EU FDI Screening Regulation. Rather, North Macedonia still has in place the traditional single-sector authorization system aimed at the defense sector, similar to those typically established in Europe in the second half of the 20th century. Additionally, there is a mandatory registration requirement for all direct investments made by non-residents. Investments into North Macedonia (including the authorization system for the defence sector and the mandatory registration of direct investments) are generally regulated by the following: • The Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia; • The Companies Act (Official Gazette of RM, nos. 8/2004; 84/2005; 25/2007; 87/2008; 42/2010; 48/2010; 24/2011; 166/2012; 70/2013; 119/2013; 120/2013; 187/2013; 38/2014; 41/2014; 138/2014; 88/2015; 192/2015; 6/2016; 30/2016; 61/2016; 64/2018 and 120/2018; and Official Gazette of RNM, nos. 290/20, 215/21 and 99/22);

NOTE—to see whether notification thresholds in North Macedonia and throughout the world are met, see further: Where to Notify. NOTE—prior to 12 February 2019, North Macedonia was known as Macedonia. 1. Have there been any recent developments regarding the North Macedonian merger control regime and are any updates/developments expected in the coming year? Also, are there any other ‘hot’ merger control issues in North Macedonia? The European Commission's Staff Working Document, North Macedonia Report 2023, illustrates that: • the competition legislative framework in North Macedonia is broadly aligned with the EU acquis in the area of mergers, although parts of implementing legislation remain to be aligned • on implementation, the number of merger decisions maintained the average as in the previous years (120). The number of ex officio and on-site investigations remains low, while leniency is still rarely used • the enforcement record remains low, and • the North Macedonia Commission for Protection of Competition (Competition Commission) continues to face budgetary and capacity constraints: ◦ the Competition Commission remains understaffed, leading to a limited enforcement capacity