The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has charged three individuals with fraud for their alleged involvement in a high-risk trading scheme, which targeted people’s pension savings. Kristofer McGuire, Keith Williamson and Karla Walker have been charged with multiple offences, including fraud by false representation and fraudulent trading, after they targeted victims by persuading them to invest in contracts for difference (CFDs). The defendants will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 7 June 2024.

The Centre for Governance and Scrutiny (CFGS) has published the annual survey of Overview and Scrutiny in Local Government 2023–2024. The survey for England aims to assess the effectiveness, structure, and impact of scrutiny committees across various local authorities. Data was collected from 229 people, representing 113 different councils. The survey found that council finances and financial struggle dominates thinking on scrutiny’s priorities, which the CFGS has noted has increased in surveys over the last five years.

officer'>Chief financial officer—responsible for the company’s finance and accounts function.

The Court Funds Office (CFO) has confirmed that, following the Monetary Policy Committee’s decision to reduce the Bank of England base rate from 5.25% to 5%, the Lord Chancellor has approved changes to the special and basic account rates. The special account rate decreases from 5.25% to 5.00% and the basic account rate decreases from 3.94% to 3.75%. The changes are effective as of 19 September 2024.

The Committee on Fuel Poverty (CFP) has published its 2024 Annual Report, titled 'Can Fuel Poverty be Ended?'. This report details the progress of the government’s fuel poverty strategy and policies to improve the energy efficiency and affordability of fuel poor homes in England.

The Climate Financial Risk Forum (CFRF) has published Nature-related Risk: Handbook for Financial Institutions, which provides practical guidance on how financial institutions can start thinking about nature and taking actions to embed this into risk management. The handbook is accompanied by Nature-related Risk: Technical Data Guidance for Financial Institutions, which provides an overview of the nature data landscape and key applications of nature-related datasets and tools.

The Institutions Task Force of the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (CGA) has launched a global ‘Green Survey’ for arbitration institutions. The survey aims to identify the level of awareness and engagement on sustainability and the challenges institutions face in adopting and encouraging more sustainable behaviour. Through the Green Survey, the Task Force aims to gather data that will inform its strategies to better assist arbitration institutions to embrace greener practices. Responses to the survey can be submitted until 15 June 2024.

The Campaign for Greener Arbitrations (GCA) has announced new Co-Chairs, Laura Halonen of WAGNER Arbitration and Andrew Mackenzie of the Scottish Arbitration Centre, for its 2026–28 Global Steering Committee term, alongside Vice Co-Chairs Olivier André and Karen Tan, succeeding Christine Falcicchio and Cherine Foty. The outgoing Co-Chairs will continue to serve on the Advisory Board. The incoming leadership, all of whom previously held regional or task force roles within the Campaign, will focus on implementation and practical support for Green Pledge signatories, ahead of the announcement of the full 2026 leadership roster.

The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has released the Conclusions & Decisions adopted by the CGAP. The CGAP met from 5-8 March 2024 and over 429 participants attended. The report notes the progress made on new legislative instruments in relation to the working groups on parentage and surrogacy and on jurisdiction. The working group on jurisdiction has made progress towards a draft Convention. An expert group has been established on the applicable law and jurisdictional issues raised by the use and transfer of Central Bank Digital Currencies to study the private international law issues relating to digital tokens.

The Council on General Affairs and Policy (CGAP) of the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) has released the Conclusions & Decisions adopted at its meeting held from 3–6 March 2026, which was attended by over 560 participants. The report notes the final report concluding the work of the Working Group on the feasibility of a possible Convention on the Recognition of Judgments on Legal Parentage and continued progress on the Jurisdiction Project, with a decision to be taken in 2027 on whether to advance it to a Special Commission. CGAP also mandated the establishment a new Working Group to consider a possible convention on the cross-border recognition and enforcement of protection orders, in addition several expert and working groups were tasked with continuing their work on central bank digital currencies, carbon markets, digital tokens and the financial aspects of intercountry adoption. CGAP also approved various documents and tools to assist in the implementation and operation of HCCH Conventions, including a draft Cooperation Request Recommended Model Form under the 1996 Child Protection Convention and a Good Practices document relating to the 1965 Service, 1970 Evidence and 1980 Access to Justice Conventions. Ms Yael Weiner (Israel) was elected as the new Chair, succeeding Judge Marcelo De Nardi (Brazil).

The Center for Global Development (CGD) has published a comprehensive analysis of the UK's 2025 immigration reforms. These reforms restrict Skilled Worker visa access for mid-skill occupations (RQF levels 3–5) unless the roles are retained on a revised temporary shortage list (TSL). Currently, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is reviewing visa access for 82 occupations that were previously on the immigration salary list, while the existing TSL remains in force until the end of 2026.

The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGI) has called on charities to submit their responses to the consultation on the Charity Governance Code being undertaken by the Charity Governance Code Steering Group. This specifically explores the Code’s content, structure, applicability to different sizes of charity, the use of language, user-friendliness of the framework and any barriers or obstacles to using the Code. Responses are sought from both users and non-users including trustees, charity chairs or staff working in governance roles. The deadline is 11 August 2024. It is anticipated that that a paper detailing the response will be published in Autumn 2024 and the updated Code will be published in early 2025.