Category: 3. Business

  • Tougher impaired driving penalties starting 2026

    Tougher impaired driving penalties starting 2026

    Stricter roadside licence suspensions, extended look-back periods, and mandatory education programs are among the key changes

    The province is cracking down on alcohol and drug-impaired driving with a series of reforms that will impact both first-time and repeat offenders.

    Effective January 1, you will see:

    1. Increased Roadside Licence Suspensions

    • First offence: Suspensions increase from 3 to 7 days.
    • Second offence: Suspensions increase from 7 to 14 days.
    • Applies to young and novice drivers violating zero-tolerance, warn-range BAC (blood alcohol content) (0.05-0.079), or failing Standard Field Sobriety Testing.

    2. Look Back Period

    • A ‘look back period’ refers to the timeframe within which the number of previous alcohol and/or drug-related occurrences is considered when determining sanctions for a subsequent occurrence.
    • The following look-back periods are being extended from five years to 10 years: this applies to all sanctions related to alcohol and/or drug-related occurrences, including Administrative Penalties, licence suspensions, ignition interlock requirements, and remedial programs.

    4. Mandatory Remedial Education for First-Time Occurrences

    • Drivers receiving their first roadside suspension for alcohol/drug-related occurrences must complete a remedial education program, delivered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.
    • Second or subsequent suspensions require participation in a treatment program.
    • These requirements will be reflected in the updated Notice of Suspension and the Inquiry Services System.

    If you suspect someone is driving impaired, call 911.

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  • Transport for Wales Chair honoured for services to public transport

    Transport for Wales Chair honoured for services to public transport

    The honour comes at an exciting time for public transport in Wales. The Welsh Government’s £800 million investment in brand-new trains for the Wales and Borders network is transforming our railways and making a real difference for passengers. Alongside this, the new Bus Services Bill will reshape how local bus services are planned and delivered, putting passengers first through a single, integrated network with one timetable and one ticket across Wales. Early in the new year, Transport for Wales will also publish a new, industry-led vision for rail, setting out a clear direction for the future of the network.

    Vernon Everitt took up his role as Chair in July 2025, bringing with him extensive experience from senior leadership roles in public transport in Greater Manchester and London. During his career, he has led significant improvements in customer service and helped grow passenger numbers across major transport networks.

    The Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates, said:

    I am pleased to congratulate to Vernon on this well-deserved recognition for his exceptional contribution, pragmatism and innovation in public transport. I was delighted with his appointment as Chair of Transport for Wales and look forward to drawing on his leadership, wisdom and experience as we transform public transport in Wales in 2026.

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  • National Fuel Projects Gas Supply Costs for Pennsylvania Customers Next Winter

    National Fuel Projects Gas Supply Costs for Pennsylvania Customers Next Winter

    National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation (National Fuel or the Company) has submitted its annual Purchased Gas Cost Filing as required by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). The filing includes a projection of the cost of gas supplies that the Company expects to purchase and deliver to customers from Aug. 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027. For the period, National Fuel is projecting an increase in overall gas supply charges totaling approximately $71.49 per year. If approved as filed, the monthly bill of a typical residential customer with an annual usage of 98,400 cubic feet of gas would increase from $87.18 to $93.13 per month or by 6.83%, starting Aug. 1, 2026.

    The primary reason for this forecasted increase in gas supply charges is that costs associated with the purchase and transmission of natural gas are projected to be higher than current rates. The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) forecasts that natural gas prices next winter will be higher than the average prices for the twelve months ending November 30, 2025.

    National Fuel is required by law to shop for the most reasonably priced gas and maintain an adequate supply for more than 214,000 Pennsylvania customers. As market prices fluctuate, National Fuel is required to pass those charges to customers without any markup or discount.

    Customers are advised that this forecast is for prices to be experienced next winter (2026-2027) and must be thoroughly reviewed and approved by the PUC before becoming effective. Additionally, after approval, pricing will be adjusted on a quarterly basis to reflect any changes in the Company’s current projections and actual market prices at the time of the update.

    LIHEAP

    The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, is open. Eligibility for this federally funded program is based on income guidelines and household size. For example, a family of four with a gross monthly income of $48,225 may qualify for a grant. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, visit www.LIHEAPhelps.com or contact 1-877-443-2743. Customers who are having trouble paying bills should call Customer Service at 1-800-365-3234 to discuss payment assistance programs.

    As always, if you Smell Gas, Leave Fast: if a rotten-egg natural gas odor is present, leave the premises immediately and call National Fuel’s 24/7/365 emergency line at, 1-800-444-3130, from a different location. If you smell an odor of gas outdoors, leave the area immediately, call National Fuel’s emergency number and provide the address nearest to the site of the odor. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit www.nationalfuel.com/utility/gas-safety/.

    National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the Utility segment of National Fuel Gas Company, a diversified energy company engaged in a number of natural gas-related activities. The Utility provides natural gas service for 2.2 million residents in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.nationalfuel.com.

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  • 66-year-old man detained on suspicion of DWI after Southwest Side crash, SAPD says

    66-year-old man detained on suspicion of DWI after Southwest Side crash, SAPD says

    Crash happened just before 3:30 a.m. in the 3700 Block of SW Military Drive

    San Antonio police car (KSAT)

    SAN ANTONIO – A man was detained on suspicion of driving while intoxicated early Wednesday following a two-vehicle crash on the Southwest Side, according to San Antonio police.

    Officers responded just before 3:30 a.m. to the crash in the 3700 Block of SW Military Drive.

    A 30-year-old woman was driving eastbound on the road, with the unidentified man traveling west. The woman attempted to turn onto Bynum Avenue when the man’s vehicle hit hers, police said in a preliminary report.

    The woman was taken to the hospital for unspecified injuries. Officers detained the man on suspicion of DWI, police said. It is not immediately clear if he is facing charges.

    SAPD’s investigation is ongoing.


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  • UK Patents Court Rules on RAND Licensing Jurisdiction – Publications

    UK Patents Court Rules on RAND Licensing Jurisdiction – Publications

    In a judgment handed down last week by Mr Justice Mellor, the UK Patents Court held that (1) Nokia’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the court to determine the terms of global licences in respect of certain video codec technologies on reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) terms has failed and (2) the applications by Acer and ASUSTeK (as well as Hisense, who were separately represented) (together, the Claimants) for declarations relating to interim RAND licences have succeeded.

    This decision is a significant win for Morgan Lewis clients Acer and ASUSTeK. It is also the first time that the court has determined the scope of RAND undertakings given by standard essential patent (SEP) holders to ITU-T, the relevant standard setting organisation for video codec SEPs, and whether an SEP owner has the right to specify arbitration rather than court determination of RAND rates. Further details on the decision are set out below.

    Acer and ASUSTeK are represented in the United Kingdom by Tim Powell and Hiroshi Sheraton, assisted by their team members Benjamin Rowlatt, Kristjan Bloudoff, Kulraj Singh Bhangra, Dania Al-Bayati, and Teal St. Nicklaus. Morgan Lewis is also representing Acer in parallel US International Trade Commission (ITC) proceedings in the United States, with a team led by partners Brent Hawkins and Stephanie Roberts and associate Zack Miller.

    1. BACKGROUND

    The Claimants had been each attempting to negotiate with Nokia on the terms of a RAND licence to Nokia’s portfolio of video codec patents, which were declared by Nokia to be essential to ITU-T standards under H.264 and H.265. Nokia brought numerous sets of proceedings around the world (including in the United States, the Unified Patent Court (UPC), Germany, Brazil, and India) seeking injunctions against the Claimants, but without any request for those courts to determine the terms of a RAND licence. As a defensive response, the Claimants each initiated proceedings in the United Kingdom, seeking inter alia the determinations and declarations of RAND terms for global interim and final licences.

    2. NOKIA’S CHALLENGE TO JURISDICTION IS REJECTED

    Nokia challenged the jurisdiction of the UK Patents Court to make the determinations and declarations sought by the Claimants. Ultimately, the court held that the orders granting each of Acer, Hisense, and ASUSTeK permission to serve their respective claims on Nokia outside of the jurisdiction had been correctly granted. In addition, the court found that the declaratory relief sought by the Claimants is available under Swiss law, and in the alternative, is also available as a matter of English procedural law.

    The heart of Nokia’s jurisdiction challenge was two-fold: (1) an SEP owner that has declared its patents essential to the ITU-T under either the H.264 or H.265 standards is obliged to merely negotiate in good faith rather than offer a licence on RAND terms and (2) any obligation owed by Nokia to the Claimants is discharged by Nokia’s offers to settle the terms of a RAND licence through arbitration (termed Nokia’s “Adjustable Arbitration Offers”), which the Claimants do not consent to. Both of these points were rejected by the court.

    Under Nokia’s interpretation of its ITU-T RAND obligations, Mr Justice Mellor stated that “the ITU-T system would be wholly unfit for purpose”. Agreeing with the Claimants, the court held that Nokia’s ITU-T RAND obligations created by way of its undertakings to the ITU-T are enforceable contracts under Swiss law. Importantly, these contracts were found to be for the benefit of third-party beneficiaries, which require Nokia to make RAND offers which are capable of acceptance and, when accepted, require Nokia to enter into the resulting RAND licence.

    In refuting Nokia’s position in relation to Adjustable Arbitration Offers, the court held that they do not constitute an offer of a RAND licence that is capable of acceptance. Furthermore, the court observed that no arbitration agreement has been concluded between Nokia and any of the Claimants, and that if arbitration was an alternative forum to the English Court as a result of making an offer to arbitrate, it could almost always prevent the English Court from assuming jurisdiction.

    3. INTERIM LICENCE DECLARATIONS SOUGHT BY THE CLAIMANTS ARE GRANTED

    Following its findings on jurisdiction, the court held that the following two declarations that were sought by the Claimants should be made:

    • A declaration that, in accordance with the contractual obligations on the part of Nokia and the undertakings given by the Claimants, a willing licensor and willing licensee would agree to enter into and actually enter into an interim licence pending a final determination of such terms as determined by the court
    • A declaration of the terms of an interim licence

    The court also found Nokia to be in breach of its ITU-T RAND commitment by making an interim licence offer that was conditional on Acer and ASUSTeK submitting to arbitration.

    The court determined the terms of the interim licences that would be declared, including:

    • There would be a sum payable by each of the Claimants to Nokia under their respective interim licences. This was for a total amount hallway between Nokia’s offer and the Claimants’ offers. It comprised a non-refundable amount of the sums the Claimants accepted should be paid and a refundable amount that could be adjusted up or down depending on the final RAND determination
    • The interim licence would cover both decoding claims and claims which the Claimants contended were technically essential to the operation of the standards

    4. WIDER RAMIFICATIONS

    This dispute is one of a series of actions brought by SEP holders against implementers of video codec streaming technology. As such, the result is of wide interest to computer manufacturers and providers of streaming services. Nokia has indicated it intends to appeal this decision, but the case will now proceed to a full RAND rate setting trial next summer, where Acer and ASUSTeK will ask the court to settle the terms of a final global licence to Nokia’s video codec SEP portfolio.

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  • PTCL completes acquisition of 100pc issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers – Dawn

    1. PTCL completes acquisition of 100pc issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers  Dawn
    2. PTCL to participate in 5G spectrum auction  Dawn
    3. PTCL-backed MergeCo eyes 5G rollout  The Express Tribune
    4. e& completes Telenor Pakistan buyout  Arabian Gulf Business Insight | AGBI
    5. Who is Awais Vohra, the New Telenor CEO?  TechJuice

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  • PTCL completes acquisition of 100pc issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers – Dawn

    1. PTCL completes acquisition of 100pc issued share capital of Telenor Pakistan and Orion Towers  Dawn
    2. PTCL-backed MergeCo eyes 5G rollout  The Express Tribune
    3. Who is Awais Vohra, the New Telenor CEO?  TechJuice
    4. Telenor Pakistan sale completed  TradingView — Track All Markets
    5. Telenor Closes Sale of Pakistan Unit to PTCL  marketscreener.com

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  • Revenue seize 1,100 kg of chewing tobacco at Dublin Port

    On Monday, 29/12/2025, as a result of routine profiling, Revenue officers seized 1,100 kg of chewing tobacco at Dublin Port. 

    The illicit tobacco, which has an estimated value of €605,000, originated in India and arrived into Dublin Port via the Netherlands. 

    Investigations are ongoing.

    This seizure is part of Revenue’s ongoing work targeting smuggling and shadow economy activity. If businesses, or members of the public have any information, they can contact Revenue in confidence on Confidential Phone Number 1800 295 295. 

    [ENDS 31/12/2025] 

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  • UK cryptoasset regulation mini-series – Episode 6 – Overview of the Cryptoasset Regulations – Global Regulation Tomorrow

    1. UK cryptoasset regulation mini-series – Episode 6 – Overview of the Cryptoasset Regulations  Global Regulation Tomorrow
    2. FCA indicates path for future crypto regulation  Compliance Week
    3. UK Plans to Implement Comprehensive Regulatory Framework for Crypto Assets  Bitget
    4. How the UK plans to regulate crypto like traditional finance  TradingView — Track All Markets
    5. UK Sets Structured Path for Full Crypto Regulation by 2027  CoinCentral

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