Business

A deed poll is a legal document used in the UK to formally record a change of name. It allows an individual to update their name across official and professional records, including employment documents, payroll systems, and business registrations.

Why name consistency matters in a professional context

In the workplace, consistency of personal details is more than an administrative preference. Employers rely on accurate records for contracts, tax reporting, background checks, and internal systems. A mismatch between names can create unnecessary delays, confusion, or credibility issues, particularly in regulated or senior roles.

How a deed poll supports career progression

Changing your name through a UK deed poll provides a clear and recognised paper trail. Once completed, the document can be used to update records with HMRC, banks, and professional bodies. This ensures that payslips, pension contributions, and employment histories all reflect the same identity, which is especially important when moving between roles or industries.

Professional image and external perception

For freelancers, consultants, and company directors, professional image extends beyond internal HR systems. Client contracts, invoices, and company filings often require exact name matching. Using a deed poll name change helps present a consistent professional identity across Companies House records, banking arrangements, and contractual documents.

Common career-related questions

Can an employer refuse to update records after a deed poll?
Most employers accept a properly executed deed poll as sufficient evidence of a name change, provided it is correctly formatted and supported by identification where required.

Does a deed poll affect payroll, tax, or pension records?

A deed poll allows employers to update payroll systems, pension records, and tax details so they remain consistent with HMRC records. This helps prevent delays in salary payments or discrepancies in contributions.

Will changing my name impact background checks or employment screening?

A name change recorded through a deed poll does not invalidate previous background checks. Employers may link records using National Insurance numbers or prior name references to ensure continuity.

Should I inform my employer before updating other organisations?

In most cases, informing your employer early helps ensure that internal systems, payslips, and workplace records remain consistent while other organisations are updated.

Using a recognised process

If you are wondering how to change your name, organisations such as the UK Deed Poll Office are often referenced as sources of correctly drafted deed poll documents that meet the expectations of UK employers and institutions. Clear wording and proper execution help reduce friction when updating professional records.

Key takeaway

A deed poll name change is not just a personal decision; it plays a practical role in maintaining professional credibility, reducing administrative risk, and ensuring continuity throughout your career.

Read more:
How a Deed Poll Can Impact Your Career Prospects and Professional Image

Donald Trump has claimed that Venezuela will “turn over” between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States following a US-backed operation that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Posting on social media, the US president said the oil — worth an estimated $2.8bn (£2.1bn) at current market prices, would be sold by the US, with proceeds controlled by him and used “to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States”.

The remarks came days after Maduro was flown to the US to face long-standing charges related to drug trafficking and weapons offences, and after Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president.

Trump also said he expected US oil companies to be “up and running” in Venezuela within 18 months, adding that large-scale American investment would soon flow into the country.

However, energy analysts have poured cold water on the timetable, warning that restoring Venezuela’s oil industry would require tens of billions of dollars and could take a decade or more.

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, estimated at more than 300 billion barrels, but output has been in long-term decline since the early 2000s due to underinvestment, mismanagement and international sanctions. Its heavy crude is also costly and complex to refine, limiting the number of facilities able to process it.

China, currently the largest buyer of Venezuelan oil, condemned Trump’s comments, describing them as a violation of international law and an infringement of Venezuelan sovereignty. Beijing also criticised reports that Washington is pressing Caracas to sever economic ties with China, Russia, Iran and Cuba in exchange for US investment.

A spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry said cooperation between China and Venezuela was “between two sovereign states” and must be protected under international law.

According to reports by US media, Trump has pushed for an exclusive oil partnership between Washington and Caracas. On Truth Social, he said the oil would be sold at market prices but that the revenue would be overseen directly by the US administration.

Trump argued that increased Venezuelan oil production would help keep global prices down, saying it was “good for the United States” to bring the country back as a major supplier.

Yet US oil majors have been cautious. Chevron, currently the only American oil company operating in Venezuela under a limited licence, said it remained focused on employee safety and regulatory compliance. ConocoPhillips, which exited Venezuela years ago following nationalisation, said it was monitoring developments but that it would be “premature to speculate” on future investments.

Exxon declined to comment.

Venezuela nationalised its oil industry in 1976 and increased state control over foreign-owned assets in 2007 under Hugo Chávez. In 2019, a World Bank tribunal ordered Venezuela to pay ConocoPhillips $8.7bn in compensation for expropriated assets — a sum that remains unpaid.

While Trump and US officials have claimed that Venezuela “stole” American oil, legal experts note that natural resources are owned by sovereign states under international law. US companies historically operated under licence agreements rather than owning the oil itself.

With Venezuela’s infrastructure degraded, sanctions still in flux and political uncertainty high, analysts warn that any meaningful increase in production — and any impact on global oil prices — is unlikely in the near term.

Read more:
Trump claims Venezuela will hand over up to 50m barrels of oil to US after regime change

Recently, one of Italy’s leading publications — Il Giornale — published a piece about the legal dispute between a major Italian engineering group Maire S.p.A. and the swiss-based fertilizer producer EuroChem, which is being heard in several jurisdictions worldwide, including London and Moscow.

The article examined the potential implications of ongoing litigation for Maire’s public disclosures, share price and foreign assets. Several hours after publication, the article was taken down from the newspaper’s website without explanation.

According to market sources, Maire sent letters to Italian media outlets earlier this autumn requesting that they refrain from publishing anything related to the Moscow court proceedings. The company has maintained that rulings issued by Russian courts have no legal force outside Russia and therefore do not represent a material risk to investors.

However, the speed and firmness of Maire’s response have raised questions among observers about how seriously the company views the dispute.

To recall: the conflict is related to the termination of contracts for the construction of a chemical complex in Kingisepp, where work was halted in 2022. EuroChem Severo-Zapad-2, a Russian subsidiary of EuroChem, maintains that obligations were violated due to the contractor’s fault, while Maire S.p.A. claims that the project was terminated as a result of sanctions restrictions and force majeure.

The removed Il Giornale article cited legal experts involved in the case, who suggested that the main issue for Maire may not lie solely in the court proceedings themselves, but in questions of market disclosure.

According to the report, EuroChem has submitted complaints to European financial regulators, including Consob in Italy and the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg. The complaints allege that Maire failed to adequately inform the market about the nature and scale of risks associated with the litigation, particularly with regard to its assets in Russia.

Lawyers quoted in the article noted that the Moscow lawsuit was filed as early as September, but does not appear to have been reflected in Maire’s 9M interim financial statements or in documentation related to the group’s recent borrowing activities on European capital markets.

The dispute reportedly involves potential claims amounting to billions of euros. Under European regulatory practice, such exposures may qualify as material information capable of influencing investment decisions and share prices.

The article noted that if these circumstances are confirmed, European regulators may have grounds to require Maire to disclose the risks associated with the court proceedings in greater detail and more clearly, including their potential impact on the company’s financial position and shares. In extreme cases, sanctions may be imposed, but even the mere threat of regulatory review could affect stock prices and complicate the company’s access to financing.

A separate section of the publication was devoted to risks associated with Maire’s assets outside Italy. Despite the company’s statements that Russian court decisions are not enforceable abroad, lawyers pointed to international practice that allows the use of interim measures in third jurisdictions. As an argument, examples of recent cases were cited where decisions of Russian courts became the basis for procedural actions abroad. In 2023–2025, the group significantly expanded its presence in regions where large infrastructure projects are implemented with state participation, and the contractor’s reputational stability is of key importance.

In Kazakhstan, Maire has received contracts worth a total of over $4.5 billion, including projects in the Atyrau region and the Tengiz field. In Saudi Arabia, the group is participating in the expansion of the SATORP complex as part of the Amiral project worth approximately $2 billion, and is also performing service contracts for Saudi Aramco. In China, the company is implementing a number of technology and licensing projects in the fertilizers and polymers sector.

In such markets, timely delivery and reputational stability are considered critical. A high-profile legal dispute may prompt clients and partners to seek additional assurances regarding risk management and corporate governance.

Thus, the main message of the removed article was as follows: the Moscow trial cannot be viewed as a legally isolated episode. It carries regulatory, financial, and reputational risks that potentially should be disclosed to the market. In this context, EuroChem’s position appeared advantageous — the company not only obtained a court decision but also brought the dispute into the realm of European financial supervision.

Maire’s attempt to remove discussion of these circumstances from the public sphere only reinforces the main question posed in the headline of the deleted article: is the Italian engineering giant hiding material risks from its shareholders and investors? Under European regulation, pressure on the media rarely diminishes regulators’ interest — on the contrary, it can become an additional reason for even closer attention.

Read more:
Is a Leading Italian Engineering Group Hiding Risks from Investors and Shareholders?

If you are thinking of recommending daily extensions to your clients, or, as a hair extension lover, you’re prone to wearing clip-ins every single day, then, it may be time to reconsider.

Despite clip-in hair extensions being incredibly practical, adaptable, and classic, particularly for everyday styling, there’s still risks involved. Here in this blog, we’ll be guiding you through the best way to integrate clip in extensions into your weekly routine in a way that’s stylish, practical, and safe for your natural locks. Also, you can explore all of the key ways to wear your clip-ins in more depth in the cliphair guide for how your clip-in extensions can affect your hair, plus all the ways you can maintain healthy hair.

The Short Answer

Clip-ins can be your everyday extensions if you have thick or medium-volume hair. For most hair types, daily use is safe when used with the proper application, removal, and maintenance, but in general, it is not advised. Consider experts’ tips to maintain the best possible condition for both your natural hair and extensions. You can also consider permanent hair extensions, such as tape-ins or nano rings, for a simple everyday option that doesn’t require extensive application. You can save time on your hair routine with these options and can avoid wear and tear to both your natural hair and extensions.

Benefits of Daily Wear

Wearing extensions daily can transform your look and style in a matter of minutes. Primarily, people adore clip-ins because they deliver volume and length instantly, without waiting for trips to the salon. Secondly, you can try different hairstyles every day, including straight, curly, long, or mid-length styles. Lastly, they are popular for being user-friendly, beginner-friendly, and needing no specialised tool or expertise. They can be worn easily and smartly without spending hours in a salon chair. Clip-ins also let you take breaks whenever you want, unlike permanent extensions. Overnight, your hair has downtime.

Potential Concern

To avoid extension damage, we recommend that you follow some essential rules. Firstly, avoid straining your roots by putting clips in the same place; you can change the locations a few times a week and reduce the number of clips to relieve your scalp from stress. Secondly, your extensions need to be washed frequently if you spray or apply serums; however, excessive washing also damages them. Therefore, proper care is necessary to improve their lifespan. Finally, your extension will take up to 10 minutes a day for proper placement, especially if you are a beginner. Time is not usually a concern when it comes to clip-ins.

Best Practices for Daily Wear

If you or your clients are committed to daily wear, adapt the following practices for safe extension wear.

Keep changing your clip position on your scalp to avoid strain on your hair follicles.
Overnight wear is not expert-recommended as it may cause damage from tugging and friction.
Remove your extension for a day or two per week to ensure natural regeneration. This also reduces tension on your follicles and ultimately prevents damage.
Straightening conditioners and nourishing shampoos are a must as they help in improving your hair health.

Signs You Need a Break

Always remember that your natural hair needs to break. Even with permanent extensions, your scalp still needs an extension break. Consider one to two months’ breaks every 12 months before going for the next set. The extension break will heal, regenerate, build, and strengthen your natural hair. After all, you need to prepare carefully for the next set of installations. Pay proper attention to your scalp health and consider deep conditioning, hair treatments, and light styling during that break. Do not wait too long to seek expert advice when discomfort or breakage occurs.

Making Extensions Last

Clip-ins are cost-effective and can last long if properly cared for. Follow simple techniques for the best extension care to prolong their lifespan.

Regular brushing to avoid tangles
Washing gently with cold water, but not too often
Storing them carefully to prevent damage

Your extensions deserve the same care as your natural hair. Treat them well!

Conclusion

So even if you are your own stylist for your clip-in extensions or have a large salon clientele, understanding sustainability will help ensure the longevity of your extensions. Safe hair procedures will include preparation, installation, cleaning, storage, and maintenance, which are key to better outcomes. And finally, your hair follicles and scalp need rest to regenerate before the next set of placements.

Read more:
Can You Wear Clip-In Extensions Daily? The Truth

Regulatory compliance is a core part of business operations for companies in every sector. Organisations must keep up with a growing set of rules that cover data protection, workplace safety, and more.

However, many businesses still find it difficult to create a culture where compliance is prioritised as an everyday practice rather than just a requirement.

Building a company culture that truly aligns with regulatory standards takes careful planning and ongoing effort. When employees understand what rules apply and why they matter, compliance becomes part of daily routines. A strong training approach can help bridge this gap, turning regulations into practical actions that staff can follow at work.

This approach is supported by industry best practices, which highlight the need for clear communication and regular training to support a compliance-focused company culture across all levels of the business.

Why Regulatory Compliance Must Be Part of Company DNA

Financial penalties for non-compliance can be serious, but the broader impact includes reputational damage and loss of customer trust. While headline-grabbing fines are a risk, the real cost often comes from operational disruption and lost opportunities. That’s why UK businesses are moving away from a checklist mentality and towards a culture of compliance.

Many are now using a compliance training system to make regulatory awareness part of their organisational culture. This shift means policies are part of daily work, with responsibility shared across teams. Integrated training ensures staff know the rules and how to apply them, which helps reduce mistakes.

Key regulatory frameworks for UK businesses include GDPR for data protection, FCA rules for financial services, and Health and Safety Executive standards for workplace safety. Each framework has specific requirements that affect business operations.

The business case for a proactive approach is compelling. Companies with strong compliance cultures often experience greater trust from stakeholders, fewer disruptions, and may be better positioned to win contracts that require proof of compliance.

Building Blocks of a Compliance-Focused Culture

Developing a compliance-focused culture depends on leadership. When senior leaders model compliant behaviours and talk openly about regulatory standards, employees are more likely to follow suit. This commitment must be visible and genuine, with executives following the same rules as everyone else.

Clear communication about what is expected is important at every level. Staff need to know which rules apply to their role and why those rules matter. This means translating complicated regulations into plain language that connects to real work situations.

Forward-thinking organisations include compliance in performance reviews and recognition programmes. When regulatory standards form part of how employee performance is measured, it sends a clear message that compliance is a business priority.

Training Approaches That Shape Compliance Attitudes

Traditional compliance training often focuses on memorising rules, which does not always lead to behaviour change. Employees may complete required courses but fail to apply what they have learned. This gap can reduce the impact of compliance programmes.

Scenario-based learning is considered a more effective approach. When employees work through realistic situations that reflect their actual job challenges, they build practical skills they can use right away. This method connects regulations with real workplace decisions.

Microlearning breaks compliance content into short, focused segments that are easier to absorb. These brief learning moments can make compliance topics more manageable and support higher engagement than traditional long sessions.

Gamification features such as points, badges, and leaderboards may also boost engagement with compliance content. Personalised learning paths help ensure staff receive the most relevant training for their roles.

Measuring Training Effectiveness

Evaluating compliance training goes beyond tracking completion rates. Organisations can assess knowledge retention with follow-up quizzes and monitor behaviour changes through observation. Linking training engagement with a reduction in compliance incidents may provide a clearer picture of what works.

Analytics from training systems can show knowledge gaps across departments or job roles. These findings help organisations target extra training where it will have the most effect on reducing compliance risks.

Technology as a Compliance Culture Support Tool

Compliance management has shifted from paper-based systems to advanced digital platforms. This development has made compliance more accessible and a natural part of regular operations. Automation now handles tasks like paperwork, reminders, and record-keeping.

Modern compliance systems bring training directly into daily routines. Rather than pulling employees away from their work, these systems deliver guidance when it is needed. Immediate regulatory updates are another important benefit.

The use of mobile learning, real-time reporting, and personalised content is becoming common for compliance training platforms that make regulatory knowledge accessible for all employees.

Maintaining Progress in Regulatory Compliance

Ongoing improvement is necessary for keeping compliance programmes effective. Regular reviews of processes, along with staff feedback, help identify gaps and adjust strategies to fit each organisation’s needs.

Compliance communications benefit from frequent updates. Changing delivery channels, using timely examples, and involving different internal messengers can help keep messages fresh and engaging.

Employee involvement can increase commitment and the likelihood that new policies will be accepted. Inviting staff to help develop compliance solutions may lead to stronger ownership of standards.

Building connections with regulators and industry groups helps UK companies stay updated on guidelines. These partnerships can lower the risk of missing key changes and bring in new ideas that fit the business environment.

Read more:
Creating a Company Culture That Embraces Regulatory Standards

Clip-in hair extensions last longer, but if this happens, you can smartly prevent extension slipping. The strategy is how well you care for them and how often you wear them.

Clip-ins last up to 12 months with proper care. For everything you need to know, we suggest you read the Cliphair guide when installing, removing, and storing your extensions if you want them to last a long time. When you handle them carefully and store them properly, you can get a full year of use from their clip-in extensions.

Why Extensions Slip

You might not notice it often, but you can easily prevent clip-in extensions from slipping. In this guide, we will help you explore the reasons why extensions slip and possible solutions to keep them in place. Here’s some of the reasons your extensions may be falling out:

Your hair becomes slippery due to heavy styling products. The best you can do is to reduce the product’s usage or try lighter solutions.
The natural oils in your hair can sometimes make your extensions slip. Use dry shampoo or wash more often.
Dry shampooing the roots or gently teasing them to build hold for the clips might help prevent sliding caused by extremely soft, fine hair.
Your extensions will not survive long if they are not properly positioned or clipped. Make sure you pay great attention to the application instructions.

Prep Your Hair Properly

Correct extension prep is necessary before applying your extensions. You can use a texturising product or dry shampoo before placing the extensions. The best way to prevent slipping is to give your hair more traction during the day, which will also provide you with a smoother, more voluminous look. You can gently massage your hair at the roots where you have attached the clips, and this will improve the grip. The texturising products will provide a refined finish on even, smooth and recently washed hair. The product will firmly grip your hair and will prevent slipping.

Placement Techniques

For a smooth and refined blend with clip-in hair extensions, it is important to section the hair from the mid region properly to the crown and secure it with clips. Wearing extensions without sectioning can cause slippage and tangles, damaging the scalp and hair roots. It is therefore important to plan the application for full coverage and make sure that sections are thick enough for secure clip placement but not too thick to prevent slippage. Organising your hair into sections helps maintain a natural look, prevents tangles, and keeps the extensions in place. This method applies to all types of human hair extensions and is essential for achieving a flowing hairstyle.

Products That Help

You might be curious about whether certain products can help prevent slipping. The answer is yes, using some products for extensions can help keep clip-in extensions in place. Before you cut in your extensions, use a light-weight hairspray or texturising spray on your natural hair. This will increase friction and keep the extension clips firmly in place. To add more traction, you can also use a root-boosting powder. Remember to be careful when applying these products, as applying too much might make the hair excessively oily or sticky, which could, in turn, cause slippage of your extensions.

Fine Hair Solutions

Try this trick if you have fine hair that tends to slip. For fine hair extensions, before attaching the clip, you can add two bobby pins in a crisscross pattern at the base of your hair section. This technique will form a string anchor point. Bobby pins are an additional way to support your hair extensions and help reduce the risk of movement. You can also opt for lighter choices, such as smooth, sleek extensions, rather than thick, heavier clip-ins for better suitability and functionality. Additionally, you can apply dry shampoo at the roots and gently tease to create traction for the clips if your hair is fine.

Maintenance Checks

For your extension maintenance, try not to touch or adjust them more frequently, as this will prevent them from shifting throughout the day. Reposition the clips if you feel any movement or pain. A loose hairstyle, such as a bun or low ponytail, helps reduce excessive movement and friction. To keep your extensions smooth and blended, it is advised to keep a small comb or brush on hand for quick touch-ups.

Conclusion

If you’re concerned about the lifespan of clip-in hair extensions, you can use this guide to secure your extensions properly and help them last for a year or more if properly maintained. Above all, pay attention to careful handling, routine maintenance, and correct installation.

Read more:
Stop Clip-In Extensions from Slipping: Expert Tips

Cloud adoption has changed how organizations store data, deploy applications, and collaborate across teams, yet questions about safety remain central to every decision.

Business leaders want confidence that sensitive information stays protected without slowing productivity or limiting scalability.

Cloud safety is not a single feature but a coordinated system of safeguards that respond to both known and emerging risks. Threat protection plays a defining role in shaping that system by detecting suspicious activity before it becomes damaging. When implemented with care, these protections turn cloud infrastructure into a stable foundation rather than a liability. Understanding how this protection works helps businesses move forward with clarity instead of hesitation.

Why Cloud Environments Require Active Threat Protection

Cloud platforms operate in constantly changing conditions where workloads scale up and down, users connect from many locations, and data moves across multiple systems. This flexibility creates opportunity, yet it introduces exposure that static security models cannot manage effectively. Threat protection focuses on continuous observation rather than periodic checks, allowing unusual behavior to stand out clearly.

Attackers often rely on small gaps in visibility, which makes early detection a decisive advantage. A protected cloud environment recognizes deviations in traffic patterns, access attempts, and data usage before damage spreads. By addressing threats at their earliest stages, organizations avoid disruptions that could affect trust, compliance, and long-term growth.

Building Visibility That Anticipates Risk Rather Than Reacts to It

Effective cloud safety depends on awareness, not assumptions, which is why monitoring remains central to any protection strategy. Tools designed for cybersecurity and real-time monitoring provide constant insight into how systems behave under normal and abnormal conditions, helping organizations spot issues that traditional defenses might overlook. This approach shifts security from a reactive posture to one based on anticipation and preparedness.

Monitoring supports compliance efforts by creating detailed records of access and activity. It builds confidence among stakeholders who need assurance that safeguards are active at all times. With the right framework in place, visibility becomes a strategic advantage rather than a technical burden.

How Threat Detection Supports Business Continuity

Downtime caused by security incidents can ripple across operations, customer relationships, and revenue streams. Strong threat detection systems work quietly in the background to reduce this risk without interrupting daily workflows. They analyze activity across networks, endpoints, and applications to identify signals that suggest intrusion or misuse.

This process allows security teams to respond quickly and precisely rather than reacting after harm occurs. Clear visibility into system behavior supports faster decisions during critical moments. As a result, businesses maintain continuity even when external threats attempt to interfere.

Key Capabilities That Strengthen Cloud Threat Protection

A well-rounded cloud security strategy relies on several interconnected capabilities that work together to reduce risk. These components reinforce one another, creating layered protection that adapts to new challenges:

Behavioral analysis that identifies unusual patterns across users and systems
Automated alerts that notify teams before threats escalate
Centralized logging that supports investigation and accountability
Policy enforcement that limits access based on roles and context

Each capability contributes to a clearer picture of system health, which allows faster, more accurate responses to potential threats. When aligned correctly, these elements reduce complexity rather than adding friction.

Cloud safety depends less on promises and more on proven mechanisms that respond to real-world threats. Threat protection strengthens businesses by preserving uptime, protecting data integrity, and supporting confident decision-making. A secure cloud environment allows teams to focus on innovation rather than constant risk management. As threats evolve, protection strategies grounded in visibility and responsiveness remain reliable. Organizations that invest in these approaches gain stability that supports both present operations and future expansion.

Read more:
Understanding the Safety of the Cloud: How Threat Protection Strengthens Your Business

Gary Neville has sold a majority stake in his fast-growing media business The Overlap to radio giant Global, in a deal designed to turn the platform into a world-leading sports network.

The former Manchester United and England defender will continue to co-chair the business alongside Global Group chief executive Simon Pitts, after Global acquired the stake from previous investors Miroma Group.

The deal paves the way for a significant expansion in output, with The Overlap expected to produce a broader slate of shows and digital content while maintaining its core focus on football. Funds from the transaction will be reinvested directly into the business to accelerate growth.

Launched as a fan-first football platform, The Overlap has become one of the UK’s most successful sports media brands. Its flagship show, Stick to Football, is broadcast weekly on YouTube and features Neville alongside Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott. The programme has helped drive more than 38 million monthly views across The Overlap’s YouTube channels.

Beyond football, the business has already begun diversifying into other sports, producing fan-led debate formats, long-form interviews and podcasts covering cricket and rugby union. Under Global’s ownership, that remit is expected to widen further as the business evolves into what is being billed internally as “The Overlap Network”.

Neville said the growth of the platform had exceeded all expectations.

“The Overlap started as an idea that we thought people might like, and we went for it,” he said. “What has happened since then has been a great journey. We never thought of it as a business — we just wanted to create something people loved and would come back to every week.

“We see huge growth potential for The Overlap and are delighted to have found the perfect partner in Global to power us forward and create The Overlap Network, with the aim of becoming a world-leading football and sports media platform.”

Global is Europe’s largest commercial radio group, owning brands including Capital, LBC, Heart and Classic FM, alongside a major advertising and digital audio business. The company is expected to bring significant commercial, production and distribution expertise to The Overlap as it scales.

Simon Pitts said the acquisition reflected Global’s ambition to grow premium digital content brands beyond traditional radio.

“The Overlap is one of the UK’s most successful and dynamic sports entertainment brands, with a hugely exciting growth plan,” he said. “Gary and Scott have done an extraordinary job building the business, and we’re thrilled to be working together as we enter this next phase of growth.”

Scott Melvin will remain lead executive director of the business as The Overlap accelerates its expansion across platforms and formats.

Read more:
Gary Neville sells majority stake in The Overlap as media brand targets global expansion

The cyberattack that forced Jaguar Land Rover to shut down its factories is expected to have cost the carmaker more than £3 billion in lost sales over the final quarter of the year.

The West Midlands-based group, owned by Tata Motors, revealed that vehicle shipments from its factories plunged by 43 per cent in the three months to December after hackers crippled its IT systems.

Wholesale volumes, the point at which vehicles leave the production line for dealerships, fell to 59,200 units between October and December, down sharply from 104,000 in the same period last year. That earlier quarter generated revenues of around £7.5 billion, indicating that sales for the latest period are likely to come in closer to £4–£4.5 billion, leaving a shortfall of at least £3 billion year on year.

The disruption followed a cyber incident at the end of August that forced JLR to halt production globally throughout September. Manufacturing restarted gradually from October, with factories only returning to full output in mid-November, creating a significant backlog in deliveries.

Retail sales, vehicles actually sold to customers, fell by a less severe 25 per cent to 79,600 units over the same period. That gap suggests dealers were able to continue selling stock already on forecourts even as shipments from factories dried up.

JLR said the disruption was compounded by the time required to move vehicles through its global distribution network once production resumed.

“Volumes in the quarter were initially impacted by production stoppages following a cyber incident, and the time required to distribute vehicles globally after production restart,” the company said.

The figures were also affected by JLR’s strategic pause on Jaguar production. The company has largely wound down its existing Jaguar model range while delaying the launch of its new electric Jaguar vehicles, following controversy over design direction and uncertainty around customer demand.

Jaguar Land Rover operates major manufacturing sites in Solihull in the West Midlands and Halewood on Merseyside, with Defender production based in Slovakia.

The group is expected to provide a fuller update on the financial impact of the cyberattack and factory shutdowns when it reports its quarterly results next month. It is understood the company is planning to unveil its first new Jaguar electric models later this year as part of its broader electrification strategy.

Read more:
Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack set to wipe £3bn off sales after production halt

UK media regulator Ofcom has made “urgent contact” with xAI, the artificial intelligence business owned by Elon Musk, following reports that its Grok chatbot can be used to generate sexualised images of children and non-consensual explicit images of women.

The intervention follows widespread concern over Grok’s image-generation capabilities on X, where users have posted examples of the AI being prompted to digitally “undress” women or place them into sexualised scenarios without consent.

Ofcom confirmed it is investigating whether the use of Grok breaches the UK’s Online Safety Act, which makes it illegal to create or share intimate or sexually explicit images, including AI-generated “deepfakes”, without a person’s consent.

A spokesperson for Ofcom said the regulator is also examining allegations that Grok has been producing “undressed images” of individuals, adding that technology companies are legally required to take appropriate steps to prevent UK users from encountering illegal content and to remove such material swiftly once flagged.

X has not responded publicly to Ofcom’s request for clarification. However, over the weekend the platform issued a warning to users not to use Grok to generate illegal material, including child sexual abuse imagery. Musk also posted on X that anyone prompting Grok to create illegal content would “suffer the same consequences” as if they had uploaded such content themselves.

Despite this, Grok’s own acceptable use policy, which explicitly bans depicting real people in a pornographic manner, appears to have been routinely bypassed. Images of high-profile figures, including Catherine, Princess of Wales, were among those reportedly manipulated using the AI tool.

The Internet Watch Foundation confirmed it has received reports from members of the public relating to Grok-generated images. However, it said that, so far, it had not identified content that crossed the legal threshold to be classified as child sexual abuse material under UK law.

The issue has also triggered scrutiny beyond the UK. The European Commission said it was “seriously looking into the matter”, while regulators in France, Malaysia and India are reportedly assessing whether Grok breaches local laws.

Thomas Regnier, a European Commission spokesperson, described the content as “appalling” and “disgusting”, stating that there was “no place” for such material in Europe. X was fined €120 million (£104 million) by EU regulators in December for breaching its obligations under the Digital Services Act.

Criticism has intensified from UK politicians. Dame Chi Onwurah, chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee, said the allegations were “deeply disturbing” and argued that existing safeguards were failing to protect the public. She described the Online Safety Act as “woefully inadequate” and called for stronger enforcement powers against social media platforms.

The controversy has also highlighted the human impact of AI misuse. Journalist Samantha Smith told the BBC that seeing AI-generated images of herself in a bikini was “as violating as if someone had posted a real explicit image”.

“It looked like me. It felt like me. And it was dehumanising,” she said.

The Home Office confirmed it is progressing legislation to outlaw “nudification” tools altogether, with a proposed new criminal offence that would see suppliers of such technology face prison sentences and substantial fines.

As regulators move to tighten scrutiny, the Grok episode has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over AI accountability, platform responsibility and the limits of free expression in the age of generative technology.

Read more:
Ofcom demands answers from X over claims Grok AI generates sexualised images of children