Unions have called on the government to take urgent action to fix a “whopping pensions gap”, as research showed women working in many industries have half the retirement savings of men. The TUC said Thursday was “gender pensions gap day”, when female pensioners in Great Britain start getting paid after effectively going four and a half months without retirement income. – Guardian
The City watchdog will be handed powers to ensure local communities across the UK have access to cash and could ultimately fine banks that fail to comply. Under the government’s pending financial services bill, the Financial Conduct Authority will be in charge of making sure the UK’s largest banking and building societies give consumers access to withdrawal and deposit facilities such as ATMs within a “reasonable” distance from their community. – Guardian
Brussels has told European Union countries that they should consider telling drivers to cut their motorway speed in the battle to ditch Russian fossil fuel. The European Commission says saving energy is the “quickest way” to tackle the energy crisis.It has published a list of changes in behaviour which it argues could cut oil and gas demand by 5pc. – Telegraph
The energy industry believes it will soon fall victim to cyberattacks so severe that they will result in deaths as well as damage to critical infrastructure and the environment, a report has found. Such an attack is expected within the next two years, according to a survey of global energy executives for DNV, a risk management group. – The Times
The professional body for chartered accountants is facing questions from parliament over why it has pocketed tens of millions of pounds in fine money for auditor misconduct rather than hand over any of it to victims. Darren Jones, chairman of the Commons’ business, energy and industrial strategy committee, is writing to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for an explanation, as it emerged that the professional body has scooped £123.4 million in fines since 2004, according to its own figures. – The Times
