commission Dieringer v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-03-12T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Affirmed the Tax Court's decision that a decedent's estate had overstated the amount of a charitable deduction and thus received a large tax windfall. Also affirmed the imposition of an accuracy-related penalty. Full Article Tax Law Probate Trusts & Estates
commission Borenstein v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-04-02T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Second Circuit) - Held that the U.S. Tax Court could order a refund of a taxpayer's income tax overpayment. The Tax Court had concluded that it lacked jurisdiction under the particular circumstances here, even though all parties agreed that the taxpayer had overpaid. Disagreeing, the Second Circuit reversed and remanded, characterizing the issue as one of first impression in any court. Full Article Tax Law
commission Altera Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-06-07T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Upheld the validity of a Treasury Department regulation. The provision's focus is that related business entities must share the cost of employee stock compensation in order for their cost-sharing arrangements to be classified as qualified cost-sharing arrangements. Reversed the judgment of the U.S. Tax Court. Full Article Tax Law Labor & Employment Law
commission Myers v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-07-02T08:00:00+00:00 (United States DC Circuit) - Reversed and remanded. The Tax Court improperly dismissed a case involving a man's application to the IRS for a whistleblower award because although his application was untimely the filing period was not jurisdictional and is subject to equitable tolling. Full Article Tax Law Civil Procedure
commission Seaview Trading, LLC v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2017-06-07T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - In a petition challenging a notice of Final Partnership Administrative Adjustment, the Tax Court’s dismissal, for lack of jurisdiction, is affirmed where: 1) because plaintiff contended that his business entity was a small partnership not subject to the audit procedures under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 (TEFRA), entities that are disregarded for federal tax purposes may nevertheless constitute pass-thru partners under 26 U.S.C. section 6231(a)(9), such that the small-partnership exception under section 6231 does not apply and the partnership is therefore subject to the TEFRA audit procedures; 2) resolution of this question iss inextricably intertwined with the contention that plaintiff had standing to file a petition for readjustment of partnership items on behalf of his purported small partnership; and 3) as to standing, because a party other than plaintiff's entity's tax matters partner filed a petition for readjustment of partnership items after the partnership had timely done the same, the Tax Court lacked jurisdiction under 26 U.S.C. section 6226. Full Article Tax Law Corporation & Enterprise Law
commission DuQuesne Light Holdings, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2017-06-29T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Third Circuit) - Affirming the Tax Court's application of the Ilfield doctrine in holding that the double deduction for losses incurred by the subsidiary of a company was improper and disallowing $199 million of those losses. Full Article Tax Law Corporation & Enterprise Law
commission Altera Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-07-24T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Upheld an Internal Revenue Service regulation addressing the tax treatment of employee stock options. In a ruling that has tax implications for multinational companies especially, the Ninth Circuit concluded that the Tax Court erred in striking down a regulation, 26 C.F.R. section 1.482-7A(d)(2), which says that related entities must share the cost of employee stock compensation in order for their cost-sharing arrangements to be classified as qualified cost-sharing arrangements and thus avoid an IRS adjustment. The panel held that the regulation was entitled to Chevron deference. Full Article Tax Law Corporation & Enterprise Law
commission Slone v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-07-24T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that shareholders were liable for taxes on proceeds from the sale of a close corporation. The Internal Revenue Service sued the shareholders, claiming they violated Arizona's Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act by engaging in a complex series of stock and asset transactions that resulted in creating a debtor company unable to pay the tax bill. Agreeing with the IRS's position, the Ninth Circuit reversed a decision of the Tax Court and remanded with instructions to enter judgment in favor of the IRS. Full Article Corporation & Enterprise Law Tax Law Corp. Governance
commission Dept. of Finance v. Commission on State Mandates By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2016-08-29T08:00:00+00:00 (Supreme Court of California) - In an action concerning who pays for storm drains, the Court of Appeal's conclusion that the Regional Water Quality Control Board for Los Angeles's permit conditions are mandated by federal law and that storm drain systems operators are not entitled to state reimbursement under Article XIII B, section 6, subd. (a) of the California Constitution is reversed where the permit conditions are not imposed by any federal law or regulatory system. Full Article Water Law Environmental Law Government Law Public Utilities Constitutional Law
commission MPS Merchant Services, Inc. v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2016-09-08T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - In consolidated petitions for review brought by various power companies of FERC determinations that various energy companies committed tariff violations in California during the summer of 2000, the FERC determinations are affirmed where: 1) it did not arbitrarily and capriciously, or abuse its discretion in finding that electric sellers Shell Energy North America, LP, MPS Merchant Services, Inc., and Illinova Corporation violated the Cal-ISO tariff and Market Monitoring and Information Protocol; 2) FERC's Summer Period determinations regarding APX, Inc., and BP EnergyCo. were not arbitrary, capricious, or an abuse of discretion; and 3) because FERC's remedial order is not final, the panel lacked appellate jurisdiction over it. Full Article Public Utilities Administrative Law Oil and Gas Law
commission Penn. Pub. Util. Commission v. Jenkins By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2017-10-17T08:00:00+00:00 (United States First Circuit) - In a judgment enforcement action, the district court's order approving a sale recommended by the receiver as part of wrapping of a fifteen year case stemming from a $58 million judgment is affirmed where the sale appeal is not equitably moot and the district court's orders approving the sale details was not an abuse of discretion. Full Article Public Utilities Remedies Judgement Enforcement
commission New York State Department of Environmental Conservation v. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-03-12T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Second Circuit) - Denying a petition for review by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation seeking to vacate two orders of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authorizing a company to construct a natural gas pipeline in New York and determining that the Department waived its authority to provide a water quality certification for the pipeline project under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. Full Article Public Utilities Water Law Environmental Law
commission World Business Academy v. California State Lands Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-06-13T08:00:00+00:00 (California Court of Appeal) - Affirming the denial of an administrative writ and declaratory relief in the case of a Pacific Gas and Electric Company lease extension on two long term leases on land used for water intake and discharge for a nuclear power plant because the lease replacement was subject to the existing facilities categorical exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act's environmental impact report requirement and the unusual circumstances exception did not apply. Full Article Environmental Law Public Utilities Administrative Law
commission Californians for Renewable Energy v. California Public Utilities Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-04-24T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Addressed small-scale solar energy producers' claims that the California Public Utilities Commission's programs do not comply with federal requirements. Affirmed in part and reversed in part. Full Article Public Utilities
commission Rivera v. Int'l Trade Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2017-05-23T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Federal Circuit) - In an appeal from a divided decision by the International Trade Commission, finding no violation of Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, 19 U.S.C. section 1337, based on the Commission's holding of invalidity of certain asserted claims of appellant's patent that describes single-brew coffee machines, the Commission's decision is affirmed where substantial evidence supports the Commission's holding that all asserted claims are invalid for lack of written description. Full Article Intellectual Property Patent International Trade
commission Changzhou Trina Solar Energy Co., Ltd. v. US International Trade Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-01-22T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Federal Circuit) - Affirming the US Court of International Trade's decision sustaining the International Trade Commission's finding that Chinese imports of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells and modules were being dumped on the US market, damaging domestic industry, because these determinations were supported by substantial evidence on the record. Full Article Commercial Law Tax Law International Trade International Law
commission San Diego Unified Port District v. California Coastal Commission (Sunroad Marina Partners, LP) By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-10-01T08:00:00+00:00 (California Court of Appeal) - Held that the California Coastal Commission did not act contrary to law in refusing to certify the San Diego Unified Port District's proposed master plan amendment authorizing a hotel development project, in a reversal of the trial court. Full Article Property Law & Real Estate Construction
commission Rudisill v. California Coastal Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-06-05T08:00:00+00:00 (California Court of Appeal) - Held that an anti-SLAPP motion was not frivolous. The motion was filed by the real parties in interest in a mandamus proceeding concerning permits for a real estate development project. Reversed a sanctions order. Full Article Civil Procedure Construction
commission Lockwood v. Commissioner of Social Security Administration By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-01-23T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Second Circuit) - Held that the Social Security Administration erred in denying an individual's disability insurance benefits application. Reversed the district court and remanded for further proceedings. Full Article Government Benefits
commission Hubbard v. Coastal Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-07-31T08:00:00+00:00 (California Court of Appeal) - Affirmed. Plaintiff sought to prevent the rebuilding of an equestrian facility following a fire by filing a petition to have the Coastal Commission to revoke the required coastal development permit on the grounds that the regulation used to make the decision was not interpreted correctly. The appeals court disagreed. Full Article Environmental Law Administrative Law
commission Spireas v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-03-26T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Third Circuit) - Affirming a Tax Court determination that royalties paid on technology license agreements should be treated as ordinary income rather than as capital gains in the case of a pharmaceutical scientist raking it in on liquisolid technologies hoping to avoid paying a significant tax bill. Full Article Tax Law Drugs & Biotech
commission PA County Commissioner Slams Governor's Orders: Stop Running State as a ‘Dictatorship’ By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 15:18:36 +0000 Jeff Haste, Pennsylvania's Dauphin County Board chairman, slammed Gov. Tom Wolf (D) in a letter on Friday for keeping a bulk of businesses closed, particularly in his county, and bluntly called on Wolf to “return our state to the people (as prescribed by our Constitution) and not run it as a dictatorship.” Full Article Economy Health Politics coronavirus Pennsylvania Reopen America Tom Wolf
commission Federal Trade Commission v. AMG Capital Management, LLC By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-12-03T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that the Federal Trade Commission Act could support an order compelling an online payday lender to pay more than $1 billion in monetary relief for unfair business practices. Two of the judges on the Ninth Circuit panel filed a concurring opinion to suggest that the court should rehear the case en banc to reconsider relevant circuit precedent. Full Article Consumer Protection Law Banking Law Antitrust & Trade Regulation
commission Federal Trade Commission v. Federal Check Processing, Inc. By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-01-11T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Second Circuit) - Held that thirteen collection agencies violated federal law in collecting payday loan and other debts. Affirmed summary judgment in favor of the Federal Trade Commission in this civil enforcement action against the collection agencies and their co-owners. Full Article Debt Collection Consumer Protection Law
commission Federal Trade Commission v. Consumer Defense LLC By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-06-17T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - In an enforcement action brought by the Federal Trade Commission, affirmed a preliminary injunction freezing the assets of companies that allegedly had made deceptive representations regarding loan modification services. Full Article Banking Law Consumer Protection Law
commission The Great Omission Becomes the Great Commission By www.christianitytoday.com Published On :: Thu, 28 May 2015 03:00:00 CST How God used the great church destroyer Saul to become the great multiethnic church planter. The last words of someone are important, especially if that someone is the eternal Son, the second person of the triune God. Before Jesus ascended to heaven so he could function as his people’s great high priest, he commissioned and commanded his twelve Jewish disciples to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). These early Jewish believers disobeyed Jesus and his Great Commission by staying in Jerusalem among Jews. They had a bad case of ethnocentrism, believing that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was only for the Jews because God had given them the Law and circumcision as a badge of God’s covenant. They forgot that as Jews they existed to be a light to the Gentiles. But Jesus would not let them disrupt his mission to reach the Gentiles, fulfilling his promises to Abraham. (See Genesis 12:1–3; Galatians 3:7–9; Romans 15:8; Ephesians 2:1). And, in order to force the homogenous church in Jerusalem to scatter on mission to reach the Gentiles, God allowed persecution to free the early Jewish church from the sin of ethnocentrism. God used Saul and other enemies of the Church to free it from the sin of not reaching the Gentiles and move it toward becoming multiethnic: “And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison” (Acts 8:1–3, ESV). God is calling local ...Continue reading... Full Article
commission Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission bans wildlife contests By feeds.denverpost.com Published On :: Fri, 01 May 2020 03:23:49 +0000 The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission vote 8 - 3 Thursday in favor of approving a ban on organized wildlife contests. Full Article Colorado News Latest News News animals Colorado Parks and Wildlife hunting parks prairie dogs species wildlife
commission Lubavitch v. Litchfield Historic District Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-08-14T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Second Circuit) - Affirmed. Finding that events occurring after judgement was entered do not matter, the panel affirms the district court’s award of attorney’s fees and denial of fees for administrative proceedings. Full Article Attorney's Fees
commission Federal Trade Commission v. AMG Capital Management, LLC By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2018-12-03T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Ninth Circuit) - Held that the Federal Trade Commission Act could support an order compelling an online payday lender to pay more than $1 billion in monetary relief for unfair business practices. Two of the judges on the Ninth Circuit panel filed a concurring opinion to suggest that the court should rehear the case en banc to reconsider relevant circuit precedent. Full Article Consumer Protection Law Banking Law Antitrust & Trade Regulation
commission Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board v. Federal Trade Commission By feeds.findlaw.com Published On :: 2019-02-28T08:00:00+00:00 (United States Fifth Circuit) - Held that the Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board's petition for review was premature in a case where the Federal Trade Commission had charged it with adopting an unlawful policy that restrained trade. Dismissed the appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Full Article Property Law & Real Estate Antitrust & Trade Regulation Administrative Law
commission NBA Commissioner Defends Players Access To Coronavirus Tests By feeds.bet.com Published On :: Thu, 19 Mar 2020 09:32:00 EDT Adam Silver says league followed recommendations Full Article Sports News National News
commission Athletics Commission Appoints Donna Raynor By bernews.com Published On :: Mon, 30 Mar 2020 11:42:54 +0000 Bermuda National Athletics Association [BNAA] President Donna Raynor has been appointed as a member of the Development Commission by the World Athletics Development Commission. Ms Raynor said, “I have been selected to the World Athletics Development Commission. This has been a very long process which began in October. “We had to first submit our application […](Click to read the full article) Full Article All Sports #BermudaTrackAndField #GoodNews
commission PLP Pay Tribute To Vera Commissiong By bernews.com Published On :: Mon, 02 Mar 2020 16:09:45 +0000 The PLP have paid tribute to the late Vera Commissiong, a trailblazer who is best known for her work with the Progressive Group, which helped to end official segregation in Bermuda PLP Leader, Premier David Burt said, “The PLP was saddened to learn of the passing of our life member, Vera [Legull] Commissiong, mother to […](Click to read the full article) Full Article All News Politics #BermudaPolitics
commission Commission Of Inquiry To Host Hearing By bernews.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:15:34 +0000 The Commission of Inquiry into Historic Losses of Land in Bermuda will hold a public Planning Hearing on Thursday, March 19th. A spokesperson said, “The Commission of Inquiry into Historic Losses of Land in Bermuda will hold a public Planning Hearing on Thursday, 19th March 2020 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and from 4:00 […](Click to read the full article) Full Article All News #BermudaRealEstate #LandCommissionOfInquiry
commission Commissioner: ‘Help Us Stop This Violence’ By bernews.com Published On :: Sun, 16 Feb 2020 14:57:18 +0000 [Updated with video] “Bermuda has seen 5 shootings in the past two weeks,” Police Commissioner Stephen Corbishley said, adding that to “fully tackle gang violence requires the absolute support of communities.” Commissioner Corbishley said, “Bermuda has seen 5 shootings in the past two weeks. This has overshadowed the previous year where for the first time for […](Click to read the full article) Full Article All Crime News #BermudaPolice #Shootings
commission Haiti: Govt. Formed an Electoral Commission to End Electoral Deadlock; Will the CEP Reschedule the Runoff? By www.dominionpaper.ca Published On :: Fri, 18 Dec 2015 23:49:16 +0000 CM4ifcuVEAAnQ_b.jpg BY WADNER PIERRE Since the CEP published its tainted and most controversial results for the presidential, second round legislative and local elections early last November, thousands have been demonstrated in the streets of Haiti’s largest cities to reclaim a recount of their votes. Religious leaders and international human rights and advocacy groups have also urged the CEP to investigate irregularities and massive electoral frauds that are no longer mere allegations. As protests widening, diplomatic talks failed and G8 candidates remaining steadfast in their position, to remedy the situation, Haiti’s PM Evans Paul in an one-page letter sent to the President Michel J. Martelly, proposed a formation of an electoral commission to ensure the credibility of the already festered electoral process. The commission according to the Prime Minister’s letter will have three days to produce recommendations to the government and the Conseil Electoral Provisoire (Electoral Provisional Council), known as the CEP. The head of the government stated,“ …it is necessary to organize credible, transparent, participative and inclusive elections,” as well as “to do whatever it takes” to create a climate of trust for the actors involving in the process. The CEP shows no sign that it will abide by the recommendations of the government-formed commission. One of its members Marie Carmelle Paul Austin told a radio in the Haiti’s capital that the electoral council members are ready to depart in bloc should the commission interfere in their work. “If this commission’s purpose is to redo or verify the work that the CEP has already done, the council members will resign,” implied council Austin. read more Full Article
commission Haiti Elections: Catholic Church still Undecided whether to join the Govt.-formed Electoral Commission or Not By www.dominionpaper.ca Published On :: Sun, 20 Dec 2015 03:17:44 +0000 Screen Shot 2015-04-01 at 9.40.38 PM.png BY WADNER PIERRE Nearly two months since Haiti’s Conseil Electoral Provisoire (Electoral Provisional Council), know as the CEP, announced the final results for the first round residential, second round legislative and local elections that plagued with massive frauds. The controversial results for the presidential elections placed Haiti’s ruling Party candidate, Jovel Moise at the first place with over 34 percent of the popular and the former 2010 presidential candidate Jude Celestin in second place. Since then protest against those tainted results have been widened through the country. After candidates and their backers, religious leaders (Catholics and Protestants) and national and international human rights and advocacy groups urged the CEP to form an independent commission to investigate the electoral frauds that were no longer mere allegations, the CEP rejected such proposition and proceeded to schedule the presidential runoff on Dec. 27 with the two candidates obtained the majority of the vote. Celestin, a member of group of eight presidential candidates, known as G8, who have been protesting the CEP’s results, declared he would not participate at the runoff unless the CEP satisfied the demand of G8. The United States, a staunch supporter of the current administration, and spent over $30 millions for the organization of these log-overdue elections, sent Kenneth Merten, the U.S former ambassador to Haiti and State Department’s Special Envoy to Haiti to convince candidates, most importantly Celestin, to accept the CEP’s results. Merten, a close friend of Martelly, and one the controversial figures that engineered Martelly’s election in the 2010 controversial elections, failed to his mission. read more Full Article
commission European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni: "The EU Cannot Afford to Get Bogged Down in Past Discussions" By www.spiegel.de Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 15:17:42 +0200 On Thursday, European leaders will discuss how to navigate the block through the economic crisis triggered by the novel coronavirus. In a DER SPIEGEL interview, European Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni talks about what is at stake and the need to find at least 1 trillion euros. Full Article
commission Former ABA commissioner Mike Storen, dad of ESPN’s Hannah Storm, dies at 84 By www.nydailynews.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:36:20 +0000 Known for his hearty laugh and creative mind, Storen rose to executive spots in basketball, football, baseball and tennis during a four-decade career in sports. Full Article
commission Former ABA commissioner Mike Storen, dad of ESPN’s Hannah Storm, dies at 84 By www.nydailynews.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 13:36:20 +0000 Known for his hearty laugh and creative mind, Storen rose to executive spots in basketball, football, baseball and tennis during a four-decade career in sports. Full Article
commission London Fire Commissioner to step down By www.london-fire.gov.uk Published On :: Fri, 06 Dec 2019 09:09:13 Z The London Fire Commissioner, Dany Cotton, has today announced she will be stepping down from her position at London Fire Brigade on 31 December. Full Article
commission London’s first ever woman Fire Commissioner retires after 32 year service By www.london-fire.gov.uk Published On :: Tue, 31 Dec 2019 06:49:56 Z Today the Brigade’s first ever woman Commissioner Dany Cotton leaves London Fire Brigade after 32 years. Her long career has seen her break new ground for women in the fire service and open up the discussion around mental health issues in the emergency services. Full Article
commission New fire commissioner signs covenant with UK Armed Forces By www.london-fire.gov.uk Published On :: Wed, 22 Jan 2020 17:15:24 Z London Fire Brigade’s first Commissioner in 75 years to have served as a commissioned officer in the British army has today sign a covenant with the UK armed forces. Full Article
commission Indiana Election Commission moves deadlines, makes changes to accommodate June 2 primary By rssfeeds.indystar.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 17:15:55 +0000 The Indiana Election Commission on Wednesday ratified several changes that Gov. Eric Holcomb recommended at a news conference last week. Full Article
commission Libya Needs an Economic Commission to Exit From Violence By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:11:20 +0000 20 November 2019 Tim Eaton Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme @el_khawaga LinkedIn A new effort to manage the economy, one that brings together both sides of the war with international partners, is an essential step forward. 2019-11-20-LD.jpg Angela Merkel greets Fayez al-Serraj, prime minister of the Government of National Accord of Libya, in May. Photo: Getty Images. There has been a stark contrast between messaging coming from the international community and trends on the ground as Libya’s latest bout of civil war enters its eighth month.Led by Germany, some states have been trying to build consensus for a ceasefire ahead of a summit that is expected to be held in Berlin in the next few months. Today marks the date of one of the final planning meetings for the summit.The increasing use of drone technology, airstrikes and further influxes of fighters trend points in the opposite direction. Warring groups in Libya continue to receive support from external states, undermining international efforts to de-escalate the conflict. A UN arms embargo goes largely unenforced. As the Berlin process unfolds, there is little evidence to suggest that these external states will shift their positions.The launch of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan Arab Armed Forces (LAAF) offensive on Tripoli in April sunk a UN-planned ‘national conference’, intended to be held less than two weeks later, to negotiate a framework for transition out of Libya’s governance crisis. Yet, Haftar has so far failed in his objective of capturing Tripoli. While his offensive continues, had he the capacity to capture the city, he would have done so already.This has created a conundrum for peace talks: there appears to be little chance of negotiating a deal with Haftar, while it is also hard to see how a deal could be reached without him.The field marshal has little interest in accepting a withdrawal, even a partial one, of his forces. His opponents – who have found unity in their shared efforts to defeat Haftar’s forces – will not accept a ceasefire that leaves the LAAF on the hinterlands of the capital. Similarly, a deal apparently agreed in Abu Dhabi between Haftar and Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj in February is also dead in the water.Amid this logjam, there has been an increasing interest in the economic content of the Berlin summit. Countries supportive of Haftar argue that his alliance has legitimate concerns over the management of Libya’s economy and, particularly, the dominant role of the Tripoli-based central bank and its governor in supporting armed groups.For some within these countries, changing the leadership of the central bank and a finding means of limiting the dominance of the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) over the state’s resources – thus reducing flows of funding to armed groups fighting Haftar – could present a point of agreement in Berlin.But their focus on financial management in Tripoli is not mirrored by interest in holding the rival central bank in the eastern city of Bayda – an institution unrecognized by the international community – to account for its pursuit of its own monetary policy. This is built on approximately $23 billion of unsecured debt from commercial banks and $11 billion of currency supplied by Russia.Indeed, very few of the conversations surrounding parameters for Berlin contain details of what would be asked of eastern-based actors beyond pursuit of an audit of the Tripoli and Bayda central banks (only the Tripoli bank is recognized by the international community).Clearly, the GNA and its allies would have no incentive to accept provisions that limit their means to mobilize resources for the war while its opponents do not receive the same scrutiny. However, it is possible to capitalize on the broad interest in economic content to reach some points of agreement over the management of the economy and state institutions. Rather than seeking to replace individuals aligned with one faction for those aligned with another, or expecting asymmetrical concessions from the GNA and its allies, this effort must instead focus on structures and processes that exacerbate the conflict and represent major grievances for the warring parties.Importantly, this would include the establishment of a system of transparency and accountability for the management of Libya’s finances. The opacity of current processes enables the support of patronage-based networks with no effective oversight.Linked to this, the development of effective processes for budgeting and allocating funds could help to reduce graft.And, finally, rationalizing the role of state institutions to agree their roles and responsibilities, creating the room for reforms to Libya’s system of state employment and subsidies through provision of direct payments to Libyan citizens, is essential. An economic commission that comprises members from across political and institutional divides – receiving political support from international powers and technical support from international financial institutions – could be an effective approach. Such a commission could match an inclusive, Libyan-led process with international support to progressively harmonize economic and financial policy between rival authorities and develop consensus for a process of institutional reunification in Libya.This would constitute a major element of an eventual political settlement and reduce the risk of a limited set of actors capturing the system at the expense of the others – an outcome which would likely result in future bouts of violence.Such a commission would offer a means of addressing a key driver of the conflict by decentralizing aspects of Libya’s governance, moving away from the dominance of Tripoli and the current winner-take-all system. These issues cannot be put to one side, to follow progress on the security front. The remarkable resilience that Libya’s economy has shown over the last seven months should not be taken for granted. It has become increasingly difficult for Libya’s institutions to insulate themselves from the conflict as both sides seek to mobilize resources to sustain their war effort.The LAAF is increasingly looking to sideline civilian authorities in eastern Libya. On the other side, the GNA has found means of routing funds to armed groups fighting Haftar.In September, a dispute over the supply of jet fuel between the LAAF and the National Oil Corporation resulted in the establishment of a parallel Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, the state-owned company that possesses a monopoly over fuel distribution.Meanwhile, other major problems lurk under the surface. The banking sector is in an increasingly perilous state and debts continue to mount all around, with those in the east not accounted for by Tripoli’s official authorities. Through the establishment of an economic commission, the Berlin process provides an opportunity and – most importantly – a mechanism to address these problems while also helping to maintain the basic functionality of the state. Even if a ceasefire deal does not materialize, initiating negotiations about the future shape of the state and its economy would be a significant step forward. Full Article
commission Chatham House Commission on Democracy and Technology in Europe By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Thu, 25 Jul 2019 14:47:34 +0000 25 July 2019 Our project on Democracy and Technology in Europe is now entering its final phase. Now we want your help in shaping the final report. Commission-DemTech.jpg Commission on Democracy and Technology in Europe For the past few months, users have been sharing their thoughts on our website on the future of democracy and the role of technology in it. Many have shared concerns about the effects of technological change: Social media may be undermining the historic role of politicians to speak on behalf of their constituencies.Twitter favours brief writing and hence brief thinking, which may be leading to a deterioriation in democratic debates.The risk that the so-called 'echo chamber effect' undermines balanced and reasoned public debate.But there have also been lots of ideas about how technology can help European democracies become more responsive and dynamic such as:The use of technology to better inform citizens and include civil society in decision-making.Sybil-proof identity verification for social network accounts operated by local municipalities.The development of non-profit personal data cooperatives as a response to the domination of Big Tech.Now we want users help in shaping the final report. What do you think should be included?We are opening up the report writing process and inviting you to take part and feed in your views. Work with us on a collaborative draft in Google Docs – comment, edit and get an insight into the black box of think tank research.We’ll also be incorporating the most interesting submissions from the previous phase. If you'd like to make a submission, you can still do so here. How To JoinTo access the documents, you will need a Gmail account and to be registered as a user on demtech.chathamhouse.org. Each research question has its own working document, accessed via the Research Questions page.The process is open to everyone. We look forward to working with you!Join the project now Full Article
commission CBD News: Statement on behalf of Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the 24th Session of the North American Forestry Commission (NAFC), San Juan, Puerto Rico, 9-12 June 2008. By www.cbd.int Published On :: Mon, 09 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
commission CBD News: Statement by the Executive Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, on the occasion of the Fourth Session of the Commission on Phytosanitary Measurese, Rome, 30 March - 3 April 2009. By www.cbd.int Published On :: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
commission CBD News: Statement by Ahmed Djoghlaf, CBD Executive Secretary, at the Interactive Dialogue with Heads of Agencies at the Ministerial Segment of the Seventeenth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development, New York City, 13 May 2009. By www.cbd.int Published On :: Wed, 13 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT Full Article
commission CBD News: Summary results and conclusions of the Airbus-commissioned survey referred to in the address of the Executive Secretary delivered at the Royal Geographical Society, London, on 3 September 2009. By www.cbd.int Published On :: Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT Full Article