Research Briefing
Terrorist Asset-Freezing Etc Bill [HL] 2010-11: Committee Stage Report
This note summarises the debates at Commons Committee Stage on the Terrorist Asset-Freezing Etc. Bill [HL]
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Research Briefing
In brief: Israel and the Palestinians – recent developments
Summary of recent developments in the negotiations between the Israelis and the Palestinians
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Research Briefing
Terrorist Asset-Freezing Bill [HL] [Bill 102 of 2010-11]
The UK is required by the UN to freeze the assets of persons who commit terrorist acts. In a case that raised “fundamental questions about the relationship between Parliament and the executive” the UK legislation that allowed the Treasury to freeze the assets of those suspected of involvement in terrorism was quashed by the UK Supreme Court in January 2010. The legislation was reinstated by temporary legislation immediately afterwards, but the Terrorist Asset-Freezing (Temporary Provisions) Act 2010 expires on 31 December 2010. This Bill seeks to replace that Act with a permanent legislative framework.
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Research Briefing
In Brief: Election in Jordan 2010
The forthcoming election in Jordan will not have a big impact on the country's political scene. Political parties are weak and the monarchy retains most of the power in the country.
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Research Briefing
Georgia after the 2008 war
President Saakashvili's second term expires in 2013. Whether the election is won by a more Moscow-friendly successor will be critical for the progress of Russia's efforts to establish its ""zone of privileged interest". Critics of the US administration may say that Obama's decision to "press the reset button" on relations with Russia has betrayed Georgia's ambitions to join western countries.
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Research Briefing
Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions
Shortly after taking office, US President Obama gave negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme one year, promising to push for a new set of United Nations sanctions if there was no progress. After negotiating since the end of 2009, the E3+3 countries, France, Germany and the United Kingdom plus China Russia and the United States reached agreement on the fourth round of sanctions in June 2010 This note looks at Iran's nuclear programme and UN, US and EU sanctions.
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Research Briefing
Australian election 2010
A general election has been called for 21 August 2010. This note gives background, and looks at the fall of Kevin Rudd and the campaign.
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Research Briefing
The Gaza flotilla attack and its aftermath
Summary of the attack on the flotilla, arguments surrounding its legality, the Israeli investigations into the raid and its political outcome
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Research Briefing
The Terrorist Asset-Freezing Etc.Bill 2010-11
Describes the cases that led to the quashing of the terrorist asset-freezing regime by the Supreme Court, the temporary provisions bill that reinstated it and the present Bill, designed to provide a permanent solution to the problem.
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Research Briefing
Yemen
The failed attempt on 25 December to destroy an airliner bound for Detroit has focussed attention on the situation in Yemen. This note summarises political and military developments in the country and looks at Yemeni relations with the UK and the EU.
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Research Briefing
In brief: Kyrgyzstan
Summary about disturbances and the change of government in Kyrgyzstan
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Research Briefing
The ‘AfPak policy’ and the Pashtuns
The first part of this paper focuses on the Pashtuns, beginning with a survey of the geographic, historical and cultural factors which have shaped Pashtun identities in Afghanistan and Pakistan before going on to describe the political and security arrangements under which they currently live. The paper then reviews the Pashtun armed militant groups currently operating in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The second part of the paper then looks at the US AfPak policy, setting out its origins and evolution before assessing the prospects for success over the coming year and beyond.
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Research Briefing
The legal basis for the invasion of Afghanistan
The military campaign in Afghanistan was not specifically mandated by the UN, but was widely (although not universally) perceived to be a legitimate form of self-defence under the UN Charter. This note outlines the self-defence justification for military action.
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Research Briefing
Terrorist Asset Freezing (Temporary Provisions) Bill
On 27 January 2010 the Supreme Court announced that it had upheld the appeal in the case of HM Treasury v Ahmed and Others, which concerned the UK's implementation of United Nations obligations to freeze the assets of terrorists by way of two Orders in Council made under section 1 of the United Nations Act 1946. The Court quashed the Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2006 and provisions in the Al-Qaida and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2006. The Government announced its intention to introduce primary legislation to re-instate the asset-freezing regime.
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Research Briefing
Energy Bill. Bill 7 2009-10.
The Bill would introduce: a carbon capture and storage incentive to support the construction of up to four UK demonstration projects, to be chosen in a competition; mandatory social price support to lower energy bills (social tariffs) for the most vulnerable, which would replace the current voluntary agreement which expires in 2011. It would also add ensuring security of supply and protecting consumers to the objectives of the regulator, Ofgem; increase the regulator’s powers to deal with exploitation of electricity distribution constraints by generators; and increase Ofgem’s power to fine companies. It would give the Secretary of State the power to ban cross-subsidy between gas and electricity accounts.
Total results (page 19 of 20)