Research on Asian-Pacific Trading Systems: APEC, ASEAN, TPP, CPTPP, RCEP

This research article, updated in November/December 2025, provides an overview of trading systems in the Asian-Pacific region, including APEC, ASEAN, TPP, CPTPP, and RCEP. It details membership as of December 2024 and lists resources for further research on these economic alliances.

Proposed Rule: Conformance of Cost Accounting Standards to GAAP

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) is proposing changes to Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) 407 to align them with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This action is part of an ongoing effort to reduce the regulatory footprint of CAS for standards that primarily focus on cost measurement and assignment to accounting periods.

Proposed Rule: Cost Accounting Standards Monetary Thresholds

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) is proposing to increase several monetary thresholds related to Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) coverage. This includes raising the full CAS coverage threshold, the disclosure statement threshold, and the CAS waiver authority threshold. The proposal also includes clarifications on applying CAS to indefinite delivery contracts.

Cost Accounting Standards Board Meeting Agenda Notice

The Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) is publishing a notice of the agenda for closed Cost Accounting Standards Board (CAS) meetings. The notice details discussion topics for past and upcoming meetings in late 2025 and early 2026, focusing on CAS conformance to GAAP, regulatory thresholds, cost impact of accounting changes, and pension harmonization.

Dartmoor Commons Grazing Case - Wild Justice Wins One Ground

The High Court ruled in favor of environmental group Wild Justice on one of eight grounds in its case against the Dartmoor Commoners' Council regarding livestock grazing. The court found the council failed in its duty to properly assess the number of animals that could be grazed while preserving the commons' ecological value.

Court of Appeal rules council approval for reserved matters lawful

The UK Court of Appeal has ruled that Buckinghamshire Council lawfully approved a reserved matters application for a housing development. The environmental group Wildfish's judicial review, challenging the approval due to issues with wastewater treatment capacity, was dismissed.

Passenger Fails Appeal Over Car-Cruising Injunction Breach

The Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by a passenger who was found to have breached a car-cruising injunction obtained by the London Borough of Enfield. The appellant argued he was unaware of the injunction and did not participate in the prohibited activity, but the court upheld the High Court's finding that he knew of the order and was a participant.

House of Lords Backs Plans to Decriminalise Abortions

The House of Lords has backed plans to decriminalise abortions, following a vote by MPs last summer. This move, part of an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, aims to end police investigations into abortions under a 164-year-old law. The decision follows a BBC investigation into an increase in prosecutions under the Offences Against the Person Act.

Prison Cell Fire Safety Risks in England and Wales

The Ministry of Justice in England and Wales has admitted that tens of thousands of prison cells remain unsafe due to fire risks, reneging on a pledge to make them fire-safe by the end of 2027. This means a significant portion of the prison population will continue to be at risk. Legal action is being threatened by a penal reform charity.

Webinar on Arab League Legislative Bodies

The Law Library of Congress is hosting a webinar on March 26, 2026, discussing the role of legislative bodies in Arab League member states. The webinar will cover the structure, election modalities, eligibility criteria, and legislative processes within these countries.