Canada loses WTO appeal in renewable energy case

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Canada lost an appeal at the World Trade Organization on Monday in a ruling on incentives offered to local companies, a case that has already led to legal challenges over suspicions of similar perks elsewhere.

Japan and the European Union brought the case over a scheme intended to promote renewable energy in the province of Ontario.

It offered above-market prices for electricity supplied by renewable energy companies but only offered the premium to firms who bought most of their equipment locally.

Monday's appeal decision revised some of a December ruling in which the Japan and the EU had won most of the case.

But it left in place the key finding that Ontario's incentives were illegal because they discriminated against foreign firms.

"Today's ruling is good news for everyone caring about clean energy and the environment: it has been made clear that use of quality, cost-effective technologies should not be hampered by protectionist measures," EU trade spokesman John Clancy said in a statement.

"The EU supports the promotion of renewable energy but considers this must be done in a manner consistent with international trade rules."

A spokeswoman for Canada's federal trade ministry, Caitlin Workman, said the government would work with the provincial authorities to respond to the WTO appeal ruling, which is final.

Ontario will have to bring its rules into line with the WTO rules or risk a claim for trade sanctions against Canada.

Canada's defeat may spur more WTO disputes by countries which are desperate for economic growth and suspect their firms are being illegally locked out of infrastructure projects abroad.

The United States has already charged India with illegally favoring local producers in its solar sector and China has hit the EU with a claim that Greece and Italy favored solar power firms that bought local components.

Other potential disputes are simmering, with Brazil, Indonesia, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine and the United States all under scrutiny in sectors such as energy, mining, carmaking and telecoms.

(Reporting by Robin Emmott in Brussels and Tom Miles in Geneva; additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Editing by Angus MacSwan)

View the original article here

ITF reject Pakistan appeal over Davis Cup elimination

(Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have rejected Pakistan's appeal against the awarding of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie to New Zealand, the governing body said on Wednesday.

Designated hosts Pakistan were disqualified from last month's Davis Cup tie, played in Myanmar because of security concerns, after referee Ashita Ajigala ruled that the grass court in Yangon had become unplayable and dangerous.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) appealed against the ruling but the ITF's Davis Cup Committee upheld the Sri Lankan referee's decision at a meeting on Tuesday.

"It was the view of the Committee that the Pakistan Tennis Federation did not organize the tie to the required standards, notably with regard to the quality of the two available courts," the ITF said in a statement.

The tie was played in Myanmar after New Zealand refused to visit Pakistan due to safety concerns.

"The Committee noted that the poor quality of the original match court led the Referee to designate the practice court as the match court," the ITF statement read.

"Following the deterioration of the second court, specifically during the second match, the Referee determined that this court was now unplayable and a risk to player safety.

"The Referee also deemed that the court would not become playable in the next 24 hours due to its poor condition, and awarded the tie to New Zealand."

The PTF could still appeal to the ITF Board of Directors, the statement added.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O'Brien)

View the original article here

Tennis-ITF reject Pakistan appeal over Davis Cup elimination

May 1 (Reuters) - The International Tennis Federation (ITF) have rejected Pakistan's appeal against the awarding of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie to New Zealand, the governing body said on Wednesday.

Designated hosts Pakistan were disqualified from last month's Davis Cup tie, played in Myanmar because of security concerns, after referee Ashita Ajigala ruled that the grass court in Yangon had become unplayable and dangerous.

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) appealed against the ruling but the ITF's Davis Cup Committee upheld the Sri Lankan referee's decision at a meeting on Tuesday.

"It was the view of the Committee that the Pakistan Tennis Federation did not organise the tie to the required standards, notably with regard to the quality of the two available courts," the ITF said in a statement.

The tie was played in Myanmar after New Zealand refused to visit Pakistan due to safety concerns.

"The Committee noted that the poor quality of the original match court led the Referee to designate the practice court as the match court," the ITF statement read.

"Following the deterioration of the second court, specifically during the second match, the Referee determined that this court was now unplayable and a risk to player safety.

"The Referee also deemed that the court would not become playable in the next 24 hours due to its poor condition, and awarded the tie to New Zealand."

The PTF could still appeal to the ITF Board of Directors, the statement added. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by John O'Brien)

View the original article here

Tennis-ITF to hear Pakistan Davis Cup appeal

Apr 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $4,139,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $3,137,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,442,389 4. Adam Scott (Australia) $2,100,469 5. Steve Stricker $1,935,340 6. Phil Mickelson $1,764,680 7. Dustin Johnson $1,748,907 8. Jason Day $1,659,565 9. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 10. Keegan Bradley $1,430,347 11. Charles Howell III $1,393,806 12. John Merrick $1,375,757 13. Russell Henley $1,331,434 14. Michael Thompson $1,310,709 15. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 16. Bill Haas $1,271,553 17. Billy Horschel $1,254,224 18. ...

View the original article here

Zimbabwe rights lawyer bail appeal postponed

HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — A Zimbabwean court on Friday postponed a bail appeal to release the nation's top rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa.

Mtetwa was arrested March 17 on allegations of obstructing justice and will spend eight nights in jail before she reappears in court on Monday.

Her jailing and the detention of members of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's office she was defending have been described by rivals of longtime President Robert Mugabe as a campaign of intimidation ahead of elections scheduled around July.

High court judge Joseph Musakwa ruled Friday that state prosecutors needed more time to prepare for the bail hearing.

But defense attorney Harrison Nkomo said Mtetwa's appeal papers were filed early Thursday, giving prosecutors ample time to study them

"This is the state's way of punishing her by letting her spend more time in jail. We are concerned by the way the state is dragging its feet," he said.

Lawyers were planning to demonstrate outside the court Friday where Mtetwa was refused bail on Wednesday and ordered to be held in custody to April 3.

Police say Mtetwa shouted at them and caused a distraction during which three laptops with information police were looking for disappeared and were presumed to have been hidden.

Mtetwa denies any wrongdoing and says she only asked police officers to show her a valid search warrant during a raid on offices of Tsvangirai's staff on Sunday.

Obstructing justice carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

She was brought to court Tuesday after police ignored a judge's order to release her Monday.

Prosecutors oppose bail on grounds she could hinder police investigations into allegations that officials from Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change illegally collected information on high level corruption and impersonated police in doing so.

Mtetwa's prolonged detention in jail has prompted outcry from the African and international legal groups.

Mtetwa is the recipient of an array of awards from international jurists' groups including the American Bar Association over a distinguished career of three decades.

She has also defended journalists and human rights activists against prosecution by police and Mugabe loyalists in Zimbabwe's judiciary.

"There is absolutely no legal basis for her arrest and continued detention," Mtetwa's defense attorney Nkomo told The Associated Press.

View the original article here