OECD Working Group on Bribery Issues Report Commending United States for Maintaining Leading Role in the Fight Against Transnational Corruption

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Working Group on Bribery Issues Report Commending United States for Maintaining Leading Role in the Fight Against Transnational Corruption | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Commerce press release: November 18, 2020) The Working Group on Bribery of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD Working Group) issued its Phase 4 Report of the United States, announced the U.S. Departments of Justice, Commerce, State, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Phase 4 Report is part of the OECD Working Group’s peer monitoring process and focuses primarily on the United States’ enforcement of its foreign bribery statute, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and was issued following a year-long review that included a series of interviews with government, private sector, academic, and civil society experts. In releasing the report, the 44-country OECD Wor...

Treasury and IRS Issue Guidance Clarifying the Deductibility of Expenses Where a Business Received a PPP Loan | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of the Treasury press release: November 18, 2020) WASHINGTON – The U.S. Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released guidance today clarifying the tax treatment of expenses where a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan has not been forgiven by the end of the year the loan was received. Since businesses are not taxed on the proceeds of a forgiven PPP loan, the expenses are not deductible. This results in neither a tax benefit nor tax harm since the taxpayer has not paid anything out of pocket. If a business reasonably believes that a PPP loan will be forgiven in the future, expenses related to the loan are not deductible, whether the business has filed for forgiveness or not. Therefore, we encourage businesses to file for forgiveness as soon as possible. In the case where a PPP loan was expe...

U.S. Small Business Administration Proposes Small Business Size Standard Revisions in Three Industrial Sectors | site |


Change Targeted at Increasing Eligibility for Contracting and Loan Programs


(Information contained in U.S. Small Business Administration [SBA] press release: November 16, 2020)


Public Comments Due January 12


Washington - - The U.S. Small Business Administration is seeking public comments on a proposed rule that would revise the small business size standards for businesses in three North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) sectors to increase small business eligibility for SBA’s loan and contracting programs.

Comments may be submitted on this proposed rule on or before Jan. 12, 2021 at www.regulations.gov, using the following RIN number: RIN 3245-AG91. You may also comment by mail to Khem R. Sharma, Chief, Size Standards Division, 409 3rd Street SW, Mail Code 6530,...

Federal Communications Commission Proposes Satellite Downlinks in the 17 GHz Band | site |



FCC says "Reform Would Make More Efficient Use of Spectrum While Supporting Deployment of Advanced Satellite-Based Broadband Services"


(Information contained in Federal Communications Commission [FCC] press release: November 18, 2020) WASHINGTON, November 18, 2020—The Federal Communications Commission today adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposing to make 17 GHz band spectrum available for geostationary orbit fixed-satellite downlink operations. With advanced, high-throughput satellite systems’ reliance on downlink (transmissions in the space-to-Earth direction) capacity for delivering satellite-based services like broadband, the Commission is initiating this rulemaking to empower next-generation satellites to help bridge the digital divide. Today’s action seeks comment on proposed changes to the U.S. Table of Frequency Allocations a...

Boeing says U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has lifted the Order that Suspended 737 Operations for Airlines under its Jurisdiction | site |


(November 18, 2020) - - Today the Boeing Company published the following information: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has lifted the order that suspended 737 operations for airlines under its jurisdiction, including those in the U.S. We continue to work with other global regulators and airlines as they take action to return the airplane to service in their jurisdictions. "We will never forget the lives lost in the two tragic accidents that led to the decision to suspend operations," said David Calhoun, chief executive officer of The Boeing Company. "These events and the lessons we have learned as a result have reshaped our company and further focused our attention on our core values of safety, quality and integrity." "The FAA's directive is an important milestone," said Stan Deal, president and chief exec...

Boeing Forecasts Long-term Resilience and Return to Growth for Middle East Aviation Sector | site |



2020 Commercial Market Outlook projects the region will require nearly 3,000 new airplanes valued at $685 billion to support demand through 2039

Middle East passenger traffic growth projected to grow by 4.3% per year, above 4% global average

Long-term demand for commercial services worth $725 billion


(November 18, 2020) - - Today the Boeing Company published the following information: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Nov. 18, 2020 – Boeing [NYSE: BA] anticipates demand for 2,945 new airplanes in the Middle East valued at $685 billion over the next two decades, as the industry recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic in the medium and long term. The projection is part of Boeing’s 2020 Commercial Market Outlook (CMO), an annual forecast of 20-year demand for commercial airplanes and services. The 2020 CMO reflects t...

More Freighters Needed to Support Global Supply Chains and e-Commerce Expansion, Boeing says | site |



2020 World Air Cargo Forecast anticipates more than 60% fleet growth over 20 years, including new and converted freighters

Freight operators meeting market requirements to transport medical supplies and address e-commerce trends


(November 17, 2020) - - Today the Boeing Company published the following information: SEATTLE, Nov. 17, 2020 — Boeing [NYSE: BA] today released its biennial World Air Cargo Forecast (WACF), reflecting COVID-19 impacts and opportunities as well as substantial long-term demand for freighters over the next two decades. Enabled by a rebound in global trade and long-term growth, the WACF forecasts demand for 2,430 freighters over the next 20 years, including 930 new production freighters and 1,500 freighters converted from passenger airplanes. According to the new forecast, world air cargo traffic w...

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Awards $1.5 Million for Research to Reduce Exposures to Workplace Hazards through Robotic Technology | site |


Research projects will focus on robotics in the healthcare and manufacturing industries


(November 16, 2020) - - Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published the following information:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded $1.5 million over three years to the University of Illinois at Chicago and Worcester Polytechnic Institute to fund projects aimed at reducing workers’ exposures to hazards through the development and use of collaborative robots, or co-robots.

CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to fund studies of co-robots in the workplace through NSF’s National Robotics Initiative 2.0external icon. The Initiative supports research in the...

U.S. Department of Transportation announces Aer Lingus – Oneworld Application for Antitrust Immunity | site |


(November 16, 2020) - - The U.S. Department of Transportation published (today) the following information: WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Transportation announces the tentative approval of, and grant of antitrust immunity for, the proposed addition of Aer Lingus to the existing Oneworld alliance. The carriers request antitrust immunity to include Aer Lingus in the existing joint venture including American Airlines, British Airways, OpenSkies, Iberia, and Finnair. Aer Lingus will be integrated into the joint venture’s network planning, pricing, and sales activities. With Aer Lingus’ addition, over time the carriers are expected to expand capacity on some existing routes while introducing services on several new routes, allowing more options for travel to and from Ireland and the rest of Europe. The Department’s review of the applicati...

U.S. Internal Revenue Service to Mask Key Business Transcript details; Protect Taxpayers from Identity Theft | site |



(November 13, 2020) - - Today the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published the following information: WASHINGTON – Moving to protect business taxpayers from identity theft, the Internal Revenue Service today announced that starting Dec. 13 it will begin masking sensitive data on business tax transcripts. The announcement provides 30 days for stakeholders to make any adjustments. The IRS began informing tax professionals of this change during the summer Nationwide Tax Forums. The agencypreviously masked sensitive data on individual tax transcripts two years ago. A tax transcript is a summary of a tax return. Transcripts are often used by tax professionals to prepare prior year tax returns or represent the client before the IRS. Lenders and others use tax transcripts for income verification purposes....