Domestic:

1. The Third Annual Conference of Internet-related Legal Professionals in Capital Successfully Held
Beijing Arbitration Commission and the Mediation Center of Internet Society of China jointly sponsored the 鈥淭hird Annual Conference of Internet-related Legal Professionals in Capital鈥�on January 15, 2014 in Beijing. The Conference was attended by representatives from the Department of Guidance of the Grass-root Work, Ministry of Justice, the Electronics Intellectual Property Center, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Netnews Coordination Department of State Internet Information Office, China National Association of People鈥檚 Mediation Network, Beijing Municipal Bureau of Justice, the Supreme People鈥檚 Court and the people鈥檚 courts at various levels in Beijing, as well as more than 70 enterprises including Baidu, Tencent, Sina, JD.com, PPTV, letv.com, Sohu and ifeng.com. In the Conference, the participants made in-depth discussions and researches on all controversial issues related to the Internet, and made forecasts and anticipations on the development trend of the Internet in 2014.
http://www.china-arbitration.com/news.php?id=3031

2. Experts Call on Establishing Ad Hoc Arbitration System at Free Trade Zone
In the forum with the theme of 鈥淒ispute Settlement and Arbitration in China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone鈥�held by the Law School of Shanghai University on December 22, 2013, the participating experts called on China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone to make explorations on diversified dispute settlement mechanisms, and to create an internationalized and legalized business environment through the development of multiple channels including mediation system and ad hoc arbitration system.
http://www.china-arbitration.com/news.php?id=3015

International:

1. Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement due early 2014
17 January 2014
http://www.ciarb.org/news/ciarb-news/trans-pacific-partnership-agreement-due-early-2014.php
After failing to reach a compromise in the latest round of negotiations held in Singapore last month, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is now scheduled to be agreed in early 2014. This goes beyond the previous 2013 deadline.
The proposed TPP is a multilateral free trade agreement between 12 nations including the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Peru, Malaysia and Singapore. The TPP is aimed at facilitating open market opportunities for trade and investment - potentially covering 40% global market productivity.

2. Brazil gets ready to host soccer - and Arbitration
03 February 2014
http://www.ciarb.org/news/ciarb-blog/brazil-gets-ready-to-host-soccer---and-arbitration.php
By: Louise Barrington, FCIArb, Independent Arbitrator
Brazil is currently racing to complete its preparations for hosting the Football World Cup. The Brazilian financial boom has slowed of late, but there is still frantic activity to complete construction before Football Fever hits its peak in June. The government has poured close to 100 million dollars into the World Cup preparations, creating a badly-needed infrastructure whose legacy will modernize and enrich the country. Of course, with economic expansion and construction, inevitably come disputes, many of which will be arbitrated, either in Brazil, or by Brazilian parties.

3. The ICSID Caseload 鈥�Statistics
31 January 2014
https://icsid.worldbank.org/ICSID/FrontServlet?requestType=CasesRH&actionVal=OpenPage&PageType=AnnouncementsFrame&FromPage=Announcements&pageName=Announcement142
The ICSID Secretariat has released a new issue of its online publication, the ICSID Caseload - Statistics.
This issue (Issue 2014-1), published in the three official languages of the Centre (English, French and Spanish), contains an overview of the cases registered or otherwise administered by ICSID as of December 31, 2013. The issue features information concerning the basis of consent to ICSID jurisdiction, the geographic distribution of cases by State Party to the dispute, and the economic sectors involved in ICSID cases. It also contains data on outcomes in ICSID arbitration and conciliation proceedings, including further information on disputes decided by arbitral tribunals, data on discontinued ICSID arbitration proceedings, and outcomes to date in annulment proceedings under the ICSID Convention. The nationalities and geographic origins of arbitrators, conciliators and ad hoc committee members appointed in ICSID cases are also featured.

4. 20,000th case marks ICC Arbitration milestone as New York entity opens for case administration
28 January 2014
http://www.iccwbo.org/News/Articles/2014/20,000th-case-marks-ICC-Arbitration-milestone-as-New-York-entity-opens-for-case-administration/
The International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce has registered its 20,000th case just as a presence of the International Court of Arbitration庐 of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) to administer ICC arbitrations in North America opened in New York City. A transport sector dispute, case number 20,000 was initiated by a US claimant against a Canadian respondent. The arbitration is seated in Chicago (Illinois) and applies the laws of the State of New York.

5. New Mediation Rules in Stockholm
16 January 2014
http://www.sccinstitute.com/?id=&newsid=46672
On 1 January 2014 the new SCC Mediation Rules, entered into force. The new rules are applicable on all mediations initiated on or after 1 January 2014.
The new rules in brief:
The new SCC Mediation Rules will be managed by the SCC Board, which will decide on issues as foreseen under the rules, including the appointment of mediators. As commercial objectives become increasingly important in developing and administrating dispute resolution services, the SCC has found it appropriate to combine mediation and arbitration in one administrative entity. This also means that the Mediation Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce ceased its activities as of 31 December 2013.