Traffic laws you didn’t know you were breaking

By Mary Fetzer

Driver’s education classes teach the importance of red stop signs and double yellow lines. But over the decades since the car became America’s main mode of transportation, a great many traffic laws have made their way onto the books, far more than you’ll ever learn in a classroom.

For instance, do you know how many feet from a passing train you must stop your car? Are you transporting anything in your vehicle that would require you to come to a complete stop at every railroad crossing? Or how about tinted windows? State laws are quite specific on the matter. Some allow it, others require proof from a doctor that it’s medically required, and others prohibit it altogether.

California gets go-ahead to vote on legalization of marijuana

Californians are set to decide whether to make recreational marijuana use legal, as other Western states have done, after the California Secretary of State's office said on Tuesday the issue could be put to voters in the November ballot.

The proposed so-called "Adult Use of Marijuana Act," which is supported by Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom among others, would allow people aged 21 and older to possess as much as an ounce of marijuana for private recreational use and permit personal cultivation of as many as six marijuana plants.

Ukrainian President: Constitutional amendments on decentralization have clear security preconditions

In the course of the speech in the Ukrainian Parliament on the occasion of the Day of Constitution of Ukraine, President Petro Poroshenko emphasized that the draft constitutional amendments on decentralization approved on August 31, 2015 in the first reading was related to the political and diplomatic struggle for the restoration of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine due to certain external and internal circumstances. However, there are clear security preconditions for such amendments, as stated by the President.

PM Volodymyr Groysman and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble discussed German support of Ukrainian reforms in such areas as customs, energy efficiency and privatization

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble met on Tuesday, June 28, to discuss the support from that the German Government can possibly provide to the reforms planned by the Ukrainian Government in such areas as customs, energy efficiency and privatization.

"We are committed to carry on with reforms," emphasized Volodymyr Groysman at the beginning of the meeting. He noted that the new Government launched the privatization of state enterprises, in particular, decided to privatize one of the largest Ukrainian enterprises, Odesa Portside Plant. Moreover, the Government has deregulated prices in the markets for gas, pharmaceuticals and launched the customs reform, said the Prime Minister.

Disorder under the heaven

by Slavoj Zizek 

 “The true division of our heaven is not between anaemic technocracy and nationalist passions, but between their vicious cycle and a new pan-European project which will addresses the true challenges that humanity confronts today.”

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Late in his life, Freud asked the famous question “Was will das Weib?”, “What does a woman want?”, admitting his perplexity when faced with the enigma of the feminine sexuality. A similar perplexity arouses today, apropos the Brexit referendum: what does Europe want?

A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign And Security Policy (PDF)

High Representative Mogherini presents EU Global Strategy for Foreign and Security Policy

“Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe”. A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign and Security Policy (PDF)

Agreement on Cooperation between Eurojust and Ukraine (PDF)

Yesterday, at a ceremony at the European Commission, Ms Michèle Coninsx, President of Eurojust, and the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Mr Yuriy Lutsenko, signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the presence of Ms Věra Jourová, EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality.

In practice, cooperation agreements enable the exchange of operational data, including personal data, in line with European standards on data protection. They also provide for the possible secondment of a Liaison Prosecutor from Ukraine to Eurojust.

Agreement on Cooperation between Eurojust and Ukraine (PDF)

Tax Tips for Students Working this Summer

Many students get summer jobs. It’s a great way to earn extra spending money or to save for later. Here are some tips for students with summer jobs:

1. Withholding and Estimated Tax. If you are an employee, your employer normally withholds tax from your paychecks. If you are self-employed, you may be responsible for paying taxes directly to the IRS. One way to do that is by making estimated tax payments on set dates during the year. This is essentially how our pay-as-you-go tax system works.

2. New Employees. When you get a new job, you need to fill out a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. Employers use this form to calculate how much federal income tax to withhold from your pay. The IRS Withholding Calculator tool on IRS.gov can help you fill out the form.

Cloud Signature Consortium Push for Standard on Digital Signatures

Gabrielle Orum Hernandez, Legaltech News

Adobe partners with 12 other groups in effort to establish practices around cloud-based digital signature technology to meet mobile signature demand.

Prompted by the upcoming adoption of the European Union's (EU) Regulation on Electronic Identification and Trust Services (eIDAS), a group of 13 companies led by Adobe has formed the Cloud Signature Consortium to push for an open standard for cloud-based digital signatures.

Misha’s political party launched? (A quiet pulling of the trigger)

BY NIKOLAI HOLMOV

Following along seamlessly, albeit coincidentally, from yesterday’s entry and the inevitable creation of a new political force replete with numerous well known reformers under the Democratic Alliance Party umbrella, which stated the following – “Prima facie it seems a very unlikely group for Governor Saakashvili (and his team) to lead in any political party machine going forward, for it is a group far more inclined to work by “committee” and horizontally.  Thus it would seem very likely that as/when/if Governor Saakashvili launches his election based political career upon the Ukrainian national stage within a national party (which will operate upon a vertical)  it will not be, indeed could not be, part of this group.” – a new party has now indeed been formed which includes the “Saakashvili” team.

Currently headed by former Deputy Prosecutors Davit Sakvarelidze and Vitaly Kaskiv, it contains the majority of the well known reformers that were not named within yesterday’s entry, and thus associated with what will coalesce into a invigorated Democratic Alliance political party on 29th June.

Turkey, Russia take step to mend ties, FM to go to Russia

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed his “regret and sorrow” to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter addressing the downing of a Russian jet and the killing of two Russian pilots in 2015, expressing his desire to restore bilateral ties, the Turkish and Russian presidencies have said.  

The Kremlin said on June 27 that Putin received a letter from Erdoğan that was later confirmed by the Turkish presidency that said Ankara and Moscow had “agreed to take necessary steps to improve the relationship.” 

Colorado Student Data Privacy Bill – What EdTech software providers need to know

By Julia Siripurapu & Cynthia Larose 

on June 27, 2016

POSTED IN CHILDREN, PRIVACY REGULATION, SECURITY

Colorado is the latest state to revisit, and expand upon, its laws pertaining to the use and protection of student data. Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper recently signed into law House Bill 16-1423 (the “Bill”) designed to increase the transparency and security of personal information about students enrolled in Colorado’s public education system (K-12).  Described by its sponsors and the media as “nation-leading” with respect to the extremely broad scope of the definition of “student personally identifiable information”, the Bill imposes additional, detailed requirements on the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Charter School Institute, school districts, public schools, and other local education providers (each, a “Public Education Entity”) and commercial software providers (including education application providers) with respect to the collection, use, and security of student data. In this blog post, we focus only on the duties of commercial software or education application providers.

'This is 100% a step toward an Iron Curtain.' Russia weighs anti-terrorism law criticized as draconian

Mansur Mirovalev

Kremlin critics, telecom companies and fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden decried a set of new anti-terrorism measures in Russia that they call an Orwellian encroachment on the privacy and civil freedoms of millions that revives the totalitarian control of the Soviet-era.

The bill would toughen punishment for acts deemed to be terrorism and for the organization of “mass unrest.” It would also introduce prison sentences of up to a year for those who fail to report on such crimes. “Justification” of terrorism and extremism — a vaguely-defined category that includes making posts online — would also be punishable by up to seven years in jail under the new legislation.

The Strongest Affirmation Of Abortion Rights In Decades

Elie Mystal

In 1992, the Supreme Court upheld Roe v. Wade by the narrowest of margins. In Planned Parenthood vs. Casey, a very timid 5-4 majority upheld the “essential holding” of Roe, but said that states had a “legitimate interest” in restricting abortions after “fetal viability,” and regulating abortions to protect the health of the mother and the health of the fetus that “may become a child.” The test is whether abortion restrictions place an “undue burden” on a woman attempting to get a constitutionally permitted abortion. 

Volkswagen to Pay $14.7 Billion to Settle Diesel Claims in U.S.

By HIROKO TABUCHI and JACK EWING

Volkswagen has agreed to pay up to $14.7 billion to settle claims stemming from its diesel emissions cheating scandal, in what would be one of the largest consumer class-action settlements ever in the United States.

The proposed settlement involving the federal government and lawyers for the owners of about 475,000 Volkswagen vehicles, includes a maximum of $10.03 billion to buy back affected cars at their pre-scandal values, and additional cash compensation for the owners, according to two people briefed on the settlement’s terms.

Here's Why Erdogan Is Burying the Hatchet With Putin

By

Leonid Bershidsky

Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan are too alike to remain enemies for long. On Monday, the Kremlin's official website published excerpts from Erdogan's letter to Putin in which the Turkish leader apologizes for the downing of a Russian warplane in November and offers compensation to the dead pilot's family.

There may be economic reasons for the unexpected apology, but the two leaders' ideological closeness -- and their interest in doing deals -- probably also helped end the spat.

We should think twice before snubbing Turkey

roger boyes

This is not about friendship but about interests

There is nothing quite as alarming as an autocrat in search of friends. Bullish Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his wife used to holiday with Bashar and Asma Assad until, it is said, Turkish intelligence intercepted an email from London-educated Mrs Assad to her husband. She complained that Turkey’s leader was a thug who had read only one book, while his wife was a shopaholic. Well, Asma knows a bit about thugs and indeed about shopping, but those cosy vacations stopped soon afterwards. 

The full original text

Full production cycle of Helicopters is forming in Ukraine

JSC "Motor Sich" implements ambitious plans to create in Ukraine a closed cycle of helicopters.

Military diplomats, representatives from more than 20 countries were able familiarized with the condition and development plans of JSC "Motor Sich".

 The main part of the visit was dedicated to getting to know the achievements of JSC "Motor Sich" in building of helicopters.  Also, guests were shown a helicopter training center for training flight crews, helicopter Gear production and finally the helicopter industry.

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South Korea antitrust regulator says investigating Apple on 'some matters'

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) is investigating "some matters" relating to tech giant Apple Inc (AAPL.O), the head of the anticompetition body said during a parliamentary hearing, without disclosing further details.

Speaking at the hearing on Tuesday, FTC Chairman Jeong Jae-chan declined to comment on the specifics of the regulator's investigation when asked to do so by a South Korean lawmaker.

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed the law on amendments to the Constitution regarding the judiciary

The law will be published tomorrow, June 29, according to an UNIAN correspondent reporting from the Verkhvona Rada’s session hall where a solemn meeting on the occasion of Constitution Day was held, attended by the Ukrainian president. "Dear MPs, we have just shown an example of responsible work on improving the Basic Law. Amendments to the Constitution in part of the judiciary have been adopted in full conformity with this Constitution," Poroshenko said. "The law on the amendments to the Constitution in part of judiciary will be published tomorrow," said the Head of State.

President and EU leaders discussed issue of visa-free regime introduction for Ukrainians

President Petro Poroshenko, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz discussed the abolition of visa regime with the Schengen countries for Ukrainian citizens during the high-level political consultations between Ukraine and the European Union.

Constitution Day (Ukraine)

Constitution Day is an Ukrainian public holiday celebrated on 28 June since 1996. 

It commemorates the anniversary of the approval by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's parliament) of the Constitution of Ukraine on 28 June 1996.

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Olena Halushka: What’s next for judicial reform in Ukraine?

Olena Halushka

On June 2, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the judiciary.

Ukraine has never had an independent, honest judiciary in its first 25 years of existence. The consequences include no rule of law and deep public mistrust of the nation's 9,000 judges, who are seen as protecting corruption rather than punishing it. Foto by Courtesy

The amendments were positively evaluated by both the Venice Commission and the Council of Europe, laying the groundwork for comprehensive judicial reform. 

Can I Sue My Former Spouse For Destroying My Relationship With My Children?

BY AMANDA FIGLAND ON JUNE 27, 2016POSTED IN CUSTODY, NEW JERSEY

Sometimes in custody disputes, one parent attempts to get a leg up in the custody case by bad-mouthing the other parent to the children. Additionally, in more extreme cases, a parent in a litigation may even try to persuade a child to make false claims of abuse or neglect against the other parent.  Courts take these matters very seriously and this type of behavior is strictly prohibited.  In New Jersey, judges will often include a “Childrens’ Bill of Rights” directly into court orders to prohibit parents from discussing any litigation or drawing their children into disputes with the other parent.  Unfortunately, because these activities occur behind the scenes, it can be difficult to prove that these events are actually occurring.

In over your head with debt? Here’s how to fix it

By Mary Fetzer

It’s easy to get into debt. You lost your job and can’t pay your bills. You charged too much to take the family to Disneyworld. Your home business forgot to cross a few “t’s” or dot a few “i’s.” Or you resorted to using credit cards to cover large medical, college, or divorce expenses.

Draft law strengthens China's cybersecurity

BEIJING - China must handle cybersecurity threats from abroad more forcefully, according to a draft law submitted to the top legislature for a second reading on Monday.

The draft Cybersecurity Law has a new article stating that the State must monitor and deal with threats from abroad to protect the information infrastructure from attack, intrusion, disturbance or damage.

The draft was submitted to the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Monday at the start of its 6-day bi-monthly session.

The draft law sets out sanctions against threats to cybersecurity.

EU to extend Russia sanctions despite Brexit

By ANDREW RETTMAN 

The EU is fully ready to prolong its sanctions on Russia, in a sign that the bloc’s foreign policy still works despite the British referendum.

France, Sweden and the UK last week had imposed “parliamentary reserves” on the move, meaning they wanted to consult national MPs before going ahead.

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An ideology based political party? Ukraine

BY NIKOLAI HOLMOV 

Innumerable are the entries over the many years the blog has been running that lament the lack of political ideology within Ukrainian political parties.

Plentiful are the entries relating to Ukrainian political parties (with a few exceptions within the far right and far left of the spectrum) that bemoan the fact that political parties have always been founded and used as a vehicle solely for its leader – and thus party policy being little more than the whim of that leader on any particular day.

Ukrainian President: EU needs a story of success in present difficult conditions, and Ukraine can become such a story

President Petro Poroshenko had a meeting with President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz in Brussels.

The parties shared views regarding the results of the UK referendum on the EU membership and their influence on the Ukraine-EU relations.

The Head of State expressed hope that current internal difficulties would not focus the EU’s attention solely on its own problems. He is hopeful they will become a stimulus for the search for new successful European integration projects. And Ukraine can become such a project.

Elections in Donbas can't take place yet due to security situation

The elections in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions cannot take place in the near future because of the poor security situation in the region, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

"The elections cannot take place for objective reasons: it is simply unsafe in Donbas," she said during a joint briefing with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman in Berlin on Monday.