Monday, October 31, 2016

Proportionate responses to events in Moldova – Ukraine

Following polling on 30th October, the Moldavian presidential elections will go to a second round – this time a head to head between pro-EU Maya Sandu and Kremlin friendly Igor Dodon.

Mr Dodon received 48.7% of the votes in the first round, with Ms Sandu garnering 37.96% – by far the highest percentage of the pro-EU contenders.

The electoral questions now presented are whether the pro-EU votes that went to other candidates will consolidate around Ms Sandu or not, and also the extent of voter turnout for the second round.

Пугач Аліна,

ЕМП-501, КНЕУ

Питання взаємодії економіки і права часто постає в економічній та юридичній науці, адже воно має не лише теоретичне, а й суто практичне значення. Співвідношення «юридичного» і «економічного» має багатовікову історію, функціонування економічного механізму передбачає врахування суб’єктами економіки вимог права. Масове нехтування правовими нормами, прогалини в законодавстві та відсутність налагодженої судової системи можуть призвести до руйнування економічних зв’язків.

Putin: fully loaded and highly dangerous

Edward Lucas

The Kremlin knows the US is heading for two months when it will be at its least decisive

Russian servicemen at the Victory Day parade in Red Square this summer. Vladimir Putin is gearing up for a “hot war”, according to a former British ambassador to Moscow

KIRIL DUDRYAVTSEV/GETTY IMAGES

European security has not looked as perilous since the early 1980s. Russia does not believe that the West is serious about defending its frontline states, especially in the Baltic region. Many in the West do not believe that Russia is serious in its intention to divide and dominate Europe — and in its willingness to use force to do so. The great danger is that this combination of complacency and recklessness will provoke an accidental conflict.

Kann dieser Wall Putins Panzer-Armee im Ernstfall stoppen?

Am 24. August 2014 überquerten russische Truppen die russisch-ukrainische Grenze östlich der Großstadt Mariupol (etwa 700 000 Einwohner). In weniger als einer Wochen drangen dutzende von Putins Panzern mehr als 30 Kilometer vor, ohne, dass sie jemand hätte stoppen können.

Unter der Flagge des fiktiven Staates „Neurussland“ fuhren die Panzer durch die Ukraine, wie zahlreiche Videos und Bilder damals zeigten. Die hoffnungslos unterlegene ukrainische Armee zog sich nach kurzem Kampf zurück und verlagerte ihren Fokus auf die Verteidigung von Mariupol.

Cyber Security Awareness Needs To Last Beyond October

By Joseph J. Lazzarotti on October 31, 2016

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designed October as National Cyber Security Awareness Month. But as we leave October, remember that data security is an ongoing challenge that requires continued vigilance not just from information system hacking, but also from employee error and other threats. Setting up a comprehensive training and awareness program is critical – and this outline can help you continue keeping your organization aware of cyber security throughout the year.

DHS’ purpose is to engage and educate public and private sectors through events and initiatives that raise awareness about cybersecurity, make certain tools and resources available, and increase our resiliency in the event of a cyber incident. This is a great effort and DHS collects helpful information and a number of resources for visitors to its site. But by selecting October to draw attention to cyber security, surely DHS did not intend that October be the only month that we think about this important area.

Гонтарева рассказала, когда могут поднять вопрос национализации "ПриватБанка"

На выполнение требований Нацбанка у "Привата" есть 3 года

Глава Национального банка Украины Валерия Гонтарева рассказала о примерных сроках принятия решения о национализации "ПриватБанка".

State Property Fund has announced a tender to sell shares of PJSC Odesa Port Plan and scheduled it for December 14, 2016

Ukraine's State Property Fund has announced a tender to sell shares of PJSC Odesa Port Plan.

The authorized capital of the company is UAH 798 544 000.

For the first time of privatization pontifical buyers-bidders have the right to present a bank guarantee for the sum of the bid.

The STF proposes to sell 99.567% shares of PJSC Odesa Port Plan.

The starting price is UAH 5.16 billion. The bid increment is UAH 150 million.

The tender will be held at 11:00 on December 14, 2016 in the premises of the SPF at room 303, 18/9, Kutuzova Street, Kyiv," the fund said.

Ukrainian President had phone conversation with Dutch Prime Minister

President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko held a phone conversation with Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte.

Mark Rutte informed that the Netherlands did not suspend ratification of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU and would continue consultations.

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Updated Ukrainian sanctions against Russia take effect as of Oct 31

REUTERS

Presidential order No. 467/2016, which enacts a resolution by the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) on the prolongation of earlier introduced anti-Russian sanctions for another 12 months and the introduction of additional sanctions against new companies and individuals, became effective on October 31.

Ukrainians shocked as politicians declare vast wealth

By Alessandra Prentice

An anti-corruption reform requiring senior Ukrainian officials to declare their wealth online has exposed a vast difference between the fortunes of politicians and those they represent.

U.S. dollar and Ukrainian hryvhia banknotes are seen in this picture illustration taken in Kiev, Ukraine, October 31, 2016. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/Illustration

Some declared millions of dollars in cash. Others said they owned fleets of luxury cars, expensive Swiss watches, diamond jewelry and large tracts of land - revelations that could further hit public confidence in the authorities in Ukraine, where the average salary is just over $200 per month.

by Tor Krever

The International Criminal Court does not, and cannot, exist outside politics and its activities reflect that.

‘Cheers and chants, tears and embraces, rhythmic stomping and applause’: such was the reaction by diplomats at the close of the Rome Conference in 1998 establishing a statute for the creation of an International Criminal Court (ICC).1 Such wild displays of enthusiasm are a distant memory today. Burundi, South Africa and now the Gambia have all announced their plans to withdraw from the Court and a host of other African countries may follow: Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Chad and the DRC have all been touted as next in line.

President given power to directly appoint rectors to universities in Turkey

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will be able to appoint rectors to universities directly without having to consider the preferences of academics following the imposition of the latest state of emergency decree on Oct. 29.

The regulation brings an end to the practice introduced in 1992, which states that rector candidates are elected by the academics at the universities in question before being presented to the president, who can either accept the recommendation or choose another scholar as rector.

Poroshenko's e-declaration includes over 100 firms, UAH 62 mln in income for 2015

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has included over 100 companies and UAH 62.162 million in income in his electronic declaration for 2015; according to the online system of the national registry of government officials' assets declarations.

Of the above mentioned sum, UAH 121,000 was his salary, the e-declaration said. What is more, the president reported his revenue from interest was UAH 12.3 million and investment revenue totaled UAH 59.2 million.

Emiri Diwan

Qatar’s Emir has signed off on legislation that gives more financial authority and independence to the State Audit Bureau, QNA reports.

Law No. 11 of 2016 was enacted yesterday, a few months after the Advisory Council approved a draft bill that increased scrutiny on public money.

The audit bureau already reports directly to the Emir.

Its mandate includes examining the finances of ministries, banks and organizations substantially funded by the government, as well as state joint ventures with foreign agencies.

Soviet ICBMs no more – Ukraine

BY NIKOLAI HOLMOV

For the past 20 years Ukraine has slowly – very slowly funding depending – been disposing of its inherited SS24 (PC22) intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The process is still not complete.

Thus far the Scientific Production Association (a State SOE) operating out of Pavlograd Chemical Plant has disposed of 54 third stages and 54 second stages of the missiles.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realise that 54 solid fuel first stages remain.

The SPA states it is working on 50% funding, and as the dismantling is part US funded, a cynical reader will presume that the 50% funding it receives is the US funding and that which is historically “inconsistent” will be the Ukrainian funding.

A battle is raging in the realm of historiography

THE Chinese Communist Party likes to describe threats to its grip on power in barely comprehensible terms. Over the past three decades, it has struggled against the menace of “bourgeois liberalisation” (leaving many wondering whether there is an acceptable proletarian kind) and fought against “peaceful evolution” (exceedingly dangerous, for some reason, unlike “reform and opening up”).

Debt Collection and Bankruptcy

Donald S. Maurice

About the Authors:

Donald S. MauriceChair, Bankruptcy and Debt Collection Subcommittee of the Consumer Financial Services Committee

It has been nearly 40 years since the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692) became law, providing a statutory framework for regulating third-party debt collection conduct. When originally enacted, the FDCPA did not provide any agency with rulemaking authority. As a result, the statute has gone largely unaltered. But the debt collection industry has dramatically changed with the emergence of debt buying entities and large-scale securitization of consumer debt. New technologies such as paperless transactions, the ubiquitous use of cell phones, text messaging, and even voice mail hardly mesh with the 1970’s-era FDCPA.

Under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was given authority to promulgate rules under the FDCPA and this summer the CFPB released an outline of what those rules may look like.

Security News This Week: Ukrainian Group Leaks Emails From Top Putin Aides

On Thursday, a Ukrainian group calling itself Cyber Hunta released 1GB of emails from key aides close to Vladimir Putin that show Russia heavily influencing the separatist movement in Ukraine.

Russia has denied involvement with that faction, which destabilized Ukraine and paved the way for the Russian takeover of Crimea, but the emails contradict the Kremlin’s official position. The email dump contained data downloaded directly from Russian aides’ Outlook accounts.

Given the Obama administration’s recent indications that it would retaliate in some way against Russia for its political hacking in the US, this new incident seems like it could be a warning strike. The true nature of Cyber Hunta is not yet known, though, and a senior US intelligence official told NBC that the US “had no role” in the leak.

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Ukrainian Group Dumps Trove of Putin Aides’ Emails

With Zcash Launch, Blockchain Enters the Age of Anonymity

Michael del Castillo (@DelRayMan)

A cryptocurrency with the promise to bring a new kind of anonymous digital transaction is expected to launch today.

With the mining of the first block of code, a new immutable ledger of transactions, known as a blockchain, will enter an already thriving market, one that boasts notable entries including bitcoin and ethereum.

But the Zcash blockchain differs from bitcoin, the first public blockchain, in two key ways. First, the transactions clear in a fraction of the time. Second, and arguably more important, Zcash is based on an internally developed cryptographic tool called a zk-SNARK that doesn't require that the parties involved in a transaction exchange information.

Increasing in sophistication, frequency, and persistence, cyber risks are growing more dangerous and diverse, threatening to disrupt our interconnected global financial systems and the institutions that operate and support those systems.

To address these risks, the below nonbinding, high-level fundamental elements are designed for financial sector private and public entities to tailor to their specific operational and threat landscape, role in the sector, and legal and regulatory requirements.

G7 FUNDAMENTAL ELEMENTS OF CYBERSECURITY FOR THE FINANCIAL SECTOR (PDF)

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND CANADA, OF THE OTHER PART (PDF)

The Strategic Partnership Agreement will upgrade the current framework of cooperation between the EU and Canada and expand the basis of the relationship, in parallel with efforts to foster trade and investment. The Agreement enshrines both sides' shared democratic values and enhances political dialogue on a broad range of areas, including international peace and security, economic and sustainable development, justice, freedom and security.

STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS MEMBER STATES, OF THE ONE PART, AND CANADA, OF THE OTHER PART (PDF)

EU, Canada sign free trade deal but battle not over

By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop

The European Union and Canada signed a free trade agreement on Sunday that aims to generate jobs and growth though it must still clear some 40 national and regional parliaments in Europe in the coming years to enter fully into force.

(L-R) European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Donald Tusk and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico attend the signing ceremony of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), at the European Council in Brussels, Belgium, October 30, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the treaty along with the heads of EU institutions, a step that should enable a provisional implementation of the pact early in 2017 with the removal of most import duties.

The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement's (CETA) passage has not been smooth.

Lessons from Russia’s Intervention in Syria

BY FAYSAL ITANI AND HOSSAM ABOUZAHR

The US presidential election fast approaches, bringing the possibility of a change in US policy in Syria, meaning a review of Russia’s goals and achievements there is due.

To that end the Atlantic Council’s SyriaSource has compiled a dataset of some 400 Russian actions relating to Syria since 2011, including official statements, military action, and diplomacy. What emerges is that the next US administration will face a Russia problem quite different from the one the current administration had envisioned and portrayed, which bears ill for the prospect of a negotiated settlement for Syria with Russia (or with the regime through Russia) under current circumstances.

E-declarations Ukraine – The cash issue

BY NIKOLAI HOLMOV

The end of October sees the deadline for tens of thousands of Ukrainian politicians, civil servants and other assorted holders of high public office to submit their e-declaration returns relating to their wealth (and as previously inferred, perhaps in far too much detail available to all and sundry – transparency is not necessarily the same thing as unrestricted public accessibility).

On the whole it is nevertheless a law behind which there is the right spirit of transparency and accountability despite its shortcomings (as expected with any Ukrainian law, it is not perfect), and of vital importance is the criminal liability carried with regard to deliberately misleading and/or recklessly erroneous statements. (No reader would expect any serious attempt at diligently completing such an e-declaration without criminal responsibility when considering those required to complete it.)

Painting of the parable, by Jacob Willemszoon de Wet, mid 17th century.

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

"Sapiens dominabitur astris" - "The wise man will rule over the stars"

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President honored memory of deceased on occasion of 72nd anniversary of expulsion of Nazis from Ukraine

President Petro Poroshenko together with veterans of the Second World War, ATO participants and officials took part in the ceremony of commemoration of the deceased on the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of expulsion of Nazis from Ukraine.

EU, U.S. trade deal not dead yet: EU's Malmstrom

By Robert-Jan Bartunek

A much-debated trade deal between the European Union and the United States is not dead and negotiations will continue with the new U.S. administration after November's elections, EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Saturday.

EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom reacts during the signing of the Belgian agreement on the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), a planned EU-Canada free trade agreement, at the Lambermont Residence in Brussels, Belgium, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Eric Vidal

A similar agreement between the EU and Canada can finally be signed on Sunday after resistance from Belgian local governments led to a last-minute blockade of the agreement which was seven years in the making.

Timmermans: Nederland moet Poetin geen cadeautjes geven

Vice-voorzitter Timmermans van de Europese Commissie hoopt dat Nederland zich alsnog achter het associatieakkoord met Oekraïne schaart. Gisteren deed premier Rutte een dringend beroep op de oppositie om alsnog steun te geven aan een oplossing.

Volgens Rutte gaat het om iets groters dan Nederland alleen. "Als het verdrag niet in werking treedt, vergroot dat het risico op instabiliteit in de regio", zei de premier gisteren.

Timmermans zei in Kamerbreed op NPO Radio 1 dat de analyse van Rutte klopt als een bus. Volgens hem draagt het verdrag bij aan de stabiliteit en is dat een vitaal belang van de EU en dus ook van Nederland.

RICHARD N. HAASS

NEW YORK – The ongoing presidential campaign in the United States stands out for its lack of civility and the vast differences between the candidates: the anti-establishment businessman Donald Trump on the Republican side and the polished politician Hillary Clinton representing the Democrats. The contest has exposed deep fault lines within American society and damaged the country’s global reputation. No surprise, then, that one of the few things Americans seem to agree on is that the campaign has gone on for too long. But soon it will be over. The question is: what comes next?

Роз’яснено виконання обов’язків тимчасово відсутнього працівника

Головний державний інспектор відділу з питань експертизи умов праці Управління Держпраців області Ганна Царенко провела семінар у ПАТ «Кіровоградолія» з питань додержання законодавства про працю щодо виконання обов’язків тимчасово відсутнього працівника.

Інспектор пояснила, що виконання обов’язків тимчасово відсутнього працівника — це заміна працівника, відсутнього у зв’язку з хворобою, відпусткою, відрядженням та з інших причин, коли інший працівник поряд зі своєю основною роботою виконує обов’язки тимчасово відсутнього працівника.

Якщо посадовою інструкцією передбачене виконання обов’язків іншого працівника на час його відсутності, то такі обов’язки належать до його трудової функції і виконуються без видання окремого наказу та без доплати. Роботу тимчасово відсутнього працівника покладають на працівників, які мають відповідну професійну підготовку та певну освіту, необхідну для виконання такої роботи.

Week’s balance: surprise from Groysman, Gontareva’s counterattack, and threat to GTS

Oleksandra Danko

The Ukrainian Cabinet came up with a surprise to certain politicians by proposing to double the minimum wage, confrontation between the MPs and Governor of the National Bank Valeria Gontareva is growing, while Ukraine will lose millions of dollars if the European Commission allows Gazprom to pump more gas bypassing the Ukrainian gas transportation system.

Top economic news this week is the Cabinet’s initiative to double the minimum wage in 2017, making it UAH 3,200 per month. "The minimum wage cannot be lower than UAH 3,200. The living wage and the minimum wage will be the same, for the first time in 25 years.

1. After stealing Crimea Russia is stealing Ukrainian history.

2. Beginning of the War for the legacy of Kievan Rus.

3. The monument of Christopher Columbus would be the next in Moscow.

Когда за ним пришли

Виталий Портников

Вопиющий в пустыне Константин Аркадьевич Райкин на съезде Союза театральных деятелей Российской Федерации - живая иллюстрация известного высказывания Мартина Нимеллера: "Когда пришли за мной, уже некому было заступиться за меня".

Когда пришли за чеченцами, когда российские самолеты утюжили кварталы Грозного, когда в руинах гибли женщины и дети Чечни, Константин Аркадьевич подписывал подметные письма и рассказывал об интеллигентности Владимира Владимировича, который даже со своей супругой - подумать только - познакомился на концерте Аркадия Исааковича.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed into law a bill on prolongation of a moratorium to sell farmland in Ukraine until 2018 passed by Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada on October 6, 2016.

The press service of the head of state reported on Friday that the law amending Section X of the transition clauses of the Land Code of Ukraine regarding a ban to sell farmland extends the moratorium to sell farmland for one year. This will allow regulating the procedure for farmland turnover over the period.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has enacted bill amending some Ukrainian laws concerning the improvement of registration of ownership rights to immovable property and protection of ownership rights.

The press service of the head of state reported that the law envisages a comprehensive approach to the improvement of registration of ownership rights to immovable property.

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Monday, October 31, 2016

by Tor Krever

Sunday, October 30, 2016

A battle is raging in the realm of historiography

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Виталий Портников