President's New Year address

Dear fellow Ukrainians!

First of all, let us rejoice at our fellow citizens who recently came back from captivity to friends and relatives. Thank God, we managed to wrest them from the enemy’s torture chambers.

Let us congratulate the Ukrainian warriors with great respect. They firmly hold the line on the east frontiers. We will continue to reinforce the new army - our pride and our glory.

Let Crimea and Sevastopol, Donetsk and Luhansk hear my sincere wishes through the artificial delimitation lines. Brothers and sisters, your home is Ukraine… At some point we will banish and punish the robber who plundered our home.

I convey sincere greetings to our international partners. USA has just announced a decision to supply modern defensive weapons to us. A step in this direction was made by Canada and other states. The European Union extended sanctions against the country-aggressor as well.

And the decision of the Stockholm arbitration tribunal was made as if it is a Christmas gift. It protected us from the extremely unfavorable conditions of the gas contract of the ninth year.

Once again, I congratulate hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians who have already used the visa-free regime. And millions who will take the advantage of it in the future. I congratulate all of us on our resolute and irreversible movement towards Europe. Last year's festive night we only made a wish for the visa-free regime and now it came true.

Still with mistakes, but we move forward. After several years of crisis caused by the war, we are switching to recovery and development.

Huge gratitude to all of you for everything the country has achieved. This is the result of our joint work.

The Government should speed up the pace of growth in the new year. The improvement of the level of life noticeable for the majority of Ukrainians is essential. And we are capable of that.

As President, I will provide the political conditions necessary for the economic growth. We should take away the matches from those who want set fire to the house from the inside. We should open fire on those who will attack us from the outside. We should cherish our unity as the apple of one’s eye.

Optimism, faith in our country, our forces are our main resource. Everything will be alright. For this, as archbishop Lubomyr Husar told, we should pray as if everything depends on God and work as if everything depends on us.

I wish Ukrainian citizens and Ukrainians all over the world peace, happiness and prosperity!

Happy New Year!

Glory to Ukraine!

Original

Happy New Year!

Zhevago takes control of Espreso TV

With elections 15 months away, as previous stated by the blog, it is now worth keeping a watchful eye over the Ukrainian media – national and local.

The oligarchy and local vested interests will, by the summer of 2018, have cast their lots – with many of the oligarchy backing several candidates for president (albeit it is in parliament they can do the most damage).

Ukraine, UAE launch visa-free travel on New Year's eve

Visa-free travel between Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was launched on Sunday, Dec 31, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin.

Russia and Turkey Seal Deal on Controversial Missile System

Sale of S-400 missile system has added to concerns Ankara is turning away from the West

President Donald Trump Weekly Address to the Nation 12/30/17

Nobody's Ready for the Killer Robot

A Q&A with General Robert Latiff on the ethics of warfare in the autonomous future.

Sexual Harassment Settlements With Nondisclosure Agreement Will Not Be Deductible Under New Tax Law

A provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Tax Act will increase the “after-tax cost” for companies to settle “sexual harassment” or “sexual abuse” claims if they wish to maintain a “nondisclosure agreement” of the details. The law will disallow a business deduction for the amounts paid to settle such claims (including attorneys’ fees) if the settlement contains a nondisclosure agreement. 

This provision addresses the use of nondisclosure agreement terms to possibly prevent public disclosure of sexual harassment allegations or reports.

The language of the new law is very simple. Its application to structuring settlements of claims will likely be complex. The tax law adds § 162(q) to the Internal Revenue Code as follows:

Russia is biggest culprit of spreading fake news, says survey of UK social media users

More than half of British users of social media surveyed in a new poll have admitted that they fail to check the original source of online material before sharing or “liking” it.

Poroshenko has signed the moratorium on land sales

President Petro Poroshenko has signed the law on amendments to the Land code adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on 7 December 2017.

The document extends for one year the moratorium on the sale or alienation of agricultural land, reported the press service of the President.

The document comes into force on the day following the day of its publication.

Recall that land reform is an important condition of the program of cooperation between Ukraine and the International monetary Fund.

Ukraine hostages freed after police storm post office

KHARKIV, Ukraine (Reuters) - Ukrainian police on Saturday freed the remaining hostages being held in a post office by an man believed to be strapped with explosives, and arrested the hostage taker after an hours-long standoff in the city of Kharkiv.

Year’s balance: thorny road to bright economic future

In the outgoing year, the economic situation in Ukraine continued to improve. And although the growth rates corresponded to the "swiftness" of reforms and remained modest last year, the government managed to maintain macro-financial stability and conquer some important foreign economic bridgeheads, which allows Ukraine counting on acceleration next year.

Year of agrarian contrasts

Ukraine’s agrarian sector saw plenty of contrasts this year. Despite a good harvest of cereals, an export boost, and revival of livestock farming, unpredictable tax policy, imperfect mechanism of state support, and reduction of profitability of crop production remain a significant problem.

Kyiv today: Park Shevchenko

Poroshenko signs State Budget-2018

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed Law No. 2446-VIII "On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2018", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 7, the presidential press service reports.

United States of Europe

The United States of Europe, the European state,  the European superstate, the European federation and Federal Europe are names used to refer to several similar hypothetical scenarios of the unification of Europe as a single sovereign federation of states (hence superstate), similar to the United States of America, both as projected by writers of speculative fiction and science fiction and by political scientists, politicians, geographers, historians and futurologists. At present, while the European Union (EU) is not officially a federation, various academic observers regard it as having the characteristics of a federal system.

Specifically, the term "United States of Europe" – as a direct comparison with the United States of America – would imply that all the European states would acquire a status similar to that of a U.S. state, becoming constituent parts of a European federation acting as one country.

An Open-Office Survival Plan

IF YOU HAVEN’T already made it to the corner office, it’s probably too late. Workstation walls of any height are becoming relics as businesses from corporate giants to small startups embrace open plans in which employees of all statuses sit crammed side-by-side amid a sprawling sea of desks.

Итог-2017: терпение США лопнуло, Украина получит оружие

From Bitcoin to Belize, Here Are Best and Worst Assets of 2017

It was a great year for copper, Ukrainian stocks, palladium

Ukraine launches 2nd stage of judicial reform – Poroshenko

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed decrees on the liquidation and establishment of local courts, according to the presidential press service.

Интервью Курта Волкера (спецпредставителя Госдепа США по вопросам Украины)

"Нужно время и безопасное пространство, чтобы можно было выполнить требования Минских соглашений: провести местные выборы, провести избирательную кампанию, в конце концов, чтобы Верховная Рада начала процесс амнистии, чтобы специальный статус регионов, за который Рада уже проголосовала, был приведен в исполнение после выборов. Для всего этого и нужны миротворческие силы на Донбасе." 

Working Wise: Internal Investigations of Employment Matters

What Makes the U.S. Retirement System a Bad Example

The headline from the Dutch business newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad caught my eye on Twitter a few weeks ago: “America is the example of how not to do pensions.” The quote was from an interview with Angelien Kemna, who stepped down on Nov. 1 from the top finance job at APG Groep NV, which manages the Netherlands’ biggest (and world’s fifth-biggest) pension fund. After reading it, it struck me that it might be useful to let U.S. readers know what one of the leading figures on the global pension scene thought was wrong with the way this country handles retirement savings.

Романенко и Арестович: итоги 2017

Detainee Exchange Between Ukraine and Russia-Led Forces

Press Statement

Heather Nauert

Washington, DC

December 28, 2017

The United States welcomes yesterday’s exchange between the government of Ukraine and Russia-led forces in eastern Ukraine of more than 300 detainees. This exchange is one step toward implementation of the Minsk agreements. We once again call on the sides to fully implement their Minsk commitments including through a true “all-for-all” detainee exchange; a full ceasefire; the withdrawal of heavy weapons; safe and secure access for OSCE Special Monitoring Mission monitors; and humanitarian access to the conflict zone.

The benefit information: https://benefits.gov/

https://benefits.gov/

НАВАЛЬНЫЙ ПРО БЕЗУМИЕ В ЦИКе

Prisoners with “added value”

A few weeks ago an entry appeared relating to the 2nd May 2014 tragedy in Odessa and the “prisoner swap” that occurred on 27th December 2017 – “Of the two most prominent Russian citizens, Sergei Dolzhenkov has either refused to partake in the prisoner swap or has inexplicably been omitted from the list, but Evgeni Mefedov appears set to return to Russia.

A further 4 Afghan veterans who attempted to create the “People’s Republic of Odessa”, as well as  Igor Makhinenko and former City Councillor Alexander Lutsenko also appear to be heading to Russia or the occupied Donbas in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners in the captured in the East.

President signs laws needed for health care reform

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed the laws that are needed to start reforming the health care system.

"I'm launching medical reform. The year 2018 will be successful for its implementation. Medical reform will be successful when we participate together in decisive changes," he said.

A Ukrainian serviceman exercises with weights made from mortars

Sergey Vaganov/EPA

Methoden des Terrors im Donbass

OSTUKRAINE ⋅ Die Fernsehsender der Donezker Rebellenrepublik präsentieren eine angesehene Ärztin und ihren Mann als ukrainische Spione. Obwohl deren Geständnisse fragwürdig klingen, drohen ihnen 20 Jahre Gefängnis.

EBRD improves energy efficiency of public buildings in Ukraine

The city of Kremenchuk in central Ukraine is the first municipality in the country to receive funds from the EBRD’s Public Sector Energy Efficiency Financing Framework (PSEEF) approved on 13 December 2017, which consists of €100 million of EBRD financing and €15 million of the concessional co-financing from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF). More than half of Kremenchuk’s public buildings, including kindergartens, schools and hospitals will undergo important energy efficiency improvements as a result of the project.

Tillerson: U.S. has no illusions about today's regime in Russia

"On Russia, we have no illusions about the regime we are dealing with. The United States today has a poor relationship with a resurgent Russia that has invaded its neighbors Georgia and Ukraine in the last decade and undermined the sovereignty of Western nations by meddling in our election and others," he wrote in his piece for NYT."

Kyiv's court rules to seize fugitive oligarch Kurchenko's UMH assets

Kyiv's Pechersky District Court has ruled to seize the UMH media holding owned by wanted, fugitive Ukrainian oligarch Serhiy Kurchenko, according to a court ruling of December 28, published in the State Register of Court Rulings.

President met liberated Ukrainians: I will do everything to free every warrior

Near the touch line, President Petro Poroshenko met liberated Ukrainians who were kept in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

The President congratulated the heroes on their return and noted that everyone waited for their liberation. He also noted that the heroes are met today by the Ambassador of France and the representative of the German embassy. “Due to the efforts of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron, of our big team, your liberation has become possible,” the Head of State emphasized.

The EU and US in the age of Trump

America's face changed when Donald Trump replaced Barack Obama. But one year on, the foundations of the transatlantic relationship are still intact.

At the same time, the EU itself has also changed due to Brexit. The wider European neighbourhood is almost unrecognisable, with Russia at war in Ukraine and with the Syrian conflict.

Top 10 Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption Developments in Canada in 2017

Canada is not known for developments in anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.  However, 2017 has been a busy year of advancements and developments.  Looking back on 2017, persons with a real and substantial link to Canada should be more concerned about compliance with Canada’s anti-bribery laws. In you have not done so already, it is time to implement a Canadian compliance program that includes anti-bribery policies and procedures or add Canada’s anti-bribery laws to your multi-national compliance program.

The top 10 (plus one bonus) Canadian anti-bribery/anti-corruption developments in 2017 (in chronological order) are:

Does YouTube censor conservative viewpoints?

Internet users can find just about anything on YouTube, even videos they don’t want to see. For that reason, users have the option to set YouTube to “restricted mode” with just a few clicks. It isn’t even necessary to sign in to make this adjustment. Many users, especially parents, are happy with this setting. Conservative educational site Prager University (PragerU) is not.

Is it about free speech? Or just money?

The Transformation of the American Farm, in 18 Charts

The American farm has been transformed. During the first half of the 20th century, farmers raised a mix of crops and livestock on a few hundred acres of land. These days, most farmers specialize in a few, or even just one product, on much bigger spreads

The U.S. Is Becoming the World’s New Tax Haven

Seven years ago, the U.S. led an effort to address a problem facing governments everywhere. Each year, people manage to avoid paying an estimated $2.5 trillion in income tax -- a giant sum that could be used to combat poverty, update infrastructure or lower tax rates for law-abiding citizens.

Now, however, the U.S. is becoming one of the world’s best places to hide money from the tax collector. It’s a distinction that the country would do well to shed.

New York governor questions the constitutionality of federal tax overhaul

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The governor of New York said on Thursday that the state was considering restructuring its tax code in response to a federal tax overhaul bill that recently became law, which he said may be unconstitutional.

South Korea and Japan clash after Seoul dismisses deal on wartime sex slaves

Japan and South Korea are set on a diplomatic collision course after South Korea’s president, Moon Jae-in, dismissed as unworkable a 2015 agreement on Japan’s wartime use of sex slaves.

UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT (1996)

UNIFORM LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY ACT (1996)

Romania's ruling party wants to soften corruption rules

MPs from Romania's ruling party have tabled changes to anti-corruption legislation, in a move than could deepen concerns over the rule of law in the country.

A group of deputies from the Social-Democratic Party (PSD) proposed, on Tuesday (26 December), to decriminalise cases of abuse of office when the damage was under €200,000, and to lower sentences, according to the Reuters press agency.

They also proposed to decriminalise influence peddling and abuse of power to obtain sexual favours.

Biometric control system starts trial run at 2 checkpoints on Ukrainian-Russian border

The State Border Service of Ukraine will begin a trial run of the biometric control system at the Hoptivka checkpoint in Kharkiv region and the Bachivsk checkpoint in Sumy region as early as on December 27, and the system will enter into full effect on January 1, 2018, as planned, the assistant of the service's head, Oleh Slobodian, told Interfax-Ukraine on Wednesday.

Court is adjourned (for as long as possible)

As anticipated, before the year end President Poroshenko submitted to the Verkhovna Rada Draft Bill 7440 relating to the creation of an Anti-Corruption Court, in order to complete the independent NABU and SAP anti-corruption structure – the day after the final plenary session of the year concluded.

The Draft Bill, according to The Bankova, takes into account the “Opinion” of the Venice Commission of 9th October 2017.

Except of course, Draft Bill 7440 does not accommodate all the recommendations of the Venice Commission – as many wise readers would have expected.

Ukraine’s faults and successes in international politics in 2017

The key news of 2017 was Donald Trump's taking over the White House in the United States. Given his pro-Putin rhetoric during the campaign, everyone was worried that with his arrival, the U.S. policy would change radically while all efforts important for Ukraine (political and sanction-related support, and security assistance) would be curtailed. Trump has actually somewhat cut the U.S. financing aimed at "soft power" influence.

Prisoner swap in Donbas over: 74 Ukrainians going home

Ukrainian Member of Parliament from the Petro Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction and the presidential envoy in parliament, Iryna Lutsenko, has announced that 74 Ukrainians held captive by militants in Russian-occupied Donbas have been freed.

It’s not easy, but nonresident cannabis entrepreneurs can set up shop in California

You don’t have to hail from California to get in on what will be the biggest cannabis market in the world.

The state’s new medical and recreational marijuana programs don’t have a residency requirement – a fact that could attract droves of out-of-state entrepreneurs to California and revive memories of the 1849 Gold Rush.

But does that mean cannabis entrepreneurs can stroll into California and open a business?

Hardly.

10 Predictions for What 2018 Will Bring for Legal Tech

From an explosion of data to cost concerns and more, here are some trends that those in the trenches think you should be watching this coming year.

Реєстрація бізнесу в Китайській народній республіці

 Микита Тіхонов, головний редактор блогу про Китай "Laovaev.net"

Китай – держава з однїєю з найпотужніших економік світу. Величезний ринок сбуту КНР є привабливим для будь-якої міжнародної компанії, що має на меті закріплення власних позицій у азиатському регіоні. Саме тому питання реєстрації бізнесу на території цієї країни є пріорітетним для будь-якої сучасної компанії.

'No one wants it to end': Ukrainian civilians bear brunt of Europe's longest conflict since the Second World War

As the conflict between Ukraine and forces backed by Russia enters its fourth year attempts at a ceasefire have proved fruitless

Svetlana Karpenko had just moved her mother Nina to the television room when a Grad rocket slammed down outside her window, raking the elderly woman's bedroom with fire and shrapnel.

“Two steps closer and it would have got us,” said Ms Karpenko's husband, Oleg Gostrenko, as the three of them cleaned up debris and artillery boomed in the distance.

EBRD in €25 million loan for biogas plant at Ukraine’s MHP

The EBRD provided a senior loan of € 25 million to PJSC “Myronivsky Hliboproduct” (MHP), a London Stock Exchange listed Ukrainian producer of poultry meat, grain and fodder. The loan will be used to construct and put into operation a 10 MW biogas plant in the town of Ladyzhyn, Vinnytsia region. The biogas plant will utilise chicken manure and other agricultural residues from MHP’s poultry and grain operations.

By financing this project, the EBRD is helping MHP implement its long term strategy to develop “green energy” capacity, become self-sufficient energy-wise, reduce its environmental footprint and manage waste. This will be the second biogas plant for MHP and the largest biogas facility in Ukraine to date.

Companies of Akhmetov, Firtash, Tigipko, Koretskyi and DufEnergy licensed to supply gas in Ukraine

The National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) has issued licenses for natural gas supplies to Rinat Akhmetov's DTEK Oil & Gas and Himvektor LLC whose ultimate beneficiary is Dmytro Firtash via Cyprus's Valanox Investments Limited.

A corresponding decision was made by the commission at a meeting on Wednesday.

Lutsenko vows seizure in 2018 of another UAH 5 bln stolen by Yanukovych team

The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO) intends to recover to the state budget in early 2018 another UAH 5 billion (US$179 million) illegally obtained by fugitive Ukrainian ex-President Viktor Yanukovych and his allies, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Ukraine to file more suits against Russia in The Hague – MFA

In February 2018, Ukraine will submit to the International Court of Justice a memorandum, which is now being finalized, on Russia's violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, according to Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Olena Zerkal.

Ukrainian hostages to be exchanged at Maiorske checkpoint near Horlivka – media (Photo)

The exchange of prisoners on December 27 will take place at the Maiorske crossing checkpoint on the contact line between the warring parties near the militant-occupied town of Horlivka in Donetsk region.

#Зустрінь_своїх

#Зустрінь_своїх

Berlin offers new model for Turkey, EU

An EU agreement with Britain on relations after Brexit could serve as a model for ties with other countries that want to be as close as possible to the bloc but are not yet ready to join, such as Ukraine and Turkey, Germany’s Foreign Minister has said.

Britain secured the go ahead from Brussels to start talks on its future relationship with the EU earlier this month, with London saying it aspires to a closer relationship as a former member than that of any other third country.

О решении ЦИК России о недопуске Алексея Навального к участию в президентских выборах 2018 года

«Решение Центральной избирательной комиссии Российской Федерации не допустить оппозиционного политика Алексея Навального к участию в президентских выборах 2018 года по причине его оспариваемой судимости ставит под серьезное сомнение наличие политического плюрализма в России и демократичность выборов, которые пройдут в будущем году.

Decision of the Russian Central Election Commission to bar Alexei Navalny from running in the 2018 Presidential election

The Russian Central Electoral Commission's decision stating that Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny cannot run in the 2018 national Presidential elections due to an alleged past conviction casts a serious doubt on political pluralism in Russia and the prospect of democratic elections next year.

The EU isn’t punishing Poland. It’s protecting its integrity as a bloc

It’s been fascinating to look at some of the reactions, in Europe and beyond, after the European commission last week took the unprecedented step of triggering a mechanism against Poland, for the first time potentially threatening to strip a member state of its voting rights in the club.

How the EU failed to prevent the Catalan 'train crash'

On 24 January 2017, in a packed auditorium at the European Parliament in Brussels, Carles Puigdemont already announced what was going to happen.

"At the latest in September 2017, Catalonia will hold a binding independence referendum," said the president of Catalonia's regional government - although the vote eventually took place one day after that deadline, on 1 October.

DUI and marijuana: What are the rules?

As more and more states legalize marijuana, the question on many minds has changed from “Is marijuana legal in my state?” to “What kind of trouble can I get in if I drive while high?”

Under the influence, or impaired = illegal

“Under the influence” doesn’t refer only to alcohol. Cannabis can be just as problematic for a driver who’s been pulled over by authorities. In every state – even those that have legalized recreational marijuana – driving high is illegal.

How to Serve Process in Spain

Once we get past the romantic mental images of bullfights and Picasso and Hemingway running through cobbled streets in a white shirt & red scarf, Spain is rightly seen as a highly industrialized society– one with many of the same problems shared by its Mediterranean neighbors, and much of the same sunny, sophisticated allure.  Serving process in Spain is subject to the strictures of the Hague Service Convention, regardless of which U.S. or Canadian venue is hearing the matter.

Many State and Local Minimum Wage Increases Will Go Into Effect on January 1, 2018

In 2017, a great many states and localities passed laws increasing minimum wages beginning on January 1, 2018. (Some passed laws that will be effective on July 1, 2018 or other dates.)

Below is a summary of the minimum wage updates (and related tipped minimum wage requirements, where applicable) that go into effect on January 1, 2018, unless otherwise indicated.

WHAT RUSSIA HAS DONE RECENTLY WORRIES ME AS A UKRAINIAN

In the final days of December 2017, Russian aggression has escalated not only in the east of Ukraine, but also in Crimea. Russian aggression has been a daily occurrence since the annexation of Crimea four years ago and the Russian invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago. Post-Maidan Ukraine wasn’t even able to catch its breath before Russian boots were on sovereign Ukrainian land.

Javelin Missiles for Ukraine

Russia is unhappy the U.S. is selling antitank weapons to Kiev.

President on the release of Ukrainian hostages: Nothing is more important than the return of our people

“Nothing is more important than to return our people home,” Petro Poroshenko said in the meeting with the relatives of the hostages.

“I hope everything will be alright. I hope it will be a symbol of our struggle and victory. Believe me, I’ve been waiting for this day for three years as well,” the President said.

“It was a very exhausting and professional struggle for everyone. I believe it will bring the result tomorrow,” the President emphasized.

Austrian Supreme Court orders stay of Firtash's extradition to United States pending review

The Austrian Supreme Court has decided that Ukrainian businessman Dmytro Firtash's appeal, asking for a retrial and arguing that the Austrian Court of Appeals erred when it allowed extradition to the United States (thereby overturning the Austrian trial court's decision denying extradition), was not without merit, Firtash's defense has said.

Amsterdam confirms Saakashvili's right to Dutch citizenship

Former Georgian president and leader of the Movement of New Forces party Mikhail Saakashvili has the right to obtain a Dutch citizenship and residence permit, since he is married to a Dutch citizen, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Halbe Zijlstra said on Friday.

Inside a Russian disinformation campaign in Ukraine in 2014

By the morning of Feb. 22, 2014, it was clear that the government of Viktor Yanukovych, the beleaguered pro-Russian president of Ukraine, had fallen, amid protests sparked by his decision not to move toward a closer relationship with the European Union.

Yanukovych’s Russian allies denounced his political collapse as a “coup,” and the crisis became a flash point in relations between the Kremlin and the West.

Павел Казарин: Законы мирного времени

Украина всегда делилась на две части. В первом лагере были те, для кого существование страны было ценностью. Во втором – те, для кого оно было лишь данностью. В 1991-м году первые голосовали за независимость ради Украины. Вторые – ради того, чтобы не кормить Центральную Азию.

Europe's 'best-kept secret' - its booming bio-economy

Europe's bio-economy is worth €2.2 trillion and employs 18.6 million people across the bloc, but a third of citizens are unaware it exists.

"People are completely unaware that the EU is number one in the world [for bio-based products] and they don't know it is investing [in the bio-economy]," said Susanna Albertini, managing director of FVA, the Italian partner of the Bioways project, at the first stakeholder forum for the bio-based industries (BBI), which took place in Brussels on 7 December.

Week’s milestones. Russian spy in PM team, pacified Saakashvili, and deferred reintegration

Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman summed up the government’s work this year against the backdrop of an espionage scandal. The Verkhovna Rada showed no rush with considering the Donbas reintegration bill amid the latest escalation on the ground. Ex-Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili slowed down the pace of his current political efforts in Ukraine. New public opinion polls put Yulia Tymoshenko on the top of presidential rating lists.

Monument to Boris Derevyanko (and de facto the longest trial in Ukrainian history)

As a growing number of Ukrainians are expressing their ire by way of protest at a 4-year suspended sentence for hooliganism handed down to Yuriy Krysin for his admitted role in the murder of journalist Vyacheslav Veremiy during Euromaidan in 2014, Odessa will witness the creation of a memorial to Boris Derevyanko, the assassinated editor-in-chief of Evening Odessa (Vechernaya Odessa).

The memorial will appear at Gvozdichny 3, where Mr Derevyanko lived prior to his assassination in August 1997, and marks a victory for the Odessa branch of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

Where Are the Truth-seekers?

In our contentious political times, we are either pro-Trump or anti-Trump. Sincere truth-seekers are rare. The rot starts at the top. A recent New Yorker article noted: “Trump has brought to the White House bully pulpit a disorienting habit of telling lies, big and small, without evident shame. Since 2015, Politifact has counted three hundred and twenty-nine public statements by Trump that it judges to be mostly or entirely false.” To the extent that they repeat Trump’s falsehoods, by retweeting or other means, or refuse to recognize scientific or other evidence, like all the global-warming deniers, many of his followers also care little for truth. It is a great irony that one of the greatest perpetrators of untruths, Trump, loves to rant about “fake news.”

Tomorrow's Lawyers: An Introduction to Your Future by Richard Susskind

Tomorrow's Lawyers predicts that we are at the beginning of a period of fundamental transformation in law: a time in which we will see greater change than we have seen in the past two centuries. Where the future of the legal service will be a world of internet-based global businesses, online document production, commoditized service, legal process outsourcing, and web based simulation practice. Legal markets will be liberalized, with new jobs for lawyers and new employers too. This book is a definitive guide to this future - for young and aspiring lawyers, and for all who want to modernize our legal and justice systems. It introduces the new legal landscape and offers practical guidance for those who intend to build careers and businesses in law.

Nota bene: Narcissistic Personality Disorder

A Guide to Signs, Diagnosis, and Treatment

The Background

It’s a nice feeling to be admired. It naturally makes us feel good and feel important. And, yes, we sometimes boast and brag on ourselves as well. But, if people start describing you as cocky, manipulative, and demanding, you might be suffering from a more serious condition. Narcissistic personality disorder is a mental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the population1, with a greater prevalence in men than women. It is characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a lack of empathy for others, and a great need for admiration. The hallmark definition of narcissistic personality disorder is grandiosity – the exaggerated sense of self-importance.  If you are living with this disorder, you may be preoccupied with power, prestige, vanity, and may think you deserve special treatment and fame.

#Russia says that #US decision to supply weapons to #Ukraine will encourage Kiev to use force. I can’t stop wondering- are there any limits of cynicism? Aggressor complains that victim still resisting.

— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) December 23, 2017

Mobbing

Mobbing, as a sociological term, means bullying of an individual by a group, in any context, such as a family, peer group, school, workplace, neighborhood, community, or online.

When it occurs as emotional abuse in the workplace, such as "ganging up" by co-workers, subordinates or superiors, to force someone out of the workplace through rumor, innuendo, intimidation, humiliation, discrediting, and isolation, it is also referred to as malicious, nonsexual, nonracial / racial, general harassment.

Russland versteht keine andere Sprache

Appeasement gegenüber Russland ist falsch, warnt der ukrainische Außenminister. Das sei, als füttere man ein Krokodil in der Hoffnung, als Letzter gefressen zu werden.

Ein Gastbeitrag von Pawlo Klimkin

Et la parole des femmes se libéra

Depuis les révélations sur le producteur Harvey Weinstein, les femmes n’en finissent plus de dénoncer le harcèlement et les agressions qu’elles ont subies. Une lame de fond moins soudaine qu’il n’y paraît.

U.S. Decision to Send Lethal Arms to Ukraine Signals Tougher Stance on Russia

Decision follows an uptick in fighting in eastern Ukraine, months of frustration over stalled talks

All terms agreed: prisoner swap between Ukraine, militants scheduled for Dec 27

Following a Monday meeting held in Moscow between Patriarch of Moscow and Russia Kirill and the leaders of pro-Russian Donbas militants who control parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Alexander Zakharchenko and Leonid Pasechnik, Kirill said the exchange of prisoners would be held on December 27, according to an UNIAN correspondent in Russia.