Алексей Арестович - интервью 22.02.2018 / Politeka Online

Officials Highlight German-American Partnership at Security Conference

MUNICH, Feb. 22, 2018 —

Wolfgang Ischinger, the chairman of the Munich Security Conference, told members of the Loisach Group that the German-American partnership is the “backbone” of the transatlantic alliance and the conference, which was held here Feb. 16-18.

Each February, the Munich Security Conference brings together more than 450 senior decision-makers from around the world to engage in an intensive debate on current and future security challenges.

"Naftogaz" won the Stockholm arbitration against "Gazprom"

Naftogaz achieved compensation in the amount of 4, 63 billion dollars for Gazprom's failure to supply agreed volumes of gas for transit.

According to the results of two arbitration proceedings in Stockholm, Gazprom has to pay 2.56 billion dollars in favor of Naftogaz.

Argument analysis: Justices divided over disclosure of overseas emails

When the Supreme Court heard oral argument this morning in United States v. Microsoft, it found itself in what has become familiar terrain — trying to apply a decades-old law to modern technology. Today the justices were interpreting what Justice Anthony Kennedy characterized as a “difficult statute”: the Stored Communications Act, a 1986 law that requires an email provider to turn over the contents of emails if the government obtains a warrant. Computer giant Microsoft told the justices today that the SCA only applies within the United States, so the company cannot be compelled to turn over emails stored outside the country. 

Does a civil penalty go on your permanent record?

While many Americans have never had any contact with U.S. criminal courts, plenty of us have dealt with the civil court system – commonly, in the form of having to pay a civil penalty.

A civil penalty is a fine that the state assesses against a person to compensate for some harm. A familiar example of a civil penalty is a parking ticket. The driver breaks a rule and the state demands a fine for compensation (for not paying for the parking space, for example). Common traffic violations, such as speeding or running a red light, are also typically considered civil offenses and result in fines.

Brexit: European Commission publishes draft Article 50 Withdrawal Agreement

The European Commission has today published the draft Withdrawal Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom.

The draft Withdrawal Agreement translates into legal terms the Joint Report from the negotiators of the European Union and the United Kingdom Government on the progress achieved during phase 1 of the negotiations, published on 8 December 2017, and proposes text for those outstanding withdrawal issues which are mentioned in, but not set out in detail, in the Joint Report. It also integrates the text on the transition period, based on the supplementary negotiating directives adopted by the Council (Article 50) on 29 January 2018.

EU announces €24 million to address the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine

The European Commission has announced today €24 million in humanitarian assistance to address the needs of conflict-affected people in eastern Ukraine.

The funding comes as the European Commission and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are organising a high-level conference in Brussels to raise awareness about the humanitarian consequences of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

A BIIR victory in the courts of Odessa – What’s next?

In mid October 2017, an entry appeared painting in broad brushstrokes the nefarious circumstances surrounding the purchase of commercial property in Odessa by the Danish engineering company BIIR – taking the unusual step of publishing within it a letter by the Danish Ambassador relating to the incident, when normally such correspondence is received and dealt with far more discreetly.

Naturally the Danish embassy was not the only entity lobbying on behalf of BIIR – some behind the curtain, whilst others were active before it.  Eventually parliamentarians from Odessa were encouraged to take on the issue.

Why Italian Elections Matter: A New Type of Populism Is Rising

ROME—Last October, Beppe Grillo headlined a protest by the 5 Star Movement, the populist political party he founded. Standing outside the Pantheon he denounced a new electoral law that will limit direct voting for parliamentary candidates and help protect incumbents in national elections on Sunday.

The Brexit Talks Are Going in Circles

The most interesting part of the draft Brexit agreement the European Union published Wednesday is its complete disregard for the topsy-turvy mess that is U.K.'s internal politics. Something has been happening there every day -- a major speech, a heated exchange, a clash of ambitions. Yet the EU's position hasn't evolved since the preliminary deal in December, and perhaps since the sides started talking.  

Google launches Slack competitor Hangouts Chat

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google released an update to its internet chat tool Hangouts on Wednesday, aiming to make it suitable in workplaces so the Alphabet Inc unit can compete with business software makers including Microsoft Corp and Slack Technologies Inc.

President on the need to adopt a number of important laws: I will actively use the right of legislative initiative

President Petro Poroshenko intends to actively use his right of legislative initiative in 2018. "I will actively use the presidential right of legislative initiative," he said during a press conference held in Kyiv.

The Head of State informed that today the parliamentary committee on tax policy together with the working group had completed the draft law "On the National Bureau of Financial Security" and the document was submitted for public discussion.

Ukraine’s top officials’ testimony on Yanukovych trial rise eyebrows

Since May 2017, the Obolonskiy District Court of Kyiv has been considering the high-treason case of fugitive Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych.

Many of Ukraine’s top officials, such as Olexandr Turchynov, secretary of the National Security and Defense Council; Arseniy Yatsenyuk, former prime minister; Arsen Avakov, interior minister; and even President Petro Poroshenko were summoned to the court to give testimony as witnesses for the prosecution.

European Commission green-lights new macro-financial assistance for Ukraine

From early 2014 to late 2017, the European Commission mobilized a total of EUR 3.4 billion in macro-financial assistance through three consecutive programs of low-interest loans.

Ukraine's Constitutional Court rules it's wrong to tax pensions

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) has ruled that the taxation of pensions in Ukraine is unconstitutional. "The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has ruled to recognize the provision in subparagraph 164.2.19 of paragraph 164.2 of Article 164 of the Tax Code of Ukraine, which stipulates that the total monthly (annual) taxable income of the taxpayer includes the amounts of pensions (including the amount of their indexation accrued in accordance with the law) or a monthly lifetime allowance, is not in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine," the court reported on its website.

What Small Businesses Must Consider When Using Teaming Arrangements or Joint Ventures

Teaming Arrangements under the FAR

Under Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 9.6, a contractor teaming arrangement is when:

1. Two or more companies form a partnership or joint venture to act as a potential prime contractor; or
2. A potential prime contractor agrees with one or more other companies to have them act as its subcontractors under a specified government contract or acquisition program.

Both of these arrangements have the potential to help small businesses increase the number of solicitations they can confidently bid on, but both also come with their own set of limitations to consider.

Anti-corruption court legislation – Supporting a poor law on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada this week

It’s been a while since the blog made mention of the draft anti-corruption court legislation submitted by The Bankova in December 2017 (the submission deliberately timed to avoid any vote upon it during 2017).

The IMF, World Bank, EU, USA, Canada, Japan and numerous other “supportive nations and entities” all followed either publicly or privately with terse and prickly commentary regarding the text of Draft Bill submitted by The Bankova.

Yet it appears that Draft Bill 7440 (unchanged from The Bankova submission that drew such ire) will be included by hook or by crook upon the Verkhovna Rada agenda this week – possibly resulting in a vote on Thursday 1st March 2018.

Kazakhstan’s Nationhood: Politics and Society on the Move

One may wonder when Central Asia will stop being labeled “post-Soviet.” When do we exit “post-Sovietness”? In this paper, I argue that Kazakhstan is on its way to entering a new era, that of post-post-Sovietness, and that this new era also entails moving from Kazakhstan-ness to Kazakhness. We tend to see the Central Asian region through the lens of its regimes, and we therefore stress its stability—even, sometimes, its immobility. But society is on the move in Kazakhstan, and politics is following in its footsteps, though more slowly.

Priests and politicians

Compared to many other countries in Europe, Ukraine’s religious life is very active, although there is no state religion. So how do politics and religion work together here?

Groysman has plans to participate in upcoming parliamentary elections

Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman declares his intention to take part in the next elections to the Verkhovna Rada.

"I plan to take part in the next parliamentary elections," Groysman said during a meeting with regional journalists in Kyiv on Tuesday.

"I will take part [in elections] to fight for making specific decisions," the head of government said.

Candidates in search of allies ahead of upcoming elections in Ukraine

Disastrously low ratings of all key players who will next year try to compete both for presidency and parliament seats are forcing them to feverishly seek allies and merge. But it remains unclear whether any of them will manage to find common ground and come up with a "single candidate".

За державу обидно

Илья Варламов

Оригинал

Когда в школе при посольстве России в Аргентине нашлись 400 кг кокаина, выяснилось, что никто не виноват.

Ни блистательные российские дипломаты, которых гадкие журналисты ежечасно ОЧЕРНЯЮТ.

Ни сотрудники спецслужб, которые эту школу охраняли.

Гибридный провал

В Сирии после поражения ИГИЛ начался новый этап гражданской войны, и в этих условиях прежняя тактика России оказалась опасной и бесполезной

Syrie : « Dans la Ghouta, une guerre déséquilibrée dans le silence »

Tribune. Peu de personnes connaissaient le nom de la Ghouta avant ce doux matin du 21 août 2013. Plus de 1 400 personnes – en majorité des femmes et des enfants – venaient de trouver la mort asphyxiées par un gaz sarin dispersé par les forces d’Assad, seule force qui possède les vecteurs nécessaires pour une telle opération. Le souvenir de Halabja, localité kurde irakienne, gazée par Saddam Hussein en 1988 a refait surface. Comme beaucoup de villes et villages méconnus, la Ghouta était entrée dans l’histoire contemporaine à ce moment-là. Lorsque l’attaque chimique est arrivée, la Ghouta orientale vivait déjà encerclée par les forces pro-Assad et d’autres milices chiites depuis le début de l’année.

Top U.S. court curbs rights of immigrants awaiting deportation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday curbed the ability of immigrants held in long-term detention during deportation proceedings to argue for their release in a ruling in sync with President Donald Trump’s get-tough approach toward immigration.

EU urges Poland to respond to rule of law concerns

EU ministers discussed rule of law concerns in Poland on Tuesday (27 February) and called on the country's right wing government to address the bloc's worries over its undermining of the independence of the Polish judiciary.

The European Commission invoked Article 7 of the EU treaty, a sanctions procedure against a member state, for the first time last December – arguing that Poland's overhaul of the judiciary puts it under political control and breaches EU values.

Die Reis-Hasen-Bewegung

Die #MeToo hat auch China erfasst. Der chinesische Harvey Weinstein ist ein renommierter Hochschulprofessor. Erst hat die Regierung den Protest unterstützt. Nun wird er ihr zu groß

Russia, America and a contest of sick systems

What was Vladimir Putin thinking? Viewed from the west, the Russian president’s decision to authorise an undercover campaign to destabilise the US presidential election looks risky, even bizarre.But, viewed through the prism of Russian history, the idea that a foreign intelligence operation could wreck the political system of an adversary is unremarkable. 

New tax law 2018: Should you change your W-4?

It’s a new tax year with a new tax law. Before you rush to revise your tax withholding, find out what the tax experts say. Joshua Zimmelman, owner of Westwood Tax and Consulting in New York, provides excellent advice regarding the impact of the new tax laws on your withholding:

May I See Your ID?

On January 1, 2018, a new Texas law went into effect permitting a merchant to request a government-issued photo identification to verify the identity of a credit or debit card user – and decline the transaction if the buyer refuses to show it. The new law is not mandatory. The law does not require a merchant to request photo identification, nor does it require the merchant to decline the transaction if the photo identification is not produced. It simply gives the merchant the right to request the photo identification and the option to turn away the customer without the identification.

We are working to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses so Russia can’t make further territorial gains. @CFTNI pic.twitter.com/Qu9pQKUKAP

— Kurt Volker (@SpecRepUkraine) February 26, 2018

We All Must Live With Mitch McConnell’s Proudest Moment

We All Must Live With Mitch McConnell’s Proudest Moment

#IRSTaxTip: The Right to Pay No More than the Correct Amount of Tax – Taxpayer Bill of Rights #3

Taxpayers have the right to pay no more than the correct amount of tax they owe. This is one of ten basic rights known collectively as the Taxpayer Bill of Rights. This tip is the third in a series outlining these rights.

Taxpayers have the right to pay only the amount of tax legally due. This includes interest and penalties. Additionally, taxpayers can expect to have the IRS apply all tax payments properly.

Here are some things taxpayers should know about the right to pay no more than the correct amount:

Robert Mueller’s Distinctly American Indictments

Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election, has lately been moving so fast that it is becoming difficult to keep track of the intricate levels of deception, and self-deception, described in the indictments that he brings. Last Thursday, Mueller charged Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, with a multimillion-dollar fraud related to, of all things, mortgages. 

Week's milestones. Zealous testimonies, new format for Donbas, and irrepressible Moskal

The anniversary of the Maidan deadly shootings became another occasion to recall the impunity of murderers. Presidential testimony in the Yanukovych treason case was accompanied by excessive zeal by law enforcers. Law "On special aspects of state policy to ensure state sovereignty over the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions" came into force. Polls of presidential candidates by "Rating" pleased Yulia Tymoshenko. Rada Speaker Andriy Parubiy promised to enhance parliament's performance. Gennady Moskal did not choose words too carefully.

Polish president blames Ukrainians for genocide of Poles

Polish President Andrzej Duda has accused Ukrainians of genocide of Poles in the village of Huta Pieniacka in 1944. A relevant appeal by the Polish leader was read out by Adam Kwiatkowski, the Secretary of State, Chief of the Cabinet of the President of Poland, during the commemoration of the 74th anniversary of crimes in the village of Huta Pieniacka in 1944, the Polish news portal Niezalezna.pl reported.

Court proceedings against Lazarenko in U.S. enter final stage – Yenin

Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) and American partners are interested in the speedy conclusion of court proceedings in the United States against ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko. If the rulings are positive, talks on divvying up Lazarenko's assets will begin.

In an exclusive interview with the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency, deputy PGO head Yevhen Yenin said $15 million of Lazarenko's assets has already been returned the state as per a ruling by a Swiss court.

Ukraine's Bogomolets medical university announces indefinite strike

Students and lecturers of Bogomolets National Medical University on Monday, February 26, announced a strike for an indefinite period. All University buildings will be closed, except for clinic facilities where patients are undergoing treatment, the University wrote on Facebook. "The strike has been announced in connection with unprecedented gross and unlawful interference by senior officials of the Health Ministry of Ukraine in the independent and self-regulated work of Bogomolets National Medical University," it said.

Xi Jinping, President for Life

China will amend its constitution to allow Presidents to serve more than two terms, the state-run news agency Xinhua announced Sunday. The change is momentous because it confirms Xi Jinping has become the country’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong. He is abolishing term-limit rules and other norms that Deng Xiaoping created in the 1980s to prevent a repeat of Mao’s disastrous rule.

US probe into Ukraine 'lobbying' by former EU officials

Speculation is rising some former EU officials were paid a total of €2 million to lobby a Russian-backed government in Ukraine by Donald Trump's disgraced campaign chief Paul Manafort.

The allegations were brought forward on Friday (24 February) in an indictment by US prosecutors probing Trump's entourage following accusations of Russian meddling in the US presidential race.

The indictment says Manafort "secretly retained a group of former senior European politicians to take positions favourable to Ukraine, including by lobbying in the United States".

Poland Pitches Europe on Its War on Judges

The European Union holds enough cards to stop a judicial purge. But Warsaw's charm offensive just may be working.

Deputy Justice Minister Warchol is traveling the continent on behalf of the nationalist Polish government to combat "fake news," as he put it, about a controversial series of laws in his purview. The European Union is so concerned that it made history by opening a formal process that could revoke Poland's EU vote.

The Weinstein Company to file for bankruptcy

(Reuters) - The board of directors of The Weinstein Company said late Sunday the New York film and TV studio planned to file for bankruptcy after talks to sell it collapsed, several media outlets reported.

Corporate America’s new dilemma: raising prices to cover higher transport costs

SEATTLE/BOCA RATON, Fla. (Reuters) - The drive for cost cuts and higher margins at U.S. trucking and railroad operators is pinching their biggest customers, forcing the likes of General Mills Inc and Hormel Foods Corp to spend more on deliveries and consider raising their own prices as a way to pass along the costs.

Russia’s dirty tricks: How Putin meddles in Western democracies

IN THE late 1980s, as Mikhail Gorbachev launched perestroika, Russia made peace with the West. It was possible to believe that each would give up trying to subvert the other with lies and cold-war conspiracy theories. With the indictment of 13 Russians on February 16th by the American special counsel, Robert Mueller, it is clear just how fragile that belief was.

Turkey is becoming a global hub for angel investment

A tax incentive brought by the Turkish Treasury and the policy of supporting entrepreneurs and their supporters have helped Turkey position Istanbul as a global hub for startups, according to an experienced angel investor.

“Last year, Turkey became the fifth biggest startup market for angel investors in Europe, according to the European Trade Association for Business Angels [EBAN]. Some 512 million euros were invested in Turkey, whereas five years ago Turkey ranked 32nd,” Baybars Altuntaş, the chairman of the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), has told the Hürriyet Daily News.

Employment Law This Week® - Episode 105 - Week of February 19, 2018

Know the risks before investing in cryptocurrencies

By: Elizabeth Kwok | Feb 16, 2018 2:36PM

As a business person managing your personal portfolio, you do your best to keep up with the latest financial news. You’ve been hearing more about cryptocurrencies and asking yourself “Hmmm.” Of course, it’s not just bitcoin. There are now hundreds of cryptocurrencies, which are a type of digital currency, on the market. They’ve been publicized as a fast and inexpensive way to pay online, but many are now also being marketed as investment opportunities. But before you decide to purchase cryptocurrency as an investment, here are a few things to know:

Pot parties: how legalized weed is fueling new kinds of fun

Coco Ono, wearing only hot pants and pot-leaf pasties, prepared an overstuffed and dripping peanut butter sandwich and suggestively ate it on stage.

In front of a less supportive crowd, her cabaret performance would risk being unwatchable. But on this night, the crowd – and almost everyone on stage – was high.

The show, part of a marijuana-themed comedy and burlesque night I recently attended in Los Angeles, took place in a jewel box performance space behind a bar.

Five Easy Tips to Help Ensure Your Company's Arbitration Agreement is Enforceable

Almost every employment agreement contains an arbitration clause requiring the employee to submit to arbitration if there is a dispute. But to many companies’ surprise, the arbitration clause will be found to be unenforceable by a Court if the employee challenges it. Indeed, Courts routinely find companies’ arbitration clauses to be substantively or procedurally unconscionable. In other words, the Court may find that the terms contained in the arbitration clause are “too unfair” or “one-sided” to enforce. As a result, the company may end up having to litigate the dispute in Court, or another forum, which can be very costly to the company. To help ensure that that your company’s arbitration clause is enforceable follow these five easy tips:

Медуніверситет Богомольця оголосив безстроковий страйк

Студенти та трудовий колектив Національного медуніверситету імені О.Богомольця оголосили безстроковий страйк.

Про це повідомляється у неділю ввечері на сторінці ВНЗ у Facebook.

"Страйк оголошено у зв’язку з безпрецедентним брутальним та незаконним втручанням керівництва Міністерства охорони здоров’я України в незалежність та самоврядність НМУ імені О.О. Богомольця", - йдеться в повідомленні.

В Москве прошел марш памяти Бориса Немцова

В центре Москвы состоялся марш памяти политика Бориса Немцова. Участники шествия, согласованного со столичными властями, прошли от Страстного бульвара до проспекта Сахарова. После завершения марша небольшая часть участников поехала на Большой Москворецкий мост, к месту убийства политика, чтобы возложить цветы.

Всего, по оценке корреспондента “Ъ”, в акции участвовали около 15 тыс. человек. «Белый счетчик», который занимается подсчетами людей на массовых мероприятиях, к 14:30 насчитал 7,6 тыс. человек. Полиция оценивает количество участников марша примерно в 4,5 тыс.

The fascist movement that has brought Mussolini back to the mainstream

On the night of 27 December 2003, five men broke into a huge, empty office complex in Rome, just south of the city’s main railway station, Roma Termini. A few days earlier, the men had put up fake fliers, appealing to the public for help to find a lost black cat called “Pound”. It was a way to avoid suspicion as they surveyed the building before breaking in.

Nothing was left to chance: the date, between Christmas and New Year, was chosen because there wouldn’t be many people around. Even the name and colour of the cat wasn’t casual: “Pound” was a nod to the American poet and fascist evangelist Ezra Pound. And black was the colour associated with their hero, Benito Mussolini. They planned to start a radio station from inside their new building called Radio Bandiera Nera – “Black Flag Radio”.

A historic law of geopolitical scale

Important aspects of the new Deoccupation Law

On January 18, 2018, the Verkhovna Rada passed Law No 7163 on Specifics of State Policy in Ensuring Ukraine’s Sovereignty on the Temporarily Occupied Territories in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts. 280 MPs from the pro-European and pro-transatlantic coalition voted in favor of it while 36 MPs from the Opposition Block, a breakaway of the Party of Regions, voted against it. The vote proved that Ukraine’s parliament has a patriotic statehood majority which, regardless of interparty rivalry, political ambitions and personal tensions, has acted in unity around the idea of reinforcing resistance to the armed aggression of Russia and overcoming its consequences through mechanisms and under conditions that best fit Ukraine’s vital national interests.

Stop Fake: IMF and Kyiv fail to compromise on Ukraine aid (fake)

In the aftermath of the International Monetary Fund’s visit to Ukraine last week, Russia’s official 24/7 English language channel RT declared that according to its own anonymous source in the Ukrainian Finance Ministry, Ukraine and the IMF failed to reach a compromise on the allocation of the IMF’s fifth tranche of aid. Meanwhile the IMF called the recent visit to Kyiv technical, whose aim was to discuss various aspects of reforms, in particular draft legislation on the anti-corruption court.

Remarks by President Donald Tusk following the informal meeting of the 27 heads of state or government on 23 February 2018

Today we discussed the political priorities of the EU that we want to reflect in the post-2020 multiannual budget. Budgetary negotiations are always difficult. However, this time the debate is taking place in a different geopolitical context around Europe and with Brexit in mind. And I am pleased to say that all the leaders approached it with open minds, rather than red lines. 

Volkswagen Settles U.S. Emissions Lawsuit After Nazi Comparisons

Volkswagen AG’s U.S. unit agreed to settle a lawsuit over the company’s marketing of clean-emissions vehicles, resolving a fight over consumer fraud claims days before it was scheduled to go to trial.

The suit was dismissed on Friday by Fairfax County, Virginia, Circuit Court Chief Judge Bruce D. White on agreement of the parties, according to a copy of the filing provided by Michael Melkersen, lawyer for plaintiff David Doar, owner of a 2014 Jetta. The trial was to begin Feb. 26. Volkswagen Group of America Inc. is based in Herndon, Virginia.

Democrats' memo charges Republicans trying to undermine Russia probes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic minority on the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee on Saturday released a response to Republican charges that the FBI and Justice Department have abused the law in their investigation of possible ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Russia’s Attack on U.S. Troops

The truth is starting to emerge about a recent Russian attack on U.S. forces in eastern Syria, and it deserves more public attention. The assault looks increasingly like a botched attempt to bloody the U.S. and intimidate President Trump into withdrawing from Syria once Islamic State is defeated. The U.S. military won this round, but Vladimir Putin’s forces will surely look for a chance at revenge.

In South Korea, a society faces up to an epidemic of sexual harassment

Globally, women are standing up to their sexual predators. But most South Koreans have been used to staying silent. The programme Get Real talks to a few who dared to fight back.

“The Hungarian Far-Right” – A new book by Péter Krekó and Attila Juhász of Political Capital

Péter Krekó and Attila Juhász of Political Capital, a Budapest-based think-tank and consultancy, have just published a new book titled “The Hungarian Far-Right.” This is the first book in English dedicated to the topic.

Unated States Of America vs Paul J. Manafort, JR: SUPERSENDING INDICTMENT (PDF)

Unated States Of America vs Paul J. Manafort, JR: SUPERSENDING INDICTMENT (PDF)

Go-to termination practices employers need to consider

Employee terminations and resignations must be planned for in advance to avoid common pitfalls for California employers.  I’ve recently written about go-to hiring practices for employers, so I thought it would be appropriate to follow that post up with this list of go-to termination practices.  This Friday’s Five focuses on critical management and legal considerations for employers during the separation process:

Inside the Manafort money machine: A decade of influence-peddling, lavish spending and alleged fraud

As Donald Trump crisscrossed the nation promising to drain the swamp, two of his top advisers were busy illegally building a colossal fortress of riches deep inside that swamp, according to federal prosecutors.

For a decade prior and on through Trump’s populist crusade, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates used offshore accounts, hidden income, falsified documents and laundered cash to maintain Manafort’s lush life of multiple homes, fine art, exquisite clothes and exotic travel, the government says.

Week's balance: American locomotives to get on Ukrainian tracks, IMF demanding anti-corruption court, inspections of Ukrainian businesses returning

Ukraine plans to purchase several hundred American diesel locomotives over the next decade, the IMF insists that the country create an Anti-Corruption Court and implement reform of the energy sector, while the government unexpectedly lifted the moratorium on business inspections, and the NBU reported on disappointing performance by banks in 2017 - these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

UK: Digital currencies inquiry launched

The Treasury Committee is today launching a new inquiry into digital currencies and distributed ledger technology.

The inquiry will cover the role of digital currencies in the UK, including the opportunities and risks that digital currencies may bring to consumers, businesses, and the Government

It will examine the potential impact of distributed ledger technology – such as blockchain – on financial institutions, including the central bank, and financial infrastructure.

Law on Donbas reintegration comes into force

The Law of Ukraine “On the Peculiarities of the State Policy on Ensuring Ukraine's State Sovereignty over Temporarily Occupied Territories in Donetsk and Luhansk Regions” comes into force today.

 The Ukrainian parliament's Holos Ukrainy newspaper published the wording of the law on February 23, 2018. The law comes into force one day following its publication date.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Russia will pay a huge fine in accordance with Kyiv’s claim in The Hague Arbitration Court

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin, claims that the amount of compensation from Russia for violations of Ukraine's rights in the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov, and the Kerch Strait will be significant, however the amount of compensation will be determined by the International Tribunal.

"We deliberately do not publicize the amount, because Russia continues to violate the rights of Ukraine, and Russia will pay for it - the amount will be determined by the Arbitration Court. The sum will be very significant ... it will not be millions, not tens and not hundreds of millions," he said at a joint press conference with Albanian Foreign Minister, Ditmir Bushati, on Thursday in Kyiv.

Ukrainian President: General Electric comes to the countries, in the prospects and development of which it believes

"I'm confident that this is only the first step. The reputation of General Electric is very high and it comes to those countries where it is confident in zero tolerance for corruption. It comes to the countries, in the prospects and development of which it believes. And today's signing of our contract is a very important sign of confidence in Ukraine and its future," Petro Poroshenko said before the ceremony of signing the agreements that stipulate the establishment of a long-term partnership between PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia and General Electric for the purpose of updating the fleet of locomotives, which amounts to 1 billion U.S. dollars.

Путин — наследник давней традиции дезинформации

Москва — Владимир Путин не пишет в Твиттере и утверждает, что у него даже нет смартфона. На первый взгляд нежелание российского президента пользоваться благами новейших технологий, кажется, противоречит широко распространенному убеждению, что именно он инициировал кампанию по подрыву американской демократии посредством соцсетей.

Однако у Путина есть нечто гораздо более важное, чем гаджеты, а именно богатый опыт работы в КГБ и его постсоветской преемнице ФСБ.

UK's hopes for post-Brexit trade deal an illusion – Donald Tusk

Theresa May’s reported agreement with her cabinet on a future trading relationship with the EU has been criticised as based on “pure illusion” by the European council president, Donald Tusk, as frustration with the UK erupted in Brussels.

Welcome to the New Indian Ocean

The strategic environment in the Indian Ocean is changing fast. In the last few years we have seen growing strategic rivalry between major powers such as China and India as they expand their roles in the region. We are now also seeing new players competing to build their own areas of influence and blocs in the Indian Ocean.

How a Little-Known Kentucky Law School Became a High-Ranking Innovation School

Sometimes you find pearls right under your nose. You just miss seeing them because you make certain assumptions based on what you’ve heard or how you have been conditioned. This happened to me recently when I discovered there is a Kentucky law school on the cutting edge of teaching innovation, entrepreneurship and legal technology. I missed this based on two faulty assumptions: the name of the school actually doing this and the fact that it was in my home state.

And no, it’s not what many consider the blue blood of Kentucky law schools, the University of Kentucky.

The Securities and Exchange Commission: Commission Statement and Guidance on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures (PDF)

The Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) is publishing interpretive guidance to assist public companies in preparing disclosures about cybersecurity risks and incidents.

 Commission Statement and Guidance on Public Company Cybersecurity Disclosures (PDF)

Open Cannabis Project: The Fight to Get Marijuana Patents Right

As we’ve discussed before on this blog, cannabis can be and is being patented. It is important to remember that patents are a balance between competing social values. In classical legal theory, patents exist to encourage innovation by offering innovators a limited monopoly in return for making inventions, and eventually releasing them to the public. Although the common law disfavors restraints on trade such as patents, the prevailing theory is that granting a partial monopoly is justified by the social benefit of innovation. This is known as the contract model of patents. Whether this model really produces net social utility in particular cases, or ever, is hotly debated.

Kravchuk speaks about equality in Ukraine-Poland relations, Kuchma about not politicizing history

Ukraine's first President Leonid Kravchuk has said good relations with Poland can be achieved only if Ukraine and Poland treat each other equally and do not meddle in the other's internal affairs.

"It can't be the case that one side assumes the role of teacher, like Poland, and the other, like Ukraine, the student. They are saying which Ukrainian streets should be renamed. That's direct interference in Ukraine's domestic politics and internal affairs. Good ties with Poland should be based on equality," Kravchuk said, speaking at the Fourth Baltic-Black Sea Forum "Solidary Safety of Baltic-Black Sea Region Countries as a Consensus Strategy for Big Europe" in Kyiv on Friday.

No more ATO: What Donbas Operation format change means for troops and civilians

We are currently witnessing a reformatting of what most people call an "Anti-Terrorist Operation" (ATO). Following the signing by the president of the law on "reintegration" of Russian-occupied territories in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the ATO in Ukraine is completing. Instead, a military operation under the leadership of the military-led Joint Forces will begin. This is the right and much needed path. After all, it was the SBU security service that planned all operations in the ATO zone because it was a counterterrorist operation, and fighting terrorism is the SBU's function, not the Army's, according to the law.

Разговоры о России: либо плохо, либо ничего

Noticed vs. missed

Will they notice that you've left?

There are lots of ways to be noticed. You can be loud. Argumentative. You can be sour, difficult, a bit of a diva. You can take umbrage at every opportunity, crack jokes at the expense of others, or merely scowl.

You can use hyperbole, drama and shame to get your way.

You can spam people, yell a lot, interrupt our day. You can create a scene, engage in a scandal and bully others. Your brand or your personality can be the one that we'd all prefer never to hear from again soon.

Or...