Noise: How Much is Too Much?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise at work each year. In 2017, employers paid $1.5 million in penalties for not protecting workers from noise. OSHA estimates approximately $242 million is spent on workers’ compensation claims for hearing loss. But how much noise is too much? When should you provide protection? And how in the world do you defend against a vague claim alleging exposure to “loud noise”?

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The 10 graphs that explain Vladimir Putin’s Russia

What I’d like to do is give a run-through of how we got to where we are with Russia. From the end of the Cold War onwards, focusing on the economy – and how the economy, in true Marxist fashion, has shaped the politics and political realities that we see in Russia today.

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Pensions in the EU: report recognises efforts of Member States to ensure adequate pensions, but more needs to be done

The 2018 Pensions Adequacy Report, published today, analyses how current and future pensions help prevent old-age poverty and maintain the income of men and women for the duration of their retirement.

It underlines that Member States pay more and more attention to sustainable, adequate pensions in their reforms, but further measures will be needed in the future.

Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility commented: "Every retired person has the right to live in dignity. This is a key principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights. 

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Eastern EU states feel 'ridiculed' by commission budget plan

As the European Commission gets ready to roll out its EU budget proposal on Wednesday (2 May), eastern member states are worried about the new way the EU executive plans to calculate cohesion allocations.

Until now, the allocation of cohesion funds have been based on GDP per capita figures across the EU, but the commission now plans to introduce social and environmental indicators, such as youth unemployment and the reception of migrants.

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Дозволи і ліцензії необхідні для створення бізнесу в Україні

Дозволи і ліцензії необхідні для створення бізнесу в Україні from Kyiv National Economic University

Thailand's Legendary Marijuana

For decades, Thailand was one of America’s most resolute allies in the war on drugs. After zero tolerance policies left the Kingdom with the highest rate of incarceration in Asia and a methamphetamine (ya ba) epidemic that not even the most draconian measures could stop, Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya shocked the nation in 2016 when he conceded that “the world has lost the war on drugs.” Not only did he suggest legalizing methamphetamine, Koomchaya urged his countrymen to view the drug epidemic through the lens of public health, rather than law enforcement. Today, many hope that this new laissez-faire approach will lead to the legalization of the legendary marijuana that was once among the Kingdom’s most famous and valuable exports.

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Why the Rest of the World Can’t Free Ride on Europe’s GDPR Rules

The digital industry is riding an important—and turbulent—wave of change right now. As Facebook and others grapple with tough questions about data privacy and security practices, trust in social platforms appears to be plummeting. Companies and analysts are scrambling to figure out how to make privacy rules clear, protect user data, and evolve the business models that made them successful in the first place.

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Exclusive: U.S. Treasury meets business groups on Chinese investment bill - sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury officials are meeting with about 10 industry groups on Monday to discuss the latest draft of legislation that would tighten scrutiny of foreign investment in order to limit Chinese efforts to acquire sophisticated U.S. technology, three sources familiar with the meeting said.

The Treasury Department supports the bill, which is now in the Senate and a companion measure in the U.S. House of Representatives, that would broaden the reach of the inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

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Fate of Prozorro: Will transparent public procurement survive

The electronic public procurement system, Prozorro, which over the last two and a half years revolutionized public procurement in Ukraine, has drained the traditional corruption swamp and become a real headache for many. On the one hand, it's state customers, long used to non-transparent procurement. On the other hand, it's populist politicians initiating and pushing through parliament legislation such as "Buy Ukrainian, Pay Ukrainians" that would effectively kill the system. Besides, the government has become alarmed, dissatisfied with the blocking of tenders by the Antimonopoly Committee.

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U.S. Confirms Delivery Of Javelin Antitank Missiles To Ukraine

KYIV -- The United States has confirmed to RFE/RL its delivery of American-made, Javelin antitank missile systems to Ukraine in a move that is welcome in Kyiv but will almost certainly enrage Moscow amid a four-year conflict that pits Russia-backed separatists against Ukrainian national troops.

"They have already been delivered," a U.S. State Department official confirmed on April 30 in response to an RFE/RL query on the handover of Javelins.

A shipment of lethal aid would appear to deepen U.S. involvement in the simmering conflict and mark at least a symbolic victory for Ukraine in its effort to maintain Western backing in the ongoing conflict.

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Creating a New Retirement System in the Gig Economy

As an increasing number of workers continue to join the gig economy, it is increasingly imperative for lawmakers and regulators to create a new retirement system that allows for freelancers and individuals working for multiple businesses to easily save for retirement. Although the American workforce is changing, the traditional retirement system does not yet present an option for the changing workforce. Gig workers are currently not entitled to enjoy a traditional employer-based retirement plan because such plan are only permitted to cover employees and not independent contractors.

The gig economy may not be able to reach its full potential without a private retirement system to address the needs of gig workers and ensure there are viable options available to allow workers to save for a secure retirement. And this is not a problem that appears likely to go away anytime soon. Intuit estimates that, while gig workers represent 34 percent of the current workforce, this number will grow to 43 percent by 2020.

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РОССИЯ-УКРАИНА: ЦЕНА РАЗВОДА (PDF)

РОССИЯ-УКРАИНА: ЦЕНА РАЗВОДА (PDF)

Oligarchs salt away £34bn in British overseas territories

Russians have more than £34bn in British overseas territories, new figures reveal, as MPs prepare to vote on a bill that will force the territories to unmask corrupt individuals holding “dirty money” in their jurisdictions.

Theresa May promised to freeze Russian assets and money in response to the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury in March, saying “there is no place for these people, or their money, in our country”.

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РАДЗИХОВСКИЙ: КНДР - Южная Корея. Встреча. Итоги на SobiNews & WhotorTV

Switzerland Wants to Be the World Capital of Cryptocurrency

ZUG, Switzerland—When 24-year-old Ian Worrall launched his crypto-investment startup MyBit last year, he chose this Swiss lakeside city.

It was an odd fit: the no-holds-barred corner of the financial markets meeting button-down Switzerland.

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Week's balance: Roundwood timber in exchange for EU aid, slowdown in industrial output, and billions on road safety

To get a billion euros from the European Union, Ukraine will have to meet a number of useful requirements, in particular, to introduce an automatic verification of those astonishing "riches" declared by the country's officials. Meanwhile, the State Statistics Service released data on the slowdown of industrial output, and the Cabinet adopted a large-scale state program to improve road safety and ordered that the Ukrzaliznytsia [Ukrainian Railways] top managers ride trains - these are the main economic news of the outgoing week.

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Створення бізнесу нерезидентами в Україні

Створення бізнесу нерезидентами в Україні from Kyiv National Economic University

Dutch aiming to give Ukraine a boost in meat, dairy output

Ukraine’s agricultural sector is thriving on grain and vegetable exports. But the world’s second-largest agricultural exporter, the Netherlands, hopes Ukrainian dairy and beef producers see some success too.

The Netherlands — although 14 times smaller than Ukraine by land area — is a key global food producer. In 2017, Dutch agriculture exports were worth a total of 92 billion euros — more than Ukraine’s entire gross domestic product.

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Please Stay, Justice Kennedy. America Needs You.

Dear Justice Kennedy,

As you have no doubt heard, rumors of your impending retirement are, for the second year in a row, echoing around Washington and across America. While you and your colleagues on the Supreme Court were listening to the final oral arguments of the term in recent days, those rumors were only growing more insistent.

How can we put this the right way? Please don’t go.

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China eases restrictions on foreign ownership of securities ventures

BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s securities regulator has released new guidelines for foreign investment in Chinese security joint ventures in which it eased some restrictions and launched an application process for more foreign ownership.

The consultation period for the new rules that began in March is now over and the final regulations have been officially released for immediate implementation, the regulator said in an announcement on its website late on Saturday.

During the review, restrictions limiting single foreign investors to a 30 percent stake in securities ventures, either directly or via a partner, were removed, according to the state-backed China Securities newspaper.

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LCIA rules against the interests of Kolomoisky

According to the website of Naftfogaz Ukraine, on 27th April 2018, the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) has concluded that parts of a particularly biased Ukrnafta contract reached in 2010, significantly in favour of Ihor Kolomoisky (via his companies holding minority shares – Privat Group, Littop Enterprises Ltd, Bridgemont Ventures Ltd, Bordo Managament Ltd, Balliotti Enterprises Ltd, Renalda Investments Ltd) are “not enforceable”.

Mr Kolomoisky via various corporate vehicles controls approximately 43% of Ukrnafta shares.  The State 50 +1% of shares.

Nevertheless, the LCIA found that the contract as a whole was valid, despite some key provisions specifically relating to corporate management being “not subject to execution, as it contradicts the imperative norms of corporate legislation of Ukraine.”

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TROUBLE IS MY BUSINESS (2018)

"Trouble" is the dark tale of a private investigator down on his luck who becomes dangerously intertwined with an enigmatic woman. He was a working man, missing persons was his specialty... she was from a world of wealth, twisted family roots, and murder.

Detective Roland Drake falls for two sisters from the Montemar family. One woman is dead and the other wants to kill him.

Правова система України

Правова система України from Kyiv National Economic University

Facts regarding the crash of the TU-154M No. 101, (Fight PLF101), that took place in Smolensk, Russia on the 10th of April 2010

THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND COMMITTEE FOR THE RE-INVESTIGATION OF THE SMOLENSK AIR CRASH 

TECHNICAL REPORT

This crash is being investigated by the Committee for the Re-Investigation of Air Crashes (hereby referred to asthe “Committee”) and is a part of the Committee for the Investigation of National Aviation Accidents. TheCommittee has been tasked with the responsibility of determining the circumstances and causes of this aircrash, and with the issuance of appropriate preventive recommendations.

READ TECHNICAL REPORT IN PDF HERE

5 Expert Tips for 5-Star Client Reviews

5-star client reviews and client referrals are some of the most affordable ways to attract new clients and market your firm.  Here are 5 tips to gain new clients and keep them happy.

#1 Measure Client Satisfaction

In my post featuring an interview with Mary Juetten, she recommended small law firms track their NPS (Net Promoter Score) to measure client satisfaction and collect feedback from previous clients.  I’m reiterating that this is a must for all small law firms because without the NPS and feedback, you don’t know how you are perceived, what clients appreciate, or where you need to make improvements.  

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National Bank of Ukraine Discloses Bank Owners and Qualifying Holders

National Bank of Ukraine Proceeds in Making Banking System More Transparent Thus, the NBU web-site for the first time contains information on bank managers, as well as information on managers and owners of qualifying holding in banks that were liquidated not on the initiative of their owners.

The relevant information has been disclosed under part five of Article 68 of the law of Ukraine On the National Bank of Ukraine and posted in Bank supervision - Bank registration section on the pages Information on bank managers and Managers and owners of qualifying holding of liquidated banks (Ukrainian version).

Національний банк удосконалив порядок ліцензування валютних операцій для банків, населення та бізнесу.

По-перше, Національний банк спростив порядок видачі електронних ліцензій на здійснення фізичними особами валютних операцій.

Так, до переліку документів необхідних для отримання таких ліцензій додається можливість подання на підтвердження джерел походження коштів документів, що стосуються результатів його підприємницької діяльності або продажу рухомого та/або нерухомого майна (податкової декларації про майновий стан і доходи, декларації платника єдиного податку фізичної особи-підприємця, договору про продаж рухомого та/або нерухомого майна). Нагадаємо, фізична особа може отримати е-ліцензію незалежно від того є вона підприємцем чи ні, якщо метою отримання ліцензії є операції, не пов’язані з її підприємницькою діяльністю.

Juncker to celebrate Karl Marx's birthday

European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker will give a speech on 4 May in Trier to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Kark Marx's birth in the German city. He was invited as a Trier honorary citizen. "Nobody can deny that Karl Marx is a figure who shaped history in one way or the other, and not speaking of him would come close to denying history," a commission spokeswoman said Friday.

Just Out: House Intelligence Committee Report released. “No evidence” that the Trump Campaign “colluded, coordinated or conspired with Russia.” Clinton Campaign paid for Opposition Research obtained from Russia- Wow! A total Witch Hunt! MUST END NOW!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 27, 2018

Antonov unveils Ukrainian-Turkish project of new military aircraft (Photo)

The Kyiv-based state-owned aircraft designer bureau Antonov during the Eurasia-2018 international air show in Antalya, Turkey, presented a Ukrainian-Turkish project of the An-188 military aircraft. The program was launched nearly two years ago on the initiative of the Turkish side, according to Antonov's acting president "Oleksandr Los. "The project minimizes technical and political risks by attracting the most up-to-date promising technological solutions, engines and equipment from the world's leading manufacturers," the company's press service quoted Los as saying.

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Considerations in Estate Planning for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other Crypto-Currencies

While success in crypto-currency investing is far from assured, death, sadly, is.  Accordingly, it is vital that investors in Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies are prepared for the unique estate planning factors that apply to digital assets.  The following are five estate planning factors that should be addressed immediately by crypto-currency investors to ensure that their digital assets are effectively passed on to their heirs or beneficiaries.

1. Custody of Private Keys and Other Information to Access Digital Assets

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Moonwalking bears and underwater icebergs: Hidden risks in markets - speech by Alex Brazier

Moonwalking bears and underwater icebergs hidden risks in markets speech by alex brazier from Kyiv National Economic University

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U.S. appeals court allows Texas to implement voter ID law

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Friday allowed Texas to implement a law requiring photo identification at the ballot box, reversing a lower court decision that blocked the measure on the grounds it could be discriminatory against racial minorities.

In a 2-1 decision, a panel from the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the law, which was designed as a fix for previous voter ID legislation struck down for being discriminatory.

The panel said the new legislation enacted last year had “improvements for disadvantaged minority voters,” the latest chapter in a seven-year dispute over voter ID at the ballot box in Texas, the most-populous Republican-controlled state.

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President Donald J. Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel Strengthen the Close Relationship Between the United States and Germany

• "On October 6, 1683, 13 German families landed in Philadelphia and went on to found the first German settlement in America: Germantown, Pennsylvania.

• Today, there are more than 44 million Americans of German heritage, comprising the United States’ largest ancestry group."

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Предвыборный ход или цивилизационный выбор?

Евгений Киселёв

Пока в Украине больше всего разговоров об успехах и неудачах в борьбе с коррупцией, о головоломных раскладах политических сил, постоянно меняющихся по мере того, как понемногу приближаются президентские выборы 2019 года; пока в России главными темами обсуждения остаются неуклюжие и бесплодные попытки Роскомнадзора заблокировать Telegram и грядущее в мае после инаугурации Путина формирование нового правительства РФ и новой президентской администрации, пока там выдвигаются всевозможные гипотезы о предстоящих отставках, назначениях и перестановках, неожиданно быстрыми темпами пошел важнейший процесс, затрагивающий обе страны – и Украину, и Россию.

North Korea

North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (abbreviated as DPRK, DPR Korea or Korea DPR), is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Officially, its territory consists of the whole Korean Peninsula and its adjacent islands. Pyongyang is the nation's capital and largest city. To the north and northwest, the country is bordered by China and by Russia along the Amnok (known as the Yalu in China) and Tumenrivers; it is bordered to the south by South Korea, with the heavily fortified Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two. Nevertheless, North Korea, like its southern counterpart, claims to be the legitimate government of the entire peninsula. Both North Korea and South Korea became members of the United Nations in 1991.

In 1910, Korea was annexed by Imperial Japan. After the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II in 1945, Korea was divided into two zones, with the north occupied by the Soviets and the south occupied by the Americans. 

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Turkey, US agree to approve roadmap on Syria

Turkey and the United States have agreed to approve a road map on Syria “to avoid potential confrontation” between the two allies, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said after meeting with the new U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Brussels on the occasion of a NATO summit.

“In our meeting we confirmed approval of a roadmap on which our joint working group has reached an initial agreement,” Çavuşoğlu told reporters after his meeting with Pompeo.

“We will implement the Manbij model in other parts of Syria, particularly east of the Euphrates. We’ll therefore be taking a step with the U.S. on an issue that causes tension in our bilateral ties. If the roadmap is implemented, the [Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units] YPG will be withdrawn from Manbij. Otherwise we’ll have to intervene against the terrorists just like we did in Afrin,” he said.

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The Galvanizing Shock of the Bill Cosby Verdict

Early on Thursday afternoon, at the culmination of his retrial in Norristown, Pennsylvania, Bill Cosby was found guilty on three counts of sexual assault. This should not have been surprising. Women have accused Cosby of drugging and molesting them on a timeline that stretches from the mid-sixties to 2008. In 2000, a report of his misbehavior made the New York Post. In 2005, Andrea Constand’s allegations against Cosby became public, and Tamara Green went on the “Today” show to accuse Cosby of assaulting her in the nineteen-seventies.

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The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide

The Bill of Rights: A User's Guide 

Ukrainian President: Strong border is a key element of independence and an important element of the national security system of the state

President Petro Poroshenko emphasizes that a strong border is a key element of Ukraine's independence and an important element of an improved system of national security of the state.

"The key stronghold and element of our independence is Ukrainian sovereignty over Ukrainian soil. The border must be securely protected. And this is why I pay so much attention to the development of the border troops and the border service," the President said in a speech at “Kodyma” Division of the Border Service on occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Border Service during the working trip to Odesa region.

Occupation of Donbas: What has PACE actually recognized

After the adoption by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of a resolution of April 24, there was some confusion with terms. In Ukraine, for the most part, the media claimed that the PACE had officially recognized the occupation of Donbas by Russia. However, in the document, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions are referred to as "territories under effective control of the Russian authorities." However, this is not the same concept. The notion of "territories under effective control" implies that these particular territories are under the protection of or under control of another state or organization. Occupation is a quite different term. "Under control" means that a certain agreement between the parties can be reached or that a voluntary transfer of the territory under the control of a third State or the United Nations may occur, and that the management over the territory in question will not be carried out by the State to which the territory belongs. For example, at one time this was the case with Kosovo.

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Ukraine's referendum law passed during Yanukovych's presidency designated as unconstitutional

The Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) has designated that the law on national referenda, which was passed during Viktor Yanukovych's presidency, is unconstitutional. CCU judges confirmed at their meeting on April 26 that the law on the all-Ukrainian referendum does not comply with the Fundamental Law, the Constitution of Ukraine, a CCU source told an UNIAN correspondent.

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North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and South’s Moon Hold Historic Summit

SEOUL—Kim Jong Un became the first North Korean leader to set foot in the South since the Korean War when he stepped across the military demarcation line Friday and shook hands with Moon Jae-in, the South Korean president.

The outcome of their meeting is set to determine the future of relations on the Korean Peninsula and lay the groundwork for Mr. Kim’s planned summit with President Donald Trump, which could come within weeks.

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Light at the end of the tunnel: Where Ukraine’s banking system is moving

The phrase, money is the lifeblood of an economy, maybe a bit hackneyed, but its essence is quite correct: just about everyone in a country depends on financial relations. And so if we want to change a country and its economy for the better, we have to reform both relations within the banking system and the financial infrastructure. This simple logic makes it quite clear why banking reforms are necessary, and why it, highly symbolically, was one of the first to be launched after the Revolution of Dignity.

Perhaps when the reform of the banking sector was planned, removing it from the clutches of the oligarchs was not an explicit priority. Perhaps the idea wasn’t even on the agenda. But today it’s obvious that the changes to Ukraine’s banking system have not only brought more reliability, technology and efficiency, but also removed the lion’s share from the influence of oligarchs. And this means the reforms have been successful even if they aren’t yet completed.

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VIRTUAL CURRENCIES FOR MOBILE APPS: LAWS, PROFITS, AND FUNNY BUSINESS

Can the IRS tax virtual currencies for mobile apps?  Does the NSA really play World of Warcraft to fight terrorism? (Yes, at least they did.) Are cybercriminals using virtual currencies to launder money?

Virtual currencies, including those used for mobile apps, can be very profitable.  Even so, other issues arise when peering into this virtual vault as underscored by our opening questions.  Let’s look before we leap into virtual currencies while focusing on how they are treated under US laws.

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North, South Korea agree to goal of 'complete denuclearisation' of Korean peninsula

SEOUL (Reuters) - The leaders of North and South Korea signed a declaration on Friday agreeing to work for the “complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula”.

At their first summit in more than a decade, the two sides announced they would seek an agreement to establish “permanent” and “solid” peace on the peninsula.

The declaration included promises to pursue military arms reduction, cease “hostile acts,” turn their fortified border into a “peace zone,” and seek multilateral talks with other countries, such as the United States.

United States Russian Sanctions and the ‘General Licenses’

Introduction

1. On 6th April 2018 the United States Office of Foreign Asset Affairs (“OFAC”) extended the US Specially Designated Nationals List (“SDN List”) to 7 leading Russian oligarchs (Vladimir Bogdanov, Oleg Deripaska, Suleiman Kerimov, Igor Rotenberg, Kirill Shamalov, Andrei Skoch and Viktor Vekselberg) and their children, spouses, parents and siblings, 12 companies and 17 senior Russian government entities.  A number of these oligarchs are heavily involved in the energy sector.  

2. On 23rd April OFAC issued two General Licenses Nos. 12A and 14 which were designed to ameliorate some of difficulties which must have arisen from the sanctions, especially with United Company Rusal. On 6th April OFAC had previously issued General Licenses Nos. 12 and 13.  Further General Licenses may follow in response to particular problems.

3. The sanctions have already given rise to various issues in relation to the performance of contracts governed by English law: for example, whether any force majeure or other contractual provisions can be invoked (and if so when) or whether such contacts are now tainted by illegality, especially where payment is effected by US dollar remittances through the United States banking system.

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Whitehouse: What You Need To Know About The Loopholes That Prevent The Removal Of Many Dangerous Criminal Aliens

WHAT: Loopholes in our immigration system created by judicial rulings have made it nearly impossible to remove many criminal aliens.

In drafting the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Congress included that criminal aliens convicted of any number of serious offenses referred to as aggravated felonies should be subject to immigration consequences. Federal courts, however, have created loopholes that prevent some serious criminal convictions from qualifying as aggravated felonies under the INA. As a result, the government is often unable to use the only grounds available to remove many criminal aliens.

How to Manage an Insecure Employee

When employees lack self-confidence, it can be hard to get them to perform at their best. So how can you help them excel at their job? What kind of coaching should you provide? What’s the best way to boost their self-esteem? And how do you deal with your own frustration around their insecure behavior?

What the Experts Say

Insecure employees are “hard to evaluate, hard to coach, and hard to develop,” says Ethan Burris, an associate professor at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas, Austin. “The challenge is that insecure people are so concerned with how they look and how they are perceived that they either fail to solicit critical feedback or completely ignore it when it’s given.

READ MORE HERE

From Half-life to the afterlife – Chernobyl and beyond (Extending reactor life spans)

The 26th April marks the 32nd anniversary of the infamous Chernobyl disaster in (what was then Soviet) Ukraine.

Nuclear power remains a necessity within the Ukrainian energy mix, and will do for the foreseeable future.  That is clearly not without risk, (Chernobyl legacy, crumbling and long ignored infrastructure aside), for there remains something of a dependence upon Russia with regard to fuel and its disposal – albeit Ukraine is trying to minimise/remove Russia from that supply chain for obvious geopolitical reasons.

Nevertheless, the current Ukrainian nuclear power infrastructure is hardly new, and neither is there the significant finance available to build and commission enough plants to take existing nuclear plants originally designed with a 30 year lifespan, off-line.

READ MORE HERE

22 Ukrainian soldiers wounded in last 48 hours in eastern Ukraine - highest number since July. Russia-led forces have intensified artillery attacks on Ukrainians defending their country. #Russia must end its aggression and fully implement the Minsk agreements.

— Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) April 26, 2018

Minimizing the Risks of Doing Business With Companies in the Cannabis Industry

As of today, 30 states have legalized the medical use of cannabis, and eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized the recreational use of cannabis. (For purposes of this article, the terms cannabis and marijuana are used interchangeably. See 21 U.S.C. § 802(16)). These state laws reflect an undeniable shift toward a more tolerant legal environment for not only cannabis users, but also for an entire industry focused on cannabis use. Prompted by this shift, the cannabis industry is growing rapidly.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE

DOJ Enforcement Update: Higher Education

According to press reports, the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating several issues related to admission of students to institutions of higher learning.

• In January, reports emerged that DOJ was investigating whether the National Association of College Admission Counseling’s (NACAC’s) ethical guidelines violate the antitrust laws. The DOJ appeared to be concerned about an agreement not to recruit students who have enrolled, registered, declared their intent or submitted deposits to other institutions. This could affect so-called early decision programs, under which students pledge to attend a particular school in return for early consideration of their applications. Although early decision programs have existed for many years, the DOJ could be concerned about schools putting “teeth” into such programs by agreeing with each other not to recruit or accept students who pledge to enroll at other schools.

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When is a Contract “Irreparably Broken” in the Eyes of the Law?

In U.S. contract law, a contract is considered “irreparably broken” after a “material” breach of contract—a breach that is so severe that essentially destroys the basis of the contract and goes to the root of the agreement between the contract’s parties. If a material breach occurs, the non-breaching party can end the agreement and attempt to collect damages resulting from the breach.

With this in mind, here are some factors to consider when determining whether a contract breach was a material breach.

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'A new history starts now' as leaders of two Koreas meet

SEOUL (Reuters) - Smiling and holding hands, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met at the heavily fortified demilitarized zone between the countries on Friday in the first summit for the two Koreas in over a decade.

Scenes of Moon and Kim joking and walking together marked a striking contrast to last year’s barrage of North Korean missile tests and its largest ever nuclear test that led to sweeping international sanctions and fears of a fresh conflict on the Korean peninsula.

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Pompeo becomes U.S. secretary of state as North Korea, Middle East issues await

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate confirmed Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump’s secretary of state on Thursday, and the former CIA director set off immediately on a trip to meet key allies in Europe and the Middle East.

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Isis trying to foment a wave of migration to Europe, says UN official

Islamic State commanders fleeing Syria are conspiring with extremist groups in Africa to foment and infiltrate a new migration wave destined for Europe, the head of the UN World Food Programme has said.

David Beasley, a former Republican governor of South Carolina, said Europe needed to wake up to the extremists’ strategy in the Sahel region.

Those forced out of Syria were uniting with local terrorist groups to use a lack of food as both a recruitment tool and a vehicle to push millions of Africans towards Europe, he said. 

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