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Asia-Pacific Investigations Review 2022
United States and China at a Crossroads: Global Trade Tensionsand Developments in Cross-Border Investigations
Dora W Wang, Michael Lowell, Julianne Nowicki and Alejo RS Cabranes
Trade tensions between the United States and China currently frame the legal environment of cross-border investigations. These tensions between the global superpowers have fuelled sharp increases in extraterritorial enforcement activity. The result is that companies find themselves struggling to balance the growing demands of regulators and investigators in multiple jurisdictions. This article analyses recent developments in the US and China in relation to export control regulations and anti-corruption measures and the corresponding compliance challenges facing companies and their boards.
Discussion points
Ongoing US–China trade tensions fuelling increased cross-border investigations
New US export controls and sanctions and China's countermeasures
Navigating conflicts of law in increasingly complex legal environments in the US and China
Impact of data protection and privacy laws on cross-border investigations
Referenced in this article
China Cyber Security Law of 2017
China's Data Security Guidelines 2019
Personal Information Protection Law April 2021
International Criminal Justice Assistance Law October 2018
Chinese State Secrets Law
It is no secret that the legal landscape of extraterritorial investigations continues to evolve. While the covid-19 pandemic may have temporarily slowed investigations, the current uptick in cross-border investigations involving China is undeniable. This upward trend is the result of a 'perfect storm.' Over the past year, trade tensions between the United States and China have exponentially risen, resulting in increased enforcement action and cross-border investigations as well as the imposition of sanctions and export restrictions on major Chinese companies. China has countered these export restrictions and sanctions by enacting measures of its own, including data protection and data localisation laws to effectively stop Chinese companies from providing information to, or cooperating with, investigators, under the threat of strict penalties. Companies large and small find themselves in the middle of the resulting trade tensions between countries. These companies are doing their best to stay off the investigatory radar of their own government, as well as those of other governments. In some, there has been a significant rise in internal investigations and a deepening and broadening of internal compliance programmes to manage risks. This article addresses each layer of the proverbial 'perfect storm'.
Trade tensions continue to rise with potential retaliatory measures
In the past year, trade tensions between China and the United States have continued to escalate to new heights. China has aggressively responded to US extraterritorial sanctions and long-arm statutes by implementing its own export control regime and a new legal regime under its recently enacted Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law, both of which authorise retaliatory action against foreign governments. As China's export control and sanctions regimes have been strengthened, and US export restrictions against prominent Chinese companies like Huawei continue, multinational corporations (MNCs) will need to carefully consider how to mitigate risk under both legal regimes and enhance their compliance efforts. Because of the greater enforcement risk under the ever-changing US and China trade laws, MNCs should stay updated on regulatory changes and undertake regular risk assessments to uncover non-compliance, remediate weaknesses in compliance controls, address potential violations and mitigate possible penalties.
Developments in US export controls and sanctions laws
The US Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) continues to increase export restrictions against China and Chinese entities and has shown no signs of easing such restrictions. For example, Huawei remains designated on the Entity List and BIS has continued to add a number of Huawei's non-US affiliates to the Entity List, while removing the former temporary general licence and expanding export restrictions on foreign-made items produced by Huawei.1 BIS continues to require a licence for exports of Export Administration Regulation (EAR)-controlled items to Huawei, subject to a presumption of denial, and only in rare cases has provided approvals to US companies where there is no risk to US national security.$!
In addition to Huawei, BIS designated a series of other Chinese companies on the Entity List and Unverified List. These designations have targeted Chinese supercomputer companies and entities in the semiconductor, energy and unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturing industries, as well as educational and research institutions.3 On 28 April 2020, BIS expanded the Military End Use/End User (MEU) rule to capture a broader set of activities and items that 'support' a military end use.4 The MEU rule prohibits the export, re-export or in-country transfer of certain EAR-controlled items for a 'military end user' or 'military end use' in China, Russia or Venezuela.5 On 23 December 2020, BIS also placed exporters on notice of parties it deems 'military end users' by publishing an official list (the MEU List).6 As a result, MNCs may need to conduct an internal investigation or risk assessment to identify possible past violations and consider enhancing due diligence and screening processes to review publicly available information to determine whether any customers, end-users or suppliers are prohibited military end users under the MEU Rule.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) also imposed sanctions against China through targeted designations on its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List and Non-SDN Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies (NS-CMIC) List. The assets of SDNs are blocked from the US financial system, and US persons are generally prohibited from dealing with SDNs. From 2019 to 2021, OFAC designated several Chinese government officials and entities as SDNs pursuant to EO 13818.7 OFAC also designated Chinese entities as CMICs.8 On 3 June 2021, President Joseph Biden issued EO 14032, which prohibits US persons from investing in publicly traded securities of companies operating in China's defence and surveillance technology sectors, which are identified in the Annex to EO 14032 and on OFAC's NS-CMIC List.
Developments in China's export control and sanctions regimes
In the past year, China adopted its new Export Control Law (ECL), which marked a significant development in China's implementation of its own export control regime.9 On 17 October 2020, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (SCNPC) approved the ECL, which became effective on 1 December 2020. The passage of the ECL reflects China's broader efforts to further its national security interests and counteract the US government's use of export controls to restrict the transfer of sensitive technologies to China. The new law also follows China's announcement of its Unreliable Entity List on 19 May 2019, and the release of implementing provisions on 19 September 2020.10 These provisions allow the Chinese government to designate any foreign entity that endangers the national sovereignty, security or development interests of China. To date, the Chinese government has not designated any foreign entities on the Unreliable Entity List but this may soon change with the passage of the ECL.
China's new ECL mirrors the US and other foreign export regimes as it defines controlled items and technologies, deemed exports and export control authorities, and asserts extraterritorial jurisdiction on transfers of controlled technology outside of China. Exporters are required to apply for an export permit to export controlled items, as well as items that are otherwise subject to restrictions under the People's Republic of China (PRC) Export Control Law. Similar to the US and other export regimes, China's ECL provides a range of administrative and criminal penalties for violations of the law.11 Unlike other export regimes, China's ECL authorises the Chinese government to take retaliatory measures in response to any country or region that 'abuses export control measures to endanger the national security and national interests of the People's Republic of China.'12 As a result, MNCs should continue to review any additional rules and guidelines adopted by the Chinese government to implement the new ECL.
On 28 April 2021, China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) issued its official guidance on the development of policies and procedures to prevent, detect and remediate violations of China's ECL.13 China's new guidelines mirror the guidance by the US Department of Commerce under its export compliance programme.14 MNCs should consider implementing an export compliance programme, which takes into account MOFCOM's recent guidance, in order to comply with the ECL.
On 9 January 2021, MOFCOM released the Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-Territorial Application of Foreign Laws and Other Measures (the Chinese Blocking Statute).15 The Chinese Blocking Statute established the first blocking statute in China to counteract the impact of foreign legal measures on Chinese persons. The Chinese Blocking Statute applies to situations where the extraterritorial application of non-Chinese laws and other measures is determined to violate 'international law and basic principles of international relations', and 'unjustifiably prohibit or restrict Chinese Persons from engaging in normal economic, trade and related activities.'16 Under article 5, Chinese parties are required to submit a report to MOFCOM within 30 days of being subject to an extraterritorial measure. The State Council will then review the report and may issue an order to prohibit the Chinese party from complying with the extraterritorial measure. A Chinese party may also apply for and be granted an exemption from any such order.
In addition to its new export law and blocking statute, China has also expanded its sanctions regime. On 10 June 2021, the SCNPC passed the Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China (AFSL).17 The AFSL is a legal framework that the Chinese government created to counteract sanctions imposed by foreign governments and protect Chinese individuals and organisations from suffering resulting damages. Article 3 asserts the right of the PRC to take countermeasures in response to discriminatory or restrictive measures against Chinese citizens and organisations, as well as interference in China's internal affairs. These countermeasures include designations on a 'countermeasures list', as well as additional penalties under article 6, which include refusal of visa issuance, deportation, freezing of assets and any other measures deemed necessary. Article 12 allows Chinese individuals and organisations to file a lawsuit in China against foreign individuals or organisations where they have suffered from 'discriminative or restrictive' measures by foreign countries.
China's adoption of its AFSL shows how countries are implementing measures to counteract extraterritorial sanctions by foreign countries, such as the United States. These conflicts of law present challenges for both US and China-based MNCs to comply with applicable laws, particularly in the areas of sanctions and export controls. MNCs should implement in-depth and comprehensive due diligence programmes in conducting international business to assess the risks presented by such laws and mitigate the risks of non-compliance.
Increased US focus on corruption
On the corruption front, President Joseph Biden, on 3 June 2021, issued a Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest.18 As the name suggests, this general statement of policy and accompanying Fact Sheet are intended to invigorate already-existing efforts to stamp out corruption. Specifically, the memorandum requires a 200-day 'interagency review process' and the development of a 'Presidential strategy' that will, when implemented, significantly bolster the ability of the US government to:
modernise, coordinate, and support efforts to better fight corruption;
curb illicit finance through the establishment of a 'beneficial ownership' registry to thwart financial anonymity and secrecy both domestic and abroad;
hold corrupt actors accountable by building upon anticorruption sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act and bolstering criminal and civil enforcement actions;
build international partnerships through, inter alia, the United Nations, G7 and Financial Action Task Force to counteract corruption at the strategic level; and
improve foreign assistance by partnering with foreign governments and civil society to 'enhance the capacity of their domestic institutions to implement transparency, oversight, and accountability measures'.
This Presidential Memorandum solidifies the notion that anti-corruption efforts domestic and abroad remain a key priority of the US, regardless of the increasing difficulty to investigate corruption across national frontiers. The Administration's 3 June announcement coincided with several other US and global anti-corruption initiatives, including the 2 June 2021 launch of the US Congress's Caucus against Foreign Corruption and Kleptocracy, the first United Nations (UN) General Assembly Special Session on corruption, which took place the first week of June and the G7 Foreign Ministers' statement.19 Nonetheless, collectively these announcements are unlikely to shift the landscape and expectations for enforcement of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), including in China where the FCPA has been and will remain the primary focus of MNCs' compliance programmes and internal investigations.
Investigators in the United States will continue to build upon a 2019 FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy revision,20 which provided for a 'presumption of declination' of prosecution to any company that 'voluntarily self-discloses, fully cooperates, and appropriately remediates any violation of the FCPA'. For example, in July 2020, the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) and the US Securities Exchange Commission (US SEC) Enforcement Division released updated guidance on FCPA compliance. The Second Edition of the Resource Guide to the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act assimilated the compliance principles previously published in its June 2020 Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs21 into a cross-border investigation context. For example, in the updated Resource Guide, the US DOJ continued to emphasise a risk-based approach in the design, implementation and assessment of FCPA compliance policies. Given the frequency of FCPA issues arising from the use of third parties, particularly in foreign countries like China, the updated Resource Guide reflects the US government's emphasis on the need for a company to engage in due diligence regarding the qualifications and business justifications for the engagement of third parties, as well as ongoing monitoring of these third-party relationships.
Compliance programme assessments carry weight
Without question, the US government's focus on China has not shifted with the turnover of presidential administrations. When asked at her confirmation hearing for Deputy Attorney General whether the Biden Administration would continue the former administration's China Initiative,22 the incoming administration's nominee, Lisa Monaco, stated that the US DOJ 'has an important role to play in countering China and its adversarial actions, which pose the top security threat to the United States' interests and values'.23 Indeed, as trade tensions continue to simmer, China has remained the primary focus of the US government's enforcement activities, not only with the FCPA, but also the panoply of other laws and regulations carrying extraterritorial effect that investigators have aimed at business conduct in China.
As cross-border investigations increase in frequency, compliance programme assessments remain either a critical defence, or conspicuous weakness, in both the United States and China. China is increasingly asserting jurisdiction over Chinese companies' conduct abroad, applying extraterritorial principles in the same manner that US investigators have long embraced with antitrust and securities laws. By enforcing US laws extraterritorially, such as US sanctions against Huawei and other Chinese companies, the US government expects to maintain pressure on China in what has become a global hegemonic struggle between the two superpowers. Likewise, as trade tensions continue to increase, Chinese government officials have reiterated their commitment to exercising extraterritorial jurisdiction when they perceive foreign conduct as threatening China's national interests.
Compliance programme assessments and effects on prosecutorial discretion
In the United States, the dual-edged nature of compliance assessments was on full display. Effective compliance programmes garnered leniency, while ineffective compliance programmes resulted in increased penalties. Global companies' business conduct in China remained in the spotlight through the final year of the Trump Administration as US government investigators weighed companies' efforts to comply with the FCPA, including targeting businesses with ineffective compliance procedures. For example, in December 2019, Swedish telecom giant Ericsson agreed to pay over US$1 billion in one of the largest FCPA enforcement actions to date. In the US SEC's civil complaint, government investigators found that in 2013 Ericsson had instituted a policy restricting the use of third-party agents. However, the US SEC found that Ericsson's own head of Asia-Pacific 'determined that it was important for Ericsson China's business to continue to engage third-party agents with strong connections to Ericsson China's state-owned customers', and continued to use and pay agents by circumventing what the US SEC deemed ineffective internal procedures24.
Conversely, the past year reinforced how cooperation and the implementation of effective compliance procedures can work to a company's benefit. The opening weeks of 2020 witnessed investigators aiming enforcement tools beyond solely the FCPA to combat instances of business misconduct and corruption, particularly in China. In January 2020, courts in France, the United Kingdom, and the United States approved parallel versions of a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) between multinational government investigators and Airbus that included a combined fine of nearly US$4 billion for the aerospace company. The resolution ended multi-year investigations into Airbus' conduct globally, and in particular in China between 2008 and 2015, by the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office, the UK Serious Fraud Office and the US DOJ.25 The US DPA provided Airbus credit for voluntarily disclosing International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) violations, and further credited Airbus for cooperating, and for committing to additional investigation of the ITAR-related conduct. The DPA also noted that Airbus engaged in corrective measures, including identifying and implementing corrective actions to remediate past misconduct and improve its overall export compliance programme and associated internal controls going forward. Airbus agreed to pay a criminal penalty just north of US$2 billion for the misconduct, which represented a 25 per cent departure from the bottom of the Sentencing Guidelines range26.
The twenty-first century's military, economic and technological competition between the two global superpowers, the US and China, also extends to the legal arena. Increasingly, China has adopted regulations and enforcement practices that mirror those in the United States just as, for example, Germany's Kaiser Wilhelm II sought to compete with and mimic British naval power at the turn of the twentieth century. Beginning in 2018, with China's passage of the Amended Anti-Unfair Competition Law (AUCL), the Chinese government aimed to provide incentives for the implementation of robust compliance programmes in the same way as China's regulator-counterparts in the UK and the US. The AUCL, which provides that 'acts of bribery committed by a staff member of a business operator shall be deemed the conduct of the business operator, unless the business operator has evidence to prove that such acts of the staff member are unrelated to seeking business opportunities or competitive advantage for the business operator', placed the onus of compliance on businesses operating in China to present persuasive evidence to show that it should not be held vicariously liable for an employee's misconduct.
Over the past two years, Chinese authorities have increasingly moved in lockstep with their US counterparts when it comes to compliance programme expectations. Although there is no direct parallel, or equivalent, to a DPA in China, 2020 witnessed the country's first pilot programme for corporate criminal compliance and non-prosecution. In March 2020, the Supreme People's Procuratorate's pilot programme became the first in China to allow local People's Procuratorates to make non-prosecution determinations and thereby request that Chinese companies make specific compliance commitments and develop more effective compliance programmes.
Moreover, in October 2019, the Shenzhen Nanshan District Public Security Bureau received a report that employees of an unnamed company, Company Y, paid bribes to an employee of the procurement department of Company H, as well as a director of Company H. In March 2020, the Public Security Bureau referred the case to Shenzhen Nanshan District Procuratorate Bureau. The Procuratorate Bureau investigated the alleged misconduct and found that the employees of Company Y paid bribes, and that Company Y, as a soon-to-be-publicly-listed company, had significant gaps in its corporate compliance programme. After an investigation, the Procuratorate declined to prosecute the employee of Company Y. And in July 2020, the Procuratorate signed a compliance supervision agreement with Company Y that required Company Y to establish an effective compliance system.27
The recognition of a company's effective compliance programme as an important consideration in granting cooperation credit or in declining to prosecute by governments around the globe underscores the importance of compliance as a defence for a company in a government investigation and a foundation for sustainable business operations in its home country and abroad. And China, as it will soon reach the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign in 2022, will continue to benchmark the investigative and enforcement practices of US and European countries – including compliance programme assessments and leniency programmes as well as an increased focus on prosecuting individual liability in corruption cases – and adopt similar approaches to become part of the multilateral efforts by governments to crack down on corruption.
Data security and new restrictions on cross-border data transfer
While there has been an uptick in offensive cross-border investigations, there is now a defensive component to cross-border investigations as well. Typically, when a Chinese company is the subject of a cross-border investigation, this investigation will require investigators located outside of China to review vast amounts of data located within China. Over time, however, the Chinese government has developed a complex regulatory regime governing cross-border data transfers, which makes it increasingly difficult to obtain the requisite data and information to respond to a government investigation initiated by a foreign prosecutor or conduct cross-border investigations.
The Chinese State Secrets Law serves as one of China's most foundational data localisation laws, prohibiting the transfer of state secrets outside of China's borders. China broadly defines 'state secrets' as 'matters that concern state security and national interests.'28 With this definition, it is not always clear what constitutes 'state secrets', but the concept generally includes any data or information that is related to China's 'economic and social development', information related to science and technology, or any information that, if released, could pose a threat to Chinese national security.29 If there is uncertainty whether certain information is a state secret, companies may need to submit the information to the Chinese government for prior approval. Violators of the State Secrets Law are subject to strict criminal penalties.
The China Cyber Security Law of 2017 (CSL) has added further complexity to the regulatory regime, requiring 'network operators' – which, in effect, includes nearly all businesses operating in China – to implement network security measures that protect personal information and important data. Moreover, those operating 'critical information infrastructure' (CII) must ensure that all personal information and important data collated or generated in China is stored on a server that is physically located in China. Any cross-border transfer of this data is subject to heightened security assessments.30 The CSL broadly defines CII as 'an infrastructure that, in the event of damage, loss of function, or data leak, might seriously endanger [China's] national security, national welfare or the livelihoods of the people, or the public interest'.
PRC Data Security Law 2021
Building upon the general data transfer provisions contained in the CSL, the National People's Congress passed the PRC Data Security Law (DSL) on 10 June 2021, after having previously circulated two DSL drafts. The DSL comes into effect on 1 September 2021, and serves as China's first comprehensive data security legislation governing issues related to the collection, storage, processing, use, provision, transaction and publication of any data. Pertinent to cross-border investigations, the DSL's final version requires Chinese government approval before providing data physically stored in China, to law enforcement authorities or judicial bodies outside China.
For example, if the US DOJ were to request data that is generated or collected in China as part of an investigation, the individual or entity that plans to transfer the data would need to obtain the approval from the Chinese government prior to submitting the data or information to the US DOJ. Notably, violations of China's prohibition on cross-border data transfer attract significant penalties including inter alia, confiscation of illegal gains, warnings, fines under 10 million yuan, business suspensions, business permit or licence revocations and potential criminal penalties. Therefore, when Chinese companies are the subject of an investigation, they must consider the consequences of complying with the DSL and potentially ignoring the US investigation, or cooperating with the US investigation and thereby violating the DSL. Given conflicting Chinese legal regimes, these companies must also consider the negative externalities and consequence inherent in either choice. Lastly, most of the provisions of the DSL are only statements of principle as we await implementing regulations, standards, and guidelines to determine how these provisions will be interpreted and applied.
The conundrum of having to comply with conflicting legal requirements of a foreign jurisdiction, such as the US, and domestic Chinese laws is not a novel issue. In October 2018, China enacted the International Criminal Justice Assistance Law (ICJAL), which requires companies or individuals in China to seek government approval before providing 'judicial assistance' to foreign prosecutors in support of international criminal proceedings. Judicial assistance includes service of documents, investigation and evidence collection, witness testimony, seizure and confiscation of illegal assets, and the transfer of convicted persons. Where approval to provide judicial assistance is granted, the Chinese government may monitor such assistance and intervene in its discretion. Consistent with our last article discussing cross-border investigations, it remains to be seen how this law will be implemented and enforced as there are no implementing regulations, and there is still only one US case wherein the ICJAL was cited as a basis for non-compliance with a US subpoena.31 In that case, the DC federal district court was not persuaded, holding that the US' security interest outweighed ICJAL requirements.
PRC Securities Law 2019
China enacted amendments to the PRC Securities Law in December 2019,32 prohibiting overseas regulatory agencies from conducting investigations and collecting evidence directly in the territories of the PRC. Further, entities and individuals subject to PRC law may not provide documents or information related to securities to an overseas entity or individual without the approval of the competent authorities and regulatory agencies affiliated with the PRC State Council.
In 2019, China issued new draft 'Measures for Data Security Management' (the 2019 Draft Security Assessment Measures) and 'Measures on Security Assessment of the Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information' (the 2019 Draft Cross-Border PI Measures) on 28 March 2019 and 13 June 2019 respectively. Fundamentally, the 2019 Draft Security Assessment Measures address the venue of 'important information'. 'Important information' is broadly defined as data that, if leaked, may affect China's national security, economic security, social stability and public health. The 2019 Draft Cross-Border PI Measures specifically address 'personal information', as the name suggests. Generally, personal information consists of all information that can be used to identify a natural person. Under the 2019 Draft Cross-Border PI Measures, CII operators and network operators are required to undergo the Cyberspace Administration of China's official security assessment. CII and Network operators are also required to conduct security risk assessments and obtain a data subject's express consent.
China recently released the second draft of the Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL) on 29 April 2021.33 The draft law regulates how personal information is collected, stored, and shared in China. Perhaps most significantly, article 41 of the PIPL prohibits companies from providing personal information to extraterritorial law enforcement, or judicial bodies outside mainland China without Chinese authorities. As discussed with respect to China's DSL, this could pose significant hurdles when conducting cross-border investigations.
Conflicts of laws and new data protection and privacy laws create complexities for compliance and cross-border investigations
MNCs continue to face the challenge of navigating conflicts of law, especially in light of recent changes in US–China export controls and sanctions laws and China's increasingly stringent data privacy laws. The jurisdictional reach of US sanctions is broad, applying to both US persons and US dollar transactions, thus US companies and international financial institutions will likely continue complying with US sanctions and avoid dealing with SDNs. On the other hand, China's AFSL is also broad and provides extended authority to PRC regulators to designate anyone participating in 'discriminatory restrictive measures' against Chinese persons and organisations, and to impose retaliatory measures. As a result, companies with a substantial physical presence or assets in China may decide to comply with the AFSL and avoid dealing with entities on the 'countermeasures list'.
Considering the legal framework above, it is clear that companies need to take a more proactive approach in conducting cross-border investigations to avoid the high costs of responding to government investigations and to mitigate compliance risks. Chinese companies are strengthening their compliance functions and conducting regular internal investigations, for corporate compliance is now a requirement that has been mandated by the Chinese government. At the same time, MNCs will need to consider compliance with China's new data security and privacy laws in carrying out internal investigations.
The complexity and variety of data privacy and data protection regimes in the Asia-Pacific region, together with pandemic-related travel restrictions imposed by governments in the region, and the ongoing developments of new laws related to the collection and use of evidence located in China, have made conducting investigations in the region increasingly challenging. These regimes may impose restrictions on a company's ability to collect, use, transfer and disclose personal information or important data, all of which are necessary to conduct internal investigations, to comply with subpoenas or requests for information from authorities, or where companies wish to voluntarily disclose data or information to law enforcement agencies to receive more lenient treatment.
Accordingly, MNCs should weigh the consequences of complying with US and Chinese laws that might be in conflict with each other. And compliance measures, such as a pre-transaction screening process, whistle-blowing mechanism for reporting non-compliance, data governance and investigation protocols, should be carefully designed. To further address the complexities in cross-border investigations, MNCs should adopt a risk-based approach with respect to compliance in general and cross-border investigations specifically:
Evaluate business activities to determine jurisdictional reach and application of both the US and Chinese trade and all applicable blocking laws, as well as potential penalties for non-compliance.
Tailor one's compliance programme based on the jurisdictional reach and application of the US and Chinese trade and blocking laws as well as the company's risk profile in each jurisdiction.
Obtain legal guidance on assessing the implications of the blocking laws when dealing with a PRC entity or for entities with operations in the PRC.
Prepare and implement internal guidance and re-examine compliance policies and controls to determine any potential liability under US or Chinese trade laws, including the blocking laws.
Consider adopting new compliance measures, such as a screening process, to avoid dealing with designated individuals or entities.
Re-examine contractual clauses, and use appropriate clauses in contracts where a company may be subject to both US and PRC sanctions.
Engage with US and Chinese government authorities depending on one's commercial activities for cross-border data transfer approval, or to provide a notification of the intent to argue foreign law as early as possible34.
Monitor the Chinese government's implementation of the blocking laws to determine potential impact in practice.
Conduct compliance risk assessments and internal investigations proactively before becoming the subject of an external investigation.
Internally assess how data and information is collected, stored, protected, processed, and transferred to proactively determine each applicable jurisdiction's compliance requirements, and friction points between these requirements.
Plan ahead and formulate the investigation plan by considering the additional time and coordination that may be required due to pandemic-related or other travel restrictions for investigation lawyers and data transfer restrictions, particularly if there is any risk of evidence spoilation.
Utilise technological innovations, including artificial intelligence, to assist in the identification of relevant data and information in investigations, while also understanding the limitation of technology where an investigation counsel's experience as well as his or her cultural and linguistic know-how are required to interpret the data.
Identify gaps in internal investigations due to data handling restrictions and develop plans to address these gaps.
Stemming from internal investigations, develop a contingency plan to respond to cross-border requests for data from government agencies.
Consider conducting in-country data review by investigation counsel who can advise on conflicts of law and determine how to handle data that cannot be transferred outside of China, and document the decisions with respect to data management in connection with cross-border litigation or investigations.
Balancing conflicts of Chinese and US laws and considering the related implications will be critical for MNCs in conducting cross-border investigations in the coming year. MNCs should continue to maintain a robust internal investigation protocol that actively detects and uncovers violations, implements corrective actions and considers data privacy and data security laws. Conflicts of law have complicated how MNCs may carry out cross-border investigations, but an experienced legal team with multi-jurisdictional expertise can assist. Experienced counsel can consider the conflicting obligations imposed under US and Chinese laws, evaluate risk exposure and, where necessary, implement remedial measures that may mitigate potential enforcement action by US or Chinese government authorities.
The authors would like to acknowledge Joshua Turner, Cindy Shen and Samantha Arnold, for their helpful assistance in providing the multi-jurisdictional legal research for this article.
[1] US Department of Commerce, 'Addition of Huawei Non-US Affiliates to the Entity List, the Removal of Temporary General License, and Amendments to General Prohibition Three (Foreign-Produced Direct Product Rule)', 85 FR 51596 (20 August 2020).
[2] US Department of Commerce, 'Addition of Entities to the Entity List', 84 FR 22961 (21 May 2019); 'US approves first licenses for tech sales to Huawei', (20 November 2019), available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/11/20/us-said-approve-first-licenses-tech-sales-huawei/.
[3] EAR Supp. No. 4 to Part 744.
[4] US Department of Commerce, 'Expansion of Export, Re-export, and Transfer (in-Country) Controls for Military End Use or Military End Users in the People's Republic of China, Russia, or Venezuela', 85 FR 23459 (28 April 2020).
[5] EAR § 744.21(f)–(g).
[6] US Department of Commerce, 'Addition of 'Military End User' (MEU) List to the Export Administration Regulations and Addition of Entities to the MEU List', 85 FR 83793 (23 December 2020).
[7] US Department of Commerce, 'Addition of Certain entities to the Entity List', 84 FR 54002 (9 October 2019); US Department of Transportation, 'Notice of OFAC Sanctions Actions', 86 FR 16275 (26 March 2021).
[8] EO 14032, 'Addressing the Threat from Securities Investments that Finance Certain Companies of the People's Republic of China', 82 FR 60839 (20 December 2017).
[9] See Export Control Law of the People's Republic of China, Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (17 October 2020), available at https://npcobserver.com/legislation/export-control-law/.
[10] See MOFCOM Order No. 4 of 2020 on Provisions on the Unreliable Entity List (19 September 2020), available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/policyrelease/questions/202009/20200903002580.shtml.
[11] See chapter 4 of the PRC Export Control Law.
[12] See article 48 of PRC Export Control Law.
[13] Ministry of Commerce Announcement No. 10 of 2021 'Guiding Opinions of the Ministry of Commerce on the Establishment of an Internal Compliance Mechanism for Export Control by Export Operators of Dual-use Items', (28 April 2021) available at http://www.mofcom.gov.cn/article/b/c/202104/20210403056267.shtml.
[14] US Department of Commerce, 'Export Compliance Guidelines: The Elements of An Effective Export Program', (January 2017), available at http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/documents/pdfs/1641-ecp/file.
[15] See MOFCOM, 'Order No. 1 of 2021 on Rules on Counteracting Unjustified Extra-territorial Application of Foreign Legislation and Other Measures', (9 January 2021), available at http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/policyrelease/announcement/202101/20210103029708.shtml.
[17] Anti-Foreign Sanctions Law of the People's Republic of China (10 June 2021), available at http://www.npc.gov.cn/npc/c30834/202106/d4a714d5813c4ad2ac54a5f0f78a5270.shtml.
[18] See President Joseph Biden, 'Memorandum on Establishing the Fight Against Corruption as a Core United States National Security Interest', White House Briefing Room (3 June 2021), available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/06/03/memorandum-on-establishing-the-fight-against-corruption-as-a-core-united-states-national-security-interest/.
[19] See, eg, US Department of Justice, 'Attorney General Announces Initiatives to Combat Human Smuggling and Trafficking and to Fight Corruption in Central America', (7 June 2021), available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-announces-initiatives-combat-human-smuggling-and-trafficking-and-fight; 'US Congress to Launch Counter-Kleptocracy Caucus at June 10 Event', US Helsinki Commission (2 June 2021), available at https://bit.ly/3xrIdpP; 'United Nations Special session against corruption', available at https://bit.ly/2TT34Uu; G7 Ministers, 'UN, Statement on the UN General Assembly Special Session Against Corruption' (2 June 2021), available at https://bit.ly/3dV8u8g.
[20] See US Department of Justice, Justice Manual, 9-47.120 – FCPA Corporate Enforcement Policy (updated 20 November 2019). See also 8 March 2019, US DOJ Press Release, 'Assistant Attorney General Brian A Benczkowski Delivers Remarks at the 33rd Annual ABA National Institute on White Collar Crime Conference', available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/assistant-attorney-general-brian-benczkowski-delivers-remarks-33rd-annual-aba-national.
[21] See US Department of Justice, 'Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs' (updated June 2020), available at http://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/page/file/937501/download.
[22] See, eg, US Department of Justice, 'The China Initiative: Year-in-Review (2019–20)', available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/china-initiative-year-review-2019-20.
[23] See US Senate Judiciary Committee, Testimony of Lisa Monaco, Nominee for Deputy Attorney General (17 March 2021), available at http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/download/lisa-monaco-responses-to-questions-for-the-record.
[24] Complaint at 80, Sec & Exch Comm'n v Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericcson, No. 19-cv-11214 (SDNY 2019).
[25] See US DOJ, 'Airbus Agrees to pay over $3.9 billion in Global Penalties to Resolve Foreign Bribery and ITAR Case', (31 January 2000), available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/airbus-agrees-pay-over-39-billion-global-penalties-resolve-foreign-bribery-and-itar-case.
[26] See Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Clearinghouse, United States v Airbus SE, available at https://fcpa.stanford.edu/enforcement-action.html?id=787.
[27] See 'Supreme People's Court Releases Case Study of Corporate Compliance from Pilot Reform Project' (3 June 2021), available at http://www.spp.gov.cn/spp/xwfbh/wsfbh/202106/t20210603_520232.shtml.
[28] National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, State Secrets Law, articles 2, 8, as amended, 29 April 2010.
[29] id. at chapter II, article 9.
[30] Cybersecurity Law of the People's Republic of China, article 2 (1 June 2017).
[31] In Re: Sealed Case, No. 19-5068 __F.3d__ (DC Cir 2019), reissued; see also Hsu, Spencer S, 'Chinese bank involved in probe on North Korean sanctions and money laundering faces financial 'death penalty'', Washington Post, 24 June 2019.
[32] Securities Law of the People's Republic of China, Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (revised 28 December 2019), available at /http://www.lawinfochina.com/display.aspx?id=31925&lib=law&EncodingName=big5.
[33] See 'China Issues Second Version of the Draft Personal Information Protection Law for Public Comments', National Law Review (4 May 2021), available at http://www.natlawreview.com/article/china-issues-second-version-draft-personal-information-protection-law-public.
[34] To date, however, companies pursuing these grounds have not been successful.
Dora W Wang
Author | Partner
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Author | Senior Associate
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text:
SpaceX makes history by landing rocket on ocean platform
April 8, 2016 | 6:05pm
The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off April 8 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. AP
SpaceX launches, destroys rocket in astronaut escape test
Applications to become Japanese billionaire's girlfriend tops 20,000
Billionaire wants a girlfriend to fly to the moon with him
Latest SpaceX rocket set for launch from Cape Canaveral
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted off from Florida with a cargo ship bound for the International Space Station on Friday and its reusable main-stage booster landed itself on an ocean platform in a dramatic spaceflight first.
The liftoff at 4:43 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral marked the resumption of resupply flights by privately owned Space Exploration Technologies for NASA following a launch accident in June 2015 that destroyed a different cargo payload for the space station.
About 2-1/2 minutes after Friday's launch, the main part of the two-stage SpaceX rocket separated, turned around and headed toward a landing platform floating in the Atlantic about 185 miles northeast of Cape Canaveral.
A live video feed broadcast on NASA television showed the rocket booster, its four landing legs extended, descending over the ocean before settling itself upright on the platform, roughly eight minutes after launch.
Four previous at-sea landing bids had failed. But a Falcon 9 achieved a successful ground-based touchdown in December. Friday's feat marked yet another major milestone in the quest by high-tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's launch service to develop a cheap, reusable rocket.
The rocket's cargo ship, dubbed Dragon, was due to arrive on Sunday at the International Space Station, the $100 billion laboratory flying about 250 miles above Earth.
The delivery vehicle was packed with about 7,000 pounds of food, supplies and science experiments, including a prototype inflatable habitat, bound for the orbital outpost.
Filed under elon musk , international space station , rockets , spacex
FDA to revoke pig drug approval over human cancer risk

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I have this thing for bitterness. I love bitter foods, I take my coffee black and my caffé without sugar (macchiato, please), and Italian after-dinner spirits, amari (bitters), are my thing. So it's no surprise I love the Italians' "national" soda, chinotto.
Chinotto is a fizzy drink that, by American standards, is bitter-sweet. Quite popular in Italy, I've developed a fondness for it, leading me to dig up its Belle Epoque background and even earlier.
Italians have a taste for an often-missing component in food: bitterness. It can be found served straight-up in bitter greens, contrasted in the bittersweet tension of cocktails like Negroni, or in Italy's nation-wide gamma of digestifs called amari ("bitters"). It is even in the Italian answer to Coca-Cola: a soda called Chinotto.
My own weakness for this carbonated drink led me to dig deeper into its history. I unearthed a fascinating collage of images from Italy's past, from the exotic to the elegant, from pop to a modern re-emergence.
Interesting post. I sort of like the Chinotto beverage in a strange way, but I never thought of it as coming from a citrus fruit. It brings to mind the bergamot, which has been used in perfume, candies and tea for many, many years, but now it's being presented as a soda.
I bought a small jar of the chinotto fruits from Besio (€10!), and the flavor was unlike anything else. Very interesting, more intense than chinotto soda. And I was reminded of bergamot too, but I did not know that it's presented as a soda now. Would love to try that — any brands that are popular?
I don't see the soda looking quickly on the list, but you could mix the syrup. I know I've had the soda, also, but can't remember the name at the moment.
Great article, Diana. I'm a big fan of chinotto and I agree that it has had a comeback in recent years (also thanks to clever "re-branding", like Chino`.) To those of you who tried it and didn't like it, I recommend a second attempt 🙂 It'll grow on you quickly. I especially like it as an accompaniment to a sandwich or even to a pizza, and it has no caffeine.
Thanks Paolo. I'm always curious as to what others think of its flavor, too. When I brought back Crudino, most people didn't like it very much, saying it was either too sweet or too bitter!


text:
CRMC Visitor Policy changes to allow more visitors, effective April 20, 2022
CRMC's logo on the outside of the hospital.(Will Thomas)
Published: Apr. 19, 2022 at 12:48 PM CDT
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (PRESS RELEASE) - Cheyenne Regional Medical Center officials have announced the following changes to the hospital and health system's visitor policy.
Please note that all other COVID-19 policies remain in effect to ensure the safety and well-being of our patients, visitors, employees and medical staff. COVID-19 policies are reviewed regularly and are updated as appropriate and in accordance with CMS, CDC and OSHA guidelines and requirements.
UPDATED VISITOR POLICY (Effective April 20, 2022)
Visitors will not be allowed to enter if they have COVID-19, have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 10 days or have any symptoms of COVID-19, including a new fever, cough or other cold or flu-like symptoms. Please do not enter with symptoms unless you are seeking medical care.
During established visiting hours, patients may have an unlimited number of visitors per day, but no more than two visitors or support persons at a time in a patient room.
Children are permitted to visit.
Face coverings are required for everyone.
Please bring your own face covering and have it over your mouth and nose before entering our facilities.
Please wear your face covering in hallways, clinics, waiting areas and patient rooms. This is important at all times and especially when healthcare personnel are present.
All visitors will be screened for illness upon entering.
Visiting hours:
West Campus (214 E. 23rd St.) 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
East Campus (2600 E. 18th St.) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19, has tested positive for COVID-19 in past 10 days or has any symptoms of COVID-19, including new fever, cough or other cold or flu-like symptoms or are sick with any infectious illness, will not be permitted to enter our facilities as a visitor.
While patients with active COVID-19 will NOT be allowed visitors (exceptions apply), patients who are past the transmission phase may have visitors.
Mother/Baby and Pediatrics: Main support person can remain the entire patient stay (24 hours a day). The second visitor is permitted during designated visiting hours (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.).
Cheyenne Regional Medical Group Clinics: Allowed support individual/individuals during appointments.
No visitors are allowed in Behavioral Health Services due to social distancing limitations in this area.
West Campus (214 E. 23rd St.): The visitor/patient screening entrance is located on the west side of CRMC's south parking garage. All other entrances are still closed. You must use the entrance in the south parking garage to enter and exit the building.
CRMC's Emergency Department (Corner of Warren Ave. and 214 E. 23rd St.): Open for emergency care 24/7. The visitor/patient screening entrance is located inside the entrance at Warren Ave. and 23rd Street.
East Campus (2600 E. 18th St.): The visitor/patient screening entrance is located at the main entrance on the south side of the building. Visitors must continue to use this door to enter and exit the building.


text:
US States / H-L / Kentucky / Breathitt County
Breathitt County is named for John Breathitt, who was the Governor of Kentucky from 1832 to 1834.
Created: February 8, 1839
Jackson 1839 – present
County Courthouse – Jackson
Location: 1137 Main Street / Court Street
Architect: Bayless, Clotfeltner and Johnson of Lexington
Contractor: Paul Blanton
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The northwest front has a gray colored concrete enclosed portico extending from the building with gray colored concrete with vertical lines on either side of the glass doorway. On the upper east section of the front is a clock. The building descends on the south down the hill. On the east side the windows are narrow and there is a large grey slab with vertical lines. Along the east side is a War Memorial courtyard.
Note: The previous courthouse was constructed in 1876 and remodeled in 1912. The building was demolished.
See: The architect, Bayless Clotfelter and Johnson of Lexington, designed courthouses in Barren County, Laurel County and Rockcastle County.
County Judicial Center – Jackson
Location: 1131 Main Street / Smith Lane
Architect: CMW, Inc. of Lexington
Description: The building faces northwest and Built in 2003, the modern building is a three story red colored brick and concrete structure..The building is located on the west side of the courthouse. The building has a central tower with clock above and the entrance on the first story.
N – Wolfe County and Magoffin County
E – Magoffin County and Knott County
S – Perry County
W – Owsley County and Lee County
County Judicial Center


Join downtown Oswego businesses for the annual Cookie Walk, an Oswego tradition! Buy a Cookie Walk tins are available for $10 (cash only) at Floral Expressions, Page's Popcorn, and Hudson Design House, then visit participating downtown businesses to fill your commemorative holiday tin with one freshly baked cookie from each shop. Purchase your Cookie Walk tin in advance — limited supplies available.
Join downtown Oswego businesses for the annual Cookie Walk, an Oswego tradition!
Buy a Cookie Walk tins are available for $10 (cash only) at Floral Expressions, Page's Popcorn, and Hudson Design House, then visit participating downtown businesses to fill your commemorative holiday tin with one freshly baked cookie from each shop.
Purchase your Cookie Walk tin in advance — limited supplies available.


text:
Google Testing Augmented Reality Navigation in Maps	February 11, 2019 at 1:00 pm
Google Maps AR navigation uses GPS for approximate location data, but it adds computer vision and machine learning to nail down exactly where you are.
'Quantum Accelerometer' Tracks Location Without GPS	November 12, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Imperial College London and engineering firm M Squared have developed a new "quantum accelerometer" that can provide precise locations without any external system.
Google's Redesigned Maps App Rolls Out on iOS and Android	June 27, 2018 at 2:56 pm
There are a few new features in store, but the thing you'll notice first is the updated Material Design interface.
MIT Builds a Self-Driving Car for Unmapped Country Roads	May 10, 2018 at 1:02 pm
Lidar and smart software tell where the unmarked road edge ends and the ditch begins. So far, Team MIT can see and navigate a never-before-traveled road to a distance 100 feet. Mountain roads remain a challenge.
Google Readies New Street View Cameras to Boost Machine Learning	September 6, 2017 at 4:02 pm
Google is in the midst of revamping its Street View cameras, and you'll be able to see the results when they hit the roads.
Planet Explorer's constellation of tiny satellites shows how Earth's surface changes over time	March 16, 2017 at 2:30 pm
A new planet-mapping service has gone into beta, driven by the data from over a hundred tiny CubeSat satellites.
This app gives every last corner of Earth an address	December 22, 2016 at 11:13 am
It's up to the task of getting mail to the nomads on the Mongolian steppes. What do you want to bet Santa has this app on his phone?
Yes, Google Play is tracking you — and that's just the tip of a very large iceberg	September 14, 2016 at 9:05 am
A new story highlights how Google Play tracks users via location services embedded in the API. That's true — but it's a bit beside the point if you care about privacy and anonymity.
New eHorizon system warns of road hazards just around the corner	August 5, 2016 at 1:04 pm
No need to wait for V2V (vehicle to vehicle) communication and warnings: eHorizon could upload travel speed and road hazards to the cloud within the next 2-3 years.
Tired of waiting for Google Street View, Faroe Islanders create Sheep View 360	July 14, 2016 at 11:00 am
A Faroe Islander has decided to enlist her island's preponderance of sheep to open up the Faroe Islands to Google Street View.
Lost phones are constantly tracked to this Atlanta home and no one knows why	January 21, 2016 at 3:11 pm
The owners of lost phones keep showing up demanding their return, but Christina Lee and Michael Saba can only shrug.


Do any of these events ring a bell to you: Orientation Week, Open Day, Academic Advice Day, Destination Melbourne? Or how about the First Year at Melbourne Facebook page, or the First_year@UniMelb blog?
Well, these awesome things are brought to you by the Transition and Orientation team! And I don't think they receive nearly enough credit for their work!
I was absolutely shattered to hear that Transition and Orientation will be no longer. As one of their gazillion volunteers, these guys are a solid team and they're just amazing!
So this is a very, very big thank you to Kathryn Boin, Ron Baird and Simone Thorpe, and to all the other staff from T&O! O'week, open days and everything else aren't going to be the same anymore without you three on board.
You guys are the definition of teamwork, effort, and hard work – and I am super inspired your work.
Good luck to whoever is taking on their events and program now, because T&O's shoes are irreplaceable. Have fun living up to their reputation.
On behalf of all the students here at Melb, I wish you guys all the best!
This is upsetting. The first year face book page was my best source for info.
But from what I've been told, someone else will be taking over. Fingers crossed they can keep up the good work left behind by Roy!
Hey Daphane, I've only just read your lovely comments, months after you wrote them. Thankyou so much, it means a lot to hear it, and it's students like you who made my job a real joy :) And don't worry, I'm sure the volunteering opportunities will still be there.
I still miss them. Volunteering was a lot more fun with their amazing support!
Previous Previous post: Bring on the Easter break!


One of the very best things about my job is meeting the lovely people who read my books- especially the children.
I've been writing stories for children for far longer than I've been writing for adults, although I've only invested effort in getting one of them published so far- others are on the way!
This week I was extremely flattered to be invited to the Books Yule Love bookshop in Moreton-in-the -Marsh, Gloucestershire. I was there to read my children's picture book, There's a Cow in the Flat, to three groups of very well behaved school children from the nearby St David's Primary School.
As well as reading to the children, I had the pleasure of chatting to them, and sharing in their vivid imaginations. It is wonderful, in this age of 2D entertainment, to see that the imagination of children is alive and well and as delightfully abstract as ever! When I asked them all how they thought the cow had got into the flat in the first place, the answers ranged from the common sense replies of "the cow came through the door", to "she beamed in from space", was sent "via remote control", and flew in through the window via "airplane" or "jumped in with the aid of a trampoline". Wonderful!!
Not only was I made very welcome my Mike and Richard of Books Yule Love, but I was overwhelmed with the number of happy faces, the number of books sold, and – the icing on my cake- to see a copy of my contemporary romance, Another Cup of Coffee, popped neatly on the bookshop shelf!!
So, I'd like to extend a big thanks to the people of the Cotswolds, for making me so welcome last week – I look forward to seeing you all again on World Book Day!!
i think there oughta be a audio book edition of There's A Cow In The Flat, don't you?


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The wonderful functionality Pimero has to offer makes it a very nice alternative to Microsoft's Outlook email and calendar software.
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This style was adopted when the electric starter and lights were added as an option in 1919. Prior to this the floorboards were not removable as there was no battery to access. The removable floorboard allowed access to the battery which is located in the battery carrier under the rear floorboard.


Could you imagine jumping into your car without a clue as to where you are headed, if you have any gas in the tank or if your tires will withstand the trip?
That's exactly the unfortunate mentality of many facility owners and managers who aren't taking advantage of a simple diagnostic tool—the facility condition assessment (FCA). Keeping tabs on facility conditions is a time-consuming task, and many facility managers rely on unqualified maintenance personnel to handle day-to-day fixes. Deficiencies and major problems may go undiscovered—and unaddressed—until they erupt, costing valuable time and money.
An FCA is a resource-saving and cost-effective way to guide strategic and proactive facility maintenance. During an FCA, facility data is gathered and analyzed in seven key areas—building envelope, interior, HVAC, plumbing, site, electrical and fire protection—to provide a fully customized assessment that supports informed decision-making.
Capital planning: Let's say a facility manager wants to replace an outdated HVAC system. Opting for an FCA prior to the HVAC project, the facility manager uncovers a need for unexpected electrical updates. By discovering this need before replacing the HVAC, the facility manager can schedule the electrical work to occur alongside the HVAC install to leverage construction time and cost.
Setting budget priorities: While mechanical system lifespans are finite, routine maintenance does impact their functional longevity. FCAs encompass standards that help facility managers set priorities and expectations for system repair or replacement, as well as projections for how that maintenance could affect the overall budget.
Improving operations: An FCA clearly assesses whether a system is on its last legs or will last for another decade. FCAs can assist in evaluating repair needs, improving energy efficiency or even increasing comfort for expanded operations. As each area is observed, managers can weigh the benefits of low-level fixes beside more expensive repairs or even full system replacements.
FCAs provide the accurate data that facility managers need to make informed decisions—whether for corrective action, cost estimates or prioritizing fixes. Do yourself a favor—before jumping into that car and heading down the road, get an FCA. It's one map you're sure to use.
Bret Paden is the MEP/Structural Discipline Leader at Woolpert. He has extensive experience designing and managing MEP engineering projects, including HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler, lighting and power systems. Bret is part of the Woolpert team responsible for amassing more than 100 million square feet of FCA experience.


If, before shortlisting, you would like us to speak with each promising candidate on the telephone and ask them a few key screening questions, we would be happy to do so and provide you with a brief written report on each candidate's responses. Many employers find this added feature saves them considerable time and effort.
We will also contact up to three (3) references per candidate and provide a brief report on findings.
Careers Today employs a variety of standardized and validated personality assessments, which can be invaluable in their emphasis on work styles and preferred behaviors, helping you get past the "right" answers most candidates give in interviews to uncover the likely responses you can expect from them on the job. Please inquire to find out which assessments might best fit your particular hiring needs.
Careers Today will go through the interview and selection process with you – or for you, if you prefer. We'll use our questions or yours or a mix of both. We can develop a scoring matrix to suit your needs, or just record anecdotal impressions. If you do not have a lot of experience in hiring at a particular level, or like so many of our clients, you would simply like an objective viewpoint to help you make your decision, we'd be happy to help.
If requested, we can prepare a brief report summarizing findings on each of up to three (3) final candidates and detail the rationale behind our hiring recommendation.
Not sure how to compensate your ideal candidate? Creating a new position for which there is no precedent? Simply running out of time towards the end of a lengthy recruitment process? We would be happy to prepare an offer letter for you and work with you on terms.
We're so confident you'll be happy with your Careers Today hiring experience, we will guarantee the fit of the candidate you hire through Careers Today. If, for any reason, you are dissatisfied with the performance of the new employee and you want to re-hire the position within 6 months of hire, Careers Today will once more advertise the position, screen resumes, prepare a shortlist of candidates, and support you to find a more suitable fit at no additional cost.


text:
// Copyright Yahoo. Licensed under the terms of the Apache 2.0 license. See LICENSE in the project root.
package com.yahoo.search.federation;

import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableSet;
import com.yahoo.component.chain.Chain;
import com.yahoo.search.Query;
import com.yahoo.search.Result;
import com.yahoo.search.Searcher;
import com.yahoo.search.result.ErrorMessage;
import com.yahoo.search.searchchain.Execution;
import com.yahoo.search.searchchain.FutureResult;
import com.yahoo.search.searchchain.model.federation.FederationOptions;
import com.yahoo.test.ManualClock;
import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;

import java.time.Duration;
import java.util.Optional;
import java.util.Set;
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;

/**
 * @author bratseth
 */
public class FederationResultTest {

    private static final FederationSearcher.Target organic = new MockTarget("organic", 500);
    private static final FederationSearcher.Target dsp1 = new MockTarget("dsp1", 240);
    private static final FederationSearcher.Target dsp2 = new MockTarget("dsp2", 200);

    private final ManualClock clock = new ManualClock();

    @Test
    void testFederationResult() {
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of(),               100, 200, 180);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of(),               480, 400, 400);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of("dsp1"),         260, 280, 220);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of("organic"),      520, 160, 160);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of("dsp2"),         200, 220, 230);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of(),               200, 220, 210);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of("dsp1", "dsp2"), 200, 260, 260);
        assertTimeout(ImmutableSet.of("organic"),      520, 260, 260);
    }

    private void assertTimeout(Set<String> expectedTimeoutNames, int ... responseTimes) {
        FederationResult.Builder builder = new FederationResult.Builder();
        builder.add(organic, resultAfter(responseTimes[0]));
        builder.add(dsp1,    resultAfter(responseTimes[1]));
        builder.add(dsp2,    resultAfter(responseTimes[2]));
        FederationResult federationResult = builder.build();
        federationResult.waitForAll(50, clock);
        assertEquals(3, federationResult.all().size());
        for (FederationResult.TargetResult targetResult : federationResult.all()) {
            Result result = targetResult.getOrTimeoutError();
            if (expectedTimeoutNames.contains(targetResult.target.getId().toString()))
                assertTrue(timedOut(result), targetResult.target.getId() + " timed out");
            else
                assertFalse(timedOut(result), targetResult.target.getId() + " did not time out");
        }
    }

    private MockFutureResult resultAfter(int time) {
        return new MockFutureResult(new Query(), time);
    }

    private boolean timedOut(Result result) {
        ErrorMessage error = result.hits().getError();
        if (error == null) return false;
        return error.getCode() == ErrorMessage.timeoutCode;
    }

    private class MockFutureResult extends FutureResult {

        private final int responseTime;
        private final Query query;
        private final long startTime;

        MockFutureResult(Query query, int responseTime) {
            super(() -> new Result(query), new Execution(Execution.Context.createContextStub()), query);
            this.responseTime = responseTime;
            this.query = query;
            startTime = clock.millis();
        }

        @Override
        public Result get() { throw new RuntimeException(); }

        @Override
        public Optional<Result> getIfAvailable(long timeout, TimeUnit timeunit) {
            if (timeunit != TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS) throw new RuntimeException();

            long elapsedTime = clock.millis() - startTime;
            long leftUntilResponse = responseTime - elapsedTime;
            if (leftUntilResponse > timeout) {
                clock.advance(Duration.ofMillis(timeout));
                return Optional.empty();
            }
            else {
                if (leftUntilResponse > 0) // otherwise we already spent more time than this sources timeout
                    clock.advance(Duration.ofMillis(leftUntilResponse));
                return Optional.of(new Result(query));
            }
        }

        @Override
        public Query getQuery() {
            return query;
        }

    }

    private static class MockTarget extends FederationSearcher.Target {

        private final Chain<Searcher> chain;
        private final int timeout;

        MockTarget(String id, int timeout) {
            this.chain = new Chain<>(id);
            this.timeout = timeout;
        }

        @Override
        Chain<Searcher> getChain() { return chain; }

        @Override
        void modifyTargetQuery(Query query) { }

        @Override
        void modifyTargetResult(Result result) { }

        @Override
        public FederationOptions federationOptions() {
            return new FederationOptions(false, timeout, true);
        }

    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Das Beamten-Dienstrechtsgesetz 1979 ist ein österreichisches Gesetz, welches die Dienstverhältnisse aller Bediensteten regelt, die in einem öffentlich-rechtlichen Dienstverhältnis zur Republik Österreich (Bundesebene) stehen, also Bundesbeamte. Sie werden im Gesetz als Beamte bezeichnet (§ 1 Abs. 1 BDG 1979).

Auf die ebenfalls beamteten Richteramtsanwärter und Richter ist dieses Bundesgesetz nicht anzuwenden, sondern das Richter- und Staatsanwaltschaftsdienstgesetz (§ 1 Abs. 2 BDG 1979). Auf Staatsanwälte, für die ebenfalls das Richter- und Staatsanwaltschaftsdienstgesetz gilt, ist das Beamten-Dienstrechtsgesetz nur teilweise anzuwenden (§ 1 Abs. 3 BDG 1979).

Das öffentlich-rechtliche Arbeitsverhältnis zwischen Gebietskörperschaften und ihren Arbeitnehmern (öffentliche Bedienstete) wurde von 1914 bis 1979 als Dienstpragmatik bezeichnet, seither spricht man von Beamtendienstrecht.

Weblinks
 Text des Beamten-Dienstrechtsgesetzes 1979

Einzelnachweise

Beamtenrecht (Österreich)
Rechtsquelle (Österreich)
Rechtsquelle (20. Jahrhundert)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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General Questions Regarding Office 365
Students must use their Santa Fe College Office 365 email account for all college communications.
SF College Office 365 accounts for new students will be created within 90 minutes after the application has been activated. The account will be removed after the student has not been enrolled for more than one year. For the new account to be created, a readmit application must be completed.
How to login to Office 365
How to change your Office 365 password
How to add Office 365 to a mobile device
How to change your picture in Office 365
What is Office 365?
Office 365 - A collection of services that allows you to collaborate and share your schoolwork. It's available to staff and teachers who are currently working at Santa Fe College and to students who are currently attending SF College. The service includes Office Online (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote) and unlimited OneDrive storage. Microsoft will provide an initial 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user.
Skype for Business - communication services include instant messaging, an online presence, video and phone conferencing, and other real-time collaboration features.
OneDrive - which is also a part of Office 365, provides unlimited online storage and allows users to create, edit, and share documents online.
Here is the most up-to-date list of applications you have access to in your Office 365 account:
Class Notebook
Staff Notebook
StaffHub
App availability may vary depending on if you are a student or an employee. You can find out more information about each of these apps at https://support.office.com/en-us/.
What is the difference between Office 365 and Office 2016?
Microsoft Office 2016 is a suite of software that is installed on a particular computer and can only be accessed from that machine. Office 365 services are cloud-based and can be accessed from anywhere on the Internet. This can be somewhat confusing since Microsoft has also applied the Office 365 label to some of the traditional Office software offerings, like Office 365 Home Premium.
Do I have to use my SF Office 365 account to communicate with SF faculty and staff?
Yes, you are required to use your SF Office 365 account if you wish to contact SF faculty and staff.
How quickly will I have access to my Santa Fe College Office 365 account?
Santa Fe College Office 365 accounts for new students will be created within 90 minutes after the application has been activated. The account will be removed after the student has not been enrolled for more than one year. For the new account to be created, a readmit application must be completed.
What will my student email address be?
Your student email address will be in the following format: firstname.lastname@go.sfcollege.edu
Example: A student named John Smith would have the email address john.smith@go.sfcollege.edu.
How can I access my email and documents when I am away from my computer?
Office 365 primarily lives in the cloud which means that you simply need a web browser and an Internet connection to access you emails and documents from anywhere in the world. Log into your Office 365 account, open OneDrive and you will see a list of files that you can directly work on in your browser.
How can I use Office 365 to collaborate with my peers?
Office 365 gives you the ability to collaborate with students or instructors on Word Documents, PowerPoint Presentations, and Excel Spreadsheets as long as they have access to their own Office 365 account. Changes to these documents are automatically saved to the cloud. For more information on collaborating with others: Share and collaborate with OneDrive.
How can I do work on my laptop when I don't have an Internet connection?
Office 365 allows you to download a local copy of the software so that you can work on papers and projects even when you don't have access to an Internet connection. When you do finally connect to the Internet the work you've done on your computer will automatically sync up with your cloud account.
Information on installing a local copy: Download and install or reinstall Office 365 or Office 2016 on a PC or Mac
What is Microsoft OneDrive?
Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage solution much like Dropbox. All of the documents and projects you work on in Office 365 can be stored here. Additionally, you can use this space to store other content like photos, video, and audio files. You will have access to nearly one terabyte of storage as a Santa Fe College student. For more information about Microsoft OneDrive: OneDrive Help Center.
How do I save a copy of a document or file to my desktop or a USB drive?
Although the cloud can be a convenient place to store files, sometimes you may want a local copy to share with someone who does not have access to their own Office 365 account. This can be easily done by following the instructions on Microsoft's training website: Word training video - Create a document, use templates and save
How long will I have access to Office 365?
You will have access while you are a student at Santa Fe College and for one year from the last date of recorded attendance at SF.
How do I connect my Gmail or G Suite account to Outlook and Office 365?
First, you will need to prepare your Gmail account: Prepare your Gmail or G Suite account for connecting to Outlook and Office 365
Then, you will need to connect the Gmail account: Connect email accounts in Outlook on the web (Office 365)
Who should I contact if I have problems logging in to my SF Office 365 account?
Please contact the Welcome Center for assistance with accessing your SF Office 365 account. You can call them at 352-395-5000.


On the Banks of the Red Cedar | Exhibits | College of Osteopathic Med.
Prior to 1964, there were many discussions and movements to create an osteopathic medical education college in Michigan. The Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation was incorporated in 1961 with the "object and purpose of this Foundation to establish a school of osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state of Michigan and to otherwise assist in financing schools, colleges and advanced institutions devoted to teaching the osteopathic concept of the healing arts in order to educate and provide osteopathic physicians and surgeons and to provide education in the ancillary disciplines for the benefit of the public and to provide for the general health and care of the sick and indigent". Around this period, discussion arose on the creation of the Michigan University of Osteopathy in the Lansing area. In 1964, the State of Michigan authorized a state charter for establishing a private Michigan College of Osteopathic Medicine (MCOM) in Pontiac, MI making it the 6th osteopathic college in the nation and the first in 53 years. In 1969, the first students were admitted. A petition was sent to the state legislature to make MCOM a state assisted school. This was passed and MSU accepted the responsibility to establish the college. In 1970, the college became a component of MSU and became the first publicly funded college of osteopathic medicine. In 1971, the school transferred to East Lansing as Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM). Since it began operations in 1970, the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) has been responsible to the Provost. The College is jointly responsible for numerous science and medical related departments with other colleges.


This section contains a list of programs developed by me using various programming languages.
You may feel free to copy or redistribute any of these programs, but it is your responsability if they produce any damages to your system. So, be carefully.
If you want more details about any of the programs above or any kind of technical support, please cotact me at george@presura.name.
These two examples are usefully for somebody who wants to start writing it's first programm in ASM.
The sintax is compatible with NASM compiler.
Also, the binary files are provided for demonstrating the very little size of such a program.
This programm creates N threads (where N is a parameter given by command line) and runs 1,000,000,000 for-cycles and increments a long long variable.
It is linked against the pthreads library, and is a usefull example for testing multithreading and context-switching of an operating system on (Linux) using various processors and kernel versions.
This application allows you to edit INI-like files. It is usefull for batch-processing of INI files or to be integrated with installers or with automatic configurator programs (like software installers).
This programm is best runned as a daemon and it reads commands from FIFO files from configured users and it run them with root credentials.
More documentation will be provided soon.
This package contains some usefull UNIX-like programs for Windows. The source code is provided for education purpose.
xsu.exe - attemps to make a login using a certain username and password (usefull for testing if a username exists in the sistem and check their passwords).
The source code was compiled using Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 / Visual C++, but I think it can be easily adapted for recent versions of Visual C++.