By Stephanie De Smedt | Loyens & Loeff On 25 April 2019, the Data Protection Authority (DPA) published its Annual Activity Report for 2018, highlighting the main developments and accomplishments of the past year. 2018 in numbers: The Annual Report notes that the number of cases the DPA received in 2018 increased significantly. In total, 7,182 cases were processed by the Belgian DPA (an increase of 46% compared to 2017), among which 6,224 requests for information, 295 requests for mediation (of which 65% were...

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By Justin Velten | Go Culture International  Adjusting to a new culture presents romantic opportunities for single people. Is dating a good or bad idea? What are the potential pitfalls? Are there cultural barriers or expectations to consider? To date or not to date? The answer to this question is complex and begins by asking yourself a number of value questions. What does my family/culture say about dating? What are my dating values? Whom to date (or maybe better to outline whom not to...

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A new provincial government was elected in Alberta on April 16, 2019. The United Conservative Party (UCP) won a strong majority led by Jason Kenney, Alberta’s new Premier. The UCP has declared Alberta as open for business. Members of Bennett Jones’ Energy and Finance Industry practice groups have prepared the following summary of what this new government’s most important policy initiatives mean for your business or investments in Canada. Click HERE to read more. Compliments of Bennett Jones LLP, a member...

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By Carlos Vejar & Juan Pablo Moyano | Holland & Knight LLP HIGHLIGHTS: Each of the three participating countries in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is about to submit the new free trade agreement for its respective Congress' approval. Some stakeholders have interpreted Chapter 8 of the agreement as having no obligations for Mexico in the hydrocarbons sector. However, even without a specific chapter regulating the energy market, an energy investment from a U.S. investor will be covered through the more...

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Communication, or the lack thereof, within a company can lead to many issues. Lack of communication causes frustration with the team and causes the company to be less effective as a whole. Here are a few ways to better manage communication in the work place: Have Regular Meetings to Discuss Happenings Meeting with staff regularly to discuss problems and other happenings in the work place, will help keep everyone involved. Meeting not just one on one, but with everyone at once...

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Key Events This Week More trouble ahead for May and Corbyn The leaders of the two main parties have been subjected to further political pressure as attention returns to the Brexit impasse with the resumption of Parliament after the Easter break. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn fended off a mini rebellion from members of his shadow cabinet, including Deputy Leader Tom Watson, over the party’s stance on the terms of any second Brexit referendum. Ahead of European elections which the UK are likely...

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The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (in the April 29, 2019 decision in Rubies Costume Company v. United States), considered whether the below “Premier Plush 9 Piece Santa Suit” (consisting of a jacket, pants, gloves, a toy sack, a beard, a wig, a hat, a belt, and shoe covers) fell within the tariff provision describing “Articles for Christmas festivities and parts and accessories thereof.”   While the Court acknowledged that the Santa Claus costume is customarily worn in connection with the...

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The US dollar rose against all the major currencies in April, encouraged by renewed economic divergence. The March jobs report in early April and the better than expected Chinese data lift the animal spirits. The S&P 500 gapped higher on April 1 and did not look back on its way to record closing highs. The better tone to the world’s two largest economies failed to be duplicated more broadly. Asia is lagging. South Korea, a regional bellwether, already reported Q1...

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