Houthoff - On 9 March 2018, the European Commission published its 8th monitoring report on pharmaceutical patent settlements. The monitoring process was launched in 2009 as a result of the pharmaceutical sector inquiry. The sector inquiry report indicated that settlement agreements that limit entry of generic medicines onto the market and include a value transfer from an originator company to one or more generic companies are an example of potentially anti-competitive agreements. Such agreements may have negative effects on consumers...

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BlueStar Strategies - In remarks before his trip to Latin America last month, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson mused about the importance of the Monroe Doctrine, which he called “as relevant today as the day it was written.” Latin American leaders and analysts were largely nonplussed by the Trump administration’s invocation of the nearly 200-year old policy, originally conceived to oppose any efforts by Europe to reassert power over its former colonies in the hemisphere. To be sure, the...

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Philips Lighting - Philips Lighting introduces LiFi: broadband data through light French company Icade pilots Philips LiFi-enabled luminaires at its smart office in Paris Secure and highly stable high-speed Internet connection without compromising light quality First major lighting company to LiFi-enable regular office luminaires Philips Lighting (Euronext: LIGHT), the world leader in lighting, is now offering Light Fidelity (LiFi), a technology in which high quality LED lighting provides a broadband Internet connection through light waves. As the lighting company for...

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Vulcan Consulting - UNITED KINGDOM   British – Russian diplomatic feud descends over accusations of spy poisoning   The British government has formally accused the Kremlin of poisoning a former Russia spy and his daughter in Salisbury, England last week. The target, Sergei Skripal, was part of an exchange of a spies between Russia and the UK several years ago but is now in a critical condition in hospital after being poisoned by a nerve agent called Novichok. With all indications pointing to Moscow,...

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aciep - Portugal Global Trade and Investment Agency After a few years as the new European home of choice for millennials, it would seem that Berlin’s bubble has burst. While the number of Brits in the city increased by 79% between 2000 and 2016, last year’s Nestpick survey of the best cities for millennials saw Amsterdam ranked top, with Berlin nestled at number two. One particularly unexpected entry in the top 5, however, was the Portuguese capital Lisbon.Lisbon’s high placement on the list may be...

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DS-Concept - With an export-driven economy ruled by free trade, Peru has become a leading force in Latin America, marked by rates of high growth and low inflation unrivaled in the region. To administer to the liquidity demands of Peruvian businesses and contribute to the country’s further economic success, DS-Concept has opened an office in the capital city of Lima. Located in the extreme west of South America, Peru is one of the most dynamic countries in the world and serves...

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NautaDutilh - For various reasons, employers may wish or need to check files on an employee's desktop or laptop. From a legal point of view, this is often tricky as privacy laws and other legislation may impose restrictions. In Libert v France of 22 February 2018 (available in French), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled that employers may access files on an employee's computer which are not clearly marked "private" without violating Article 8 of the European Convention on...

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BDO USA - On Dec. 22, 2017, President Trump signed sweeping tax reform, formerly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, into law, marking the largest change to U.S. tax policy in decades. What changes are coming for healthcare organizations? The repeal of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate has perhaps the widest-reaching implications, as it will increase the number of uninsured individuals by about 13 million in 2027, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. A sharp increase in the...

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