The US Government, through its aid agency USAID, has announced a grant of an additional USD 3 million to India to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In coordination with the Indian government, the USAID is providing these funds to the Partnerships for Affordable Healthcare Access and Longevity (PAHAL) project, an innovative financing platform of IPE Global, USAID said in a statement on Wednesday. US Ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, stated: "This additional funding to support India in its continuing efforts to combat COVID-19 is yet another example of the strong and enduring partnership between the United States and India."

To date, the USAID has provided USD 5.9 million to assist India in responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. This assistance will help India slow the spread of COVID-19, provide care for the affected, disseminate essential public health messages to communities, and strengthen case finding and surveillance. Through the PAHAL project, the USAID will support the National Health Authority to establish a financing facility that can mobilize resources from the private sector to assist over 20,000 health facilities enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India's health insurance scheme for 500 million poor and vulnerable people.

During the talks on April 04, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had agreed to deploy the full strength of the India-US partnership to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Early this month, India, at the request of President Donald Trump, had exported 35.82 lakh tablets of hydroxychloroquine to the US along with active pharmaceutical ingredient or API required in the manufacturing of the drug.

Trump had thanked India for its decision to export hydroxychloroquine to fight coronavirus and lauded Prime Minister Modi for his "strong leadership" in helping "not just India, but humanity" in this fight.

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Meeting on May 4, 2018, India's GST Council approved plans to simplify GST filing obligations.

India has again extended the due date for furnishing the annual GST return and reconciliation statement for the 2017-18 fiscal year.

The Indian Government on September 20, 2019, announced that it will reduce the rate of corporate tax to 22 percent, from 30 percent. New domestic manufacturing ventures will benefit from a 15 percent rate.

Barbados's new government has issued a new Budget that would raise corporate and income tax rates, repeal the National Social Responsibility Levy and road tax and make other value-added tax and levy changes.

On May 28, 2019, Dutch State Secretary for Finance Menno Snel issued an update on the Government's 2019 fiscal agenda, which includes an outline of tax legislative proposals that the Government intends to submit to parliament in the remainder of the year.

The newly elected President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who was formerly Germany's defense minister, has proposed the introduction of a new Carbon Border Tax, which would be included in a new "Green Deal for Europe" she has promised to deliver within her first 100 days in office.

The Austrian Ministry of Finance has announced its decision to proceed with personal income tax cuts.

The South African Revenue Service has announced that it will temporarily permit taxpayers to report information on controlled foreign corporations under the old filing rules, which were replaced in February.

Jio has introduced an annual work-from-home annual plan for Rs 2399 that gives its users 2GB daily data. It has also brought in three work-from-home add-on plans.

Jio has also announced new add-on data packs under work from home theme

Singapore is to add provisions to draft legislation to enhance the new GST regime for imported services and clarify new rules for virtual currencies.

Malaysia has decided to keep the crude palm oil export duty at 5.5 percent next month, despite higher Indian taxes on imports, which are expected to dent demand.

On May 31, 2019, the Hungarian Ministry of Finance announced numerous tax cuts as part of an economic growth plan.

On September 17, 2019, Dutch State Secretary for Finance Menno Snel presented the Government's 2020 Tax Plan to the House of Representatives. It includes revised plans for corporate tax cuts.

The UK's 2018 Budget includes changes to tax rules for companies, and notably for multinational groups to conform with the EU's Anti Tax Avoidance Directive. Most significantly, the UK has decided to move ahead of the EU in announcing that it will apply a tax on the turnover of certain digital businesses.

Malaysia's 2019 Budget contains plans for an overhaul of sales and service tax rules and a corporate tax cut for small- and medium-sized enterprises.

According to a recent study, each year as many as 40,500 critically ill U.S. hospital patients die with an unknown medical condition that may have caused or contributed to their death.

British Columbia is to offer a provincial sales tax exemption to a proposed new liquefied natural gas project.

There is low-quality evidence indicating that cannabinoids may be a safe alternative for a small but significant decline in subjective pain score when treating acute pain, reports a new study.

Combination of cannabidiol (CBD) and bacitracin (BAC) can help in the treatment of infections with antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The findings

On March 4, 2020, the Italian tax authority published English language versions of the annual value-added tax form for 2020, together with instructions.

On November 1, 2019, the presidential campaign of United States Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) published plans for a system of universal Medicare that will be partially funded by tax increases on large corporations and wealthy individuals, as well as by stricter anti-tax avoidance rules.

On September 17, 2019, Dutch State Secretary for Finance Menno Snel presented the Government's 2020 Tax Plan to the House of Representatives. It includes revised plans for corporate tax cuts.

Malta has reiterated its commitment to fighting aggressive tax planning, joining other EU member states who have unanimously agreed to amend the EU's tax information sharing law, the Directive on Administrative Cooperation.

On April 3, 2020, the Belgian tax authority announced an increase in the credit available for timely advance tax payments to provide businesses and the self-employed a liquidity boost amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Hong Kong's 2020 Budget includes plans for a one-off reduction of profits tax, salaries tax, and tax under personal assessment.

The Swiss Government has announced that it will waive interest on late payments of tax, to allow companies to delay their tax payments.

The European Commission is to take steps to ensure that EU external development and investment funds cannot be channelled or transited through entities in countries included on the EU's "blacklist" of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions.

Japan's ruling Liberal Democrat Party has approved a tax reform package that will cut corporate rates for companies who increase employee wages.

The UK's 2020 Budget, released on March 11, 2020, includes proposals to waive business rates on small retailers, to introduce a new tax on plastics, and to remove value-added tax on electronic publications.

The Dutch Government will allow taxpayers to defer payments of certain taxes under a new package of coronavirus economic relief measures.

The Swiss Government has announced that it will waive interest on late payments of tax, to allow companies to delay their tax payments.

The Argentine Government has announced a number of tax-related measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 2, 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Finance announced that the rules for requesting tax payment deferrals have been simplified and extended to cover additional taxes.

On April 3, 2020, the Belgian tax authority announced an increase in the credit available for timely advance tax payments to provide businesses and the self-employed a liquidity boost amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis and Minister of Finance, Timothy Harris, delivered a "tax-free Budget" on December 12, 2019.

The Isle of Man is to introduce new penalties for tax return errors from October 6, 2016.

The Australian Taxation Office has announced changes to its CbC reporting system following feedback from multinational groups.

The Irish Revenue has issued advice on the steps it is taking to help SMEs experiencing cashflow and trading difficulties arising from the impact of the coronavirus.

Jersey has launched a tax amnesty for prior unpaid taxes that will be offered until the end of 2017.

On December 28, 2018, the Dutch Government published in the Official Gazette a list of 21 low-tax jurisdictions. Companies doing business in these territories will face new anti-avoidance measures, intended to tackle tax base erosion and profit shifting.

Hong Kong's 2020 Budget includes plans for a one-off reduction of profits tax, salaries tax, and tax under personal assessment.

On April 6, 2020, Italy's Council of Ministers announced further measures to support taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 virus, including the postponement of value-added tax, social security, and wage withholding payment deadlines.

Bolivia has announced a number of filing and payment extensions for taxpayers, in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Chilean President Sebastian Pinera has announced a number of tax relief measures for businesses and individuals impacted by COVID-19.

The French General Directorate of Public Finance has announced that companies and self-employed taxpayers will be able to postpone without penalty upcoming tax payments due to the public health emergency.

On April 24, 2020, the French Government announced that it has decided to extend tax and other financial support to companies in sectors most affected by the COVID-19 lockdown measures, including catering, tourism, events, sports, and cultural activities.

New study urges future dam projects to consider better disease control measures

By 2100, heat stress from extreme heat and humidity will annually affect areas now home to 1.2 billion people, stated Rutgers study. That's more than