The OECD's Global Forum has found Switzerland largely compliant with the international standards on transparency and the exchange of information upon request.

The Austrian Ministry of Finance has announced that proceedings in relation to tax offences and the payment of duties and fees will be extended due to restrictions on movement imposed as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

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

On April 4, 2020, Malta released payroll tax-related guidance for employers on the Government's responses to the COVID-19 epidemic.

On April 15, 2020, the United States Internal Revenue Service unveiled the "Get My Payment" online tool that will allow taxpayers to receive economic impact payments under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

The OECD has published the comments it has received on a proposal for a framework of Model Rules for sharing and gig economy platforms to report the activities of their users, to support tax authorities to ensure the collection of tax.

On April 17, 2020, the President of Poland signed legislation into law to extend transfer pricing documentation deadlines, as part of a package of additional COVID-19 economic support measures.

The Irish Revenue has updated its guidance on the impact on relief claims of the late filing of corporate tax returns, in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 25, 2020, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Germany would attempt to seek agreement on a financial transaction tax and a minimum corporate tax when it assumes the presidency of the European Union in July 2020.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Tax Authority has announced changes to value-added tax filing and payment deadlines, for tax periods that ended on March 31.

On April 29, 2020, the Belgian tax authority announced changes to the deadline for the submission of annual corporate tax declarations due to the COVID-19 crisis.

On July 11, 2019, France's proposed digital services tax received parliamentary approval, following approval also from the Senate.

On July 19, 2019, the United States Internal Revenue Service updated its webpage on foreign tax credits to clarify that it will not challenge foreign tax credit claims involving certain French taxes.

On August 19, 2019, the Office of the United States Trade Representative held an off-camera public hearing on France's recently introduced digital services tax, attended by three major technology firms.

On September 23, 2019, the French Government outlined a number of measures that will be included in the 2020 Finance Law to ensure the payment of value-added tax on items bought by French residents from online marketplaces.

The overall tax burden in the European Union relative to GDP rose slightly in 2018, to 40.3 percent, the Eurostat has announced.

Nine EU member states have called on the European Commission to draw up proposals for an EU-wide aviation tax.

On November 15, 2019, Luxembourg's Council of Ministers approved a protocol to the 2018 double tax treaty with France, making changes to the way cross-border workers are taxed.

The United States may impose additional duties of up to 100 percent on certain French products in retaliation for France's digital services tax, which a newly published report by the US Trade Representative has concluded discriminates against certain US companies.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has presented a final proposal for a European Union financial transactions tax to the 10 member states participating in the initiative.

On January 6, 2020, the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that an on-the-record but off-camera public hearing would be held on January 7 on proposed action against France's digital services tax (DST).

According to French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, France and the United States will in the next two weeks attempt to reach a compromise over their ongoing dispute regarding France's new digital services tax.

Norway's Minister of Finance, Siv Jensen, has said that Norway will adopt a national digital services tax if negotiations towards an international digital tax framework fail to materialize this year.

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz has said he is confident that an agreement can be reached on a European Union financial transactions tax.

The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against 14 member states for failing to implement the so-called value-added tax quick fixes.

France's Directorate General of Public Finance confirmed in a statement issued on February 10, 2020, that companies liable for the country's digital services tax can delay payment of upcoming installments of the tax until December 2020.

The finance ministers of France, Germany, Italy, and Spain have put their names to a statement calling for countries to reach an agreement on solving the tax challenges of the digital economy by the end of 2020.

The OECD has released new stage two peer reviews on seven countries' implementation of the BEPS Action 14 minimum standard, on improving tax dispute resolution, covering Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, and Sweden.

Different types of food are associated with risks of different types of stroke, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the iEuropean Heart Journal/i.

New study uses photovoice methodology and qualitatively compares citizens' perceptions about the food environment in three Bilbao neighborhoods with different socioeconomic levels.

Artificial sweetener sucralose doesnt have any negative impact on its own, but when consumed with a carbohydrate, it induces harmful changes in insulin

Scientists from the University of Southampton studied the association between BMI and prolonged sickness absence, cutting down at work and health-related

Soy is widely viewed as a healthful food. However, whether intake of soy products (unfermented and fermented) is associated with longer life expectancy is unclear.

Caffeine may raise your ability to problem-solve, but it won't boost your creativity, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal iConsciousness and Cognition/i.

Intermittent fasting has worked on the liver to help prevent disease, stated researchers in Australia. The findings will help medical scientists working

High-fat and low-protein diets lead to metabolic disorders in their offspring, revealed researchers at the RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research (CPR).

In a new study with mice, high-salt diet was associated with bacterial infections. In human volunteers who consumed an additional six grams of salt per day also showed pronounced immune deficiencies.

Gulp down a cup of green tea to get rid of food allergies, suggests a new study. Research findings suggest gut microbes can effect allergic immune responses.

Fruit drinks' labels marketed to children, do not help parents and other consumers differentiate among fruit juice and sugar-laden, artificially flavored

Less-expensive foods are just as effective at helping female athletes recover from workouts as sports nutrition products, reports a new study. The findings

Drinking coffee makes your taste buds more sensitive to sweetness, reports a new study. The findings of the study are published in the journal iFoods/i.

People whose diets consisted of processed meats, potatoes, and snacks like cookies and cakes are at an increased dementia risk years later than people

Popular methods for judging the doneness of chicken may not ensure safety from pathogens, revealed findings presented by Solveig Langsrud of the Norwegian

Stevia, a popular sweetener can make potential improvements in a common condition called fatty liver disease, reports a new study. The findings of the

Green tea helps loose excess weight, according to the new analysis. But, it did not cause any significant change in terms of waist circumference (a measure of abdominal fat).

In low income countries, educational status was found to have a positive influence on a healthy diet, according to new research examining European nutritional data.

New study assesses the rate at which adolescents discuss sex with their parents and primary care providers, and the frequency at which they receive screening for sexually transmitted infections.

A new cell volume regulator in sperm cells that plays a key role in maintaining their shape and fertility has been uncovered by researchers at the University of Tsukuba and Cornell University.

Vulvovaginal problems such as dryness and pain during intercourse may get reduced by estradiol tablets, finds a new study. The findings of this study

People in open relationships (relationship with more than one partner) have been found to be as happy as people who are in a Monogamous relationship (one partner for one person), finds a new study.