The French Government has presented to the Council of Ministers a third amendment to the Finance Bill for 2020, which provides additional support for businesses affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

Belgium has extended agreements with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands clarifying the tax rules for frontier workers working from home due to COVID-19.

The French Government has listed the businesses that may exceptionally benefit from a two-thirds reduction in local property tax.

France's General Directorate of Public Finance has launched a scheme that allows small companies to request a specific settlement plan for the payment of their taxes.

The French Government is extending its COVID-19 financial support package for the tourism sector to various additional business types.

The French Ministry of Finance confirmed on August 31, 2020, that several tax agreements applying to cross-border workers during the COVID-19 crisis have been extended.

The French tax authority has announced that it will modify and extend a scheme that allows employers to pay workers tax-free bonuses.

In two recent speeches, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has outlined plans to extend COVID-19 supports for French businesses.

On August 26, 2020, the Swiss Federal Council ratified a new double taxation agreement with Bahrain and a Protocol to revise its DTA with Kuwait.

The Hong Kong Government has gazetted legislation to provide tax concessions for carried interest distributed by eligible private equity funds operating in Hong Kong.

On May 21, 2020, the Italian Revenue Agency issued a summary of additional tax measures in Decree 34/2020, which are intended to further support taxpayers affected by the COVID-19 virus.

The European Commission has approved under state aid rules four Italian tax schemes to support companies and self-employed workers affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

On July 10, 2020, the Italian tax authority issued a ruling to explain the rules concerning tax credits for expenditure on adapting workplaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The Italian Government will allow tax payments that were deferred during the COVID-19 lockdown to be paid in instalments over a two-year period.

The Hong Kong Government has gazetted legislation to provide tax concessions for carried interest distributed by eligible private equity funds operating in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Inland Revenue Department has explained COVID-19 tax concessions available for taxpayers struggling to pay their tax dues and has highlighted upcoming property tax obligations.

The Swiss Government has opened the application process for a loan guarantee scheme aimed at helping start-ups facing liquidity problems during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Swiss Government is anticipating a shortfall in tax receipts of over CHF5bn in 2020.

Switzerland has signed protocols to its double taxation agreements with Cyprus, Liechtenstein, and Malta to implement minimum standards developed as part of the OECD's BEPS project.

The Swiss Government has confirmed it will extend a tax exemption for surface disinfectants in light of COVID-19.

On August 26, 2020, the Swiss Federal Council ratified a new double taxation agreement with Bahrain and a Protocol to revise its DTA with Kuwait.

Saudi Arabia has announced its decision to increase its headline value-added tax rate to 15 percent from five percent, in a surprise break from the Gulf Cooperation Council's harmonized value-added tax framework.

COVID-19 restrictions limited human mobility and contact, which nearly reduced 750,000 dengue cases in 2020, reveals a new study published in iLancet Infectious Diseases.

Tax revenues fell in 2019 in two-thirds of economies across Asia and the Pacific as a result of an economic slowdown prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new OECD report.

On May 7, 2020, the United States Internal Revenue Service issued a reminder to employers affected by COVID-19 about the tax credits made available to them under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

On May 15, 2020, the United States House of Representatives approved the HEROES Act, which amends previous COVID-19-related stimulus legislation by changing loss carryback rules and providing further tax support for businesses and individuals.

On May 13, 2020, the Belgian tax authority announced that the competent authorities of Belgium and Germany have concluded an agreement which clarifies the tax situation of cross-border workers in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis.

On May 15, 2020, the competent authorities of Belgium and France concluded an agreement which clarifies the tax situation of cross-border workers in the context of the COVID-19 health crisis.

On June 24, 2020, the Belgian Ministry of Finance issued a clarification of tax payment deadlines for non-resident individuals after the tax authority issued tax statements with the wrong due dates.

Belgium has extended agreements with France, Germany, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands clarifying the tax rules for frontier workers working from home due to COVID-19.

On July 6, 2020, the Belgian Ministry of Finance announced that the deadline for the filing of corporate tax returns has been extended further, from September 24 to October 29, 2020.

The Belgian Finance Ministry has released guidance on a COVID-19 tax relief measure on offer for employer-paid expenses for teleworking.

The Belgian Government has released a new form for SME corporate taxpayers to access tax reliefs for investments, which were enhanced in response to COVID-19.

Luxembourg and Belgium will extend the duration of an agreement that clarifies the tax rules for cross-border workers affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

The French Ministry of Finance confirmed on August 31, 2020, that several tax agreements applying to cross-border workers during the COVID-19 crisis have been extended.

The EU will postpone the entry into force of its VAT e-commerce package and will defer certain filing deadlines under the Directive on Administrative Cooperation due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Irish Revenue has announced the implementation of temporary measures in relation to the close company surcharge regime, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Irish business association Ibec has called for the establishment of a Commission on Taxation, as part of a package of measures to "reboot" the economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind the medlinkCOVID-19 pandemic/medlink, continues to circulate. The current focus is on testing and treating symptomatic patients.

Common drugs used to treat medlinkrheumatoid arthritis/medlink can relieve long COVID symptoms, suggests a new study led by University of Virginia

Highlights: A rare side effect of Covid medication Favipiravir has recently been documented in a male infant Dis

The European Commission has published its latest VAT gap report, which show that EU countries lost an estimated EUR140bn (USD165.7bn) in VAT revenues in 2018.

Highlights: Adenovirus, typically seen in winter, has affected young swimmers this summer, suggesting pools as

Highlights: Conjunctivitis, a contagious eye infection, is rapidly spreading in Delhi, majorly affecting the c

Highlights: COVID-19 vaccination provides 60% protection against mortality in the year following hospital disc

Highlights: 82% rise in medical colleges from 2014 to 2023 112% increase in MBBS seats and 127% in PG seats

The Delhi High Court has ruled that while homeopathy is beneficial, the medical procedure to deal with pandemic cases should always be left to the discretion

The key motivations for migration among international nurses included education, career experience, and desires to improve quality of life. The report,

The new application, supported by IWMI, includes information about Sri Lanka’s land use, quantity of paddy land, number of farmers, land cultivated in one season and available yield, and emergency agricultural information.

The post Application with Geo-Goviya information system launched first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Mohsin Hafeez discusses the potential of nature-based solutions in dealing with climate shocks faced by vulnerable people in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The post Role of nature-based solutions for improving urban water security first appeared on International Water Management Institute (IWMI).