China will adopt a broad range of digitalized measures to regulate tax collections and optimize tax payment services through 2025, officials from the State Taxation Administration said on March 29.
Wednesday, March 31, 2021
HKSAR - COVID-19 nucleic acid testing arrangements for people arriving in Hong Kong from places in China will be adjusted from April 1 to tally the relevant testing requirements
The Government today announced that the COVID-19 nucleic acid testing arrangements for people arriving in Hong Kong from places in China will be adjusted from April 1 to tally the relevant testing requirements.
Currently, the testing arrangements vary for people arriving from different places in China, including the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan, at different boundary control points.
Currently, the testing arrangements vary for people arriving from different places in China, including the Mainland, Macau and Taiwan, at different boundary control points.
Monday, March 29, 2021
Philippines - Temporary Suspension of Operations in DFA Aseana and Other Consular Offices
In view of the announcement on the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) from 29 March to 04 April 2021 in the National Capital Region and in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal and Laguna, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) will close its office located in ASEANA Business Park in Parañaque City as well as its Consular Offices in Metro Manila, Antipolo, Dasmarinas, San Pablo, and Malolos on 29 – 31 March 2021.
Taiwan rolls out touchless boarding trials at Taipei Songshan Airport
Taipei Songshan Airport is the first in Taiwan to pilot touchless boarding as the country seeks to make its airports smarter, according to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications March 23.
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Singapore - From 5 April 2021, more employees may return to the workplace to better support in-person collaboration and business operations
The tripartite partners (MOM, SNEF, and NTUC) have updated the workplace safe management measures to allow greater flexibility for businesses, while mitigating the risk of widespread COVID-19 transmission. Effective implementation of these measures will help to avoid having to impose tighter measures.
These requirements will be effective from 5 April 2021, and are meant for general workplace settings. Specific workplaces like construction worksites and shipyards may have to fulfil additional requirements and should refer to sector-specific requirements.
These requirements will be effective from 5 April 2021, and are meant for general workplace settings. Specific workplaces like construction worksites and shipyards may have to fulfil additional requirements and should refer to sector-specific requirements.
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Germany - The measures currently in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are to be extended until 18 April
The measures currently in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic are to be extended until 18 April.
Over Easter, contacts are to be radically reduced for a period of several days because of the rapid rise in the number of new cases driven by the variant B.1.1.7.
This variant now accounts for the majority of new infections in Germany. Here are the results of the meeting between the Federal Chancellor and the Heads of Government of the Länder.
Monday, March 22, 2021
Australia - Lawyers can now provide immigration assistance
On 22 March 2021, amendments to the Migration Act 1958 will take effect, allowing lawyers to provide immigration assistance without being registered with the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA).
Philippines - Bureau of Immigration (BI) to implement Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) order suspending entry of foreign nationals
Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Jaime Morente announced that
they will be implementing a resolution from the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of
Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) suspending the travel of foreign nationals into the
Philippines.
US - Tax Day for individuals extended to May 17
The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.
The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.
Thailand - State Quarantine Will Be Shortened to 10 Days
State quarantine for both Thai and foreign arrivals will be shortened to 10 days from 14 starting April 1, as part of the government’s plan to reopen the country from Oct 1.
For Travelers to Japan (Pre-departure COVID-19 swab test in Singapore, etc.) - Updated 19 March 2021
When traveling to Japan, you (including Japanse nationals) are required to have a certificate of COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours before departure from Singapore.
If you do not have the certificate, you will not be allowed to enter Japan based on the Quarantine Act.
You will need to install Video calling and Location-tracking app, and will be checked for the contact information on your “Written Pledge” before being allowed to proceed to the immigration checkpoint. (The requirements adobe also apply to Japanese nationals.)
Sunday, March 21, 2021
เศษ (Dust) นาบี Version Ost.นาบี ฉันจะไม่รักเธอ - อ้าย สรัลชนา
Aye has definitely grows on me over the years. Only one word to describe her looks and voice - SWEET!
นิทานพันดาว (ทอฝัน Version) Ost.นิทานพันดาว 1000stars - Aye Sarunchana
She has definitely grows on me over the years.
Thursday, March 18, 2021
UAE - Ras Al Khaimah issues safety measures during Ramadan
Major General Ali Abdullah bin Alwan Al Nuaimi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ras Al Khaimah Police and Head of the Local Emergency Crisis and Disaster Team in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, has announced a set of precautionary measures during the Holy month of Ramadan.
HKSAR - Social distancing extended until March 31
The Government today announced that the social distancing measures currently in place will be maintained until March 31.
The Food & Health Bureau said the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains volatile since the gradual and orderly relaxation of social distancing measures on February 18.
The Food & Health Bureau said the COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong remains volatile since the gradual and orderly relaxation of social distancing measures on February 18.
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Singapore - How To Bring Work Pass Holders Into Singapore?
Wondering how to bring your work pass holders into Singapore?
Certain companies can apply for entry using the SafeTravel portal under the Work Pass Holder General Lane from 15 March 2021 and get an outcome instantly.
Singapore - More Vaccination Centres Nationwide With The Roll-Out Of The Moderna Vaccine
As of 15 March 2021, Singapore has administered more than 792,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In total, more than 549,000 individuals have received at least the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, of whom about 243,000 have also received their second dose, and hence completed the full vaccination regimen.
Since vaccination for seniors commenced island-wide on 22 February, more than 175,000 seniors have received their first dose, and about 230,000 seniors have made appointments to receive their first dose in the next few weeks.
China - Visa rules eased for recipients of Chinese vaccines
China will simplify visa applications for many foreign nationals who have been inoculated with Chinese-produced COVID-19 vaccines, the latest step toward normalizing personnel exchanges.
Starting on March 15, Chinese embassies in multiple countries, including Japan, Israel, Thailand, Pakistan and the Philippines, streamlined visa application procedures in such cases.
Other nations included in the plan include the United States, Germany, Australia and Greece.
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
UK - More countries added to red list to protect UK vaccination programme against variants of concern
- travel bans implemented for visitors from Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar from 4am Friday 19 March 2021
- British, Irish and third-country nationals with residence rights (including long-term visa holders) arriving from these countries will be required to quarantine in a government-approved hotel quarantine facility for 10 days
- move follows new data showing an increased risk of importation of variants of concern
Ethiopia, Oman, Somalia and Qatar have been added to England’s red list to protect the country against new variants of coronavirus (COVID-19), at a critical time for the vaccine programme.
India: COVID-19 Guidelines - Delhi High Court Order
The Court is constrained to pass the present order because of an
alarming situation which was witnessed, by the Court, during the Air
India flight from Kolkata to New Delhi on 5th March, 2021.
China - COVID-19 inoculation campaign speeding up
China is working around the clock to build COVID-19 herd immunity through its orderly and smooth rollout of vaccines, with 64.98 million doses administered as of last week, officials said on March 15.
They said the country's coordinated national inoculation networks, robust production and logistics operations, and a stringent supervision system will underpin the ongoing mass immunization program, while ensuring the quality and safety of China's homegrown vaccines.
Monday, March 15, 2021
Singapore - Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Spokesperson’s Comments in Response to The Sydney Morning Herald’s report “Australia and Singapore plan for travel bubble and quarantine hub by July”
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) refer to The Sydney Morning Herald’s report “Australia and Singapore plan for travel bubble and quarantine hub by July” on 14 March 2021.
Australia - From 11:59pm AEDT on 11 March 2021, quarantine-free flights from New Zealand to Australia will resume.
From 11:59pm AEDT on 11 March 2021, quarantine-free flights from New Zealand to Australia will resume.
Routine pre-departure and on arrival screening will continue.
All travellers should check the arrangements in both their place of arrival and place of final destination as quarantine requirements might apply.
France - Relaxing of conditions for entering and leaving French territory for travel outside the European area
From Friday 12 March, it will no longer be necessary to have a compelling reason to travel to or from Singapore, Australia, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea or the United Kingdom.
Friday, March 12, 2021
New Zealand - Auckland to move to Alert Level 1 at midday today, Friday 12 March
Auckland will move to COVID-19 Alert Level 1 at midday today, Friday 12 March.
This follows six days of Auckland being at Level 2, with seven days prior to that at Level 3, after 15 positive community cases emerged outside managed isolation facilities.
“Level 2 restrictions being in place until today have allowed us to get the results of day-12 testing for the last remaining contacts of case M, who are in isolation. These all came back negative overnight,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said.
US - Get credit for IRA contributions made by April 15 on 2020 tax returns
The Internal Revenue Service notes that taxpayers of all ages may be able to claim a deduction on their 2020 tax return for contributions to their Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) made through April 15, 2021. There is no longer a maximum age for making IRA contributions.
An IRA is designed to enable employees and the self-employed to save for retirement. Most taxpayers who work are eligible to start a traditional or Roth IRA or add money to an existing account.
UK - Government focuses on recovery from Covid with new timeline for border control processes on import of goods
- Government putting COVID recovery first with new time scale for implementing border controls.
- Full processes for some imports will not be required until January 2022.
- Overall freight volumes between the UK and the EU have been back to their normal levels since the start of February.
A new timetable for introducing import border control processes has been set out by the government today (Thursday 11 March) to enable UK businesses to focus on their recovery.
India - Residential status of certain individuals under Income-tax Act, 1961
Section 6 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (the Act) contains provisions relating to determination
of residency of a person. The status of an individual, as to whether he is resident in India or a nonresident or not ordinarily resident, is dependent, inter-alia, on the period for which the person is
in India during a previous year or years preceding the previous year.
2. Relaxation for Previous Year 2019-20 Considering the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant overstay of an individual who had come to India on a visit before 22nd March 2020, circular no II of 2020 dated 8th May 2020 was issued by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (the Board) under section 119 of the Act to avoid genuine hardship in such cases.
It was clarified that for the purpose of determining the residential status under section 6 of the Act during the previous year 2019-20 in respect of an individual who has come to India on a visit before 22nd March 2020 and:
(a) has been unable to leave India on or before 31 st March 2020, his period of stay in India from 22nd March 2020 to 31 st March, 2020 shall not be taken into account; or
(b) has been quarantined in India on account of Novel Corona Virus (Covid-19) on or after 1 st March, 2020 and has departed on an evacuation flight before 31st March 2020 or has been unable to leave India on or before 31st March 2020, his period of stay from the beginning of his quarantine to his date of departure or 31st March, 2020, as the case may be, shall not be taken into account; or
(c) has departed on an evacuation flight before 31st March 2020, his period of stay in India from 22nd March 2020 to his date of departure shall not be taken into account.
ROSÉ - 'On The Ground' M/V
On The Ground
My life's been magic seems fantastic
I used to have a hole in the wall with a mattress
It’s funny when you want it
Suddenly you have it
You find out that your gold’s just plastic
Every day every night
I’ve been thinking back on you and I
Every day every night
I worked my whole life
Just to get right just to be like
Look at me I’m never coming down
I worked my whole life
Just to get high just to realize
Everything I need is on the
Everything I need is on the ground
On the ground
Everything I need is on the ground
Nah but they don’t hear me though (Yeah what goes up it must come down)
Nah but they don’t hear me though (You’re running out of time)
My world’s been hectic seems electric
But I’ve been waking up with your voice in my head
And I’m trying to send a message
And let you know that every single minute I’m without you I regret it
Every day every night
I’ve been thinking back on you and I
Every day every night
I worked my whole life
Just to get right just to be like
Look at me I’m never coming down
I worked my whole life
Just to get high just to realize
Everything I need is on the
Everything I need is on the ground
On the ground
Everything I need is on the ground
Nah but they don’t hear me though (Yeah what goes up it must come down)
Nah but they don’t hear me though (You’re running out of time)
I’m way up in the clouds
And they say I’ve made it now
But I figured it out
Everything I need is on the ground
Just drove by your house
So far from you now
But I figured it out
Everything I need is on the
Everything I need is on the ground
On the ground
Everything I need is on the ground
Nah but they don’t hear me though
On the ground
Nah but they don’t hear me though
Everything I need is on the ground
Thursday, March 11, 2021
China - Favorable policies to stabilize and attract foreign investment launched for multinationals
For multinational corporations grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, China emerged as a silver lining to their balance sheets last year.
The nation has launched favorable policies to stabilize and attract foreign investment, and this was underlined on March 5 when Premier Li Keqiang announced a series of opening-up measures in his Government Work Report.
Indonesia - Implementation of non-cash payment methods on Consular Services at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore
Starting Monday, March 8, 2021, the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore applies cashless payments (PAYNOW) on Consular Services.
Tuesday, March 09, 2021
Singapore Airlines First In World To Pilot IATA's Travel Pass App
Singapore Airlines (SIA) will be the world’s first airline to pilot the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Travel Pass mobile application for digital health verification, starting with passengers travelling from Singapore to London from 15 to 28 March 2021.
Friday, March 05, 2021
Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel outlines next steps towards easing restrictions
At the next steps towards easing restrictions and reached agreement on five steps. Of these, the first is that certain regional restrictions have already been lifted for schools a few days prior to 1 March, and from 1 March also for hairdressers, i.e. since the beginning of March.
Thursday, March 04, 2021
HKSAR - Government extends social distancing measures till March 17, 2021
The Government gazetted the directions and specifications under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F), the Prevention and Control of Disease (Prohibition on Group Gathering) Regulation (Cap. 599G) and the Prevention and Control of Disease (Wearing of Mask) Regulation (Cap. 599I) to maintain the social distancing measures currently in place, and strengthen infection control measures in catering business premises in view of the recent cluster of cases.
The directions and specifications will take effect on March 4, 2021 for a period of 14 days till March 17, 2021.
RAIN (비) - WHY DON’T WE (Feat. 청하 (CHUNG HA)) MV
He is back!
반복 반복 got me traumatized xx
그땐 난 널 생각하지 in my mind
Oh baby everytime I think of you
난 안정이 되고 it’s so good
Oh baby baby Oh yeah yeah
갖고 싶은 건 없어 baby Imma boss xx
I don’t wanna waste time no more xx
난 너랑 나 단둘이
지금이라도 날아가고 싶어
You aint gotta worry bout
너무 걱정하지마 baby
하나 난 우리 둘을 지켜 Settle down
It’s forever now 대충 내려놔
잠시만이라도 잠시만이라도
Why don’t we Why don’t we
Why don’t we We we we we we
Why don’t we Why don’t we Why don’t we
제정신이 아닐 때가 가끔씩 (가끔씩)
다 잊은 다음 던져버린 후 너하고
두근대는 낮 속에서부터 깜깜깜한 밤까지
매일이 네가 이야기해 준 날 같아
하나 난 우리 둘을 지켜 Settle down
It’s forever now 대충 내려놔
잠시만이라도 잠시만이라도
Why don’t we Why don’t we
Why don’t we We we we we we
Why don’t we Why don’t we Why don’t we
떠나고만 싶어 저기 somewhere
자나 깨나 너의 옆 지킬 거라고 말했잖아 내가
everything is excuse For today
Why don’t we Why don’t we
Why don’t we We we we we we
Why don’t we Why don’t we Why don’t we
Wednesday, March 03, 2021
Singapore - From 1 May 2021, all Dependant's Pass holders who wish to work during their stay in Singapore will need an applicable work pass (such as an EP, S Pass or Work Permit) instead of an LOC
From 1 May 2021, all Dependant's Pass holders who wish to work during their stay in Singapore will need an applicable work pass (such as an EP, S Pass or Work Permit) instead of an LOC.
DP holders who are business owners may be eligible to continue running their businesses on an LOC if they meet specified criteria.
China - Resolution plans for banks, insurers soon
China will launch standardized and unified requirements for large and medium-sized banking and insurance institutions to make resolution plans.
Commonly known as "living wills", resolution plans are detailed strategies for orderly resolution of material financial distress or failure of institutions. They help prevent systemic risks and maintain financial stability during such circumstances.
UK - Global Travel Taskforce meets to map out safe return to international travel
Government meets with industry players to develop a safe and sustainable plan to restart international travel.
- group will focus on developing a framework to enable more international travel
- key industry players from the aviation, maritime, cruise, international rail and tourism sectors to play a critical role in developing recommendations
- plan will be underpinned by the latest scientific data, keeping the country safe from new COVID variants
The Secretary of State Grant Shapps has today (2 March 2021) chaired the first meeting of the new Global Travel Taskforce to set out a plan for restarting international travel in a safe and sustainable way.
Tuesday, March 02, 2021
Taiwan - Starting from March 1, Taiwan to again allow non-R.O.C. nationals to visit Taiwan for medical purposes under certain conditions to continue providing quality medical care services
On February 24, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced that in consideration of the stable coronavirus situation and adequate medical capacities in Taiwan, it would again conditionally allow non-R.O.C. nationals to enter Taiwan for medical purposes.
The CECC pointed out that international patients may, except for non-urgent medical care needs including health checkups, and aesthetic medicine, provide relevant documents to medical institutions to apply for receiving medical care in Taiwan starting from March 1.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare (the MOHW) will make the final decision on applications after reviewing the necessity, continuity, and risk of the treatment for applicants, in a bid to ensure non-R.O.C. nationals can receive medical care in Taiwan.
European Union (EU) - Tourism MEPs advocate common criteria for safe and clean travel
EU criteria for safe and clean tourism, including a common vaccination certificate, should be a part of a new EU strategy on sustainable tourism, said MEPs.
The draft resolution on establishing an EU strategy for sustainable tourism, adopted by Transport and Tourism Committee on Thursday by 47 votes in favour and 2 against, urges EU countries to include the tourism and travel sectors in their recovery plans and consider temporarily reducing VAT on these services.
Monday, March 01, 2021
Singapore - Receive Direct Tax Bills this Tax Season 2021
To enhance the tax filing experience, the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) will be sending tax bills directly to selected taxpayers in place of filing notices this season.
IRAS will also be rolling out new initiatives to simplify tax filing for the self-employed.
Selected commission agents and private hire car/taxi drivers will get to enjoy No-Filing Service (NFS) for the first time, and more sole-proprietorships will experience easier filing with the increase in revenue threshold for 2-line statement from $100,000 to $200,000.
Taxpayers can also expect a new look for their tax notices this year, with improved design for an easy read.
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I like this song a lot when I heard it being repeatedly played in the HK drama "溏心风暴". And I cried so often so when I hear this so...