The Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) established the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (the “Telehealth Program”) on April 2, 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Telehealth Program provides $200 million in funding, appropriated by Congress as part of the CARES Act,[1] to assist certain non-profit and public healthcare providers in making telehealth services available to patients who cannot be seen in person ...
Myanmar continues to generate intense investor interest in what remains one of the world’s largest frontier markets. Ever since 2011 when the country first opened its doors to foreign investment and participation, its economy has continued to surge with greater diversification of its markets and deepening sophistication of its consumer base ...
On 20 May 2020, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange of China issued the Circular on Supporting the Development of New Forms of Trade (Circular). The Circular summarised previous pilot experiences and, established foreign exchange (forex) policies that are meant to optimise new forms of trade[1]. The Circular has been implemented since the date of its promulgation ...
On 28 May 2020 the Federal High Court (Bundesgerichtshof (“BGH”) handed down its judgment in the Planet49 case after a long legal dispute (we have already reported in detail on the previous instances including the judgment of the European Court of Justice). The Federal High Court’s judgement contains a large number of important statements which can only be fully assessed once the written grounds are published ...
The state contribution for commercial rents to entrepreneurs with forcibly closed establishments is gaining more concrete outlines. If an entrepreneur negotiates a 30% discount on rent from his landlord, he will be able to apply for state support in the amount of 50% up to a ceiling of CZK 10 million for the period from April to June. However, the program has yet to be notified to the European Commission before it can be launched ...
Category B has been extended until the end of August 2020 and the government has approved a new form of support – Category C! Are you considering how to maintain employment of your employees and minimize economic losses? Take a look at what financial instruments the state has prepared for entrepreneurs whose employees have been affected, directly or indirectly, by government measures taken to combat coronavirus ...
Covid III is starting and you need to act fast! At its meeting on 18 May 2020, the Government approved by Resolution No. 553 the Covid III guarantee program for self-employed persons and companies employing up to 500 employees. Immediately afterwards, the websites of Českomoravská záruční a rozvojová banka, a.s. ("ČMZRB") published the conditions of the program ...
On 2 June 2020 an amendment to the Compensation Bonus Act was published in the collection of laws, thanks to which, in addition to self-employed persons, some shareholder/members in limited liability companies will also receive this support. Financial offices should commence paying out the bonus to shareholders on the basis of submitted applications no later than 3 June 2020, i.e. the date of effectiveness of the legislative amendment ...
On 19 May 2020, an Act On certain measures to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus epidemic known as SARS CoV-2 on cultural events (Act No 247/2020 Coll, the “Act” ), entered into force. Not only for the field of tourism, but also for the field of culture, the possibility of the organizer to issue a voucher for a cultural event instead of refunding the entrance ticket fee was introduced ...
On 30 May 2020, the Abu Dhabi Media Office posted through Twitter that the Department of Government Support has eased restrictions on some activities and issued a set of guidelines for working from and visiting government entities in Abu Dhabi. The guidelines below come into effect from today, 1 June 2020, and are limited to individuals between the ages of 12 and 60 ...
We are in unprecedented times. The Covid-19 pandemic has swept the globe like a tsunami and it continues to wreak havoc on countries, people and economies. The effects of the pandemic are evident now. For example, the US unemployment rate is presently at 14.7%. In the peak of the financial crisis of 2008, the unemployment rate was 10% ...
The Amendments to the Agreement on Trade in Services of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Amendment) which was signed on 21 November 2019 has come into force on 1 June 2020. Trade in Services is one of the four major areas covered by the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA), under which Hong Kong service suppliers enjoy preferential treatment when entering certain service sectors in the Mainland ...
On 26 May 2020, Dubai Economy published the “Post Eid al Fitr” reopening Guidelines which took effect from Wednesday 27 May 2020 and include updates to the protocols for the wholesale and retail trade including salons and barbershops as well as valet parking. The Guidelines also provide tailored reopening protocols for cinemas, kids salons, auction houses, outsourced government service centres, and various entertainment sectors ...
States’ responses to the global pandemic may, however well-intended, harm the interests of inward investors. Under international public law, those investors have rights and so a spate of investor-State arbitral claims may well be a legacy of the pandemic. Across the world, governments have responded to Covid-19 by introducing emergency measures, which have inhibited social interaction and hampered economic activity ...
Industry solutions relying on artificial intelligence (AI)are growing faster than many had predicted. In addition to the important personal data protection considerations, another important question which this new and emerging technology is raising relates to the AI safety problems and their legal response. So far, the European Union and Bulgaria have not adopted legislation specifically tackling the AI phenomenon and in particular – the safety concerns associated with AI ...
The Canadian government, concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on corporate valuations, has issued guidance that it will pay particular attention to foreign direct investments of any value (meaning, even investments that are not subject to review under the Investment Canada Act (the “ICA”)). The government’s announcement does not amend the ICA, nor any thresholds for review ...
I. Background On March 4, 2020, Supreme Decree (the “SD”) Nr. 183, issued by the Ministry of National Defense, Undersecretary for the Armed Forces, was published in the Official Gazette (the “Amendment”), which amended SD Nr. 9, the New Regulation on Maritime Concessions (the “New Regulation”), which in turn substituted the previous regulation contained in SD Nr. 2 of 2005, issued by the former Undersecretary of Navy. II ...
Following the global trend for tax transparency and fighting harmful tax practices, Ukraine finally adopted its ownanti-BEPS package law, known by businesses and tax practitioners as "tax bill 1210". Asters selected the key takeaways for businesses operating across the borders. The law is in effect starting from 23 May 2020 with some provisions taking effect later. I ...
The last two years have seen an expansion of regulations related to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), both in the United States and abroad. COVID-19 is driving further expansion of FDI in the U.S. and elsewhere. Owners and investors need to know — expansion of regulations gaps closed in national security reviews new inclusion of medical supplies and food non-controlling investments also scrutinized Whether by intent or coincidence, the U.S ...
On 18 May 2020, the UAE government announced the following timings with effect from today, 20 May 2020: the National Disinfection Programme will take place between 08:00pm (not 10:00pm) to 06:00am the following day. working hours of butchers, mills and cafes will be from 06:00am to 08:00pm. commercial centres and malls will be open from 09:00am to 07:00pm (with new opening hours to be announced after the upcoming Eid ...
The National Privacy Commission (NPC) has issued guidelines on data protection in work from home (WFH) arrangements (NPC PHE Bulletin No. 12 on “Protecting Personal Data in a Work from Home Arrangement; issued May 15, 2020). The full text of the guidelines can be found here: https://www.privacy.gov.ph/2020/05/npc-phe-bulletin-no-12-protecting-personal-data-in-a-work-from-home-arrangement/ ...
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have been forced to work from home and this has created new opportunities and very fertile ground for the emergence of cyber threats. Accordingly, on 29 April 2020, the Intermediaries Supervision Department of the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued a circular (Circular) containing examples of controls and procedures firms can put in place to manage their cybersecurity risks ...
Preface Artificial intelligence[1](AI) is widely recognised as one of the defining industrial phenomena of the 21stcentury. In today’s technology-dependent world, its potential impact on business and economic development can hardly be understated ...
The Vietnam Competition and Consumer Authority has released several documents related to the merger notification regime that was effectively implemented on 15 May 2020, the effective date of Decree 35. As the National Competition Committee has not yet been appointed, the documents clarify that, in accordance with its responsibility under Article 7 ...
The Abu Dhabi Global Market has announced amendments to its Companies Regulations. The Companies Regulations 2020 (2020 Regulations) repeal the Companies Regulations 2015 (as amended). We have summarised below the key changes under the 2020 Regulations.Companies Regulations 2020 Effect of amendmentSection 3One of the ways in which a restricted scope company can be incorporated is if the founding members are a group of people who are from the same family (as approved by the Registrar) ...
