Officials from Switzerland and India have discussed the automatic exchange of tax information and free trade.

A number of goods and services tax regime amendments, intended to simplify compliance for traders, became effective in India from April 1, 2019.

India's Central Board of Direct Taxes has launched a new consultation on proposals to amend Article 7 of India's double tax treaties on permanent establishment, and rule 10 in the Income Tax Rules, 1962, to establish a formula to bring within the charge to Indian tax a proportion of profits of a multinational deemed to have a significant digital presence in India. The country is considering using a formulary apportionment approach, akin to that proposed under the EU's Common Corporate Tax Base initiative.

As of September 1, 2019, India introduced an obligation for tax to be deducted at source at a two percent rate if a taxpayer's cash withdrawals totaled INR10m (USD138,350) or more in the previous year.

Local authorities in India have been instructed to draw up lists of taxpayers that have filed fraudulent or potentially fraudulent requests for input tax credits and where appropriate share this information with other state authorities.

The European Commission has asked the Netherlands to amend taxation rules that it says amount to obstacles to the cross-border transfer of pensions.

The Dutch Ministry of Finance has announced that around 24,000 small traders will be able to defer their wage tax declarations this year due to problems with the Government's new online portal for businesses.

On March 17, 2020, the Dutch Ministry of Finance announced that the Government has adopted a package of measures intended to protect the economy from the coronavirus epidemic, including several tax changes.

The UK Conservative Party has agreed to consider reducing the rate of Air Passenger Duty for airports in Northern Ireland after agreeing a coalition government with the Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party party.

The Hong Kong Financial Services Development Council has released a report calling for the Government to expand its tax treaty network, in particular with countries that have growing aviation industries.

The European Commission has concluded that an exemption for transfer and transit passengers from the Irish air travel tax was in line with EU state aid rules.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has suggested that there could be an EU-UK customs union after Brexit.

The European Commission and the Swiss Federal Council have each approved proposals to link their emissions trading systems, meaning formal signature of a new agreement could take place by the end of the year.

German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries has said that Germany's air passenger tax is damaging the country's aviation industry and should be scrapped.

The WTO's Dispute Settlement Body has formally endorsed the Appellate Body's decision to reverse a previous panel ruling that a tax break provided by Washington State to Boeing is a prohibited subsidy.

A number of proposed tax changes intended to boost Dutch competitiveness and combat tax avoidance have been included in the official agreement between the four parties forming the next Government of the Netherlands.

Members of the European Parliament have preliminarily agreed to continue with the aviation industry's current treatment under the EU's emissions trading scheme to allow for the development of a new industry-specific carbon tax arrangement.

A new study by PwC has concluded that abolishing Germany's flight ticket tax would provide a substantial boost to the German economy.

The European Council on November 10 authorized the signing of an agreement with Switzerland to link their emissions trading systems.

Environmental tax revenue as a percentage of Germany's overall tax take has fallen to its lowest level in more than 20 years, according to the country's statistical agency.

Indonesia is to hike its air departure tax for Soekarno-Hatta Airport, by far the country's busiest, from March 1.

The Dutch Government has begun a public consultation exercise on plans to introduce a new tax on air travel by 2021.

The Swiss Federal Council is consulting on proposed changes to the CO2 Ordinance, which would link the Swiss and EU emissions trading systems.

Indonesia's Ministry of Finance is preparing a legislative response to ensure the collection of VAT on electronically supplied services to Indonesian consumers.

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.

Switzerland and the EU are to link their emissions trading systems from next year, after the Swiss Federal Council approved revisions to the country's Ordinance on the Reduction of CO2 Emissions.

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

The BSE Sensex has surged 640 points to 32,083 (up 2.0%).

Among the top gainers in the BSE Sensex today are HUL (up 4.3%), BAJAJ FINANCE (up 3.3%) and TCS (up 3.0%). Other gainers include RELIANCE IND. (up 2.8%) and MARUTI SUZUKI (up 2.7%).

BAJAJ AUTO (down 2.7%) and NESTLE (down 1.0%) are among the top losers today.

In the meantime, the NSE Nifty Index is up 3,299 points to 9,377 (up 1.9%).

The top gainers in the NSE Nifty Index include include HINDALCO (up 4.5%), HUL (up 4.2%) and ZEE ENTERTAINMENT (up 3.7%). Other gainers include GAIL (up 3.6%) and MARUTI SUZUKI (up 2.6%).

Over the last one year, the BSE Sensex has moved up from Rs 38,277 to Rs 32,083, registering a gain of Rs -6,194 (up -16.2%)..

The top gainers among the BSE Sensex stocks during this same period were BHARTI AIRTEL (up 66.4%), NESTLE (up 63.6%) and HUL (up 22.6%).

Which stocks contributed the most to the BSE Sensex?

The biggest contributors to the gain in the Sensex today were HUL (86 points) and BAJAJ FINANCE (68 points).

Among the other contributors were TCS (57 points) and RELIANCE IND. (43 points).

What about the other broader BSE Indices?

The BSE 100 index has gained -2,133 points today and is now trading at 9,475 (down 18.4%). The top gainer here is AVENUE SUPERMARTS LTD (up 76.0%).

The BSE 500 on the other hand gained 2,818 points (up 1.7%), and is currently at 12,141.

ITD CEMENTATION INDIA share price has zoomed 11% and is presently trading at Rs 38.

Meanwhile, the BSE REALTY Index is at 1,345 (up 1.3%).

Among the top Gainers in the BSE REALTY Index today is ITD CEMENTATION INDIA (up 10.8%).

SOBHA LIMITED and OMAXE LTD are among the top losers today.

Over the last one year, ITD CEMENTATION INDIA has moved down from Rs 115 to Rs 38, registering a loss of Rs 78 (down 67.5%).

On the other hand, the BSE REALTY has moved down from 1,983 to 1,345, loss of 638 points (down 32.4%) during the last 12 months.

What About the Benchmark Indices?

The BSE Sensex is at 32,089 (up 1.6%).

The top gainers among the BSE Sensex stocks today are RELIANCE IND. (up 4.0%), ICICI BANK (up 3.8%) and BHARTI AIRTEL (up 3.1%). Other gainers include HUL (up 2.7%) and KOTAK MAHINDRA BANK (up 2.7%). The most traded stocks in the BSE Sensex are SBI and INDUSIND BANK.

In the meantime, NSE Nifty is at 9,383 (up 1.5%). The top gainers in the NSE Nifty include RELIANCE IND. (up 4.1%), ICICI BANK (up 3.8%) and DR. REDDYS LAB (up 3.7%). Other gainers include BHARTI AIRTEL (up 3.3%) and HUL (up 2.7%) are among the top gainers in NSE Nifty.

Over the last 12 months, the BSE Sensex has moved down from 38,277 to 32,089, registering a loss of 6,188 points (down 16.56%).

The UK tax agency, HM Revenue and Customs, has released new guidance on its policies concerning cost-sharing groups following rulings from the European Court of Justice on their VAT treatment.

International tax developments could have a negative impact on Luxembourg's tax revenues and economy, the International Monetary Fund has said in its latest Luxembourg country report.

Belgium, Denmark, and Germany have the highest personal income tax burdens, at over 35 percent, among OECD countries, according to the latest OECD Taxing Wages report, which says that just over half of countries made small increases to their average personal tax rates last year.

The Luxembourg direct tax administration has published a circular including comprehensive guidance for the recently introduced changes to the special tax regime for intellectual property income.

The EU General Court has dismissed an appeal brought against the European Commission's decision that a tax ruling granted by Luxembourg to Fiat Chrysler Finance Europe was unlawful.

On September 13, the OECD launched a substantial report on the tax policy reforms implemented last year by advanced nations.

The United States Economic Commission for Africa says African countries are gearing up to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, with a key deadline this month being hit with an agreement among ministers.

The South African Revenue Service has released the 2017 edition of its Tax Statistics report, looking at the agency's performance over the 2013 to 2016 tax years.

South Africa has issued a guide on the value-added tax rate increase to 15 percent from 14 percent due to take effect from April 1, 2018.

On April 1, 2018, South Africa will raise its value-added tax rate to 15 percent from 14 percent.

44 African countries have signed a landmark free trade pact to simplify tax and non-tax rules for trading between their borders.

The South African Revenue Service on April 6, 2018, warned taxpayers that they are expected to declare cryptocurrency gains or losses in calculating their taxable income.

"While countries do not necessarily need to tax savings more, there is a lot of room to improve the way countries tax savings," according to Pascal Saint-Amans, Director of the OECD Centre for Tax Policy and Administration.

South Africa's National Treasury is inviting the public to contribute to a review of the list of items zero-rated for value-added tax purposes.

The African Continental Free Trade Agreement will enter into force on May 30, 2019, after Sierra Leone and the Sahrawi Republic deposited their instruments of ratification of the agreement.

Coronavirus vaccine: World leaders and organisations, except the United States, have already pledged $8 billion to research, manufacture and distribute a possible vaccine and treatments for COVID-19 apart from the individual efforts taken by the countries and its pharmaceutical firms

The OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z earphones come with a magnetic stripe on the earbuds that pause music when attached.

COVID-19 will lead to fundamental, and possibly, permanent behavioural changes in the way people shop, consume media and how they regard the brands they do business with, said Prabhu Ram of CMR

Engineers have done preliminary work and talked to smartphone operating system makers Apple Inc and Google about possibly adopting technology the companies plan to release jointly this month to make tracing easier

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.

Xiaomi has finally launched the Mi 10 in India, and with starting price of Rs 49,999, it goes up against the likes of the OnePlus 8 and the OnePlus 8 Pro, which were recently launched in India. Here it is compared with the OnePlus 8 Pro.