APO News from Africa:
Hong Kong has signed agreements with Portugal and South Africa for conducting automatic exchange of financial account information in tax matters (AEOI), a Government spokesman said today (April 3).
“We have been seeking to expand Hong Kong's AEOI network with our tax treaty partners. The signing of agreements with Portugal and South Africa, bringing up the number of Hong Kong's AEOI partners to a total of 11 (including Belgium, Canada, Guernsey, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom), signifies the Government's efforts in this drive,” the spokesman said.
The Government introduced the Inland Revenue (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2017 into the Legislative Council on March 29. The Bill seeks to include Hong Kong's newly confirmed AEOI partners as well as prospective ones in the list of “reportable jurisdictions” under the Inland Revenue Ordinance.
Distributed by APO on behalf of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
UN emphasizes its commitment to support women’s empowerment in Egypt:
The month of March was an important month for women in Egypt. The commemoration of the Day of the Egyptian Women, the International Women’s Day, and the 61st global Session of the Commission on the Status of Women culminated in H.E. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s pronunciation of 2017 as the “Year of Egyptian women”. The United Nations joins Egypt in celebrating the ingenuity, courage and determination of Egyptian women and the extraordinary role they play in their families and communities across Egypt, and emphasizes its commitment to support women’s empowerment in Egypt.
The Government of Egypt continues to demonstrate its clear commitment and actions to achieve equality between women and men, and promote women’s social, economic, cultural and political empowerment through targeted actions, policies, programmes and legislations. In his pronunciation of 2017 as the “Year of Egyptian women”, H.E. President Abdel Fattah El Sisi stressed women’s central role for the future of Egypt, the need to safeguard women’s constitutional rights and for women to be at the forefront, and outlining expediting steps towards the empowerment of women.
The United Nations commends the launch of Egypt’s Women’s Strategy 2030 under the leadership of the National Council for Women – a pioneer strategy globally for women’s empowerment – and welcomes the presidential directions to the Government of Egypt to regard the Egyptian Women’s Strategy 2030 as the reference document that guides the upcoming work on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In line with the 2014 Constitution and the Egypt Vision 2030: Sustainable Development Strategy, the Egyptian Women’s Strategy 2030 is devised to enact women’s constitutional rights that foster principles of equality and non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and protection. This affirms the government’s recognition that social justice and inclusive growth will only be realized when women are enabled to benefit and contribute as equal citizens to Egypt’s sustainable development.
In line with these positive developments, “the UN in Egypt reiterates its commitment to supporting the Government of Egypt and its partners in their efforts towards local development solutions to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women,” said the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Egypt Mr. Richard Dictus.
Distributed by APO on behalf of UN Information Centre in Cairo.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
Council adopts conclusions on Somalia:
The Council today adopted conclusions on Somalia welcoming the recent conclusion of the electoral process, the election of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mahamed Farmaajo and the formation of a new government, as well as the many new members of Parliament, including an increase in representation of women. The Council recognises the crucial challenges facing the new leadership, in particular the unfolding humanitarian crisis, and reaffirmed the EU's long-term commitment to the country.
A new partnership agreement between Somalia and the international community is essential if there is to be real progress in delivering on the main security, political and development priorities over the next four years. The new agreement is expected to be adopted at the London Somalia Conference on 11 May 2017. Today's conclusions will serve as guidance for the EU in its approach to this conference.
Distributed by APO on behalf of Council of the European Union.
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Source: APO – Africa-Newsroom: latest news releases related to Africa
