Taxation in the Netherlands

Taxation in the Netherlands is defined by the income tax (Wet op de inkomstenbelasting 2001), the wage withholding tax (), the value added tax () and the corporate tax ().
Income tax.
In the Netherlands, residents pay income tax on their worldwide income. Non-residents are taxed on income sourced in the Netherlands only. Income tax is collected by Tax and Customs Administration. For purposes of determining income tax, income is divided into the following three categories, so called boxes:
Box 1: income from work and home ownership.
A progressive tax rate with two tax brackets applies to income in Box 1. In the past, there were four brackets, the highest of which was 72%, but in 1990 it was changed to 60%, and in 2001 it became 52%. The four bracket-system was changed to a two bracked-system in 2020, with the lower incomes taxed for 37.35% and the higher incomes for 49.50%. Certain expenditures, referred to as personal allowances, can be deducted from income prior to tax calculation. Examples of personal allowances are donations to eligible charities, maintenance costs, medical or study expenses. Taxpayers above the official retirement age are entitled to a reduced tax rate.
Box 2: financial interest in a company.
A flat tax rate of 25% applies to income from substantial interest in a company. A substantial interest in a company is defined as owning at least 5% of its shares, options or profit-sharing certificates; either by the taxpayer themselves or together with their tax partner.
Box 3: savings and investment.
Box 3 concerns income from wealth. Wealth is calculated as value of assets (such as savings or shares) minus any debts. Income from wealth is taxed at a 30% rate. For tax purposes, a fixed return on savings and investments is presumed, based on the average distribution of Box 3 assets (capital mix). Presumed gains are calculated each year based on market returns realized in the past. A tax allowance on capital yields is provided.
For income taxes, tax year is equivalent to calendar year. Tax return shall be submitted before May 1 of the subsequent year. Married couples shall submit a joint assessment, except for the case when a divorce petition has been filed.
Value added tax.
The value added tax system follows EU regulation. For value added tax there are three categories: foods and essentials, non-foods and luxuries, and special goods. These three categories have rates of 9%, 21%, and 0%, respectively. The non-foods and luxuries percentage was increased from 19% to 21% on 1 October 2012, while the foods and essentials percentage was increased from 6% to 9% percent on 1 January 2019.
The special goods cover:
Import VAT.
Unlike some states in member countries that make up the EU, the Dutch tax regime allows deferral of import VAT payment. Instead of conducting payment at the time when goods are imported to the EU, the VAT payment may be deferred to periodic VAT returns. The import VAT needs to be reported; however, as the amount may be deducted from the corresponding period VAT return, the deferral can prevent cash flow disadvantage arising from paying import VAT immediately at the time of import to the EU.
Corporate tax.
Generally, private and public companies with Dutch residency are subject to corporate income tax on their worldwide income. Corporate tax rate is based upon taxable amount, which equals taxable profit in the corresponding year minus deductible losses. In 2018, for taxable amount below €200,000, a 20% tax rate was applicable. Taxable amount of €200,000 and above was taxed at a 25% tax rate. The corporate tax rates are both due to decrease by 1 percentage point in 2019, 1.5 percentage point in 2020 and further 1.5 percentage point in 2021; resulting in a 16% tax rate in the first bracket and 21% tax rate in the second bracket. Corporate tax year is equivalent to calendar year unless stated otherwise in the company's articles of association. Tax year typically follows a 12-month period; deviations are possible in the first year of incorporation.
Innovation box.
To foster innovation research, an innovation box provides tax relief for innovative activities. Profits derived from self-developed intellectual property (including royalties) that qualify for the innovation box are subject to a reduced tax rate. Since January 1, 2018, the effective tax rate applicable to corporate income in the innovation box is 7%. This feature of the tax framework provides a notable tax incentive for research and development activities in the Netherlands.
Substantial holding exemption.
If qualified for a substantial holding exemption, a parent company is fully exempt from paying tax on the dividends and capital gains it receives from a subsidiary. Substantial holding is defined as holding at least 5% of shares in the subsidiary. The subsidiary concerned may have both Dutch or non-Dutch residency; the equal tax treatment allows non-Dutch subsidiaries to better compete with local ones. Substantial holding exemption prevents double corporate taxation of profits. This feature of the tax regime makes the Netherlands an attractive location for European headquarters. To qualify for substantial holding exemption, at least one of three conditions (tests) must be met:
Tax groups with subsidiaries.
In the Netherlands, a parent company and one or more of its subsidiaries may form a tax group if certain conditions are met: Primarily, the parent company shall hold at least 95% of shares in the subsidiary. Moreover, the parent company and the subsidiary need to be established in the Netherlands, follow the same financial year and apply the same accounting policies. Members of a tax group are treated as a single taxpayer by tax authorities. Key advantages of fiscal unity are that losses incurred by one company may be deducted from profits generated by other members of the group, and that fixed assets may be transferred between companies without corporate income tax consequences.
Property tax.
Property tax or land value tax is claimed annually by municipalities. A fraction of the value of real estate (about a per mille) is defined as . The money collected from the real-estate owners in its area can be used by the municipality to maintain the infrastructure (roads etc.). The real-estate values are estimated independently and updated annually. Taxation varies dramatically over different regions and municipalities. In addition to the property tax itself, there is a complicated additional taxation system for different infrastructural support systems: water-level management, water cleaning, waste management etc. Property tax does not belong to personal allowances deductible for income tax purposes.
Inheritance tax.
The inheritance tax ("successierecht") charges beneficiaries of an inheritance received from Dutch residents. In case of emigration, Dutch nationals are considered Dutch residents for further 10 years. Inheritance tax rate ranges from 10% to 40%. A part of inheritance is exempt from taxation; the amount exempted depends on the relationship of beneficiary to the deceased person.
Wealth tax.
Possessions like savings, shares, houses that are not the primary living etc. are taxed when a tax payer (filing single) has more than € 30,360 (this is the amount for 2019). For couples, this tax-free amount is double. Consumer goods like cars and furniture, that are not held as an investment, are excluded.
The tax rate comes in tiers, and the following numbers are for 2019 and will be updated in future years: it is a 0.58% tax for € 30,361 to € 102,010 of assets, 1.34% for € 102,010 to € 1,020,096 and 1.68% on any euros of assets above € 1,020,096.
Gift tax.
The gift tax ("schenkingsrecht") charges the beneficiary of a gift.


Gas Council

The Gas Council was a UK government body that provided strategic oversight of the gas industry in England, Wales and Scotland between 1949 and 1972.
The British gas industry was nationalised under the provisions of the Gas Act 1948 (11 & 12 Geo. 6 c. 67) which established the Gas Council with effect from 1 May 1949. The Council acted as channel of communication between the Minister of Fuel and Power and the industry; it carried out research; undertook labour negotiations on matters such as wages; and acted as the voice of the gas industry. The Gas Council was abolished on 31 December 1972 under the terms of the Gas Act 1972 (1972 c. 60). This restructuring of the gas industry, to manage the advent of North Sea gas, established the British Gas Corporation to centralise control and operation of the industry.
Background.
Prior to nationalisation there were about 1,064 gas supply undertakings in Britain; about one-third were municipal local authority undertakings and about two-thirds were company undertakings.
In June 1944 the Minister of Fuel and Power appointed a committee of inquiry under the chairmanship of Geoffrey Heyworth to review the structure and organisation of the industry and advise on changes to develop and cheapen gas supplies. The Committee reported in November 1945 and recommended the compulsory purchase by the Government of all undertakings and the creation of ten regional gas boards. The Heyworth Committee report formed the basis of the Gas Act 1948.
The Gas Act 1948 was one of a number of Acts promulgated by the post-war Labour Government to nationalise elements of the UK’s industrial infrastructure; other Acts include the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946; the Transport Act 1947 (railways and long-distance road haulage); the Electricity Act 1947; and the Iron and Steel Act 1949.
The industry was fragmented with limited cooperation and coordination between undertakings. The exception were some industry-wide bodies with an interest in aspects of the industry. These included the National Gas Council which was established in 1916 to deal with matters that affected the whole of the industry, it included representatives of all the governing bodies. The British Commercial Gas Association was founded in 1912 and served as the publicity agency for the industry. There was also the National Federation of Gas Coke Associations, the Federation of Gas Employers, and the Association of Gas Corporations. The British Gas Federation was established in 1934 to represent collective interests of the Council and Association. In 1943 the industry proposed the establishment of the British Gas Council amalgamating the two existing bodies. The new organisation was established in 1946 as a company limited by guarantee. It represented 95 percent of the gas suppliers in Britain. It was chaired by Sir Edgar Sylvester (later Chairman of the Gas Council) and its aim was to oppose nationalisation. The Gas Council, under Section 62 of the 1948 Act, took over these bodies.
Ministerial oversight of the gas industry prior to nationalisation was exercised by the Board of Trade until 1942, then the Ministry of Fuel and Power (1942 – 1949).
The 1948 Act establish twelve Area Gas Boards which assumed ownership of the gas undertakings and established the Gas Council with effect from vesting day the 1 May 1949.
Responsibilities.
The Gas Council’s formal responsibilities were defined in Section 22 of the Gas Act 1948:
(a) to advise the Minister in questions affecting the gas industry and matters relating thereto;
(b) to promote and assist the efficient exercise and performance by Area Boards of their function.
The Council’s legal powers were extended by the Gas Act 1965 to allow it to borrow more money and to manufacture or acquire gas and supply gas in bulk to Area Boards.
Corporate structure.
The Gas Council consisted of a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman, both appointed by the Minister of Fuel and Power, and the Chairman of each of the 12 Area Boards, as appointed by the Minister. In 1951 the Council was constituted as shown. The Area Board represented by each of the Board Chairs are given in brackets.
Chairman and Deputy Chairman.
Throughout its operational life of 23 years there were four Chairmen of the Gas Council:
And there were five Deputy Chairman:
Upon the establishment of the British Gas Corporation on 1 January 1973 the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the abolished Gas Council, Sir Arthur Hetherington and Denis Rooke, took similar roles in the new Corporation to provide continuity.
Gas Consultative Councils and Committees.
Provisions were made for each Area Board to have a Gas Consultative Council and District Committees. They were charged with considering any matter affecting the supply of gas in the area; and of considering and reporting to the Area Board any such matter. Each council had between 20 and 30 members. The Annual Reports of the Gas Council identify the work of the Consultative Councils which recognised that they were an important part of the interpretation of the Gas Council’s policy to the public. The Councils had a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and a Secretary. There were members appointed as representatives of local authorities (under Section 9(2)(a) of the Gas Act), as representatives of commerce, industry, labour and other interests (Section 9(2)(b)). The North Thames Gas Consultative Council had four District Committees for: Berkshire and Buckinghamshire; Central and North London; East London and Essex; and West London and Surrey.
Ministerial oversight.
Following nationalisation, the Minister of Fuel and Power appointed the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Gas Council and the Chairmen of the twelve Area Boards until 1957. This function then devolved to the renamed Ministry of Power (1957 – 1969), then to the Ministry of Technology (1969 – 1970), and finally to the Department of Trade and Industry (1970 – 1972) through various Government reorganisations.
Operations.
To achieve the Gas Council's aims and statutory obligations it undertook a range of activities.
Activities.
In 1953 the Gas Council formed D’Arcy Exploration as a joint venture with BP. It allocated £1 million to search for natural gas on land; in 1954 gas was found at Cousland near Edinburgh.
The Midlands Research Station was opened at Solihull in 1954.
The Gas Council presided over two major changes in the technological basis of the industry. Firstly, from the late 1950, a shift way from conventional carbonising plant for the production of town gas to chemical reforming using light feedstocks from oil refineries. And secondly the conversion of the gas supply from town gas to natural gas as North Sea Gas became available from 1967.
The first transnational shipment of Liquefied Natural Gas took place in 1959 from USA to a LNG terminal on Canvey Island. The Council was responsible for the construction of an 18-inch diameter methane pipeline from Canvey to Leeds to supply methane feedstock for reforming plant to most area boards. Following this successful trial a full scale LNG plant was built at Canvey taking LNG from Algeria.
The Gas Act 1960 increased the Gas Council’s borrowing powers to £500 million.
The Gas Act 1965 (1965 c. 36) and the Gas (Borrowing Powers) Act 1965 (1965 c. 60) increased the Council’s borrowing powers to £1,200 million; it was also allowed to manufacture or acquire gas and supply gas in bulk to Area Boards. The new powers allowed it to enter joint ventures with Amoco on parts of the Leman and Indefatigable gas fields.
The Gas Advisory Council was established in 1965 to allow workers and management and Trade Unions to discuss national objectives.
The Gas Council Chairman Sir Henry Jones announced in 1966 that Britain will convert from manufactured to natural gas and formed a Conversion Executive.  A Gas Conversion Association was also established to represent the interests of contractors.
A contract was made with BP in 1967 to purchase natural gas from the West Sole Field. This was to be 50 million cubic feet per day for 15 years. The Gas Council offered 2.5"d". to 4"d". per therm whereas BP proposed 6"d". to 7"d". a therm. After an intervention from the Minister a figure of 5"d". was agreed. Soon after 25-year contracts were made with Phillips, Shell/Esso and Gas Council/Amoco for gas from fields (Hewett, Leman and Indefatigable) feeding the Bacton terminal in Norfolk. At both Easington, where gas from West Sole landed, and at Bacton the Council built terminals to receive cleaned gas which was then metered; blended; had odorant added; and had the flow controlled. The Gas Council built a network of 36-inch diameter pipelines to transmit the gas, which was to become the National Transmission System.
In 1968 a major restructuring of the Gas Council was undertaken, driven by the advent of natural gas and the need to plan nationally. The Area Boards which had been accountable directly to the Minister, now had their activities channelled though the Council. A central marketing office was established for selling gas to large industrial customers, the director sat on the Gas Council Board. As well as Marketing there were divisions for Economic Planning, Production and Supply; Research and Development and Personnel, whose directors were on the Board. The Deputy Chairman Arthur Hetherington became the Chief Executive.
The Gas Council/Amoco group discovered oil in Block 22/18 of the North Sea in 1971, in what was to be named the Arbroath and Montrose oil fields.
Publications.
The Gas Council published a range of material to meet statutory obligations and to inform commercial and domestic consumers. These included:
Abolition.
In 1969 the Government recognised that to fully exploit the benefits of North Sea Gas a radical reorganisation of the industry was needed with increased power to the centre. A Bill to realise these changes was introduced in Parliament by the Labour Government in November 1969. However, this Bill failed as Parliament was dissolved for the 1970 general election. The Conservative Government introduced a new Bill in 1972 to put full responsibility for the gas industry into a new statutory body the British Gas Corporation. The Gas Act 1972 (1972 c. 60) received Royal Assent on 9 August 1972 and came into force on 1 January 1973. The Gas Council was thereby abolished.


Dave Yost

David Anthony Yost (born December 22, 1956) is an American lawyer and politician who currently serves as the 51st Attorney General of Ohio. He previously served as Ohio State Auditor, Delaware County Auditor from 1999 to 2003, and Delaware County Prosecutor from 2003 to 2011.
Education.
Yost graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. He earned a Juris Doctor from the Capital University Law School.
Career.
After earning his bachelor's degree, Yost became a journalist with the "Columbus Citizen-Journal". He later served in senior positions within the administration of Columbus Mayor Buck Rinehart and Ohio Governor George Voinovich. Yost was appointed Delaware County Auditor in 1999. In 2003, he became the Delaware County Prosecutor.
In September 2019, Yost was one out of nine State Attorneys General that launched an antitrust investigation into Facebook and Google, to investigate whether or not they were stifling competition in their respective fields.
After Joe Biden won the 2020 Presidential election, Yost filed a "friend-of-the-court" brief in support of the Trump campaign's attempt to invalidate ballots cast in Pennsylvania. However, in December 2020, Yost opposed a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton which sought to subvert the presidential election results and prevent Biden from being certified as the winner.
Personal life.
Yost and his wife Darlene live in Franklin County, Ohio. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Electoral history.
Yost was elected Ohio's 32nd state auditor in November 2010. In January 2017 he announced he was running for Ohio Attorney General in 2018.


Feurich

Feurich (Feurich Pianoforte GmbH) is piano company founded in 1851 in Leipzig, Germany, by Julius Gustav Feurich and has been family operated for five generations becoming renowned for the quality of its pianos.
Since 2011 Feurich is owned by the Austrian piano manufacturer Wendl & Lung and the bulk of manufacturing is carried out in China except the upright piano "123 – Vienna" made in Vienna, Austria. In 2021 Feurich - Wendl&Lung GmbH was renamed Feurich Pianoforte GmbH.
History.
Artisanal piano making has a long tradition in Saxony. The city of Leipzig was, along with Paris, London, and Vienna, one of the pillars of European musical culture and music capital of the German Empire. In addition to its great cultural heritage, the city of Leipzig was also an excellent trading venue with a lot of national contacts and a prosperous middle class. Here Julius Gustav Feurich founded the piano factory, Feurich, in 1851.
By 1860, more than 400 instruments were manufactured and sold. Julius Feurich worked to expand his business and in the following years a larger and more modern factory was built allowing for ever greater quantities to be produced. By the turn of the twentieth century, nearly 14,000 uprights and grand pianos were manufactured.
The owner Hermann Feurich was awarded an imperial and royal warrant of appointment to the court of Austria-Hungary.
Feurich was one of the greatest German piano companies, but had the bad luck to be located in a major city that was bombed heavily during World War II and the factory was destroyed. It then had the further misfortune to be in East Germany, behind the Iron Curtain, during Germany's partition which caused exports to go to nearly zero. The factory was re-located to the outskirts of Gunzenhausen (West Germany) in 1959.
In 2011 Feurich was sold to Wendl & Lung, a similar traditional piano manufacturer based in Vienna, Austria. Wendl & Lung pick up Feurich pianos again, based on the same constructions as before. Wendl & Lung models were also renamed as Feurich.
Today, Feurich grand pianos and upright pianos are produced at Hailun Piano Company factory in Ningbo, China with the exception of the upright piano "123 – Vienna" made in Vienna, Austria.


State auditor

State auditors (also state comptrollers or state controllers) are executive officers of U.S. states who serve as auditors and comptrollers for state funds.
The office of state auditor is often a constitutional office (that is, it is created by the state constitution). The state auditor often heads a state agency. In 24 states the auditor is an elected office, while in others auditors are appointed by the state governor or state legislature. Some states require a gubernatorial appointment to be confirmed by the state senate. Colorado's auditor is appointed by the legislature and Tennessee's Comptroller of the Treasury is elected by the state's General Assembly sitting in a joint convention. Several states have both an elected auditor as a constitutional officer alongside a legislative auditor that serves the pertinent state legislature.
Fiscal matters are the primary business of these officers but their audit skills are frequently put into practice for other purposes such as Colorado's reports on health exchanges and on marijuana legalization. California's state auditor is involved with the redistricting process. They are organized nationally in the United States as part of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers.


BAZAN Group

BAZAN Group, (ORL or BAZAN, ), formerly Oil Refineries Ltd., is an oil refining and petrochemicals company located in Haifa Bay, Israel. It operates the largest oil refinery in the country. ORL has a total oil refining capacity of approximately 9.8 million tons of crude oil per year. ORL provides a variety of products used in industrial operations, agriculture and transportation. ORL is Israel's largest integrated refining and petrochemical facility. The company also provides storage and transportation services for oil fuel products, as well as electricity and steam to industrial customers in the region.
History.
The company's beginnings date back to the British Mandate for Palestine when Consolidated Refineries Limited (CRL), a joint venture of Shell and the Anglo-American Oil Company (now Esso), started constructing a sprawling refinery complex which sat at the end of the British-built Mosul-Haifa oil pipeline which stretched from the oil fields near Kirkuk in then British-controlled Iraq.
Construction of the first refinery unit started in 1938 and was carried out by the M. W. Kellogg Co. with assistance from Solel Boneh, with an annual capacity of two million tons of crude oil. Construction was completed in 1944, increasing the annual yield to four million tons of crude oil.
During World War II, the complex supplied refined products to British and American forces operating in the Mediterranean and Middle East theatre, and was bombed many times during the early stage of the war, by Italy. Damage to the refineries was quickly repaired.
Due to concerns about the Arab League Boycott, the British Government sold CRL to the State of Israel in 1958 which then changed its name to Oil Refineries Ltd.
Since then the complex has undergone significant expansion and upgrades. In the past, ORL also owned the Ashdod Oil Refinery in southern Israel and therefore as a company, it held a monopoly over oil refining in the country. This changed in 2006, when Israel's Government Companies Authority, headed by Eyal Gabbai started privatization processes.
On August 1, 2006, the Ashdod facilities were sold to the Paz Oil Company for 3.5 billion ILS. In February 2007, 44% of the shares were sold to institutional investors. Following this, 46% were sold to the Ofer-Federman group at 3.30 ILS per share, with the remaining shares sold in an IPO on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange in 2007. There were more than 5,500 requests to buy shares, an unprecedented number.
Since 2008 the company's historic cooling towers have not been in use. One of the towers was converted into a visitor's center, which is open to the public for free, multi-sensory tours.
In 2009 the Bazan Group and Olefins companies merged and in 2010 Haifa Basic Oils was fully purchased by Bazan. In 2012 Bazan commissioned UOP's Unicracking strategies in its plants for production of liquid petroleum gas, naphtha, and kerosene.
More than 70% of ORL's products are distributed locally (for private and public purposes) and the rest is exported. The company is a direct employer of 1,500 workers and an additional 2,000 contractors; the majority of employees are residents of Haifa and the northern region of Israel.
On June 12, 2020, the eastern cooling tower unexpectedly collapsed.
Subsidiaries.
Carmel Olefins is Israel's sole manufacturer of petrochemical products that are used as raw materials for the plastics industry. Carmel manufactures standard and special grades of polypropylene (PP) as well as a broad range of low density polyethylene (LDPE) grades.
Gadiv Petrochemicals, opened in 1974, manufactures and supplies a range of petrochemicals products including aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic solvents and intermediates for pharmaceutical, plastic, food and chemical industries.
Haifa Basic Oils produces base oils and paraffin wax, exporting nearly 50% of its products to overseas companies.
Partnerships and innovation.
In 2018 Bazan launched BNNovation, an innovation initiative to grow small and larger companies in the fields of energy, renewable energy, and industry. In 2019, BNNovation was among the founders of ESIL Technologies, an international team operating a lab for cleantech innovation and environmental protection. Also in 2019, Bazan won the tender to establish an environmental innovation lab in Haifa Bay together with the Israeli branch of EDF Renewables and Johnson Matthey.
Partners include Haier Group Corporation and Leumi Partners.
On November 16, 2020, Bazan signed a MOU with the Emirtati energy company Mazrui International to import polymers that are not made in Israel.
Environmental impact.
BAZAN Group's vast petrochemical plants have released significant amounts of pollution to the environment around Haifa Bay. The company has set goals to reduce air pollution, including investing over a billion dollars to develop environmentally-friendly systems.
Starting in March 2011, after being connected to the new national natural gas distribution grid, the plants switched to using natural gas (rather than mostly fuel oil) as their main power source, thus greatly reducing the amount of air pollution emanating from the complex. In 2012, the company also completed a hydrocracking unit. The switch to natural gas was expected to save the company US$200 million per year in fuel and other costs.
In 2014 ORL acquired systems for treating hazards related to smells and treating emissions of volatile organic materials.
In 2020, ORL published its first report for Corporate Responsibility since 2011, including its achievements in reducing benzene emissions and facilitating healthier environmental conditions.
In December 2020 BAZAN announced a $3.7 million project to create, compress and transport hydrogen with the ultimate goal of bringing hydrogen-fueled cars to Israel.


Ozharov (Hasidic dynasty)

The Ozerov Hasidic dynasty is a Hasidic group that began in 1827 when Rabbi Yehudah Leib Epstein, Rabbi of Ożarów in Poland since 1811, assumed leadership of his Hasidim ("disciples"). Ozerov is known for its learning as one if the intellectual Hasidic dynasties.
Rabbi Epstein was a disciple of the Seer of Lublin, the Holy Jew of Prshiskhe, the "Ohev Yisrael" of Apt, Poland, and Rabbi Myer, the "Or LaShamayim" of Apt. When Rabbi Myer died in 1827, his chasidim asked the Rabbi of Ożarów to be their new rebbe. Rabbi Yehudah Leib accepted this position reluctantly. His followers numbered in the thousands. He moved to Opole towards the end of his life and died in 1837. He was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Yechiel Chaim Epstein. Rabbi Yechiel Chaim was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib Epstein, author of the Hasidic work Birkas Tov, in 1887.
Rabbi Arye Yehuda Leib had six children:
Rabbi Avraham Shlomo Epstein was the son-in-law of Grand Rabbi Chaim Shmuel of Chentshin. He served as rebbe for only four years, and was succeeded by his son, Rabbi Moshe Yechiel Epstein.


Sun Liang

Sun Liang (243–260), courtesy name Ziming, was the second emperor of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He was the youngest son and heir of Sun Quan, the founding emperor of Wu. He is also known as the Prince of Kuaiji or (less frequently) Marquis of Houguan (), which were his successive titles after he was deposed in 258 by the regent Sun Chen. He was succeeded by his brother Sun Xiu, who managed to oust Sun Chen from power and kill him. Two years after Sun Liang's dethronement, he was falsely accused of treason and demoted from a prince to a marquis, after which he committed suicide.
Early life.
Sun Liang was born in 243, to Sun Quan and one of his favourite consorts, Consort Pan. As Sun Quan's youngest son, he was well-cared for by his father, who was very happy to have a son in his old age (61 at the time of Sun Liang's birth). He was also born in a palace atmosphere where officials were aligning themselves with either of his two older brothers who were fighting for supremacy – Sun He, the Crown Prince, and Sun Ba, the Prince of Lu, who had designs on the position. In 250, fed up with Sun Ba's constant attacks against Sun He, Sun Quan inexplicably ordered Sun Ba to commit suicide and deposed Sun He. At the urging of his eldest daughter Sun Luban, who had been making false accusations against Sun He and his mother Lady Wang and therefore wanted to see Sun He deposed, he made Sun Liang the new Crown Prince. Sun Luban then had Sun Liang married to a grandniece of her husband, Quan Cong. In 251, Sun Quan instated Sun Liang's mother, Consort Pan, as the Empress.
In 252, Sun Liang lost both his parents in rapid succession. Early that year, Empress Pan was murdered – but how she was murdered remains a mystery. Eastern Wu officials claimed that her servants, unable to stand her temper, strangled her while she was asleep, while a number of historians, including Hu Sanxing, who annotated Sima Guang's "Zizhi Tongjian", believed that top Eastern Wu officials were complicit, as they feared that she would seize power as empress dowager after Sun Quan's death. Later that year, Sun Quan died so Sun Liang became the new emperor.
Reign.
Zhuge Ke's regency.
Prior to his death, Sun Quan had selected Zhuge Ke as the regent for Sun Liang, at the endorsement of his trusted assistant Sun Jun. The people of the empire also greatly admired Zhuge Ke, as he was already known for his military and diplomatic successes involving the indigenous Baiyue and for his quick wit. However, Sun Quan's only reservation – that Zhuge Ke was arrogant and had overly high opinion of his own abilities – would turn out to be prophetic.
In 252, in light of Sun Quan's death, the Cao Wei regent Sima Shi made a major three-pronged attack against Eastern Wu. Zhuge Ke's forces, however, were able to defeat the main Cao Wei forces, inflicting heavy losses. Zhuge Ke's reputation became even more established. In 253, he carried out a plan he had for a while – to gather up nearly all service-eligible young men of Eastern Wu to make a major attack against Cao Wei – despite opposition from a number of other officials. He further coordinated his attack with Jiang Wei, a general from Eastern Wu's ally state Shu Han. However, his strategy turned out to be faulty – he initially targeted Shouchun (壽春; in present-day Lu'an, Anhui) but, on his way, changed his mind and attacked Hefei instead, despite the fact that Hefei's defences were strong and intended to withstand major Eastern Wu attacks. Zhuge Ke's forces became worn out by the long siege and suffered plagues – which Zhuge Ke ignored. He eventually withdrew after Cao Wei reinforcements arrived, but instead of returning to the capital Jianye (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu) to apologise for his erroneous strategies, he remained from the capital for some time and never apologised to the people for the heavy losses suffered.
When Zhuge Ke eventually did return to Jianye, he further sternly tried to wipe out all dissent, punishing all those who disagreed with him. He further planned another attack against Cao Wei, disregarding the recent heavy losses the people had suffered and their resentment. Sun Jun decided that he had to kill Zhuge Ke. He told Sun Liang that Zhuge Ke was plotting treason, and he set up a trap at a feast for Zhuge Ke. (How much the young emperor knew of Sun Jun's plans and whether he concurred is unclear; traditional historians implied that Sun Liang knew and concurred, but he was just 10 years old at this point.) During the middle of the feast, assassins that Sun Jun had arranged for killed Zhuge Ke, and Sun Jun's forces then wiped out the Zhuge family.
Sun Jun's regency.
After Sun Jun killed Zhuge Ke, he quickly moved to consolidate his power. He initially, on the surface, shared power with Teng Yin, but he, with control of the military, soon became even more dictatorial than Zhuge Ke. In particular, he falsely accused the former crown prince Sun He of conspiring with Zhuge Ke, and forced Sun He to commit suicide. His autocratic actions led to a conspiracy between Sun Ying (), the Marquis of Wu, and the army officer Huan Lü (), but he discovered the plan in 254, and both Sun Ying and Huan Lü were executed.
In 255, in the midst of Cao Wei's having to deal with a rebellion by Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin, Eastern Wu forces, led by Sun Jun, tried to attack Cao Wei's border region, but withdrew after Sima Shi quickly put down the rebellion. (Wen Qin and his troops did surrender to him after they were defeated.) Later that year, another plot against Sun Jun was discovered, and a large number of officers were executed, along with Sun Quan's second daughter Sun Luyu, falsely implicated by her elder sister Sun Luban.
In 256, Sun Jun, at Wen Qin's urging, was planning an attack against Cao Wei, when he suddenly fell ill, and he commissioned his cousin Sun Chen to succeed him as regent and died soon after.
Sun Chen's regency.
Sun Jun's death would precipitate a major confrontation. The general Lü Ju, who was set to lead the main force against Cao Wei, was angry that the autocratic Sun Jun appointed Sun Chen, who had not distinguished himself in any way. Lü Ju openly called for Teng Yin to become regent instead, and Teng Yin agreed to act with him. Sun Chen struck back militarily, and his forces defeated Teng Yin and Lü Ju. Teng Yin and his family were executed, while Lü Ju committed suicide. In light of his defeat of Teng Yin and Lü Ju, Sun Chen began to become extremely arrogant.
In 257, at the age of 14, Sun Liang began to personally handle some important matters of state. He established a personal guard corps, consisting of young men and officers with age similar to his, stating that he intended to grow up with them. He also sometimes questioned Sun Chen's decisions. Sun Chen began to be somewhat apprehensive of the young emperor.
Later that year, the Cao Wei general Zhuge Dan, believing that the regent Sima Zhao (Sima Shi's brother) was about to usurp the throne, declared a rebellion and requested Eastern Wu assistance. A small Eastern Wu detachment, led by Wen Qin, quickly arrived to assist him, but Sun Chen led the main forces and chose to camp a long distance away from Shouchun, where Zhuge Dan was besieged by Sima Zhao, and did nothing. When Sun Chen instead ordered the general Zhu Yi to try to relieve Shouchun with tired and unfed troops, Zhu Yi refused so Sun Chen executed him, bringing anger from the people, who had admired Zhu Yi's military skills and integrity. With Sun Chen unable to do anything, Zhuge Dan's rebellion failed in 258, and Wen Qin's troops became captives of Cao Wei.
Removal.
Sun Chen knew that the people and the young emperor were both angry at him, and chose not to return to Jianye, but instead sent his confidants to be in charge of the capital's defences. Sun Liang became angrier, and plotted with his sister Sun Luban, the general Liu Cheng (), his father-in-law Quan Shang (), and his brother-in-law Quan Ji (), to have Sun Chen overthrown. However, Quan Shang did not keep the plot secret from his wife, who was Sun Chen's cousin, and she told Sun Chen. On 9 November 258, Sun Chen quickly captured Quan Shang and killed Liu Cheng, and then surrounded the palace and forced the other officials to agree to depose Sun Liang – falsely declaring to the people that Sun Liang suffered from psychosis and was therefore incompetent. Sun Liang was demoted to a prince under the title "Prince of Kuaiji".
After removal.
Sun Chen then made Sun Liang's elder brother, Sun Xiu, the Prince of Langye, the new emperor. Several months later, Sun Xiu set a trap for Sun Chen and had him arrested and killed. However, Sun Liang's position in exile did not become any safer, as Sun Xiu deeply feared that there would be plots to return Sun Liang to the throne. In 260, there were rumours that Sun Liang would be emperor again, and Sun Liang's servants falsely accused him of witchcraft. Sun Xiu demoted Sun Liang to a marquis under the title "Marquis of Houguan" and sent him to his marquisate in Houguan (present-day Fuzhou, Fujian). Sun Liang died on the journey. While most historians believe that he committed suicide, an alternative theory is that Sun Xiu had him poisoned.


Lilting (film)

Lilting () is a 2014 British romantic drama film written and directed by Cambodian-born British director Hong Khaou and produced by Dominic Buchanan.
The film had its world premiere on 16 January 2014 on Day One of the Sundance Film Festival, at which it competed in the World Cinema Dramatic Competition. It won the "Cinematography Award: World Cinema Dramatic" at the festival. The film was released theatrically in United Kingdom on 8 August 2014 and in the United States on 26 September 2014.
Synopsis.
Lilting tells the story of a mother's attempt at understanding who her son was after his untimely death. Her world is suddenly disrupted by the presence of his lover. Together, they attempt to overcome their grief whilst struggling against not having a shared language.
Production.
The script, originally titled "Lilting the Past", won third spot in the 2011 Brit List, a list of the best unproduced British screenplays.
The film was one of three films greenlit by Microwave in early 2012. A casting call was later released for the three lead roles, later filled by Cheng Pei-pei, Ben Whishaw, and Andrew Leung.
Filming began in November 2012 and completed principal photography in December 2012. Director Khaou has said the film will be visually inspired by Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love".
During production, as part of the Microwave scheme, Michael Winterbottom mentored writer/director Khaou, while producer Buchanan was mentored by Ken Marshall, producer of "London to Brighton", "Filth" and "Song for Marion". As with all Microwave films, the budget was £120,000. It is the first bilingual film to be made under the Microwave scheme.
Reception.
Critical response.
"Lilting" was met with positive reviews from critics. , the film holds an 84% approval rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 55 reviews with an average rating of 6.88/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Skillfully weaving multiple delicate tonal strands into a quietly affecting whole, "Lilting" serves as a thoroughly compelling calling card for writer-director Hong Khaou." On Metacritic the film has 61 rating from 22 reviews indicating "Generally favorable reviews."
Justin Chang, in his review for "Variety", said that the film "Hong Khaou makes a fine debut with this quietly resonant cross-cultural chamber piece." David Rooney of "The Hollywood Reporter" praised the film, saying, "Delicate and unhurried almost to a fault, though also hauntingly sexy and even humorous at times." Amber Wilkinson from "Telegraph" gave the film three out of five stars and praised the lead actor that "Whishaw is magnetic as a man pushed to the edge of fragility by mourning, but who still suggests a quiet strength." Dominic Mill of "We Got This Covered" gave a positive review and said, "The subject matter is powerful, and the performances are wonderful – in a world of big and showy dramatism, Lilting gets its point across without feeling the need to shout about it."


First Malayan Five-Year Plan

The First Malayan Five-Year Plan (1956 – 1960) was the first economic development plan launched by the Malayan government just before independence in 1957. The colonial British government had concentrated available resources on fighting the Malayan communist insurgency instead of developing the rural areas of Malaya. The Five Year Plan allocated substantial resources to agricultural and rural improvement, and was administrated by the Prime Minister's department. A total of 24% of all public expenditure alone was allocated by the Plan to develop agriculture in Malaya, and substantial sums were also made available for infrastructure development.


Coachman Insurance Company

Coachman Insurance Company is a Canadian insurance company based in Ontario. Coachman was established in 1979 and was purchased by SGI Canada Insurance Services, a subsidiary of Saskatchewan Government Insurance, in 2001. Coachman primarily competes in the non-standard auto insurance marketplace, with the goal of helping Ontario drivers with unfortunate driving histories stay protected while they get their personal auto insurance record back on track. Coachman also offers a suite of personal property and commercial insurance products through their network of Ontario brokers


Half Moon Bay Review

The Half Moon Bay Review is an American online news source and broadsheet newspaper that has been serving the Coastside area of San Mateo County, California, from Pacifica to the Santa Cruz County line since 1898. It is published each Wednesday morning and circulated by mail, counter, and rack sales to homes and businesses on the Coastside. The Review also publishes free magazines throughout the Bay Area, including On The Coastside, Neighborhoods, Coastside Guide, Readers Choice, and Eat.
The Review is owned by Coastside News Group, Inc., a California Benefit Corporation created by a group of community members. Wick Communications had purchased the "Half Moon Bay Review" in 1986. They announced plans to sell the newspaper in September 2017. A group of community members, calling themselves the Coastside News Group, entered into an agreement to purchase the paper from Wick in February 2018, and the purchase was completed in June 2018.


Chiraprapha

Chiraprapha (; ) was a queen regnant of the Kingdom of Lan Na. She was the 12th monarch of Lan Na. She was the grandmother of King Setthathirath of Lan Xang. Chiraprapha was the daughter of Phra Chao Setarat and Phra Nang Pathumkhappha, king and queen of Setanakhon.


Nicholas I of Transylvania

Nicholas I (; died after 1203) was a Hungarian distinguished nobleman, who held several secular positions during the reign of Emeric, King of Hungary.
He was first mentioned as ispán ("comes") of Sopron County in 1198. He served as ban of Slavonia and besides that ispán of Zala County in 1199. He also functioned as ispán of Bihar County in that same year.
Nicholas was appointed voivode of Transylvania in 1201. According to a non-authentic charter he also served as voivode in 1202. Later he held the position of ispán of Újvár County in 1203.
As a loyal supporter of King Emeric, his person undoubtedly was not the same as the other Nicholas, who served as the first palatine for Andrew II of Hungary, Emeric's brother and rival in the throne fights. Consequently, Nicholas, the ban of Slavonia for Prince Andrew in 1200 was also a different baron. However, it is possible that a Nicholas, who functioned as ispán of Szatmár County in 1181, marked voivode Nicholas' early political career.


Arron Perry

Arron Perry is a former master corporal in the Canadian Forces who in March 2002 broke the 34-year-old record for the longest recorded sniper kill in combat, completing a kill at a range of during the War in Afghanistan. This shot exceeded the previous record of , set by Carlos Hathcock in 1968 during the Vietnam War.
Perry's record was surpassed a few days later, in March 2002, when another soldier in his unit, Corporal Rob Furlong, bested Perry's distance with a kill at a verified range of .
Perry was a member of Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the time of the record shot, but began his military career with a Halifax Militia unit, the Princess Louise Fusiliers.
Canadian sniper team.
Perry was a member of a Canadian Forces-led six-man sniper team, operating as part of Canada's contributions to Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan during March 2002. The Canadian sniper cell consisted of two Sniper Detachments of three men each, with soldiers from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). Team Commander was Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale, joined by PPCLI soldiers Master Corporal Arron Perry (second in command), Master Corporal Tim McMeekin, Corporal Dennis Eason, Corporal Rob Furlong, and Corporal Marty, working with United States Army liaison Sergeant Zevon Durham.
The six worked in two teams of three snipers, built around two, .50-caliber, McMillan Brothers TAC-50 rifles (designated as the C15 long-range sniper weapon by the Canadian Forces). The lead shooters were Perry, for Alpha Detachment, and Furlong, for Bravo Detachment. Ragsdale and Eason worked predominately as spotter and guard for Alpha, while McMeekin and Marty served those roles for Bravo—though details of how many sniper shots the rest of the team may also have taken have not been released.
The Canadian team received praise from United States Army colleagues for its extreme long range shots and for killing a significant number of Taliban and al-Qaeda combatants. When the operation ended, each of the Canadians were recommended for the United States Bronze Star Medal, which they received in December 2003 from Paul Cellucci, the American ambassador to Canada.
Controversy.
In 2002, Perry was accused of discreditable conduct by the Canadian Armed Forces. Forces personnel investigated allegations that he had desecrated a combatant's corpse by removing a finger, putting a cigarette in its mouth, and placing a sign reading "Fuck Terrorism" on its chest. Military police also suspected that Perry had defecated on another corpse. Ten months later the investigation was closed for lack of evidence, allowing the Bronze Star presentation ceremony to proceed for the entire team.
In April 2005, Perry left the Canadian military.


Taxation in Austria

In Austria, taxes are levied by the state and the tax revenue in Austria was 42.7% of GDP in 2016 according to the World Bank The most important revenue source for the government is the income tax, corporate tax, social security contributions, value added tax and tax on goods and services. Another important taxes are municipal tax, real-estate tax, vehicle insurance tax, property tax, tobacco tax. There exists no property tax. The gift tax and inheritance tax were cancelled in 2008. Furthermore, self-employed persons can use a tax allowance of €3,900 per year. The tax period is set for a calendar year. However, there is a possibility of having an exception but a permission of the tax authority must be received. The Financial Secrecy Index ranks Austria as the 35th safest tax haven in the world.
Income tax (Einkommensteuer).
Persons, who have residence or habitual residence in Austria are subject to unlimited taxation. Unlimited because all of the income (inside or outside Austria) has to be taxed. Besides that, even some income can be taxed even if the person does not have residence or habitual residence in Austria.
The income tax in Austria was set progressively in 1988. There were many amendments since then. In the last one from 2016, the tax rates were reduced (see the table). There are seven fare zones. People who earn annually less than 11 000 € do not pay any tax. The highest marginal tax rate is 55% for people, whose yearly income exceeds 1,000,000 €. The tax is paid monthly.
Corporate tax (Körperschaftssteuer).
Corporations are subject to unlimited taxation in Austria of their entire income if they have their legal seat or place of effective management in Austria.
Corporations are qualified as independent tax subjects, a distinction must always be made between tax ramifications at the level of the company and those at the shareholder level. At the level of the company, profits are taxed at the standard corporate income tax rate of 25%. At the shareholder level, the profit distributions are usually subject to withholding tax of 25% for corporations and 27.5% for other recipients.
There also exists a minimum tax (Mindestkörperschaftssteuer) for both limited liability companies (LLC) and joint-stock companies that is equal to 5% of their registered capital. i.e. €1,750 and €3,500 annually. Banks and insurance companies are subject to a different amount - €5,452. For new firms, there is a decreased tax of €1,092 in the first year of their existence.
Social security contributions.
Austrian social insurance is compulsory and comprises health insurance, pension insurance, unemployment insurance, and accident insurance.
The contributions are determined as percentage of the total monthly earnings (but only up to specified maximum amounts) and are paid partly by the employee and partly by the employer.
The maximum contribution basis for regular payments amount to EUR 4,980 per month. The maximum contribution base for special payments (those that do not occur on a monthly basis, such as a bonus) amounts to EUR 9,960 per year.
From 1 January 2017, the percentages are as follows.
Value added tax (VAT).
An Austrian customer must pay the net sales plus 20% value added tax, which is listed separately on the supplier's invoice. The customer, in effect, pays the supplier's tax burden. The amount is thereafter deductible from the customer's own value added tax burden.
The ultimate retail consumer absorbs the final burden. Among others, exports and certain services for foreign customers are exempt from value added tax. Import transactions from non-EC countries are subject to an import turnover tax at the same rate as sales tax.
Value added tax is reduced to 10% on certain products, this applies to basic foods and printed material, for example. Additionally, there is a VAT of 13% for hostel rooms.
Income tax on non-residents.
Individuals that do not have their place of abode nor their normal residence are only charged a tax for their Austria-sourced income. Companies with neither their management nor their site in Austria are only liable for their income coming from Austria. However, they can deduct their allowable expenses economically related to Austria. Rates for them are the same as for normal residents, although €9,000 must be added to their tax base for computation.
Withholding tax rates
On the following categories, tax can be withheld at a 20% rate.
Other Taxes.
Austria has a number of other types of taxation, these include the following:
• Capital gains tax (Kapitalertragsteuer) the tax rate is equal to 25%. Based on the tax reform in 2016, the tax rate levied on dividends increased to 27.5%, while the tax rate imposed on saving remained constant (25%).
• Real estate transfer tax (Grunderwerbsteuer) - After the tax reform in 2016, the tax base changed. It is not a triple unified land value anymore but a real market value. The main factor is whether the transfer is realised within a family or not. When the latter case occurs, the tax rate is 3.5%. The overall costs when buying a real estate are 10-15% of the purchase price. (including fees)
• Vehicle tax (Kfz-Steuer) - This is levied on all Austrian vehicles and on all foreign vehicles registered in Austria. The basis of taxation
is cylinder capacity for motorcycles and horsepower for all other vehicles.
• Municipal tax: Businesses pay municipal tax to the municipality in which the business is located
• Land transfer tax
• Excise duty (Verbrauchssteuer) - Excise duty is the same as in other countries of EU. It is imposed on both import and export and is usually levied on petrol, tobacco, energetic products, alcoholic drinks etc.
Tax reform 2016.
In 2016, there was a tax reform in Austria changing e.g. income tax rates (see table in the article). Interesting fact is that the tax rate for the highest level of income is 55% which is the 4th highest in EU after Sweden, Portugal and Denmark. Furthermore, companies with an annual profit higher than €15,000 have to install and use electronic records of sales and moreover, they are supposed to provide a receipt for every sale. Almost 150 thousand Austrian enterprises are involved.
Value added tax rate (Mehrwertsteuer) increased from 10% to 13% which might affect, for instance, culture, hoteliers etc. In contrast, VAT rate for drugs, rents and food remained unchanged. Capital gains tax rate experienced an increase from 25% to 27,5%. This reform was considered to be a starting point for a longterm large reforming process in Austria. Further reforms in education and labour market are expected to occur in near future.


Sergey Levchenko

Sergey Georgievich Levchenko (Russian Cyrillic: Сергей Георгиевич Левченко, born November 2, 1953) is a Russian politician. He served as the Governor of Irkutsk Oblast from 2015 to 2019. Previously, he was a deputy in the Russian State Duma from 2000 to 2015.
Biography.
Sergey Levchenko was born on 2 November 1953 in Novosibirsk, Soviet Union. He graduated from the Novosibirsk State University of Architecture and Construction in 1976. He started his career in the Krasnoyarsk division of Stalkonstruktsiya, part of the Soviet Ministry of Installation and Special Construction Works. In 1982, he moved to a similar department in Angarsk.
In 1987, he began working for the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, on a district committee in Angarsk and, by 1991, rose to the First Secretary of the local party administration.
After the fall of the Soviet Union, he rejoined StahlKonstruktsiya as general director. He was elected to the first session of the Irkutsk Oblast legislative assembly. He ran for oblast Governor in 1997; but took only 18.8% of the vote against Boris Govorin.
In 1999, he was elected to the State Duma as a member of the Communist Party. He made a second run for Governor against Govorin in 2001, taking 23.9% to advance to the runoff election where he was defeated. He continued working in both the federal and oblast dumas for several years.
In 2015, he made a third run for the post of governor, this time taking on Sergey Eroschenko, who was acting Governor at the time. He won the race with 57.4% of the votes.
In 2019, he resigned as governor according to a press release although news sources such as the BBC reported that he was dismissed. However, there had been speculation in the press about his possible dismissal since devastating floods affected Irkutsk Oblast in the summer of 2019. President Vladimir Putin and senior administration officials criticized Levchenko’s response to the flooding in which 25 people died. He was succeeded by Igor Kobzev. In addition to his flood response, the Irkutsk prosecutor opened an investigation on an illegal bear hunt in which the governor allegedly participated.


United Nations Security Council Resolution 645

United Nations Security Council resolution 645, adopted unanimously on 29 November 1989, after considering a report by the Secretary-General regarding the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, the Council noted its efforts to establish a durable and just peace in the Middle East.
The resolution decided to call upon the parties concerned to immediately implement Resolution 338 (1973), it renewed the mandate of the Observer Force for another six months until 31 May 1990 and requested that the Secretary-General submit a report on the situation at the end of that period.


Lynda Worthaisong

Lynda Worthaisong is an Australian diplomat who served as Ambassador to Laos from 2011 to 2014.


Providence, Rhode Island Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program

The Providence, Rhode Island Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program is a public works project in Rhode Island.
Background.
A combined sewer system is a sewer system that is designed to carry both wastewater and stormwater. In the United States, there are around 860 communities with combined sewer systems, totaling to a population of around 40 million people served. During normal operation of a combined sewer system, the sewage from commercial, industrial, and residential sources flow into the combined system. Water from surface runoff and storm drains join the sewer flow and the combined water and sewage travel to a treatment plant. This is normally not too much of a problem as long as the infrastructure can handle the flow. The issues arise when there is an excess of stormwater. When there is an excess of stormwater, the combined sewer is no longer able to handle the flow and it backs up and drains, usually into the nearest body of water.
Providence, Rhode Island is a place that has had a particular issue when it came to the effects of its combined sewer system. Prior to the start of the project to expand the storage capacity of the combined sewer system, each year the combined sewer overflows would release approximately 2.2 billion gallons of untreated combined sewage. This overflow contained many pollutants that heavily polluted many parts of the Narraganset Bay. This caused many areas to be considered a health risk. This caused there to be certain areas that are permanently closed to shellfishing and over 11,000 acres that would be closed when there was more than an inch of rainfall.
History.
In March of 1993, the Narragansett Bay Commission approved a comprehensive Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program. This three-part plan proposed the construction of seven underground storage facilities and three deep rock tunnel segments. The proposed cost, adjusted for inflation, was $844 million dollars. The plan was eventually approved in 2001, with Phase I completed in 2008. The completion of Phase I diverted around 1.1 billion gallons to a treatment facility at Fields Point. The Phase II facilities were completed in 2014. Due to the high cost of the project, costing around $1.5 billion there was a reevaluation of the project in 2013 with final approval for continuation of Phase III, with additional federal funding in 2019.
Since the construction of Phase I and II, the system is able to capture around 60% of the stormwater that passes through the system. Additionally, it has captured around 11 billion gallons of untreated stormwater. Due to this improvement, the bacteria levels in the Narragansett have dropped by around 50%. The Providence Combined Sewer Overflow Abatement Program is the largest public-works project in Rhode Island History and is working to make the Narragansett Bay cleaner and healthier.


Abu Dhabi Fund for Development

The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) is a foreign aid agency established by the government of Abu Dhabi in 1971. The fund provides concessionary loans to fund economic and social development projects. The fund also invests in order to expand and strengthen the private sector economies of its clients.
History.
ADFD was established in 1971 in order to manage the foreign aid programs of the United Arab Emirates. Since its founding until 2014, the fund disbursed AED22.5 billion in loans and AED39.8 billion in grants. Grants are funded by the government of Abu Dhabi but managed by the ADFD.
Leadership.
Mansour bin Zayed Nahyan.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, is ADFD's chairman. Sheikh Mansour is also the chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority (the sole sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates federal government), the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, the National Archives of the United Arab Emirates, the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Investment Company, the Khalifa bin Zayed Cerity Foundation, and the Erates Racing Authority. He owns stakes in a number of businesses, including Virgin Galactic and Sky News Arabia. He owns Abu Dhabi United Group, which acquired the Manchester City Football Club in 2008. He earned a bachelor's degree in international affairs in the United States in 1993.
Projects and programs.
IRENA/ADFD Project Facility.
The ADFD works with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to promote the rapid and widespread adoption of renewable energy. As of 2014, the ADFD has committed to providing US$350 million in concessionary loans to be disbursed through the IRENA/ADFD Project Facility over seven funding cycles. Loans from this program are solely for renewable energy projects in developing countries. Project selection began in 2012. In November 2014, the third cycle was announced. IRENA recommends projects for final approval by the ADFD.
As of December 2014, the ADFD reduced annual interest rates on this program's loans to one to two percent to encourage more countries to apply for funding. Projects have been approved in Ecuador, Mali, the Maldives, Mauritania, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Argentina, Cuba, Iran, Mauritania and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. A diverse mix of energy sources including solar, hydropower, biomass, wind, and conventional-renewal hybrids were represented. During the first two cycles, US$1.5 billion in funding was requested.
UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund.
The ADFD, in partnership with Masdar, established the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund in order to finance solar and wind power projects in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Masdar will design and implement these projects in cooperation with the governments of these countries. The ADFD will provide $50 million in funding. This money will cover project feasibility studies, engineering design, plant equipment supplies and installation, construction and operation and maintenance training.
Gulf Cooperation Council.
In 2013, the UAE provided three development grants worth US$18,39 billion through two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) programs to support development in Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain. Of this, AED9.19 billion was allocated to Bahrain and AED4.6 billion to Jordan and Morocco.
Arab world.
In the Arab world, the ADFD has provided more than AED52.7 billion to finance projects in Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Algeria, Mauritania, Tunisia, Lebanon, Somalia, Djibouti, Morocco and the Comoros Islands.
Morocco.
In June 2013, the ADFD gave a US$1.25 billion grant to Morocco for projects to create sustainable growth and increase the standard of living. The grant was made under the Gulf Development Fund with total funding of US$5 billion for Morocco with equal contributions also coming Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. ADFD was placed in charge of administering the entire grant. The ADFD started providing aid to Morocco in 1976. Not including this grant, AED 2 billion in loans for 11 projects and AED 832 million for 21 projects have been given to Morocco.
ADFD funded the first phase of construction for the Tangier-Mediterranean Port with a loan of AED 734.6 million and a grant of AED 367.3 million for a total of AED 1.1 billion. As of December 2014, a second phase of construction was planned.
In December 2014, a 700-unit housing project funded by the ADFD in Asilah City was near completion. The ADFD said the three-phase project includes a museum, a school, and a bus station and will be turned over to the Moroccan government in early 2015. 400 units were completed in the first phase, 200 in the second phase, and 100 were scheduled for the third phase. This project was intended to benefit residents resettled from the city's slums. The project cost AED 73 million.
Yemen.
Among the major projects managed by the ADFD in Yemen is Ma’rib Dam project, which was funded by a government grant in 1986. It is one of the largest development projects ever completed in Yemen.
Africa.
The ADFD has provided around AED2.8billion to fund projects in Africa that have benefited countries including Mauritius, Seychelles, Gambia, Eritrea, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea, Tanzania, Lesotho, Senegal, Uganda, Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Kenya, Burundi, Guinea Bissau, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Zambia, South Sudan and Cape Verde.
Sierra Leone.
In 2014, the ADFD agreed to loan the government of Sierra Leone 33 million AED in order to build a solar power plant. The ADFD is providing 50 percent of funding with the remainder coming from Sierra Leone's government. This project, called "Solar Park Freetown," will add 6 megawatts of capacity. As of 2014, Sierra Leone had 96 megawatts of generating capacity but demand for 200 megawatts. The plant will be linked to the main power grid and will power an estimated 38,000 households containing 60,000 people. The plant will be built along the 21-kilometer Toke-Lumley highway, a transportation project funded by the ADFD with a 20 million AED loan in 2011. Both private and state enterprises will participate in the project. Masdar will be a key supplier. Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi signed for ADFD and Dr. Kaifala Mara, minister of finance and economic planning, signed for Sierra Leone.
Madagascar.
In 1979, the fund provided 15 million AED for the construction of the Andekaleka hydroelectric dam. As of 2014, this dam provided 58 megawatts of power.
In November 2014, the ADFD signed an agreement with Madagascar's government to provide 110 million AED in soft loans for infrastructure development. These loans will be used to build a two-lane road about 117 kilometers long and seven bridges. The road will be built between the towns of Soanierana Ivongo and Mananara Nord. These projects are designed to connect isolated rural areas, make crops easier to sell at market, reduce transportation costs, and increase tourism.
Mauritania.
In May 2014, ADFD funded a solar project in Mauritania with a loan of 18.36 million AED.
Asia.
In Asia, the ADFD has financed projects worth AED3.691 billion in Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mongolia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and the Maldives.
Tonga.
The La'a Lahi, or "Big Sun," solar plant in Tonga was the first project funded through this program. The UAE-Pacific Partnership's projects are expected to save about 1.2 million liters of diesel and reduce carbon output by 3,030 tons each year. This program was launched in March 2013 at the direction of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's foreign minister.
A 500KW solar project with battery storage on the Tongan island of Vava’u was also funded by the ADFD through a $5 million grant. Masdar was in charge of construction with the Australian firm Ingenero operating the plant. The plant was completed in late 2013.
Nepal.
In 2013, the ADFD agreed to provide US$30 million for the Tanahun hydroelectric plant. The project is also being funded by the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and the European Investment Bank. The dam will be located on the Seti River and will be a run-of-river plant. Construction began in 2014.


Customs and monetary union

A customs and monetary union is a type of trade bloc which is composed of a customs union and a currency union. The participant countries have both common external trade policy and share a single currency.
Customs and monetary union is established through trade pact.
List of customs and monetary unions.
Note: Every economic and monetary union has also a customs and monetary union.
Additionally the autonomous and dependent territories, such as some of the EU member state special territories, are sometimes treated as separate customs territory from their mainland state or have varying arrangements of formal or de facto customs union, common market and currency union (or combinations thereof) with the mainland and in regards to third countries through the trade pacts signed by the mainland state.


Anton Mosimann

Anton Mosimann OBE, DL (born 23 February 1947) is a Swiss chef and restaurateur who was "Maitre Chef des Cuisines" at the Dorchester Hotel for thirteen years, during which time its restaurant achieved a rating of two stars in the "Michelin Guide". After leaving The Dorchester Mosimann created a private dining club called Mosimann's, a cookery school, and other enterprises in the hospitality industry. He has also presented television programmes in the UK and Switzerland. In 2016 a museum dedicated to his life and culinary arts was opened in the César Ritz Colleges, located on the shores of Lake Geneva (lac Léman), in the town of Le Bouveret.
Mosimann terms his culinary style "cuisine naturelle" as it emphasises healthy and natural ingredients, avoiding additions of fat and alcohol.
Early life and career.
Mosimann was born on 23 February 1947 in Solothurn, in the foothills of the Swiss Jura, to Otto and Helga Mosimann. From his childhood he assisted in a restaurant that his parents ran in Nidau. He was an only child.
When he was 15 he began an apprenticeship at a local hotel, and he received his diploma as a "chef de cuisine" at the age of 25.
During his twenties he worked at hotels in Rome, Montreal, Japan and Belgium. During Expo '70 in Japan Mosimann was Head Chef at the Swiss Pavilion.
The Dorchester.
Mosimann was appointed "Maitre Chef de Cuisines" at London's Dorchester Hotel in 1975, when he was only 28 years old. His predecessor, Eugène Käufeler, had asked for advice on the appointment from Adelrich Furrer, a Swiss expert on gastronomy. Mosimann had come to Furrer's attention when he won a Gold Medal for his cooking, at a competition in Lucerne. When the Dorchester's restaurant achieved a two star rating in the "Michelin Guide" it was the first hotel restaurant outside France to do so.
"Cuisine naturelle".
Mosimann has said "I created what I call "cuisine naturelle". Its main characteristic is that it does without such ingredients as butter, cream, and alcohol. The focus is concentrated even more on the flavour of the individual ingredients. The dishes are only lightly cooked. In "nouvelle cuisine" and also "cuisine naturelle", enormous emphasis is put on the presentation of the dishes." His book, "Cuisine Naturelle", was published in 1985.
Later career.
After leaving the Dorchester Mosimann opened a private dining club in a converted Scottish Presbyterian church in Belgravia in 1988. His business interests also include Mosimann's Academy and Mosimann's Party Service. In 2000, he received the Royal Warrant of Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales for catering.
His English television work includes the "Food and Drink" special "Anton Goes to Sheffield" in 1985, which won a Glenfiddich Award in 1986, "Cooking with Mosimann" in 1990, and "Anton Mosimann – Naturally" from 1991 to 1992.
Mosimann has cooked for five British prime ministers at No. 10 Downing Street for visiting heads of state, he has cooked for four presidents of the United States of America and four generations of the British royal family. In 2011, he was chosen to cook for the 300 guests at the evening reception of the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton in Buckingham Palace. In 2016 The Culinary Arts Academy of Switzerland opened a three-storey wing in Le Bouveret, on the shores of Lake Geneva, with a permanent display of The Mosimann Collection of Culinary Heritage. His extensive library of cookery books is displayed alongside over fifty gold medals he won at various international competitions and an array of memorabilia reflecting his long and illustrious career. As he quipped at the launch: "What a privilege to be alive when a museum dedicated to you is opened!" It was fitting that it should open the same year that he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award Hotelympia.
Honours.
In 2004 Mosimann received the OBE, "For services to the Tourist and Food Industries". and the Catering Industry's Lifetime Achievement Award. ITV's "This Morning" included Mosimann as one of the UK's six iconic chefs in 2007. He is also a chevalier of the French Ordre National du Mérite Agricole. and was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2011. In 2011 he received the Carl-Freidrich von Rumohr Lifetime achievement award from the Gastronomic Academy Deutschlands eV and was awarded Médaille du Mérite, Société Suisses des Cuisiniers 2012 and the Gastronomische Akademie Deutschlands Rumohr Ring, 2013.


Mohammad Reza Naseri Yazdi

Mohammad Reza Naseri-Yazdi () is an Iranian Twelver Shia who is the representative of Yazd province and the Imam of Friday in the city of Yazd, who was appointed at the mentioned positions by the decree of Iran's supreme leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei on 28 July 2011.
Naseri-Yazdi was born in 1945 in the city of Yazd; His mother was the daughter of Qolam-Reza Yazdi (known as "Haj Sheikh QolamReza Yazdi") who was considered among the Shia scholars. When Mohammad-Reza's mother died, (then) his father decided to move to Tehran. After passing his elementary school, Mohammad-Reza's father sent his son to the mosque of Mujtahidi, to educate of seminary. Beside his education, Mohammad-Reza used to work at building of construction(s). Afterwards, he commenced to teach as well as learning on his education; Naseri-Yazdi got married in 1974 and has 5 children (4 sons, a daughter). This Shia cleric established a Hawzah in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari.
At a period of time, Naseri-Yazdi was also the representative of Vali-e-Faqih in the province of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and likewise the Imam of Friday Prayer in Shahr-e Kord—appointed by the decree of Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini.


Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation

Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation (LJBC) () was the state-run broadcasting organization in Libya under the rule of Muammar Gaddafi. It distributed news in coordination with the Jamahiriya News Agency in accordance with state laws controlling Libya media.
Long occupied by Abdallah Mansour, the General Manager of the company has since January 2009 been Mohammed Ali Kilani, "poet of the revolution" and former manager of a production company.
On 22 August 2011, the organization was rendered defunct when its channels were taken off-air by anti-Gaddafi fighters, which had entered Tripoli the previous day.
Organization.
The corporation's website and online presence was serviced by fifty employees, mostly journalists. They were organized into four departments; news editing, programming, design, and maintenance and operations, based in offices in Tripoli.
Stations.
Television.
Stations run by the LJBC include:
Al-Jamahiriya TV.
Al-Jamahiriya TV was a television channel broadcast by the Libyan Jamahiriya Broadcasting Corporation. The channel broadcast mainly Libyan Aljamahiriya discussions, cultural programs and news bulletins. It was available in three languages: Arabic, English and French.
Emphasis was left to the official Libyan political and government activities, with live coverage of sessions of the People's Congress, speeches of the "Guide of the Revolution" (the official position held by Colonel Gaddafi) and readings of "The Green Book", written by the Libyan leader, and published in 1975.
The channel started in the morning and ended in the evening by reading verses from the Koran and the dissemination of the national anthem, before giving way to a focus and national radio.
The Libyan national television was broadcast via satellite to the Arab world and Europe via the satellites Arabsat and Hot Bird from 1997.
On 22 August 2011, the station was taken off-air by the National Transitional Council forces, which had entered Tripoli the previous day. After several failed attempts to bring it back after the war by supporters of the former regime, the channel eventually appeared again with a new form in 2014 and it is now airing on Nilesat.


Kayqubad III

Kayqubad III ( or ʿAlāʾ ad-Dīn Kayqubād bin Farāmurz () was briefly sultan of the Sultanate of Rum between the years of 1298 and 1302. He was a nephew of the deposed Kaykaus II and had strong support among the Turkmen. As sultan he was a vassal of the Mongols and exercised no real power.
Reign.
He first appears "circa" 1283 as a pretender to the Seljuq throne. He was recognized by the Turkmen Karamanids, but he was defeated by vizier Fakhr al-Din Ali and Kaykhusraw III and sought refuge in Cilician Armenia. Nothing is known of his movements again until 1298, when he was appointed to the sultanate by the Ilkhan Mahmud Ghazan upon the downfall of Masud II. He purged the Seljuq administration of his predecessor’s men with extreme violence and became deeply unpopular; as a result when he visited the Ilkhan in 1302, he was executed and replaced with his predecessor Mesud II in order to keep the peace.


Azerbaijan International Development Agency

Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) was established in September 2011 under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. AIDA is responsible for the provision of international humanitarian and development assistance by the Republic of Azerbaijan and coordinates activities of all relevant government bodies in this field. AIDA supports the efforts of developing countries through its programs in the areas of poverty reduction, development of science, culture and health, application of information-communication technologies, various scholarship programs, and humanitarian assistance.
AIDA's annual budget is formed by relevant allocations from the state budget. AIDA's activities are structured in line and concurrent with the foreign policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Agency is managed by the Director appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. AIDA's employees are the employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan. AIDA provides humanitarian and technical assistance to the countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. More than 90 countries have benefited from the programs implemented by the Azerbaijan Republic.
Humanitarian Assistance.
AIDA's main objective in providing humanitarian assistance is to ensure timely and efficient delivery of aid to the people in need, aimed at improvement of their living conditions. AIDA provides necessary aid to the countries hit by man-made or natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and helps the affected population to eliminate the consequences of humanitarian crises and to restore normal living conditions.
"Alliance to fight avoidable blindness" (AFAB) campaign.
The program of the Alliance to Fight Avoidable Blindness (AFAB) continues in 2019. Within the framework of the strategic partnership with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), Azerbaijan International Development Agency (AIDA) implements the joint program of the “Alliance to Fight Avoidable blindness” (AFAB) in a number of African countries. As a part of the cataract campaign implemented both in Chad and Niger in 2019 more than 10,000 patients were examined and up to 2,000 people were operated free of charge.
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
According to the United Nations, 24 million people need humanitarian assistance in Yemen, where the world's worst humanitarian catastrophe is occurring and 250,000 people suffer from acute hunger. In order to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the population suffering from the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the Republic of Azerbaijan provided financial assistance to the Republic of Yemen.
Burundi.
In 2019, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) submitted a “Regional Assistance Plan for 2019-2020” to the member states in order to provide assistance for the implementation of the intended activities. In response to the appeal, the Republic of Azerbaijan helps refugees suffering from the crisis in Burundi.
Palestine.
In October 2018, the Republic of Azerbaijan provided assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which is currently facing serious financial difficulties.
Yemen.
One of the world's largest food security emergencies of recent history happened in Yemen as a result of the conflict. In response to the appeal of the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to the international community, the Republic of Azerbaijan, through AIDA, provided financial assistance in the framework of the UN High-level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen held in Geneva, Switzerland in 2017.
Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north-eastern Nigeria.
Millions of people, especially children and women, faced famine threats in Somalia, Yemen, South Sudan and north-eastern Nigeria as the result of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in 2017. Urgent and targeted actions were needed in order to address this humanitarian crisis. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called the international community for the assistance for the affected people to eliminate the risk of famine. Upon this request, AIDA provided financial aid to these countries via the United Nations.
Syrian refugees.
Thousands of people died, 5.2 million people became refugees, 13.5 million are in need of humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the conflict in March 2011 in Syria. AIDA also contributes to supporting Syrian people that became refugees as a result of this conflict and have sought refuge in Jordan. The Agency assisted them through the provision of humanitarian aid in the form of food and first need goods in 2015 and in the form of financial assistance in 2012.
Heydar Aliyev Water Supply Scheme, Pakistan.
On 4 May 2014, the Heydar Aliyev Water Supply Scheme, implemented on the initiative and under the auspices of the First Lady of Azerbaijan, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Mrs.Mehriban Aliyeva, launched in the Tank district of the Dera Ismail Khan area of Pakistan which historically suffers from the heavy water shortage. The Project was supported by AIDA and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan.
Humanitarian aid for flood-affected people, Pakistan.
AIDA conducted humanitarian aid campaigns in Multan, Muzaffargarh, Layyah, Chinniot, Naroval, Sargodha, Mandi Baha-ud-Din, Sialkot, Jhang and Hafizabad cities of Pakistan in 2014, for the purpose of providing humanitarian assistance to the people affected by flood in Southern Punjab and Kashmir provinces of Pakistan. 25000 flood-affected people benefited from this humanitarian aid provided by AIDA.
"Alliance to fight avoidable blindness" campaign.
Since 2012, within the frame of strategic cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank, AIDA is co-sponsoring the campaign on "Alliance to fight avoidable blindness" in the African countries. Under the initiative of AIDA, Azerbaijani ophthalmologists participate in the campaign. During 2012–2014, on an annual basis, the campaign was successfully carried out in 9 African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Djibouti, Guinea, Mali, Libya and Niger where free eye cataract operations were performed. In general, more than 10000 people who have partially or completely lost their eyesight re-gained their health within “Fight Avoidable Blindness Campaign”. The campaign is scheduled to be continued in the future.
Gaza.
In 2014, AIDA provided assistance to Gaza for recovering the destructions in the result of the armed clashes. The aid was provided via the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).
Earlier, in response to the United Nations Security Council statement of November 21, 2012 on situation in Gaza, which stressed the urgency of suspension of clashes and prevention of sharp deterioration in humanitarian situation by calling upon international community to assist in restoration of peaceful life and to provide humanitarian aid in order to relieve hard living conditions of Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip and to satisfy their vital needs, Azerbaijan through AIDA agency provided direct financial aid (US$100,000) to the population of the Gaza Strip.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In 2014, the Government of Azerbaijan, through AIDA, provided financial assistance to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in order to eliminate the adverse consequences of floods resulted from heavy rains for the agriculture, energy and other sectors of the country's economy.
Philippines.
In 2013, the government of Azerbaijan helped the Philippines from the devastating consequences of Typhoon Haiyan which resulted in the loss of thousands of human lives, hundreds of destroyed houses, and severe shortage of food, water, and other necessity goods. The aid was provided via the UN World Food Programme and the above-mentioned amount was spent on meeting the immediate food needs of the affected population.
Syrian refugees.
In 2012, AIDA provided direct financial aid to improve living conditions of Syrian refugees, who were forced to leave their homes and found refuge in Amman, Jordan.
Cuba.
In 2012, AIDA provided financial aid to Cuba to eliminate the consequences of the hurricane Sandy.
Panama.
Financial aid was delivered to Panama for the liquidation of the consequences of the humanitarian crisis arising from heavy rains in November 2012.
Burkina Faso.
In 2011–2012, in connection with the humanitarian crisis occurred in Burkina Faso in a result of drought, AIDA provided financial aid to Burkina Faso in order to alleviate food shortage and relieve associated crisis in this country after the respective appeal by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
Development Assistance.
The main objective of AIDA in development assistance is to provide technical assistance to developing countries around the world and to support their sustainable growth in various fields.
Educational Grant Programmes for Citizens of the Members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Non-Aligned Movement.
“The Educational Grant Programme for the Citizens of the Member Countries of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation” and “The Educational Grant Programme for the Citizens of the Member Countries of the Non-Aligned Movement” were approved by the Decree No. 3457 of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 6, 2017 and Decree No. 3567 on January 10, 2018,
“Advanced Foreign Service Program for Foreign Diplomats”.
Since 2018, in order to support human development in developing countries, AIDA organizes the capacity-building courses in Azerbaijan named “Advanced Foreign Service Program for Foreign Diplomats” for diplomats from a number of Asian and African countries within the framework of cooperation with the ADA University. The next phase of the program will be held on November 10–30, 2019.
Electronic Government Project in Afghanistan.
In close cooperation with UNDP, AIDA assists Afghanistan in building the system of E-government in order to increase efficiency of governmental agencies in this country.
Scholarship programme for foreign students.
Within the scholarship program for foreign students, AIDA provides students from developing countries ample opportunity to get an education at the high-ranking universities of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and all their relevant expenses are met by the Agency. The program is expected to be continued and broadened, and thus, more foreign students will have the opportunity to receive education in Azerbaijani universities.
Professional development courses and workshops.
AIDA, together with Azerbaijan's universities, scientific and research institutes arranges capacity-building courses and workshops in various areas for specialists from developing countries to facilitate the growth of human capital in those countries.