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The COVID-19 pandemic is having a tremendous impact on the world’s economy. Many businesses are struggling to stay afloat and doing whatever they can right now to rationalise costs and preserve any cash surpluses they have in order to bridge future cash flow needs. Around the world, governments are stepping in to try and limit the impact of the pandemic by providing financial support in numerous ways from direct cash payments through to the deferral of tax payments.

The economic implications and repercussions of the COVID-19 global pandemic are deep and far-reaching, affecting the economy of virtually every nation on earth.

The COVID-19 pandemic is upending the carefully calibrated logistics of global shipping and highlighting long-standing concerns.

As the impact of a novel strain of coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to unfold around the world, those individuals responsible for preparing financial statements and approving them for issue need to be cognisant of not only what has happened and is happening at the reporting date and the time the financial statements are approved, but also what is likely to happen next.

COVID-19: Financial Reporting and Disclosures, identifies key financial reporting areas that entities need to consider when determining the impact on their business, and on the results, financial position and disclosures in their financial statements.

Governments and tax authorities are scrambling to keep pace with the increasing digitisation of the global economy and public outcry over the levels of corporate tax being paid by large multinational enterprises.

The economic consequences of COVID-19 on future trading assumptions, and the direct impact on many companies, may place some companies under liquidity pressures. We understand these pressures and have compiled some tips for managing cash flow and mitigating any potential impact on your debt obligations.

Accounting implications of COVID-19

Since it was first identified in the city of Wuhan (China), the COVID-19 coronavirus has infected over 121,000 people, killing over 4,000 patients. While medical scientists work 24/7 to find a vaccine, Artificial Intelligence (AI) researchers have joined the global effort to defeat the virus.

78% of mid-market businesses globally are actively working on removing barriers to gender parity at senior levels according to the latest research from Grant Thornton’s International Business Report.

Representatives of the financial services sector, including the Institute of Financial Service Practitioners (IFSP) and the Malta Banking Association (MBA), have urged all stakeholders, regulatory bodies and practitioners to acknowledge the urgency of repairing Malta’s negative reputation, stating that everyone must play their part.

British citizens’ rights in Malta

In June 2019, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) established various rules to combat the misuse of virtual assets for the purpose of money laundering and financing of terrorism. The funds travel rule featured in the FATF’s recommendations as well as it requires Virtual Asset Service Providers (‘VASPs’) to collate and share information about the sender (originator) and receiver (beneficiary) whilst undertaking a transaction.

The possibility of Malta’s power grid being hit by a disruptive cyberattack is not remote. In October 2019, Siemens and Ponemon published the findings of a worldwide joint survey carried out on a sample of 1,700 utility professionals responsible for cybersecurity within their companies (1).

Initial coin offering (ICO) campaigns, sometimes referred to as ‘token sales’ or ‘token-generating events’ (TGE), which raise funds for a venture through the issue of a cryptographic token in exchange for digital currency (fiat or virtual) may be paralleled to online crowdfunding campaigns or initial public offerings (IPOs).

The Maltese government has officially launched its national AI strategy during the Delta Summit 2019. The document is a blueprint for the progressive introduction of AI into Maltese society, which will position the island as a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence-backed technologies. The strategy, which sets a vision for Malta to become the “Ultimate AI Launchpad” by 2030, relies on the attainment of three strategic objectives.