World Economic Forum (20.08.2020) Germany is about to become the latest country to trial a universal basic income, starting a three-year study of how it affects the economy and recipients' well-being. As part of the study, 120 people will receive €1,200, or about $1,430, each month for three years — an amount just above Germany's poverty line — and researchers will compare their experiences with another group of 1,380 people who will not receive the payments.

Ministry of Social Development (18.08.2020) We're working hard to make sure clients who are out of the country and are unable to return because of the COVID-19 pandemic are financially supported. When you leave New Zealand temporarily some payments stop straight away, some are paid for up to 28 days, and New Zealand Super and Veteran's Pension is paid for up to 26 weeks. Under a COVID-19 special assistance programme we're able to make your payments until you can return to New Zealand. This programme is currently only available until 20 October 2020.

Ministry of Social Development (17.08.2020) The Government has announced a new payment, the Resurgence Wage Subsidy. It’s a two-week payment for businesses who have had, or expect to have, a revenue drop of at least 40% because of COVID-19 for a continuous 14 day period between 12 August to 10 September compared to a similar period last year, and aren’t getting the Wage Subsidy, Wage Subsidy Extension or the Leave Support Scheme.

The subsidy is for 2-weeks from the day you submit your application, and will be paid at a flat rate of:

• $585.80 for people working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate)
• $350.00 for people working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate).

Applications can be made from 1pm on 21 August 2020 to 3 September 2020. 

Ministry of Social Development (18.08.2020) The COVID-19 Leave Support Scheme (used to be 'COVID-19 Essential Workers Leave Support') is available for employers, including sole traders, to pay their employees who can't work. This means your employees: can't come into work because they are in one of the affected groups and Ministry of Health guidelines recommend they stay at home, and can't work from home.

The Leave Support Scheme will be paid at a flat rate of:

• $585.80 for people who were working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate)
• $350.00 for people who were working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate).

The Leave Support Scheme is paid as a lump sum and covers 4 weeks per employee from the date you submit your application. You can't apply for less than 4 weeks.

Ministry of Social Development (10.06.2020) The Wage Subsidy Extension is an 8-week payment for qualifying businesses who have had a 40% decline in revenue because of COVID-19 for a continuous 30 day period compared to a similar period last year. The subsidy will be paid at a flat rate of: $585.80 for people working 20 hours or more per week (full-time rate) and $350.00 for people working less than 20 hours per week (part-time rate). The subsidy is paid as a lump sum and covers 8 weeks per employee from the date you submit your application. Applications opened on 10 June 2020 and close at 11:59pm on 1 September 2020. 

Ministry of Social Development (05.08.2020) Apprenticeship Boost is a payment to help employers keep and take on new apprentices. It means apprentices can keep earning and training towards their qualifications as the economy recovers from the impacts of COVID-19. The payment is made directly to employers.

You can get Apprenticeship Boost for a maximum of 20 months from the 5th of August 2020. It's paid in advance monthly. How much you can get depends on whether your apprentice is in their first or second year of training:

• employers of first year apprentices can get $1,000 a month
• employers of second year apprentices can get $500 a month.

worldbank.org (10.08,2020) For all its devastation, the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has nonetheless exposed pre-existing health system weaknesses.  It has also given a further boost to the role digital technologies can play in bridging the gaps in care for a range of health needs, including detection and treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Government of Georgia (16.08.2020) Registration to receive assistance in the amount of 200 GEL for children through the age of 17 is taking place on a special portal at http://daxmareba.moh.gov.ge/. Registration will be open until 1 December. The disbursement of financial assistance will begin in September this year. The provision of assistance in the amount of 200 GEL for each child through the age of 17 became possible as a result of the mobilization of finances in the StopCoV Fund with the help of Georgian citizens, Bidzina Ivanishvili, and businesses.