Tag: Switzerland

Toxic liquid leaks into Paris river from cement plant

PARIS, France (AFP) — Hundreds of litres of toxic wastewater have leaked into Paris’ Seine River from a plant belonging to Franco-Swiss cement giant Lafarge-Holcim, local reports said, sparking outrage from French officials. Lafarge acknowledged the spillage but insisted it had been the result of sabotage, rather than an intentional act by the company. The contaminated liquid is composed of a mixture of cement, wastewater treatment liquid and plastic microfibres and comes from a Lafarge […]

Swiss authorize remdesivir for wide use against COVID-19

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland announced Thursday that COVID-19 patients beyond those on clinical trials could be given remdesivir, the first drug shown to be relatively effective in treating the new coronavirus. At least two major US studies have shown that the anti-viral drug can reduce the duration of hospital stays for those suffering from the novel coronavirus. “With immediate effect, remdesivir can be used more widely in Switzerland for the treatment of COVID-19 patients,” […]

Switzerland speeds up lifting of virus restrictions

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss government said Wednesday it would speed up easing the restrictions imposed to control the coronavirus pandemic, allowing restaurants to open again on May 11. “We are in a new phase and we must learn to live with the virus,” Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga told a press conference in Bern. Switzerland stopped short of imposing full confinement in March but most shops and services closed down. On Monday, hairdressers, garden […]

EBC Films’ Make it Reel seminars go online for Western Europe

Eagle News — Being in quarantine has its quirks; pros and cons. On one hand, you’re confined to your home, only allowed to leave to gather essentials. And on the other hand, you get to stay home and work on whatever “me” project that was put on the back-burner. And if filmmaking or acting is one of your “me” projects and you live in the Western Europe area, EBC Films is now offering their Make […]

Swiss launch country-wide study on COVID-19 immunity

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Researchers said Thursday they had begun collecting blood samples and interviewing people across Switzerland to determine what proportion of the population has antibodies to the novel coronavirus, and their level of immunity. The new research programme, called “Corona Immunitas”, said in a statement that over the next six months it would collect epidemiological data on immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19. The deadly disease has so far killed nearly […]

Swiss announce gradual easing of virus measures

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland announced on Thursday a three-stage easing of restrictions imposed to suppress the COVID-19 pandemic, with some stores and services allowed to reopen from April 27. “In light of epidemiological developments and the recommendations of scientists, the Federal Council has decided to relax measures to protect the population against the new coronavirus from April 27,” the government said in a statement. © Agence France-Presse

Switzerland virus cases top 10,000

by Robin MILLARD GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland on Thursday joined the small group of countries to declare more than 10,000 officially-recorded cases of COVID-19, as it launched plans to start tracking crowd build-ups through mobile phone data. The health ministry said 10,661 people in the Alpine country have tested positive for the new coronavirus — nearly 1,000 more than a day earlier — while 161 people have died. Switzerland, which is among the countries […]

Don’t give in to fear, Swiss told as virus cases almost double

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — The Swiss health minister on Sunday urged people not to be afraid as Geneva residents applauded, whistled and rang bells from their balconies and windows to thank health workers on the frontline in the battle against the coronavirus. Health Minister Alain Berset’s comments came as cases of COVID-19 surged and drastic measures to halt the spread of the virus took hold. “We must not give in to fear,” Berset told NZZ […]

CoVid-19, nagsisimula nang maging global pandemic, ayon sa Singapore Minister

https://youtu.be/1L_tbwyIpLQ (Eagle News) – Nagsisimula na raw maging global pandemic ang 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) na kumakalat sa iba’t ibang panig ng mundo, ayon kay Singapore Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong. Mabilis ang pagkalat ng virus sa iba’t ibang mga bansa kabilang ang Europa at North America nitong mga nagdaang araw. Hindi pa itinuturing ng World Health Organization (WHO) sa kategoryang “pandemic” ang kasalukuyang sitwasyon pero sinabing gagamitin ng United Nations agency ang […]

Switzerland reports first case of new coronavirus

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland reported its first case of new coronavirus on Tuesday after outbreaks were identified in its main neighbors Austria, France, Germany, and Italy. The case is a man in his 70s who was infected near Milan where he attended an event on February 15, federal health office chief Pascal Strupler told reporters. The man is from the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino on the border with Italy and has been with his […]

Acquiring citizenship helps immigrants in Switzerland boost earnings: study

by Ivan Couronne WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Immigrants to Switzerland who became naturalized citizens saw their earnings rise significantly compared to those who did not obtain the passport, a study showed Wednesday. Average annual earnings were 13.5 percent greater for immigrants 15 years after they narrowly won naturalization through a local referendum, equal to about 5,500 Swiss Francs ($5,500), against immigrants who lived in the country but were unable to obtain nationality. “These findings […]

Swiss glaciers shrink 10 percent in five years: study

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Switzerland’s glaciers have lost a tenth of their volume in the past five years alone — a melting rate unmatched during observations stretching back more than a century, a study showed Tuesday. Measurements on 20 Swiss glaciers have shown that melt rates this year have reached “record levels”, according to the annual study on the state of the glaciers, published by the Cryospheric Commission at the Swiss Academy of Sciences. The […]