Health & Science

Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:20 UTC
Switzerland bans the export of five toxic chemicals, including paraquat

Starting from next year, Switzerland will not allow the export of five hazardous plant protection products already banned in the European country. The Swiss government approved the amendment to the law on chemical substances this week as part of measures to reduce risks associated with toxic chemicals. It added that the move is intended to help protect health and the environment in importing countries, particularly in the developing world.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:18 UTC
Holland reports first infection with West Nile virus originated in the Netherlands

Dutch health authorities said on Thursday they had found the first infection with the West Nile virus to have originated from the Netherlands last week. The patient is a man who had not been abroad recently, the National Institute for Public Health said.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:10 UTC
Covid-19: Overloaded hospitals in Netherlands to transfer patients to Germany

Hospitals in the Netherlands on Thursday said they would ask their German counterparts to take patients after the number of those hospitalized with the coronavirus doubled in the past week, to 1,526.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 09:04 UTC
Exposure of coronavirus on flights is very low, US Defense Department report

The risk of exposure to the coronavirus on flights is very low, a US Department of Defense study released on Thursday found, a positive sign for the airline industry as it tries to rebound from the pandemic's crushing effect on travel.
Friday, October 16th 2020 - 07:22 UTC
Queen Elizabeth II in her first major engagement since UK's coronavirus lockdown

Queen Elizabeth II carried out her first major engagement since the United Kingdom's coronavirus lockdown began in March, visiting the Porton Down military research facility on Thursday. The lab in south-west England was involved in dealing with the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack on a Russian ex-spy in the nearby city of Salisbury.
Thursday, October 15th 2020 - 09:49 UTC
Pandemic restrictions reflected an unprecedented fall in greenhouse gas emissions

Covid-19 pandemic restrictions saw an unprecedented fall in greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of 2020 – larger than during the 2008 financial crisis and even World War II – experts said on Wednesday.
Thursday, October 15th 2020 - 09:34 UTC
Macron orders night curfew for Paris and eight other cities, a third of French population

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday ordered a nighttime curfew for Paris and eight other French cities to contain the spread of COVID-19 after daily new infection rates reached alarming record levels.
Thursday, October 15th 2020 - 09:22 UTC
Johnson waiting for the EU summit before taking any decision on post-Brexit talks

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared himself disappointed in the progress of post-Brexit trade talks on Wednesday, but he will wait for news from an EU summit before deciding whether to pull the plug.
Thursday, October 15th 2020 - 07:26 UTC
President Trump's son Barron overcame Covid-19, revealed First Lady Melania

President Donald Trump's 14-year-old son, Barron, tested positive for COVID-19 but exhibited no symptoms after both of his parents contracted the virus, first lady Melania Trump said on Wednesday.
Wednesday, October 14th 2020 - 09:39 UTC
World Bank approves US$ 12bn for developing countries to purchase Covid-19 vaccines

The World Bank said its executive board approved on Tuesday US$12 billion in new funding for developing countries to finance the purchase and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and treatments for their citizens. The financing plan is part of US$160 billion in total resources that the multilateral development lender has pledged to provide to developing countries through June 2021 to help fight the coronavirus pandemic.