The architect of Sweden’s light-touch coronavirus response has predicted that Europe will experience a coronavirus resurgence after lockdown measures are lifted.
Many European countries, including France, Belgium and Spain, cut or stablised infection rates thanks to lockdowns or other virus restrictions.
With the exception of a few countries, such as Germany and Italy, much of the continent is only now emerging from tough restrictions ahead of Christmas.
But Swedish epidemiologist Anders Tegnell predicted that infection rates would spike soon after lockdown restrictions were lifted. He told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter that Europe faces a "tough winter" and that it would be difficult to "hold back" the virus.
His comments come as Sweden imposes new coronavirus restrictions to stop the country’s health system becoming overwhelmed.
Sweden famously never ordered a lockdown, with its citizens encouraged to exercise their common sense, but the country is now rowing back and Dr Tegnall appears to have been sidelined by his government.
Authorities said on Friday all pupils aged 14 to 16 in Sweden’s capital Stockholm will switch to remote learning for the rest of this year to help stem the second wave. It is the first time Sweden has recommended distance education for significant numbers of secondary school students.
A further 7,370 new coronavirus cases were registered nationwide on Friday, down from 7,935 new infections recorded on Thursday.
An additional 160 deaths were reported, one of the highest daily numbers since the start of the pandemic, taking the total to 7,514. Sweden's death rate per capita is several times higher than that of its Nordic neighbours but lower than several European countries that opted for lockdowns.
The infection rate is also climbing again in the UK after England’s second national lockdown was lifted last week. The reproduction 'R' number - which measures how fast the virus is spreading - increased slightly to between 0.9 and 1 on Friday. Last week, the R rate was between 0.8 and 1.
While scientists were confident that the epidemic was shrinking in some areas of England, it was not confident the R number was below 1 in London, the southeast and the east of England. An R rate below 1 indicates the virus is in retreat.
The UK reported another 20,964 new cases and 516 new deaths on Thursday.
In Germany, authorities are considering imposing a hard lockdown after the country reported its highest death toll since the pandemic began.
A record 598 deaths and 29,875 new cases were reported on Friday, after the previous daily record of 590 deaths was set on Wednesday.
Switzerland - facing a similar picture of persistently high infections and deaths - imposed a 7pm curfew on all restaurants, bars and shops on Friday.
Brushing off concerns about more downbeat Christmas celebrations and cancelled ski trips, the government said the country had to work quickly to reduce the mounting burden on its hospitals and health workers.
"The situation we're seeing now we have never experienced before," said Health Minister Alain Berset.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Cherry
Directed by: Joe and Anthony Russo
Starring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo
1/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
Fixtures and results:
Wed, Aug 29:
- Malaysia bt Hong Kong by 3 wickets
- Oman bt Nepal by 7 wickets
- UAE bt Singapore by 215 runs
Thu, Aug 30: UAE v Nepal; Hong Kong v Singapore; Malaysia v Oman
Sat, Sep 1: UAE v Hong Kong; Oman v Singapore; Malaysia v Nepal
Sun, Sep 2: Hong Kong v Oman; Malaysia v UAE; Nepal v Singapore
Tue, Sep 4: Malaysia v Singapore; UAE v Oman; Nepal v Hong Kong
Thu, Sep 6: Final
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
'Gold'
Director:Anthony Hayes
Stars:Zaf Efron, Anthony Hayes
Rating:3/5
The specs: 2018 Opel Mokka X
Price, as tested: Dh84,000
Engine: 1.4L, four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: Six-speed auto
Power: 142hp at 4,900rpm
Torque: 200Nm at 1,850rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L / 100km
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.