Nyon switzerland

LONDON (AP) – Regulators in the UK and four other countries have announced new rules to fast-track the development of modified COVID-19 vaccines to ensure drugmakers can move swiftly to target emerging variants of the disease. Previously authorized vaccines that are modified to combat new variants “will not need a brand new approval or `lengthy’ clinical studies,” Britain’s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said Thursday. “The clear goal is that future vaccine modifications that respond to the new variants of coronavirus can be made available in the shortest possible time to UK recipients without compromising at any stage on safety, quality or effectiveness,” Dr June Raine, the head of the agency, said in a briefing for reporters. The new guidance is based on the model already used to modify the seasonal flu vaccine to keep up with annual changes in the virus and was issued jointly by regulators in the UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, and Switzerland. The … [Read more...] about UK, Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland ‘Fast-Track’ Reviews of Modified Vaccines

ZURICH: Switzerland votes Sunday (Mar 7) on a free trade deal with Indonesia but the agreement, which opens up a vast potential market, could slip up over the issue of palm oil imports. Under the deal, tariffs would be gradually removed from almost all of Switzerland's biggest exports to the world's fourth most populous country, while the Swiss would abolish duties on Indonesian industrial products. Anyone importing Indonesian palm oil must prove that it meets certain environmental and social standards. But controversy around palm oil and its sustainability fuelled enough concern in Switzerland to trigger a public vote. Two separate polls in February put support for the deal at 52 per cent, with 41 to 42 per cent against. The agreement was signed in 2018 and approved by the Swiss parliament in 2019, but opponents were especially critical of Bern's move to reduce import duties on palm oil. The deal contains exceptions for agricultural products, notably to protect … [Read more...] about Palm oil row fuels Swiss vote on Indonesia trade deal

SINGAPORE: Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said a pre-feasibility study has concluded that current nuclear energy technology is not suitable for use in Singapore, even though the latest designs of nuclear power plants are much safer than older designs which remain in use in many countries. The study involved government agencies, external consultants and independent expert advisers. Mr Iswaran was speaking in Parliament on Monday in response to a question filed by MP for Nee Soon GRC Lee Bee Wah. Eighty per cent of Singapore's energy is generated from natural gas imported from neighbouring countries Indonesia and Malaysia. In 2010, the government embarked on a pre-feasibility study to explore more energy options, looking to overcome Singapore's energy constraints and improve energy security. The study concluded that nuclear energy will not be an option, for now. Mr Iswaran said: "The risks to Singapore, given that we are small and dense, still outweigh … [Read more...] about Current nuclear energy technology “not suitable for use in S’pore”

SINGAPORE: Investors from the United States, Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland are accorded similar treatment as Singaporeans in the purchase of residential properties in Singapore. But they are not allowed to purchase HDB apartments and Executive Condominiums. Non-citizens are also restricted from purchasing private landed residential property. In a written reply to Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Lina Chiam, Singapore's Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang said this is under the "national treatment" obligation of two free trade agreements Singapore has with the United States and with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA is a free trade area comprising Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. These are the only two FTAs where "national treatment" has been accorded for the Additional Buyer's Stamp Duty (ABSD). Conversely, Singaporean investors are also accorded equivalent rights and privileges in a host country as that … [Read more...] about Foreign investors given “national treatment” in buying houses in Singapore

The newly-imposed US sanctions against the Russian officials over the alleged poisoning of Alexei Navalny has been a hostile anti-Russian lunge, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday. The Russian diplomat added that the new sanctions have been designed to distract people in the United States and the European Union from domestic issues. “One of the goals of this campaign is to distract attention from their own [the US and the EU] issues, both from chemical weapon issues and massive domestic problems," Zakharova said. Zakharova noted that such measures may further harm relations between Russia and the United States. "We will respond based on the principle of reciprocity, but not necessarily symmetrically," Zakharova told during an interview. On Thursday, the US and the EU imposed sanctions on several Russian government officials and entities over the jailing and alleged poisoning of vlogger Alexei Navalny. The US imposition of sanctions came after … [Read more...] about Zakharova: New Anti-Russia Sanctions Designed to Distract People in US, EU From Domestic Issues