Sweden

Scientist leading Sweden’s battle against coronavirus says Britain’s lockdown has gone too far

by

Scientist leading Sweden’s battle against coronavirus says Britain’s lockdown has gone too far as his country allows bars, restaurants and schools to remain open Sweden’s face in fight against coronavirus has kept bars and restaurants open Anders Tegnell said he was ‘disappointed’ when Britain abruptly altered strategy Country is relying on citizens to control virus … Read more

Princess Victoria of Sweden volunteers to food boxes for homeless and vulnerable people

by

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden has been helping to pack meal boxes for vulnerable citizens, amid criticism of the country’s less restrictive approach to tackling coronavirus.  The Swedish royal, 42, has stepped up charitable initiatives in recent week, including a visit to the association Stockholms Stadsmission, who create meal boxes for the homeless and vulnerable.  Many … Read more

Half of Sweden could be infected by coronavirus in April, professor warns

by

Half of Sweden‘s population could be infected with coronavirus by the end of the month, a statistician has warned. Tom Britton, a mathematics professor from Stockholm University, said it is possible that up to a million people are already infected with the virus – though the country has only confirmed 5,466 cases. Using mathematical models … Read more

Is softly, softly Sweden heading for catastrophe?

by

Swedes really don’t like to stand out. They much prefer to blend in. They even have their own word for it: ‘Jantelagen’, the Scandinavian answer to Australia and New Zealand‘s ‘tall poppy syndrome’.  It roughly translates as: ‘Don’t think you’re better than anyone else.’ And so it’s quite understandable that its government’s maverick response to … Read more

From Wallander to The Honourable Woman: The best on demand TV to watch this week

by

iPLAYER Wallander  It’s set in Sweden and is based on books by a Swedish author, but can this version of Wallander really be described as Scandi-noir? Probably not, seeing as it stars a largely British cast headed by Kenneth Branagh.  While some will tell you Krister Henriksson delivers the definitive portrayal of the haggard detective in … Read more

European coronavirus mega-trial will test four experimental drugs

by

Britons infected with coronavirus are among thousands of patients taking part in a European coronavirus mega-trial of four experimental therapies.   The trial, called Discovery, includes 3,200 patients who have been hospitalised from the killer virus in the UK, Spain, Germany, France, Sweden and Luxembourg.  It will test the effectiveness of four treatments, including a course of … Read more

Dozens of Lufthansa planes are pictured parked in a row at Berlin airport

by

Dozens of Lufthansa planes were parked in a row at airports today after the airline cancelled flights over the coming weeks due to coronavirus.  The airline has been severely affected by the huge slump in demand caused by the virus and has cancelled the lion’s share of its flight offerings.  Pictures from Berlin and Frankfurt … Read more

IVF babies are ‘45% more likely to die before their first birthday’

by

IVF babies are 45 per cent more likely to die before their first birthday, a study of almost three million children has found. Researchers in Sweden compared the outcomes of babies conceived naturally and through assisted reproductive techniques. Babies from a frozen embryo had a more than two-fold higher risk of death than babies conceived … Read more

Ten wealthiest people are richer than poorest 85 countries combined

by

The combined wealth of the world’s top ten billionaires is greater than the total GDP of the 85 poorest countries on Earth, a study has found.  The world’s richest individuals including Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg have a combined net worth of $858billion (£662bn).  Meanwhile, the 85 smallest economies in the world have … Read more