The next global pandemic: long-term unemployment Published on Share
With Covid-19 hitting the job market hard, long-term unemployment figures are rising globally. Experts warn that the situation could be a ticking time-bomb.
Oliver Schopfer, an accountant in his 50s from canton Vaud (southwestern Switzerland), had been out of a job for almost a year before he finally found a position at the end of 2019. Just a month after beginning his new job, Schopfer – who has over 30 years of experience in his field – found himself out of work again.
“The company worked a lot with restaurant owners,” Schopfer recalled. “When the [Covid-19] crisis hit, they told me they couldn’t afford to pay my salary anymore.”
Swiss to Provide $71.8m Grant for Indonesia s Economic Development BY :JAYANTY NADA SHOFA FEBRUARY 26, 2021
Jakarta. The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, or SECO, will provide grants of 65 million Swiss francs, or about $71.8 million, for the next four years to assist Indonesia’s economic development.
On Thursday, SECO renewed its economic development cooperation with Indonesia for 2021-2024 making it the fourth cycle since the first one in 2009.
“Over the next four years, SECO will provide at least 65 million Swiss francs in grants to support the new program. Our current engagement in Indonesia includes more than 30 active projects, in collaboration with 15 implementing partners and 10 ministries,” SECO director Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch told an online conference on Thursday.
Alcon Inc. Investors: Alcon Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results
Continued recovery resulted in full year sales of $6.8 billion, 8% below last year
New product launches driving market share gains; executing on strategic initiatives
Generated $823 million in cash from operations and $350 million in free cash flow
Alcon (SIX/NYSE:ALC), the global leader in eye care, reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020. For the fourth quarter of 2020, worldwide sales were $1.9 billion, an increase of 2% on a reported basis and an increase of 1% on a constant currency basis
(2), as compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Fourth quarter 2020 diluted earnings per share were $0.19 and core diluted earnings per share were $0.41. Full year 2020 diluted losses per share were $1.09 and core diluted earnings per share were $1.04.
According to the latest FiBL survey on organic agriculture worldwide, organic farmland increased by 1.1 million hectares, and organic retail sales continued to grow in 2020.