Switzerland, which last fought a foreign war more than 200 years ago and has no discernable enemies, wants to spend billions on new fighter jets.

Why is Switzerland holding a referendum on purchasing fighter jets?

Protests began after the Aug. 9 presidential election that official results say gave the authoritarian leader a sixth term in office

Belarus president closes western borders, puts army on high alert

Belarusian opposition-led Coordination Council refuted claims that the all-women march in the capital Minsk was funded from abroad. The Belarusian national TV earlier released a story claiming that a company by the name of PandaDoc was soliciting funds from the US State Department for opposition rallies and specifically all-women rallies.

A few PandaDoc senior staff in Belarus were arrested and faced with criminal persecution on fraud charges after CEO Mikita Mikado vowed support to the pro-opposition protests and offered assistance to officers who chose to quit the law enforcement.

"The female protest movement in Belarus exists thanks to the strength, courage and political will of women in Belarus and does not receive funding from outside Belarus," the Coordination Council`s female arm said in a statement.

The women's march on Saturday comprised of about 10,000 women who marched through Minsk demanding resignation of president Alexander Lukashenko.

Also Read | <a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/thousands-of-women-protest-in-belarus-demanding-lukashenkos-resignation-327120">Thousands of women protest in Belarus demanding Lukashenko's resignation</a> 
 
Huge protests broke out in Belarus since last month after presidential election on August 9 declared incumbent president Lukashenko victorious. This victory saw Lukashenko getting re-elected for a sixth term.

Although election authorities claimed that Lukashenko secured over 80 per cent of the vote, the Opposition insists that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, an Opposition candidate, won the election.

More than 6,700 people were detained during the initial phase of the protest. According to the Belarusian Interior Ministry, three people died and several hundred others sustained injuries during that period, including more than 130 security officers.The Coordination Council was established on August 14 with the goal to carry out a peaceful transition of power.

Belarusian opposition-led Coordination Council refuted claims that the all-women march in the capital Minsk was funded from abroad. The Belarusian national TV earlier released a story claiming that a company by the name of PandaDoc was soliciting funds from the US State Department for opposition rallies and specifically all-women rallies.

Belarusian opposition-led Coordination Council refuted claims that the all-women march in the capital Minsk was funded from abroad. The Belarusian national TV earlier released a story claiming that a company by the name of PandaDoc was soliciting funds from the US State Department for opposition rallies and specifically all-women rallies. A few PandaDoc senior staff in Belarus were arrested and faced with criminal persecution on fraud charges after CEO Mikita Mikado vowed support to the pro-opposition protests and offered assistance to officers who chose to quit the law enforcement. "The female protest movement in Belarus exists thanks to the strength, courage and political will of women in Belarus and does not receive funding from outside Belarus," the Coordination Council`s female arm said in a statement. The women's march on Saturday comprised of about 10,000 women who marched through Minsk demanding resignation of president Alexander Lukashenko. Also Read | Thousands of women protest in Belarus demanding Lukashenko's resignation Huge protests broke out in Belarus since last month after presidential election on August 9 declared incumbent president Lukashenko victorious. This victory saw Lukashenko getting re-elected for a sixth term. Although election authorities claimed that Lukashenko secured over 80 per cent of the vote, the Opposition insists that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, an Opposition candidate, won the election. More than 6,700 people were detained during the initial phase of the protest. According to the Belarusian Interior Ministry, three people died and several hundred others sustained injuries during that period, including more than 130 security officers.The Coordination Council was established on August 14 with the goal to carry out a peaceful transition of power.

Belarus women march was not funded from abroad, says Opposition

France's President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the European Union was facing a "moment of truth", as leaders gathered for a summit to negotiate a huge post-coronavirus recovery plan.

"It's our European project that in play here," Macron said, as he arrived at the first face-to-face Brussels summit for five months, held under social distancing rules.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worlds-1st-phase-3-clinical-trial-of-covid-19-inactivated-vaccine-begins-313875" hreflang="en">World's 1st phase 3 clinical trial of covid-19 inactivated vaccine begins</a>

EU health ministers had said on Thursday that&nbsp;they were planning a common strategy to prevent new coronavirus wave and that they were happy that the European Commission would support efforts of vaccine developers to produce safe and effective vaccines.

"We are at present in negotiations with industry, with member states, in partnership with member states in order to be able to have access to a vaccine or vaccines as quickly as possible, available in an equitable way to all," said the EU&nbsp;Commissioner for health and food safety Stella Kyriakides, said in a joint conference with EU health ministers.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazeneca-wins-coronavirus-vaccine-deal-with-germany-france-italy-and-the-netherlands-305648">Astrazeneca wins coronavirus vaccine deal with Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands</a>

The EU is planning to spend around $2.3 billion on the advance purchase of vaccines in testing on behalf of its 27 member states.

EU countries are also pursuing their own initiatives, with Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands making a joint deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca to buy up front its vaccine under development.

AstraZeneca, France's Sanofi, and US&nbsp;firms Pfizer, Novavax, Johnson and&nbsp;Johnson and Moderna are among companies trialing vaccines against the coronavirus.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the European Union was facing a "moment of truth", as leaders gathered for a summit to negotiate a huge post-coronavirus recovery plan.

France's President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that the European Union was facing a "moment of truth", as leaders gathered for a summit to negotiate a huge post-coronavirus recovery plan. "It's our European project that in play here," Macron said, as he arrived at the first face-to-face Brussels summit for five months, held under social distancing rules. Also read: World's 1st phase 3 clinical trial of covid-19 inactivated vaccine begins EU health ministers had said on Thursday that they were planning a common strategy to prevent new coronavirus wave and that they were happy that the European Commission would support efforts of vaccine developers to produce safe and effective vaccines. "We are at present in negotiations with industry, with member states, in partnership with member states in order to be able to have access to a vaccine or vaccines as quickly as possible, available in an equitable way to all," said the EU Commissioner for health and food safety Stella Kyriakides, said in a joint conference with EU health ministers. Also read: Astrazeneca wins coronavirus vaccine deal with Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands The EU is planning to spend around $2.3 billion on the advance purchase of vaccines in testing on behalf of its 27 member states. EU countries are also pursuing their own initiatives, with Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands making a joint deal with drugmaker AstraZeneca to buy up front its vaccine under development. AstraZeneca, France's Sanofi, and US firms Pfizer, Novavax, Johnson and Johnson and Moderna are among companies trialing vaccines against the coronavirus.

European Union's coronavirus rescue summit 'moment of truth', says Macron

Sharp falls in road traffic and industrial emissions have also resulted in 1.3m fewer days of work absence, 6,000 fewer children developing asthma, 1,900 avoided emergency room visits and 600 fewer preterm births

Here's how lockdown improves air quality in Europe

Billions of people are living under some form on lockdown, with roughly half the planet confined to their homes as schools and businesses have closed in a bid to slow down the spread of the virus.

Italy, Spain & France remain worst-affected of Coronavirus

Luxembourg abolished fares for trains, trams and buses on Saturday (February 29) in what the government said was a bid to tackle road congestion and pollution, as well as supporting low earners.

Luxembourg becomes first country to make public transport free

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