Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday that storms and subsequent floods that have inundated Europe are "without doubt" the result of climate change. Germany and Belgium are the worst-hit countries but several towns on southern Netherlands have suffered damage due to floods as well.

No deaths have been reported in the Netherlands. Germany has not been so lucky and accounts for most of the 150+ deaths that have been recorded till now.

Rutte was visiting the Netherlands' southern province of Limburg on Friday (local time) when he held Global Warming responsible for the deadly floods. He said that was "without a doubt the case".

"I don't want to make hasty declarations," he said. "But something is really happening, let's be clear."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-fatal-flooding-in-western-germany-398443">In Pics | Fatal flooding in Western Germany</a> 
 
ANP news agency reported that more than one million Euros had been collected for a fund to help worst-hit areas in the Netherlands

To stop any future flood disasters, "the first thing to do, and fortunately we are doing it in the Netherlands, is to give space to rivers", Rutte said.

The Dutch reshaped the areas around rivers in the country after major flooding in 1993 and 1995 when 250,000 people and one million animals had to be evacuated.

More than two billion euros was invested to widen riverbanks. The project was completed in 2019.

(With inputs from agencies)

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday that storms and subsequent floods that have inundated Europe are "without doubt" the result of climate change. Germany and Belgium are the worst-hit countries but several towns on southern Netherlands have suffered damage due to floods as well.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Saturday that storms and subsequent floods that have inundated Europe are "without doubt" the result of climate change. Germany and Belgium are the worst-hit countries but several towns on southern Netherlands have suffered damage due to floods as well. No deaths have been reported in the Netherlands. Germany has not been so lucky and accounts for most of the 150+ deaths that have been recorded till now. Rutte was visiting the Netherlands' southern province of Limburg on Friday (local time) when he held Global Warming responsible for the deadly floods. He said that was "without a doubt the case". "I don't want to make hasty declarations," he said. "But something is really happening, let's be clear." In Pics | Fatal flooding in Western Germany ANP news agency reported that more than one million Euros had been collected for a fund to help worst-hit areas in the Netherlands To stop any future flood disasters, "the first thing to do, and fortunately we are doing it in the Netherlands, is to give space to rivers", Rutte said. The Dutch reshaped the areas around rivers in the country after major flooding in 1993 and 1995 when 250,000 people and one million animals had to be evacuated. More than two billion euros was invested to widen riverbanks. The project was completed in 2019. (With inputs from agencies)

Climate Change responsible for Europe floods, says Dutch PM

The ECB said a digital euro could increase the euro's appeal, though the health and size of the euro zone's economy were more important.

Digital euro could boost single currency's international use

The European Union, which buys vaccines on behalf of its 27 member states, has authorized three shots developed in Germany, the U.S. and the U.K.

China aims to create goodwill through vaccine diplomacy

The decision by the European Court of Human Rights had demanded that Russia free Navalny immediately and warns that failing to do so would mark a breach of the European human rights convention.

Russia rejects European court's demand to release Navalny

Several European countries such as Belgium and Germany are imposing travel bans on all the incoming flights from the UK and South Africa to make sure the new variant does not get transmitted to their countries.

Scientific experts on new Coronavirus strain in Europe

People were further advised to stay at home, not to travel to work and to avoid contact with other people as much as possible.

Europe: Netherlands to go into strict five-weeks lockdown

Known as rag trees in Ireland, one of several other countries where the practice survives, the arbres à loques show pagan and Christian influences.

Have you seen 'healing trees' in France?

The unrest on Wednesday erupted broke out after the participants ignored police warnings to disperse to limit COVID-19 infection risks.

Far-right ‘hooligans’ clash with police at Warsaw march

Le Drian's highly anticipated meeting with Tayeb, head of Al-Azhar -- considered the foremost religious institution for Sunni Muslims

French minister seeks to ease tensions over cartoons in Cairo visit

Europe's new COVID-19 cases have doubled in five weeks, propelling the region on Sunday across the bleak milestone of 10 million total infections, according to a Reuters tally.

Europe's COVID-19 cases double in five weeks, total infections surpass 10 million

Europe is currently witnessing a resurgence in coronavirus cases. Europe's COVID-19 cases have doubled in 10 days. Watch report.

Europe witnesses surge in COVID-19 cases: Virus curfew begins in Milan

Thousands of workers protested across Portugal on Saturday as they demanded higher wages and more government action to protect jobs currently being threatened by the pandemic.

Protests continue across Europe as global deaths near 1 million

As fear of a second wave grips Europe, Italy appears to be coping much better than other countries such as France, Spain and the U.K.

Coronavirus: How is Italy coping better than other nations

Spain has cash, but no ideas how to spend it amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Spain is facing an unlikely problem - how to spend billions of dollars in grants and loans from the European Union. Watch this report for more information!

Spain has cash, but no ideas how to spend it amidst the COVID-19 outbreak

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

europe-news

Europe News, News on Europe News, stories on Europe News, articles on Europe News, Europe News stories at Wion, Europe News news, Europe News latest news

europe news