A far-right proposal to ban facial coverings in Switzerland won a narrow victory in a binding referendum on Sunday instigated by the same group that organized a 2009 ban on new minarets, Reuters reported. The measure to amend the Swiss constitution passed by a 51.2-48.8% margin, provisional official results showed.

British students will return to school on Monday after a two-month closure, backed by a robust coronavirus testing programme, news wires reported. The reopening of schools is the first step in the UK government’s plan to gradually ease Covid-19 restrictions as the country’s vaccination drive gains critical mass, with all restrictions lifted by June.

Switzerland is set to vote on Sunday on whether to effectively ban the wearing of burqas, the full body covering worn by some Muslim women, and other full-face coverings, dpa reported.

The race to roll out vaccination passports is spurring competition among travel companies and tourist destinations for the large number of Britons set to receive COVID-19 shots before the summer.

Switzerland unveiled a 1 billion Swiss franc ($1.08 billion) plan on Friday to offer free coronavirus tests for its entire population as part of measures to ease the country’s exit from COVID-19 restrictions.

Britain’s medical regulator announced on Thursday that it would fast-track vaccines for coronavirus variants, pointing out that the makers of already-authorised shots would not need new lengthy clinical trials to prove their adapted vaccines will work, Reuters reported.

Finance minister Rishi Sunak announced a costly extension of his emergency aid programmes to see Britain’s economy through its current coronavirus lockdown, but announced a tax hike for many businesses as he began to focus on fixing the public finances.

The British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak announced an idea to issue vaccine passports or relevant certificates that would allow the bearers of such documents to enter venues and attend events, Reuters said. Sunak added that this approach is seen helping the economic recovery from the pandemic slowdown.

The British government is set to extend its support for local businesses with an additional aid package of some five billion pounds, Reuters reported. Shops, bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, gyms and hair salons would be among nearly 700,000 firms that may apply for new direct cash grants of up to 18,000 pounds each.

The administration of the newly elected US president Joe Biden will join next week the talks of the G7 group of most advanced countries, Reuters reported. The first agenda for the post Donald Trump period will be focused on a new climate deal, digital taxes and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.