Ukraine parliament approves new finance, health ministers at special session
Ukraine’s parliament on Monday approved the appointment of a new finance minister and health minister.
Saudi king offers to pay for coronavirus patients’ treatment
Saudi Arabia will finance treatment for anyone infected with the coronavirus in the country, the health minister said on Monday, while the agriculture ministry took steps to boost wheat and livestock supplies amid global fears of a food shortage.
Swiss may have to top up coronavirus aid package amid rush for loans
Switzerland may have to expand its emergency fund for companies hit by coronavirus disruption, a government official said on Monday, after banks loaned out 6.6 billion Swiss francs ($6.89 billion) in the first four days of the scheme.
England coronavirus death toll rises 159 to 1,284
A further 159 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England, the National Health Service said on Monday, taking the total number of confirmed deaths in the country to 1,284.
EU urges countries to open borders to seasonal farm workers
EU countries should allow the hundreds of thousands of seasonal migrant workers who plant or harvest crops to cross borders despite national measures to contain the coronavirus, the European Commission said on Monday.
Spanish designer dresses last brides as coronavirus halts weddings
Wearing a surgical mask and latex gloves, Spanish wedding dress designer Inma Garcia cuts lengths of ivory satin and frothy net in her Barcelona workshop to make a bridal gown for a Mexican client.
Italy may be on wrong path in fighting coronavirus contagion: scientist
Italy’s measures to halt coronavirus contagion do not seem to be working and it should change its strategy by setting up centers to separate people with suspected symptoms from their families, a prominent Italian scientist said on Monday.
Egypt’s Sisi directs authorities to boost strategic reserves: spokesman
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has directed authorities to provide staple goods and boost strategic reserves, a presidency spokesman told state television on Monday.
Van Gogh painting stolen from Dutch museum during coronavirus shutdown
Thieves stole a painting by Dutch master Vincent van Gogh overnight from the Netherlands’ Singer Laren Museum, currently closed to the public because of the coronavirus, its director said on Monday.
Georgia PM declares curfew to halt coronavirus spread
Georgia will impose an overnight curfew, close its public transport, including metro system, and ban gatherings of more than three people from March 31 to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said on Monday.
