Domestic Politics
The Polish government introduced a ‘Home Quarantine’ app, intended to monitor people undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine period after returning from abroad. The app asks its registered users to take a selfie and periodically requests geo-located selfies. If users fail to comply, the police will be alerted. [Business Insider UK]
Hungary’s parliament is considering adopting legislation that would extend the current coronavirus-induced state of emergency indefinitely, and give PM Viktor Orban sweeping powers to rule by decree. Though many have claimed that such a move may be necessary to address the pandemic, critics have labelled it as dangerous and vulnerable to abuse. [The Guardian]
International Relations
The Russian military ended war games near its western borders due to coronavirus fears. The drills were supposed to be part of a larger NATO exercise that was billed as the biggest deployment of US-based troops in Europe since the Cold War. [Bloomberg]
Russia settled a months-long dispute with Belarus regarding oil supply amidst an ongoing standoff with Saudi Arabia. Russia and Saudi Arabia have failed to agree on how to address falling oil demand following the global coronavirus outbreak. [Reuters]
Health
A large hospital in northeastern Romania, which serves a county with a population of about 600,000 people, will be closed for disinfection after 52 doctors and nurses working there were diagnosed with COVID-19. [Romania Insider]
Business
Russia tripled the number of companies designated as ‘systematically important businesses’ in an effort to brace for a possible recession. Its economy has been rocked by the twin shocks of the coronavirus and the collapse of oil prices. McDonald's Corp, Ikea, and Auchan Holding SA were among the foreign firms deemed vital to the economy and will be subject to stress tests starting next week, possibly qualifying them for additional state support. [Bloomberg]
Ukraine has been in talks with the IMF to receive $5.5 billion in financial assistance. However, after Ukraine’s President and the IMF chief spoke again, Ukraine proposed doubling the amount due to the coronavirus pandemic. President Zelensky and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva discussed increasing the IMF's assistance and expanding cooperation between the IMF and Ukraine to support other reforms. [UNIAN]
The Bulgarian government banned protective equipment as well as disinfectants from being exported without permits. This is in line with the terms and conditions of the regulations decreed by the country's Minister of Health. [The Sofia Globe]
Image Source: Reuters
