News in brief

Tension was noted on Lesvos island yesterday after refugees and migrants clashed with authorities, as they tried to reach the capital, Mytilene, demanding that their asylum applications are processed faster. Residents in Moria have seized the general secretariat of island policy building this morning.

Tension was also noted on Leros island, where according to the management of the island’s hospital, refugees broke into the hospital and took wheel chairs, refrigerators, even washing machines and surgical equipment.

Five key ministries on Monday signed a joint decision to grant a provisional social security number to all migrants who have applied for asylum in Greece, providing medical coverage and a right to work while they wait for a decision.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ official visit to Saudi Arabia concluded on Monday with a meeting with the country’s deputy prime minister and heir-designate to the throne.
According to government sources talks focused on regional developments and investments.
Premier Mitsotakis will on visit today the United Arab Emirates, where he is scheduled to meet also the Patriarch Bartholomew.

KTEL bus employees are holding a 24 hour strike today.

Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias is on Tuesday heading to Rome where he will meet with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio.
Talks are expected to focus on current developments in Libya, the situation in the eastern Mediterranean and energy issues, the ministry said on Monday evening.
On Wednesday, Dendias will travel to Malta.

China’s top leadership has admitted «shortcomings and deficiencies» in the country’s response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

The death toll rose to 425, with more than 20,000 confirmed cases.

The Democratic presidential primary contest got off to a disastrous start on Monday after results from the highly anticipated Iowa Democratic caucuses were dramatically delayed due to “inconsistencies” in the reporting of the data.

And the weather forecast…

Scattered clouds in Attica today with the temperature expected to reach a high of 19 degrees Celsius.

More news in brief tomorrow morning at 9.