News in brief

A new police scheme to tackle crime in the area of Exarcheia will be implemented as of today. Bike patrols will be intensified and more officers will patrol the area on foot. Drones will further assist police forces with online videos.

A 33year old Chinese citizen, who travelled to his country recently, is being hospitalized at “Atticon”. His test results on coronavirus are expected within the day.

The number deaths from the coronavirus in China- now called Covid-19 -was reached 11 hundred. China’s health commission says there were 2,015 new cases, increasing the total number of cases to 45 thousand.

The World Health Organization will convene at fresh in Geneva.

LARCO mining company employees are holding a 24 hour strike today and wll symbolically cut off traffic at the Athens-Lamia national highway at 1 pm, at the level of Martino.

Today the amendment for LARCO is expected to be voted in Parliament. Yesterday the Ministry of Environment and Energy tabled the amendment that foresees a 35 million euro state grant, in order for the company to avoid bankruptcy.

Two armed robberies took place late last night at the areas of Menidi and Ilissia. According to police, two men in the area of Menidi, took money from a gambling store, while in Ilissia, a man took money from a mini market.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said the EU is «all set» for trade talks with the UK and seeks a unique and unprecedented deal.

«We will enter these negotiations with the highest ambition because good old friends like the UK and us shouldn’t settle for less,» she told MEPs.

But she said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the UK has «no need» to follow EU trade rules.

And the weather forecast…

Sunny in Attica this morning with the temperature expected to reach a high of 19 degrees Celsius.

More news in brief tomorrow morning at 9.