Police representatives said the main concern was to ensure there was no excessive interruption of traffic in the Greek capital. Specificially, tractors will be accompanied by patrol cars from Kastro (Viotia prefecture) and from Megara (Attica Region) as they travel to Athens. Buses with farmers from various parts of Greece will park at the Olympic Stadium. The following will be affected in central Athens: - A temporary stop to traffic will be implemented along the route of Athinon Avenue, Achilleos, and Karaiskaki, for tractors. They will travel to Syntagma Square following the reverse traffic direction, along Agiou Konstantinou Avenue, Omonia Square, and Panepistimiou Avenue. A short ban on traffic will be implemented around Omonia Square. - On Vassilissis Sofias, traffic will be banned from the parliament building, and the incoming traffic will be diverted at Sekeri Street. - Cars using Akadimias Street will be be using only the outbound lane of Vassilissis Sofias. - Bus and trolley schedules will be modified along all the affected routes. Future queries or information is available at police, while updates will be posted on a banner on the police web page and at its social media account: www.astynomia.gr. Furthermore, visitos should be advised that, as evidenced in the past, if clashes break out at any time during the rally, the downtown Metro stations tends to shut down. Therefore, plan your exit carefully.  

In the last few hours, farmers, breeders and beekeepers are organizing every detail for their smooth entry into the capital in view of the huge rally, having on their side labor unions, students and mass organizations of Attica. In most areas, the coordinating bodies of the rural associations have met and decided on the means of transport they will use for their descent to Athens. According to information from MEGA, the farmers will start on Monday from the 2 central blocks, Karditsa (E65) and Platykambos. On Tuesday morning, the blockades together with the farmers of the whole country will start heading for Athens, where a rally at the Syntagma has been set for 18:30. Earlier, at 17:30, there will be a rally in Omonia. The pre-gatherings are scheduled for the afternoon as follows: Omonia: Federations and unions of workers in the Food - Beverage, Pharmaceutical, Press - Paper and Textile industries, Unions of Workers in the Energy, Water and Chemical Industry, Federation of Craft Unions of Attica, Unions and Associations of Professionals, Craftsmen and Merchants, mass organizations of the municipalities of Attica. Santaroza Square (opposite REX): Unions of workers in Telecommunications, Couriers, Finance, Federation and unions of Accountants - Auditors, Union of Salaried Lawyers, workers in the media, Association of Commercial Employees of Athens, Union of Private Employees of Athens, Union of Artists, Union of Cleaners - Cleaners. Propylaia: Federations and Unions of public sector workers, Student Associations. Employees in the private sector of Health and Education. Associations of Training Students Constitution: Lavrio Labor Center, Piraeus Labor Center, Builders' Federation and Union, Construction Unions, Food - Tourism - Hotel Employees Union, Metal and Shipbuilding Industry Union, Shipping Unions, Dockers Unions and Urban Transport Workers Unions, mass organizations of Southern and Eastern Suburbs, Federations and Unions of Pensioners, Federation of Women of Greece. Meetings upon meetings at EL.AS (police) In the official meeting that took place on Sunday morning under the leadership of EL.AS, the operational plan was discussed, i.e. the way the authorities will manage the descent of farmers in Athens with tractors and buses. The aim is, as police sources say, for the rally to take place smoothly and not to disrupt, as much as possible, the economic and social life in the capital. Care will also be taken for a specific space to park the vehicles that will come to Athens. The thermometer is rising in the government In Maximos, the thermometer has gone up, while official meetings are ongoing at the Police headquarters for the measures to be taken on Tuesday (20/02). According to police sources, uncontrolled movement of tractors will not be allowed in the capital, while there will also be a police escort on the farmers' vehicles, both on the route from the blocks to the capital, and vice versa. Voridis: We satisfied most requests The political leadership, for its part, declares itself ready to continue the dialogue, whenever the farmers want it. On the occasion of the cutting of the New Year's pie of the local organization of the New Democracy, the Minister of State Makis Voridis from the akritic Florina, referred to the agricultural mobilizations, saying: "Most of the demands of the farmers have been satisfied. We would like to satisfy the whole but there is not the fiscal space to do so. The vast majority of farmers know that this government is doing everything it can – and has proven – to stand by the farmers and keep them producing,” improving, among other things, their income, he emphasized. We have said what we had to say as a government, but beyond that, of course every branch and every class has the right, within the framework of legality, to express and formulate their demands". 3-hour blockade of Egnatia In the meantime, the farmers on the Egnatia road, in Halkidiki and Imathia, proceeded to new blockades. Specifically, at 6:00 pm on Sunday, olive producers of Halkidiki blocked Egnatia road from both sides, at the junction of Moudania, while in Imathia, Egnatia was blocked shortly before 7 pm, with a block of farmers at the Niselio junction . The farmers staged a pedestrian protest, while traffic on Egnatia street in both areas were  restored after 8 pm.

Heraklion airport is one of 2 serving domestic and foreign flights on Crete, a popular tourist destination in the Mediterranean Sea. The airport's 2 runways will be off service from 0830 GMT on Feb. 19 to 1300 GMT on Feb. 24 for tarmac maintenance, the Greek civil aviation authority said in a statement. Only emergency helicopter flights for the transport of patients will be allowed over that period, it added. (REUTERS)

Greek National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, addressing a ceremony for the listing of AIA on the main market, said it was a big success both for the company and the Athens Stock Exchange and a historic moment for the country's course. He noted that the Greek state will collect 785 million euros from the IPO and stressed that the success of the Athens Airport, along with a series of other privatizations (National Bank, Eurobank, Alpha Bank, Helleniq Energy, Attica Road, etc) reflected investors' confidence on the Greek economy. Athens Exchange Group CEO G. Kontopoulos said the listing of Athens International Airport on the market was pivotal not only for the company and the stock market but for the Greek economy as well, and sends a message about Greece's investment dynamism. He added that the listing is the largest in the last 18 years, adding 2.5 billion euros to the market's capitalization. Ioannis Paraschis, CEO of AIA, said the listing on the Athens Stock Exchange was a milestone for the company, adding that the airport will offer high quality services, creading value for shareholders and the Greek economy in general.

Ferries sailed from Piraeus to the Cycladic Islands, Crete, and the Dodecanese Islands after the winds dropped their gale-force strength. Restrictions are still in place for the Argosaronic Gulf, where only closed-type boats may sail, and the port of Rafina, where a sailing ban continues. Schedulees from the Lavrio port are also back to normal.

The country is selling 90 million shares, through a combined offering to Greek and foreign investors and existing shareholders, in its biggest IPO after its 2010-2018 debt crisis. Athens International Airport, the operator of Greece's biggest airport, has set the price range for its IPO at 7.0 to 8.2 euros ($7.62 to $8.92) per share, the country's privatisation agency said on Wednesday. The IPO will run from Jan. 25 to Feb. 1 and the final pricing will be determined following the six-day book-building period. The listing on the Athens Stock Exchange is expected to take place in February and the company's free float is expected to be about 19%. The Greek state expects to rake in up to 1.2 billion euros from the sale and a large company dividend paid as part of the deal, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Athens International Airport has agreed to pay shareholders a 685 million-euro dividend in connection with the IPO, more than half of which will go to government entities, one of the sources said, requesting anonymity as the information is not yet public. AviAlliance, which holds a 40% stake in the airport, has agreed to buy a further 10% of the lucrative asset at a premium over the IPO price, as a cornerstone investor. Greece could raise more than 1 billion euros in proceeds from the dividend, the IPO and the cornerstone investment, the sources said. Greece is heavily reliant on tourism and Athens airport handled more than 28 million passengers last year, accounting for 35% of passenger traffic through all the nation's airports. ($1 = 0.9189 euro)

The gathering is against a bill allowing the foundation of non-State universities in Greece. The protestors gathered at Propylea on Panepistimiou Street and will march toward Parliament in Syntagma Square.   

In December, passenger traffic rose 16.2% from 2022 and 13.4% from 2019, totlaing 2,839,289. The number of scheduled flights (domestic and international) totaled 561,869 in 2023, up 1.7% from 2022 and 6.8% from 2019. In December, the number of flights totaled 24,583, up 1.6% and 4.6% in comparison with 2022 and 2019, respectively.

The listing on the Athens Stock Exchange is expected to take place in February, subject to regulatory approvals, the country's biggest airport said in a statement, confirming a Reuters report last week. AviAlliance, which holds a 40% stake in the airport, will have the right to buy a further 10% of the lucrative asset. The Copelouzos family, which owns about 5%, will be eligible for a further 1% stake, the statement said. The Greek sovereign wealth fund HCAP (Hellenic Corporation of Assets & Participations) holds another 25% in the lucrative asset which handled more than 26 million passengers, mostly foreign nationals, last year, a 25% annual rise. After conclusion of the offering, the company's free float is expected to be about 19%, it added.  "An IPO for a 19% stake in the airport and the listing is seen happening in the first half of February," a senior HRADF official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Greece is heavily reliant on tourism and Athens airport handled more than 28 million passengers last year, accounting for 35% of passenger traffic through all the nation's airports. Deutsche Bank (DBKGn.DE) will bee a senior joint bookrunner for the offering and Morgan Stanley (MS.N) and BofA Securities (BAC.N) are joint coordinators. To open the way for the listing, the Greek parliament is expected to approve on Thursday amendments to a 1995 deal signed between the State and the airport company which set out the terms for the operation of the airport. State asset sales were a key pillar of Greece's three international bailouts, which were worth about 260 billion euros in total between 2010-2018. These have helped the country, which is still the euro zone's most indebted nation, attract private investors to overhaul state companies and reduce debt. A previous effort to sell the stake to private investors in 2018-2020 ended after COVID-19 brought world travel to a halt.

Temporary traffic regulations in detail: PHASE 1 -The gradual limitation of the width of the road surface of Vasileos Konstantinou Street to a minimum width of approximately 7.50 m from its junction with Sp. Merkouri Street and for a length of approximately 40.00 m. by occupying the right side of the road surface in the direction of traffic of vehicles in the traffic stream towards Sp. Merkouri Street. -The gradual restriction of the width of the road surface of Sp. Merkouri Street to a minimum width of approximately 5.50 m from its junction with Vasileos Konstantinou Street and for a length of approximately 25.00 m. by occupying the right side of the road surface in the direction of traffic of vehicles in the traffic stream towards Naiadon Street. -The gradual reduction of the width of the road surface of Naiadon Street, a minimum width of approximately 3.50 m from its junction with Antinoros Street and for a length of approximately 60.00 m. by occupying the side of the road surface that abuts the park. -The gradual limitation of the width of the road surface of Antinoros Street, a minimum width of approximately 5.00 m and for a length of approximately 40.00 m. before and approximately 10.00 m. after its junction with Naiadon Street by occupying the right side of road surface in the direction of movement of vehicles. - The total blocking of Naiadon Street from its junction with Sp. Merkouri Street and for a length of approximately 60.00 m. - The characterization of Naiadon Street as a dead end from its junction with Antinoros Street until the occupation of the construction site. - The determination of the maximum speed limit at 40 km/h for vehicles moving on V. Vasileos Konstantinou Street and in the part thereof determined from 100.00 m. before and until the beginning of the construction site occupation. The determination of the maximum speed limit at 30 km/h for vehicles moving in the area of the works in the section determined from the beginning of the occupation of the construction site until its end. The prohibition of overtaking for vehicles moving in the area of the works in the section determined from the beginning of the occupation of the construction site until its end. The prohibition of stopping and parking vehicles on the right side of the road surface of Vasileos Konstantinou Street in the traffic flow towards Sp. Merkouri Street, on the right side of the road surface of Sp. Merkouri Street in the traffic flow towards Naiadon and on both sides of the roadway on Antinoros Street.

The airline said it offered 11.1 million seats for its international destinations, 2.2 million up from 2022, and said its traffic totaled 9.2 million passengers, up 29% from the previous year. Domestic passenger traffic was up 22%, while average flight occupancy rate rose to 83.4% from 79.4% in 2022. AEGEAN said its network exceeded 180 destinations in 49 countries, adding more than 30 new international destinations in the summer of 2023. Passenger traffic at the Athens airport totaled 13 million passengers, up 27% from 2022, a new record high. Domestic traffic rose 22% to 5.7 million, while international traffic jumped 32% to 7.2 million passengers. Passenger traffic at the Thessaloniki airport rose 28% in 2023 (international traffic up 33%).

The decision extends the EU’s passport-free travel zone, called the Schengen area, to 25 of the 27 EU countries. The Schengen area also includes Norway and Switzerland, which are not part of the EU, but does not include EU members Ireland and Cyprus and EU citizens still must have a passport to enter them. Romanians and Bulgarians will still face passport checks when crossing land borders to their EU neighbors, though talks on lifting them as well will continue in 2024 and a decision is to be taken on that “within a reasonable time frame,” the European Commission said in a statement.