Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-28

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Corinth Canal intersection open

[02] Air traffic controllers strike called off, flights to take place on schedule

[03] ASE opening: Rise

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Corinth Canal intersection open

Blockades on the Tripoli - Kalamata highway and two blockades in Messinia perfecture have also been cleared.

The only remaining blockade in the Peloponese is at the Kalo Nero juncture in Messinia perfecture.

[02] Air traffic controllers strike called off, flights to take place on schedule

Air traffic controllers had initially called a strike for Wednesday, in participation in a 24-hour strike called by the civil servants unions' umbrella federation ADEDY, that would have grounded all domestic and international flights.

An Athens First Instance court however, following legal proceedings initiated by the Civil Aviation Authority (YPA), in a ruling late Tuesday night declared the traffic controllers' strike "illegal and abusive" since the relevant procedures set out by law were not adhered to in calling the strike.

Problems, however, were expected mainly with Wednesday's morning flights since the court ruling was issued late at night and several airlines did not have sufficient time to reorganize their itineraries, whereas passengers had already been informed of the strike either by the airlines themselves or in media broadcasts.

[03] ASE opening: Rise

Individual sector indices were moving upward across the board, with the biggest gains in Telecoms, up 3.21 percent; Insurance, up 3.08 percent; Banks, up 2.85 percent; Health, up 2.84 percent; and Financial Services, up 1.76 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 2.02 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.04 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.51 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 57 were up, 12 were down, and 21 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Farmers' mobilisations and the first signs easing off, and the dismantling of a major child pornography ring involving persons above suspicion dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Bargaining with the blockades - After being satisfied with the profits".

APOGEVMATINI: " 25,000 hirings in public sector - Permanent and seasonal jobs".

AVGHI: "Shield of social solidarity - Synaspismos party programme on the financial crisis".

AVRIANI: "All parties in array for general elections battle - Government planning foresees ballots a week before Easter."

CHORA: "Boiling pot - The country on the verge of a nervous breakdown".

ELEFTHEROS: "The government, after the benefits without substance to farmers, opened the door of the madhouse".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Deserted country - International isolation, shortage in markets - The closing of borders and ports brings financial suffocation".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "EU intervenes on the 500 million euros: You haven't informed us so as to examine whether the decision is legal."

ESTIA: "Real estate taxation".

ETHNOS: "Complications with the farmers support package - The state's Agriculture Insurance Fund (ELGA) objects".

KATHIMERINI: "First signs of de-escalation - The blockade at Thessaloniki opened and others will follow - EU examining the 500 million euros support package".

LOGOS: "Government-farmers relations at the extremes ".

NIKI: "The government is pampering the society - They're leading the country to multiple crisis - Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his Ministers have been ruling for five years from the 'couch'."

RIZOSPASTIS: "Roads shut to open the farmers' houses".

TA NEA: "Blue (ruling New Democracy party colour) cracks and non-stop blockades - Farmers in a 'civil war' of statements

TO VIMA: "Bargaining at the blockades - 48-hour deadline and threats ".

VRADYNI: "Archimandrite a member of a child pornography ring".

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