Athens

A number of the country's archaeological sites and museums inaugurated extended visiting hours on Tuesday in view of the upcoming tourist season.

Greece's largest civil service umbrella union, ADEDY, on Tuesday called on all public sector workers to join an afternoon protest in central Athens against government policies, in defiance of a two-day ban on large public gatherings put in place by police during a meeting of European finance ministers in the Greek capital on Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Dimitra Manifava

The liberalization of Sunday opening rules for stores will start on a pilot basis in tourism destinations such as the islands of the Cyclades and Dodecanese, Halkidiki and Crete, as well as cruise ships ports of call such as Piraeus and Thessaloniki. Eastern Attica could also be included.

Eleni Avlonitou, a former swimming champion, has been sworn in as SYRIZA MP. Avlonitou replaced Rena Dourou who resigned from her parliamentary seat to focus on her candidacy for Attica governor.

Paul Tugwell & Nikos Chrysoloras

A venture led by Lamda Development increased its initial offer by 25 percent for 100 percent of Hellenikon SA, topping an independent valuation, the Greek state-asset sales fund said.

By Dimitris Rigopoulos

When Andreas Varelas, deputy mayor for sanitation at the City of Athens, posted a digital mock-up on his Facebook page of a mural by artist Manolis Anastasakos to be painted on the walls around an empty plot of land in the Hafteia district of Athens, near Omonia Square, he had no idea much interest it would generate.

As the capital prepares for the annual Cycling Tour of Athens fun race, this year scheduled for Sunday, April 6, municipal authorities on Wednesday announced plans to create the first bike lane connecting Gazi and Akadimia Platonos (Plato’s Academy) via Monastiriou Street.

Residents of Aghia Varvaras, western Athens, gathered on Wednesday to protest plans to expand the Western Attica General Hospital, which deals with chronic illnesses, so it could house a reception center for migrants.

It will take at least another three years and some 40 million euros for the excavation of ancient ruins discovered during the construction of the Thessaloniki metro, which is ongoing, to be completed, experts have estimated.

Greece has given the only bidder in a deal to develop the former Athens airport of Hellinikon a week to improve its offer, the country's privatisations agency HRADF said on Wednesday.

Three times the size of Monaco, Hellenikon, one of Europe's biggest real estate projects, is crucial for the debt-laden country to meet its 2014 privatisations target.