News archive of June 2018

Greece's second private railway company, following the privatization of Trainose, is about to make its first journey on the Greek public rail network. Greek-Austrian consortium Rail Cargo Logistic Goldair is active only in cargo transport, as the name suggests, and its first outing using its own carriages will serve the Sindos-Idomeni route in northern Greece.

The International Monetary Fund is confident Greece is regaining access to the markets in the short and long term, its spokesman Gerry Rice said on Thursday, reiterating IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde's statements following the Eurogroup decision a week ago.

As tensions simmer over Greece's recent name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, a Supreme Court prosecutor has ordered a probe into claims by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias that he received threats over the agreement. 

As the government gets ready to make implement major pension cuts in six months' time, the federation of employees at social security funds (POPOKP) said on Thursday that the Single Social Security Entity (EFKA) had a deficit of almost 1 billion euros last year.

The payment of stock dividends at Athinon Avenue, the negative climate on international markets and the increasing devaluation of the market (through the ongoing Folli Follie saga and the loss of buying interest in mid- and small-caps), led to significant losses for the majority of Greek stocks on Thursday.

Greek railway service operator Trainose on Wednesday announced a cooperation with leading global digital wallet PayPal, which is now available to Trainose passengers from around the world for purchasing tickets both on the website and on mobile.

The European Investment Bank on Wednesday announced new support to expand leasing finance for equipment and real estate by 400 million euros, to be provided by the leasing subsidiaries of the four leading banks in the country.

Conservative New Democracy has widened its lead over leftist SYRIZA to 12.5 percentage points, according to a new opinion poll which also showed that six in 10 Greeks oppose Greece's name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic if Macedonia (FYROM). 

Seven Turkish jets violated Greek national air space six times in the northeast and southeast Aegean on Thursday.

According to reports, the planes included six F-16 fighter jets flying in three formations and a CN-235.

The planes were identified and intercepted by Greek jets in accordance with international rules of engagement.

The number of people in Greece that have contracted the West Nile virus has risen to four, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) said on Thursday.

According to reports, the youngest patient is 23 years of age while the eldest is 66.