Geography of Greece

By Dimitra Manifava

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One in three Athenians uses buses to get around on a daily basis, according to new poll carried out to help promote public transport use in the Greek capital.

Police on Tuesday arrested seven suspected members of an extortion racket believed to have targeted more than 20 nightclubs in Athens, Piraeus and western Attica, occasionally using violence.

The suspects, five Albanians and two Greeks, were detained on Tuesday following a series of police raids while another three suspected accomplices were being sought late last night.

The level of Evros River in northern Greece dropped to 5.80 meters on Tuesday after several days above 6 meters, though it is still not below the danger level of 5.70 meters, civil protection authorities in northern Greece said, as a new wave of rain is expected on Tuesday night and Wednesday.

A 24-year-old man was arrested in Thessaloniki on Saturday after he lost control of his car in the early hours of the morning and hit and killed a pedestrian.

Police did not give further details about the 54-year-old victim.

 Kathimerini investigates the dangers faced by unaccompanied immigrant minors in Greece

By Yiannis Papadopoulos

The bodies of two men were retrieved by members of rescue teams in Thessaloniki and Kiklis, northern Greece, following heavy rainfall in the area, raising the number of dead to four since last Saturday.

The first victim, a 44-year-old man, was reportedly swept up by the River Gallikos in his efforts to cross the river on foot.

The Municipality of Thessaloniki on Wednesday called a meeting of state and nongovernmental bodies to put together a plan to provide the northern port city’s homeless population with shelter during extreme weather.

An Athens prosecutor on Wednesday filed charges against two mayors who are refusing to cooperate with the government in its efforts to check civil servants’ employment contracts.

A second wave of changes to bus services in Athens is due to be implemented on Monday, December 15.

Eight bus lines are to change routes: 704, 701, 747, 527, 501, 640, 444 and B8.

Also, the Piraeus-Acropolis-Syntagma express line introduced in May to help transport cruise passengers will stop.

It is set to start again in March.