Panathinaikos AKTOR started its 2024/25 Stoiximan GBL campaign with a solid away victory against Karditsa (66-80) Panagiotis Kalaitzakis led the scoring for the Greek champions with 16 points while Omer Yurtseven recorded a double-double (15 points The Greens quickly established their dominance taking an early lead which grew up to +8 (9-17 at 6′) Their strong defensive play allowed them to maintain control of the game (14-21 at 10′) Despite increased pressure from Karditsa in the second quarter keeping their lead at a safe margin (18-26 at 13′) and extending it to +13 (22-35 at 15′) The first half ended with the Greek champions leading by +11 (31-42) the hosts briefly cut the deficit to single digits (39-47 at 23′) but a mini scoring run restored Panathinaikos AKTOR’s advantage to +14 (39-53 at 26′) Although Karditsa once again closed the gap (50-55 at 29′) bringing their lead back to +13 (55-68 at 34′) and extending it further to +18 (57-75 at 36′) before finally securing a +14 win (66-80) Ataman: “We had control throughout the game” head coach Ergin Ataman remarked: “We had control from the first to the last minute but I am not satisfied with the quality of basketball we played tonight The only noticeable difference in the statistics is that Karditsa scored only 3 points from offensive rebounds there is a significant gap between the two rosters in this type of game I believe my team should dominate in such games but I am not satisfied with our performance.” When asked about the atmosphere in the arena I wish them all the best in the championship.” The 17-year-old Greek Aussie has been playing for the U19s and been invited to participate in the senior team’s pre-season training young Greek Australian George Tsamouras was able to overcome all obstacles finding difficulty in living away from home to win a place in the U19s side of ASA Karditsa Last year he was invited to train for the first-grade men’s team while playing for the U19s The 17-year-old has now been invited to participate in the first team’s pre-season preparation in the hope of impressing new coach Timotheos Kavakas for a place in the first-grade men’s team Tsamouras will be working hard to earn a spot on the team in what is the club’s 120th year since their inception in 1904 Before attracting the interest of Greek clubs Tsamouras first played for Newcastle Olympic FC to help the team win the U14s and U15s NNSW NPL Premierships He also had a run with Newcastle Olympic FC earned him the team’s U15s Player’s Player of the Year This was also his pathway to join the Newcastle Jets Academy in 2022 helping the U16s Newcastle Jets secure the Premiership in 2022 and the U20s win the FNSW League Two Men’s Premiership for 2023 Demonstrations continue across the country, with nearly 30 blockades set up from Evros in the north to Chania in the south. The largest and most determined protests are centred in Thessaly where six major blockades have been established over 700 tractors are stationed along the E65 highway demonstrating the farmers’ commitment to their cause As the protests gain momentum, farmers are considering further action. According to representatives speaking to OT, a national meeting of blockades will be held next week to determine the movement’s next steps. Among the possibilities being discussed is the return of tractors to Syntagma Square in Athens a powerful symbolic move that has been used in past demonstrations “It is possible that you will see tractors again this year at Syntagma signaling their determination to continue the fight for better conditions farmers and ranchers are staging a series of smaller protests The protests stem from deep financial strain in the agricultural sector. Kostas Tzellas, president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of Karditsa (EOASK) The sense of desperation is fueling widespread mobilization “Every time the prime minister or government officials talk about the future of Thessaly Tzellas emphasises that the crisis in the agricultural sector is a broader social issue We need to ensure future generations inherit a country that can produce its own food It’s time to prioritise human needs over corporate profits.” As tensions rise and farmers stand their ground, all eyes are on the Greek government to see how it will respond to one of the most significant agricultural protests in recent years August 31, 2023JPEG September 8, 2023JPEG In early September 2023, Greece endured a four-day storm that dropped 910 millimeters (3 feet) of rain on central parts of the country. The record rainfall triggered deadly flooding and inundated towns and farm fields in Thessaly, a region that includes Greece’s agricultural heartland The flooding was fueled by a stalled low-pressure storm that became cut-off from the jet stream, also known as a cut-off low, which dropped heavy rainfall on central Greece between September 4 and 7. The storm dropped the most rain, 910 millimeters (3 feet), on Zagora, near Thessaly’s port town of Volos, according to Meteo the town of Karditsa saw 659 millimeters (2 feet) of rainfall The images show floodwater covering what once were green farm fields in the low-lying Thessaly plain. Farming is a major industry in the region, and accounts for about one-sixth of Greece’s agricultural output. Farmers here grow primarily cotton The detailed image below shows flooded fields near the village of Pedino Sediment-laden water overtopped the banks of the Pineios September 8, 2023JPEG Several villages along the Pineios and its tributaries became inundated with water during the storm. According to news reports, over 4,000 people have been rescued from high water areas Thessaly’s capital and one of the largest cities in Greece Suburbs of the city were flooded after the Pineios River broke its banks September 8, 2023JPEG Although water along the Pineios had started to recede on September 11, flooding along the river could still be seen in images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite. According to news reports the river was still 2 meters (6.5 feet) above safe levels NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, using Landsat data from the U.S. Geological Survey. Story by Emily Cassidy View this area in EO Explorer Record rainfall inundated towns and farmland in the country’s Thessaly region and the heavy rains of late spring and summer Wind and rain from a powerful storm lashed Western Europe in early November causing widespread flooding in central Italy Flash floods in the port city destroyed roads and swept neighborhoods out to sea A Mediterranean cyclone contributed to deadly flooding along the country’s coastline A stalled storm dropped three feet of rain over four days on the Thessaly region Panathinaikos AKTOR concluded 2024 with another victory this time against Karditsa Iaponiki (96-72) achieving a perfect 12/12 record in the Stoiximan GBL The Greens secured a comfortable lead early on and wrapped up the year on a high note with yet another positive result Panathinaikos AKTOR displayed excellent offensive rhythm and efficiency from the very first quarter initially pulling ahead by seven points (18-11 at 7’) and then extending the lead to eight (26-18 at 9’) The first quarter ended with a seven-point advantage (27-20) with Karditsa Iaponiki staying relatively close until midway through the second period rapidly increasing the margin to +24 (50-26 at 18’) and +27 (56-29) by halftime Ergin Ataman’s players maintained their intensity on offense as evidenced by the +27 lead (64-37) at the 25-minute mark Panathinaikos AKTOR claimed the win (96-72) completing their Stoiximan GBL campaign in 2024 undefeated Panathinaikos AKTOR (Ataman): Kalaitzakis 6 Mitoglou 13 (2).Karditsa Iaponiki (Papanikolaopoulos): Horchler 13 (2) Residents in several municipalities of Karditsa had to climb on the roofs of their houses on Thursday morning to avoid rising waters that gathered in the pain after torrential rains hit the area and nearby regions in the last 48 hours The municipalities of Palamas and Metamorfosi were particularly hit by severe flooding with videos and images from the region showing houses sunk into muddy waters Record rainfall caused at least three deaths near the central city of Volos and in Karditsa we don’t have food,” a local resident told Greek TV channel Alpha But there are also missing people,” he added Fthiotida and Athens were hit by extreme weather phenomena on Wednesday damage was also reported in southern Greece Civil Protection evacuation orders have been sent in the last 48 hours to residents in Karditsa The National Meteorological Service (EMY) has forecast heavy rain and thunderstorms until Thursday afternoon in Thessaly and parts of central and eastern Central Greece (Sterea Ellada) Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox The initiative to support the stock farmers of Karditsa brought together a large number of people from different regions and professions who collaborated toward a common goal: to help people who had lost their means of earning a living The SNF grant provided a foundation for the stock farmers of Karditsa to find hope and rebuild their lives and the impetus for an unprecedented show of solidarity The catastrophic passage of Cyclone Ianos through Greece left deep wounds In the case of the stock farmers of Karditsa though the pain and the loss are still there after the initial feelings of despair and thoughts of giving up animal husbandry the program’s beneficiaries felt—as they shared in a video (hyperlink)—that they are not alone that they can now start over and find success once again We would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their contributions to the program:Apostolopoulos Yiorgos Director of the Cooperative | Papadomichelakis Yiorgos Professors at the Agricultural University of Athens | Vaiopoulos Yiorgos President of the Cooperative | Vasileiou Natalia Veterinarian/Project coordinator | University of Thessaly | the entire New Agriculture New Generation team The program’s beneficiaries are:Aivazi Kyriaki Niarchos Foundation for Charity conducts its activities as the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and is known as SNF SNF does not necessarily share the views or opinions of the nonprofit organizations that it supports or otherwise assists or of the participants in SNF programming such as SNF Dialogues and SNF Nostos and no inference of any endorsement of such views or opinions is warranted Audio and video recordings of SNF programming are made available without charge on the SNF website as a courtesy to the public The factual accuracy of statements made by participants not employed by SNF or its affiliates is solely the responsibility of the participants or the institutions or organizations they represent SNF is audited by Grant Thornton and complies with all applicable laws and regulations in all relevant jurisdictions A 20-year-old football player from Karditsa was rushed to the Karditsa hospital when he collapsed on the football pitch on Sunday noon According to the report of karditsalive.net the incident occurred in the first half (started at 12.00) in the village of Mavrommati with the young footballer suddenly collapsing without any contact with another footballer The bystanders immediately provided him with first aid to revive him it transported him to the hospital Mouzakiou before it was decided to take him to the Karditsa hospital where the doctors could not resuscitate him despite their best efforts Thessaly in central Greece and the Sporades Islands off Evia were the regions affected by the heavy rainfall and thunderstorms that swept in on Friday the National Observatory of Athens’ weather service Meteo said on Saturday Limited flooding was recorded in Karditsa and Magnisia prefectures including the eastern and southern parts of Mount Pilio villages areas that were most hit by Storm Daniel last year Glossa on Skopelos island recorded the highest rainfall with 119 mm followed by Karditsa in Thessaly with 117 mm the rain will gradually be limited to the northeastern mainland and the eastern parts of the Aegean Sea before subsiding Fire Brigade and Civil Protection officials said they had not recorded particular problems nor received calls for flooded homes or for rescues of trapped people the National Meteorological Service had forecast heavy rainfall at the following regions: Thessaly (particularly the eastern part) Fthiothida prefecture in Central Greece (particularly the north) and the East Aegean islands (mainly Chios and Lesvos) Two elderly women were found dead on Thursday at a village in Karditsa raising the Storm Daniel death toll to six were found deceased by the Hellenic Fire Service rescue team in their home at Astritsa village The bodies were transferred to an ambulance with a rubber dingy the two women denied his call to evacuate the house The relative became worried and called the rescue team The Ministry of Rural Development and Food estimates that damage caused by the Daniel weather system to crop and animal production on the Thessaly Plain a region famous for its agricultural production will be three times worse than that which resulted from Ianos in 2020 Some 73,000 hectares across Thessaly are under water Several hectares of corn and industrial tomatoes have also been flooded The whole of Thessaly has 960,000 sheep and 370,000 goats Based on the first testimonies of farmers in the area about a third of the animals have been lost but time is needed to make a detailed inventory This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page 2023 shows a flood-effected area in Karditsa The death toll from extensive flooding caused by torrential rains in central Greece this week has reached six with the bodies of two elderly women recovered in the Thessaly region on Thursday afternoon Greek national broadcaster ERT has reported.(Photo: Xinhua) The catastrophic floods in the Thessalian Plain in the aftermath of Storm Daniel bring a serious risk of shortages and price increases in the market According to the “Ta Nea” newspaper the first gaps in the supply of the market have already been seen with shortages in products such as a leading dairy company based in Trikala Other companies are also facing similar problems including a natural mineral water company based in Karditsa This will result in problems for some time According to data from the Greek Statistical Authority the Region of Thessaly supplied domestic consumption with 43.5% of apples 10% of the country’s domestic production of cow’s milk 22% of sheep’s milk and 16.49% of goat’s milk this demand will have to be met even from abroad The Ministry of Development hastened from the first to proceed with an extension of the ceiling on the profit margin of basic and other items such as food however this action cannot reverse the increases that may occur as the shortages in raw materials will need to be covered with whatever cost READ MORE: Greek Prime Minister Expresses Gratitude to Switzerland and Swiss Firefighting Teams for Assisting in Wildfire and Flood Relief Efforts The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays The cross pinnacle on the Tower of Jesus Christ will be ready to receive visitors in 2026 on the centennial of Gaudi’s death Now you can get your wine in Talence by paying directly in Bitcoin That’s because the state has to spend money on updating the railway infrastructure rather than subsidizing the cost of the popular pass Steffen Romstöck said that he would respect the residents’ choice and would take over the helm of the municipality which will come into force from 1 January 2025 Rethinking renewable energy sources for the urban landscape But operating them is still illegal under the country’s legislation can inform and inspire communities and entrepreneurs that still feel trepidation at the prospect of energy transition it has a unique modular design that allows it to be shortened and lengthened like a train that’s the promise made by the mayor of Paris the district has long been known as the hangout spot for the artsy crowds Hostal de Pinós is located in the geographical centre of the autonomous region the ranking considers several distinct but essential factors these quiet areas will now be available on all main routes in the country The academic institution shows a deeper understanding of the well-being of its students The laureates of the 2019 European Mobility Week Awards were announced yesterday The big winner among the large municipalities is Kruševac while Karditsa in Greece went home with the same prize for small municipalities The 8th Award for Sustainable Urban Mobility Planning (SUMP) went to Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium the first-ever EU Urban Road Safety Award was given to Pontevedra in Spain What impressed the international expert jury of the awards’ committee was the widespread promotional campaign for sustainable mobility in the Greek city of Karditsa civil society organisations and businesses Some of the activities that contributed to the city winning the recognition were the financial benefits for companies introducing sustainable mobility measures and granting days off of work to employees who commuted by bicycle or on foot strong citizen participation and political support to spread the mobility message of 2019 were observed in the Serbian city of Kruševac The pedestrianisation of the city centre and its suburbs the transformation with bicycle paths walkways benches and even swings during the EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK were at the heart of the reason for the Serbian candidate’s successful nomination Brussels region aims to have zero road traffic deaths to have restricted car usage and to have reduced the speed limit to 30 kilometres per hour as early as next year and to have increased the number of pedestrian zones together with an innovative planning concept helped the central region of Belgium to get the 8th SUMP award The Spanish city has managed to practically annihilate road deaths between 2011 and 2018 thanks to careful monitoring of policies and increased active mobility A number of impressive measures convinced the jury to reward Pontevedra with the first-ever EU Urban Road Safety Award The European Mobility Week is a campaign of the European Commission which runs for one week in September and provides cities and towns with an opportunity to test sustainable transport alternatives more than 3100 cities and towns participated which according to the organisers is the greatest success of the campaign to date the awards recognize the remarkable activities carried out throughout last year The 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns (ESCT) sets the stage for stronger cooperation between the EU national and local level to fast track Europe's transition to climate neutrality Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces An interview with the Mayor of a Polish city that seeks to reinvent itself An interview with the newly elected ICLEI President and Mayor of Malmö A conversation with the Mayor of Lisbon about the spirit and dimensions of innovation present in the Portuguese capital As Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis prepares to travel to Karditsa on Tuesday to assess the damage wrought by storm Ianos in central Greece over the weekend efforts continued to clean up an estimated 5,000 flooded homes in that city alone and to take stock of massive losses at farms factories and other businesses in the broader area and one-third is still without power or water,’ Mayor Vassilis Tsiakos said on Monday Ianos knocked out bridges and parts of the road network in central Greece while also claiming the lives of at least three people George Tsamouras will be the latest addition in the group of Greek-Australians who have played professional football in Greece After flying to Greece to participate in trial practices for Panathinaikos and Asteras Tripolis Karditsa and will play for them in Greece’s second division Tsamouras established himself in Newcastle where he has spent his entire football career up until now Tsamouras had a three-year stint in the prestigious Skill Acquisition Program (SAP) where he underwent rigorous training to expand his skillset and build the most solid foundation for his athletic career Tsamouras impressive run with Newcastle Olympic FC earned him the team’s U15s Player’s Player of the Year while – most importantly – was his pathway to join the Newcastle Jets Academy in 2022 After formally becoming a Greek citizen and obtaining the Greek passport Tsamouras attracted the interest of several Greek professional football teams which could now sign him as a domestic/European player Although Tsamouras did not make either Panathinaikos’ or Asteras Tripolis’ youth squads and will play for the team’s U20s side this season aiming at joining the men’s’ squad next year Karditsa and the city of Karditsa has now become Tsamouras’ home a home that both his grandparent left to migrate to Australia The Greek-Australian midfielder is expected to establish himself at Karditsa which may just be his first stop on his football journey in Greece Bicycling has represented a way of life in this city for decades Most Greek cities are not renowned for their infrastructure nor are they friendly for individuals refusing to use cars on a daily basis like most parts of the wider Thessaly area sparing cyclists of uphill-downhill successions this city has justifiably been regarded as Greece’s bicycling capital for decades No matter what part of the city you are in The bicycle has represented the key mode of transport here since the 1960s students from nearby villages have used bicycles to commute to the city’s schools bicycles had registration plates attached at the back.     by the 1980s and 1990s the number of vehicles in the city proliferated gradually creating traffic congestion and parking problems The bicycle would eventually make a comeback to resolve these issues local authorities began developing a network of bicycle lanes They now cover the entire city and are expected to be extended further Bicycle lanes in this bicycle-friendly city cover a total length of 7.3 kilometres while the bicycle lanes in the surrounding areas total 10.5 kilometres “It’s difficult to find even one resident of the city who has not been a regular bicycle user during his or her lifetime We have customers who had first come to our bicycle shop as children with their grandfather buying for them their first bicycles as presents and now they are returning with children or grandchildren of their own to buy bicycles for them,” noted Ilias Raptis The Koyias bicycle shop is among the oldest of its kind in the country while his 22-year-old son is already working at the store “The people of Karditsa are definitely strongly attached to their bicycles The city’s geography plays a role in this it does not require a top-notch bicycle for getting things done We have repaired bicycles that were made in the 1970s and are still being used,” Mr “Individuals who have moved to Karditsa for professional reasons seem to be enjoying this city trademark Bicycling reminds them of their childhood,” he added Reflecting the widespread usage and ownership of bicycles in Karditsa not a single private-sector bicycle rental company operates in the city the municipality does offer visitors swift and efficient bicycle rental service with a fleet of approximately 80 bicycles that can be used for unlimited periods of time before being returned to any of the service’s rental stations Given the thousands of bicycles in circulation in and around Karditsa the number of accidents are extremely limited the safety record is somewhat of a surprise even for me,” noted Thomas Arvanitis “We must not forget that the bicycle is a vehicle and cyclists need to abide by road traffic laws Perhaps the low incidence of bicycle-related accidents has to do with the fact that a large number of car drivers in Karditsa are usually cyclists themselves So they are particularly careful on the wheel,” he continued The extensive development of Karditsa’s bicycle lane network has been a key factor in the maintenance of a good road safety record older people are not obeying road traffic laws Rules for one-way streets and traffic lights are being neglected often by elderly cyclists,” noted Emy Nestoridi general secretary at the Karditsa Cycling Society “Younger cyclists who were brought up using the bicycles lanes are more law-abiding.” The Karditsa Cycling Club was founded approximately ten years ago Its objectives include upgrading the region as a cycling destination The club organises an annual randonneuring event around the area’s two lakes Participants face the challenge of completing the event’s 200-kilometre distance One-hundred cyclists from Greece and abroad participate,” informed Mr Cycling has also helped limit the living costs of residents During the country’s recent decade-long recession the number of bicycles in Karditsa increased further as many residents realised they could no longer afford to use their cars on a daily basis The Karditsa Cycling Club is seeking to promote Karditsa as a sports tourism destination it would be good to have an artificial mountain biking track for training purposes,” Mrs local authorities are still making efforts to further boost the use of bicycles Enterprises using bicycles for food delivery and courier services are partially exempted from municipal taxes This was one of the initiatives that helped Karditsa become the first Greek city to gain “Cycle-friendly Employer” certification a European standard for bicycle-friendliness in the European workplace issued by the European Cyclists’ Federation The municipality’s tax-exemption initiative as well as the city’s extensive bicycle lane network in the Small Municipalities category at European Mobility Week 2020 an annual initiative of the European Commission for sustainable urban mobility This year’s European Mobility Week event began on September 16 and ends September 22 It has been adjusted with public health protocol intact Karditsa is aiming for distinction once again this year Besides a further extension of its bicycle lane network the city’s local authorities also plan to soon develop approximately 20 kilometres of footpaths Their modern design will fully cater to the transportation needs of disabled persons The municipality’s upgrade will also prioritise repair work at bicycle lanes damaged by adverse conditions in recent months “It would be a good thing for bicycles to become the most popular mode of transport in other Greek cities Cycling offers numerous obvious health benefits Health professionals recommend at least half an hour of medium-intensity exercise per day This objective is easily achieved by cyclists is an extremely affordable mode of transport A simple or used bicycle costs very little and lasts many years The mobility offered by bicycles is the main factor behind its success in Karditsa Cyclists here can make it to any part of the city within 15 minutes a far swifter option compared to walking and minus the parking-availability anxiety often faced by drivers Most spare parts are cheap and readily available while the majority of repairs can be performed by cyclists Even if a visit to a repair shop is needed It is also a sport and enhances social life Avid bicycle users are never without a friend or groups of friends.  Bicycle users do not emit greenhouse gases bicycles are far less likely to fatally wound animals the production of bicycle parts and their assembly requires far fewer materials and less energy compared to cars Jogging as a form of exercise can eventually lead to knee issues The same applies for most sports activities cycling causes minimal strain to the knees and lower parts of the body meaning cyclists can continue riding bicycles for a lifetime cyclists need to maintain their saddles at the right height You will rarely see any cyclist looking miserable This may have to do with the pleasures offered by cycling even the avoidance of traffic jams are simple everyday pleasures enjoyed by cyclists Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The Supreme Court prosecutor has ordered an inquiry into specific projects and their funding in the region of Thessaly that was devastated by the recent floods The intervention concerns only projects which were assigned after the catastrophic flood caused by the Ianos weather front in the region in 2020 It also focuses on the responsibilities of certain individuals working for the Regional Authority of Thessaly and local government officials These include Regional Governor Kostas Agorastos the deputy governors in the regional units those responsible for civil protection and the municipal authorities of Karditsa and Volos the probe will examine the funds for flood control projects managed by the regional authority after Ianos namely what it did and did not do with them The prosecutor said the Municipality of Karditsa received €12 million for flood protection works but The prosecutor’s order is addressed to the prosecuting authorities of four regional units of Thessaly (Karditsa Fast developing a name for itself on Greece's culinary map It’s not the prettiest of towns and generally when one mentions Karditsa people imagine the surrounding areas stunning Plastiras lake and the majestic wooded Agrafa mountains and when it comes to the fare of the area again the mountain meat tavernas with their smokey grills and their hand made pies dominate the conversation in essence the heart of Thessaly and the “gateway” between the vast Thessalian plains and the wondrous Agrafa region of Thessaly This has been helped along by a combination of the excellent hotels around lake Plastiras raising the bar by sourcing local ‘slow food’ ingredients – meat vegetables – and employing the traditional methods of grilling passed on from generation to generation that ensures meat lovers return again and again But the region of Karditsa is more than just Agrafa and the Plastiras lake and the cuisine of the Karagounides (native people of the lowlands of Thessaly) It’s also the actual town of Karditsa As far as the cuisine of the Karagounides is concerned it now has the proper dining a town of its stature deserves with restaurants an exuberant tsipouro (traditional pomace raki) taverna and a fine sea food taverna both in the capital and in the surrounding villages authentic dishes of the traditional local gastronomy that is not limited to “plastos” (traditional cornmeal pie with spinach and feta) “batzina” (traditional crustless courgette pie) the “casserole meat dish with potatoes and plums” the “psarozoumi” (vegetable soup prepared with the broth of boiled fish) the “hinari kavourmas” (a chicken to mention a few of the traditional dishes are barely on the menus of the local eateries The local cuisine is a contrasting mixture of frugality and abundance that has developed over the years morphing with the times and the social circumstances on the ground floor of the historic hotel “Domotel Arni” you’ll feel like you just stepped back into somewhere in central Europe in the mid-war period A lofty dinning room with a high-ceilinged hall with green and beige tones and a wonderful chandelier The space is decorated in the Art Deco style The chef Apostolis Stergiopoulos masterly moves in the space of international cuisine He loves Italian flavours (he’s had a long tenure at the beloved “Il Salumaio d’ Atene there is a mini collection of premium whiskey Great coffee and orderly service add the finishing touches to your dining experience at Arni Apomero is a special little restaurant in Karditsa and one of the best in Thessaly that has been consistently excellent for over 25 years others local and others brought from abroad Urban aesthetics with fancy dinnerware and crisp white tablecloths Ms Tasoula Koufopoulou creates lovely dishes This winter you’ll find soups (chicken soup leek and smoked pork tart with yogurt dough grilled pork with a sauce with whole plums in red Mesenikola wine try the cheesecake made with anthotyro cheese (a local fresh soft white cream cheese) and quince preserve and the orange pie with dondurma ice cream Dimitris Vogiatzis and his wife Stavroula are household names in the cuisine of the Karagounides Karagounides is a tribe of Greeks consisting mainly of people from the lowland farming communities of Thessaly with their own language and culture but Vogiatzis’ taverna holds strong The duck is boiled and then slightly fried flour and butter they then prepare a thick gravy to which they add garlic and vinegar It can be eaten on its own or as a sauce over the duck together with garlic vinegar That’s how it’s served at Vogiatzis you’ll also find amazing Dutch oven duck to see what’s available or what they can make for you One of the most popular tsipouradika in Karditsa on a quiet pedestrian street with the rather whimsical Past and Present: Eating in Karditsa It the only taverna in town with lots of seafood and fish options on the menu meat and more meat that you’ll come across (fear not those who’ve not had their fill there are some meat options) The fresh fish and seafood is brought up from either Halkida and Volos Call in advance to see what’s the catch of day A popular tsipouradiko on a quiet pedestrian street They offer many meze (tapas) including seafood – each carafe of tsipouro is accompanied with it’s own little meze dish This eatery first opened as an inn in 1939 and turned into a taverna when it fell into the hands of Giannis Korobilias in 1951 Vasilis Korobilias grills with his son in law She makes mean casserole dishes (chickpeas with aubergines beans with pasturma in the wood burning oven Red gingham tablecloths cover thetables while naïve paintings and dried peppers adorn the walls and the fireplace and wood stove constantly lit They offer skewered meats cooked over an open fire beef steak matured for 22 days (from the butcher Theocharis) The family produce their own galotiri cheese with milk the get locally For desert try a home made spoon sweet (traditional sweet preserves) like greengage and fig retseli (a traditional preserve that is a bit thicker than marmalade These are often served up as “sekleti” creamy sheep’s milk yogurt topped with fresh and dried fruit and nuts The epitome of the butchers tavern as it was in the past The family also sells amazing local meat at the butcher shop next door as well as amazing sausages they make themselves and also offer various other traditional stews and casserole with home grown vegetables They favour cheese from Argithea (an area with Protected Designation Origin) that you’ll find in hit-dishes like “the shepherd’s pouch” and “the peasant’s jug” with beef various cheeses and potatoes prepared in a ceramic dish Food made with their own meat (free roaming cows goats and pigs) and everything else that’s great from Agrafa The dining area is rustic and has a fireplace on the back wall their balcony is hangs over the green and overlooks the gorge In the kitchen you’ll find the three women and two men of the Kerasiotis family: Eleni Kerasioti her daughter Anta Stergiou with her husband Kostas Moustos and her brother Giorgos Kerasiotis with his wife Vaso Sapiera The women prepare the casserole dishes and the pies while the men take care of the grills and skewers the fried pork with feta and wild greens are delicious They make their own sausages and their own spoon sweets and the potatoes are from their vegetable garden out back The dining area located at the back of the building and has arched stone walls the tables and chairs are dark wood and warm colours blend to create a welcoming The dining space at the front is more modern and has an odd collection of about 1000 miniature houses on display however it has the benefit of the large windows and pleasant views The menu is one of the few in Karditsa that includes ‘Karagouni’ cuisine has tribal origins on her father’s side You’ll find wild boar casserole with leeks Other options include trout dishes – fava spread with smoked trout or tagliatelle with smoked trout and dill sheep meat balls with sheep’s milk yogurt sauce They have vegetables from their own vegetable garden and sourdough bread Housed in a beautiful stone building a stone throw from the lake side with a stunning view that alters depending on the time of day and the season a lovely fireplace and minimal décor with the fabulous mushroom soup standing out among them The menu mainly includes dishes like wild boar with hilopites (traditional Greek pasta in the shape of small squares) brunch and light lunches and dinners with international flavours: classic American burger rib eye beef and tenderloin pork with mashed celeriac The whole place is painted by hand – walls furniture – with boho décor and a view of the lake having set its goal to be ready to meet the challenges and requirements of electromobility has completed the procedures for the preparation of the Plan for Electric Vehicle Charging in its area The objective of such a plan is the location of charging stations and the organization of corresponding electromobility infrastructure with the aim of increasing the demand for electric vehicles and taking care of the requirements of existing ones The Municipality of Karditsa with the support of the contractor company proceeded to identify the existing characteristics of traffic urban and spatial organization of the city of Karditsa and the nearby communities of the municipality assessing of the available capacity of the power supply network This process was harmonized with the future program of reconstructions and interventions of the Municipality of Karditsa in the common area and future social and economic developments of the country the municipality placed the electric vehicle charging infrastructure in a way that will meet the future needs of the electric car market and will take into account the characteristics of the municipality’s transport system its future development as well as the limitations of the network It is important to note that not only the installation of chargers for private cares is being investigated which overall make up the city’s urban mobility system the Electric Vehicle Charging Plan will be a component of the wider policy of the Municipality of Karditsa for the promotions of the sustainable urban mobility As a result of the analysis carried out and the participatory procedures a total of 36 points were decided on which electric vehicle charging stations are to be installed The Chargers will be installed in the city of Karditsa according to planning at the national level is expected to be implemented within the next three years The Municipality of Karditsa invites those companies that make deliveries of light products (delivery) and wish to try the use of an electric bicycle to express their interest in the Municipality of Karditsa The SURF (sustainable urban freight) program subsidized the Municipality of Karditsa with four electric bicycles aiming to create a zone of low carbon dioxide emissions This zone is defined by the streets Ezekiel – A Papandreou – Ypsilantou and Iroon Polytechnic The companies located in this zone have priority in the use of municipal electric bicycles while in the second phase of the program (scale up) the bicycles will be given to companies outside the zone in order to get acquainted with the electric drive and the replacement of polluting vehicles in delivery The period of concession of the use of bicycles in the first phase of the program is 40-50 days Egyptian Youngster Ahmed Abdelaal has joined Greek club Anagennisi Karditsa Ahmed Abdelaal ‘Benzema’ has joined Greek second division side ASA Karditsa on loan after returning to Wadi Degla The forward joins Karditsa after a turbulent time in Belgium and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed Zamalek have been slapped with yet another transfer ban by FIFA Mohamed Elneny has been awarded the UAE Pro League’s Player of the Month for.. Mohamed Salah has credited Liverpool manager Arne Slot for unlocking his best-ever form by.. Al Ahly announced the departure of Marcel Koller on Saturday FIFA has imposed a new transfer ban on Zamalek due to the club’s ongoing.. Karditsa is one of Greece’s most successful examples of cities which embraced the culture of bike riding as an alternative to driving a car, according to greekreporter.com Estimates place the number of bicycles in the city at more than 20,000 while Karditsa itself has a population of less than 40,000 people Karditsa has undoubtedly become one of the country’s most bicycle-friendly destinations The inhabitants of the city have been raised as bicycle lovers For more than 50 years now the city has promoted bicycling as one of the chief means of transportation both inside the city and around it Old bikes which young people inherited from older generations along with a generous sprinkling of modern bicycles The city has a network of bicycle lanes measuring more than 7.5 kilometers inside the urban zone complemented by 10.5 kilometers of dedicated lanes outside the urban area With Greece’s most modern rent-a-bike network which uses with an electronic card called ”Easybike” use it for as long as they like and then leave it at one of the numerous bike stations all over the city The nation of Greece overall is not known for its bike-friendly nature but Karditsa is a shining exception to that rule which many other cities around the country really should follow The city lies on the western part of central Greece’s central prefecture of Thessaly Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons License: CC-BY-SA Copyright: Asaole1 Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development easyJet holidays | Fam trips to Santorini, Skiathos and Rhodes Chania: The next actions of the “Tourism Partnership” Navarino Challenge returns on May 9-11, 2025 Cruise Takeoff in Chania – Record Arrivals in the First Quarter of 2025 Three Greek beaches among the world’s 50 best – Triumph for the Ionian The “Typhoon” that saves the Greek coasts from garbage EOT at the “Arabian Travel Market” | Interest from Gulf countries, India, and Australia CERT to manage Vasilitsa Ski Resort – Investment of over 20 million euros Is American tourism in Europe “slowing down”? What do professionals see for 2025 and 2026 This is Athens & Partners | The 7 partners renew their collaboration - the joint actions FedHATTA: Dynamic presence of Greek travel agencies at the international Dubai exhibition ATM 2025 Ryanair announces new offer for Prime members on June flights Thomas Ellerbeck | “Rhodes can become a model of sustainable tourism internationally” The Times | The perfect time to experience the authentic side of Santorini Chania: The Alternative Tourism Festival returns to the Venetian Port Angela Gerekou: "Tourism is a force for good and Greece can play a leading role" New flights to Greece in 2025 from 4 airlines Crete welcomes Reveil 12 – Festival of Sounds and Ecology Greek tourism - 3rd quarter | 97% of arrivals in Athens and Thessaloniki Modernization aid for the marinas of Symi and Messolonghi HOTREC Assembly: Focus on challenges and reforms in European tourism AEGEAN 2025: Passenger growth and fleet expansion with an eye on the international market FedHATTA Cooperation with Shaanxi Province, China Greek academic in finalists of European Sustainable Energy Awards 2025 Thessaloniki museums join forces to promote the city GNTO introduces “Sustainable Greece” to British Agents Strategic meeting for cruises in Santorini A message of friendship and cooperation at the friendly Greek-Turkish football match in Chios Municipality of Xiromero | Diving tourism: Request for sinking of a decommissioned warship The first La Quinta by Wyndham in Batumi, Georgia Double racing event in Megalopolis on May 11: Festival Enduro and Theater Run 2025 Explora Journeys: Start of the summer season with the luxurious EXPLORA I from Piraeus Strong start in 2025 for Aegean and SKY Express Xanthi Tastes: A Gastronomy Festival with a Cultural Flavor Rhodes: These are the five-star hotels with the highest revenue – Which ones “fill up” first Greek Tourism/Webhotelier: The Winners and Losers in Online Bookings for 2025 GNTO | Promotion of Santorini in target markets Unprecedented blackout in Spain, Portugal, France Greece can play a leading role in the global sports tourism scene Rhodes | Event for the protection of biodiversity Attica, the …Caribbean of the Germans Agios Nikolaos | Cruise season kicks off with arrival of luxury Silver Spirit Operational Plan: “Cretan Food Culture 2026-2030” Destination Management and Promotion Organization in Thessaloniki Kefalonia: The authentic character of the island through the “Travel Reimagined” project Hoteliers vs. Booking.com: The European uprising has begun Tourism | Greece 4th choice for Europeans' holidays in 2025 - what the ETC survey shows New high-standard heated swimming pool in Chania, aimed at sports tourism Greeks Traveled (A Lot!) in 2024 – Where They Went, How Much They Spent Greek-American Dean Spanos brings the NFL to Greece – Opportunities for promotion in the USA Lesvos: The season begins with birdwatching tourists MSC Cruises: Strengthens its presence in Greece with 6 cruise ships New Luxury Arrival in Crete | JW Marriott Crete Resort & Spa Opens on June 2 "Peloponnese Trails" inaugurated today: New network of trails for sustainable tourism Knossos: 125 years since the excavations of Arthur Evans The Spanish TV show “Viajeros Cuatro” in Corfu Wyndham - Soliteight | 40 Super 8 hotels in Spain and Portugal Airbnb: Final price now displayed in accommodation searches Investments in the beaches of the Attica Riviera The Municipality of Chania at the “From Crete to Side” Festival in Turkey Region of Central Macedonia: Tourism Promotion Activities in Poland and the Middle East Region of Crete | Connecting Minoan Palatial Centers with Archaeological Sites Biodiversity protection plan is in full swing in Elafonisi Record participation in the ATHENA International Olive Oil Competition | Chania 8 - 10 May Communities at the heart of tourism development Booking.com | No to limiting tourists, yes to infrastructure investments Thessaloniki’s dynamic presence at the World Tourism Summit in Hong Kong easyJet | Summer 2026 sales open Cruise | Turkey doubles its share, new opportunities for Greek ports Aid for the upgrade of the tourist shelter of Astakos and the Marina of Alimos Preparing the settlement of Kionia for the tourist season: An example to follow The action of the region of Crete "Let's go for... Greens" concludes this weekend “Art is our Language”: Campaign for the 70th Anniversary of the Athens Epidaurus Festival Tourism | Nostalgia drives Brits’ travel choices ΕΟΤ China | B2B meetings with Chengdu's t.os - Flights to Athens in June State-of-the-art conference center at Theartemis Palace Hotel in Rethymno Zagori: Collaboration with Impact Hub Athens for sustainable tourism and innovation Cooperation Memorandum between Development Athens and Piraeus University on Tourism Kos: New advertising campaigns with Jet2 and National Geographic Traveller UK Five cruise ships in Souda by Saturday Imbros Trail Run & Hike 2025: A sporting tribute to the History of Sfakia Cultural Days and Sea Routes in Piraeus Religious Tourism | The University of Palermo comes to Panagia Nafpaktiotissa Audio Walk in the Sitia Geopark: A Different Exploration Experience in Crete AEGEAN “takes off” Larnaca with a new direct flight to Rome FedHATTA | Tourism Bridges between Greece and the Chinese province of Guizhou Nafplio at the epicenter of world yachting with the 10th Mediterranean Yacht Show Top distinctions for Greece and Santorini at the American Leisure Lifestyle Awards 2025 HOTREC | Supporting SMEs in European Hospitality Tourism | Promoting Crete in the Arabian Gulf Argosaronic Islands: Need for a long-term strategy and modern infrastructure Samaria Gorge “War Zone” – “Others Decide, We Pay the Price” TripAdvisor Awards 2025 | Elafonisi Beach World's Best Beach - 9th in Crete, Sani Beach Award Aegean and Emirates expand their partnership Delta | Athens is in 5th place in American searches for 2025 Competitions with a summer and autumn backdrop: Attica runs at the pace of sports Crete also invests in cycling tourism - 13th Pediadas Tour 12th BAJAGREECE: Motorsports Competition in Western Macedonia ATM'25 - Tourism | The fight against food waste at the forefront of sustainable development Promotion of Preveza on the metro and tram in Athens What to expect at this year’s ITB Berlin Exhibition from March 4-6 PM at 1st Greece-Saudi Arabia High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council on Monday What the Israeli Ambassador discussed at the Chania Chamber Greece's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO organizing concert on January 16 Athens to host the European Film Awards in 2027 North Macedonia: Increase in foreign tourists in 2024 Alonissos tops the list of Greek destinations without mass tourism Athens Municipality Festival 2025 | The city's biggest celebration, with more than 200 events German tourism: Advance bookings are the new "last-minute" ELSTAT: Hospitality enterprises' turnover grows 28.6% in Greece during Q1 Tsiakos: We look to the future respecting the past Another important step in the direction of a more environmentally friendly city is the Municipality of Karditsa by submitting a proposal to the Green Fund for the preparation of a study for the installation of charging stations and the location of parking spaces for electric vehicles (cars This is a decisive step in the direction of promoting e-mobility in our region the proposal to the Green Fund concerns the financing of 59,520 euros an amount which will be directed to the preparation of a study for a local Electric Vehicle Charging Plan (SFIO) Based on the design of the Municipality and the specifications of the program in the Municipality of Karditsa will be studied 57 electric chargers (one per 1000 inhabitants) and corresponding parking spaces for electric vehicles The places where the chargers will be placed and the parking spaces will be located it is considered certain that they will be located in places of increased traffic (eg Lake Plastira Dam seats of former Kapodistrian Municipalities points of archaeological or environmental interest and of course within the city) Regarding the development of the network when the study is completed it will be done either entirely by the Municipality or in collaboration with private companies operating in the field of electricity Tsiakos stated: “The submission of the proposal and our reasonable expectation that it will be approved strengthens the profile of the Municipality of Karditsa as a Municipality that is trying to make a turn in the future following all the latest developments in the field of electric propulsion our Municipality has been marking an impressive course that has aroused nationwide and pan-European interest in the field that we call sustainable mobility It is definitely a process in which we are at the beginning but at the same time we consider that we are a pioneer E-mobility is the mode of transportation that will be adopted worldwide in the near future We follow the relevant developments and participate in the global becoming And all this while maintaining our character and our special way of life with the bike giving the tone So I would say that global and local interact in a creative way The Municipal Authority works continuously He works to heal wounds but mainly works to open the window to the future that this place needs I believe that with a joint effort and the participation of all our conspirators concludes the Mayor of Karditsa in his statement Newsletter | Support us Sign up here (+30) 697 162 8938 (Signal & WhatsApp)solomon-tips@protonmail.com As the government appoints a Deputy Minister responsible for integration images of evicted refugees living on the streets can be seen all over Greece at least let us move on and best wishes to you all,” said the Syrian we met in Karditsa Every morning Mike Mavinga wakes up around six which is why the 33-year-old Congolese asylum seeker wants to finish chores at home before he leaves for work It takes about 40 minutes to get out of Karditsa and to continue on the Karditsa-Trikala ring road where large warehouses line both sides of the road until he reaches the 3rd kilometer where the car lot (his place of work) is located He works until 1pm, and then he gets on the bicycle again, returns home and gets on Zoom to attend the Greek lessons sponsored by ANKA (local community development agency) for the city’s asylum seekers It’s been a year since Mavinga arrived in Karditsa a provincial town in the prefecture of Thessaly Since July 2020 he’s been working at Lux Cars where he maintains and cleans new and used cars on the car lot A month before he started working for the company his wife gave birth to their first child in Karditsa Fotis Koukouravas is the owner of Lux Cars and Mavinga’s boss when the two of them welcomed us to the car lot Fotis proudly showed us photos of Mavinga’s son on his cell phone He didn’t know Mavinga before he hired him A friend of his lived in the same apartment building as Mavinga where the Congolese family had been offered an apartment under the ESTIA housing program The friend told Fotis about Mavinga and he was hired Their daily communication includes hand gestures which are supplemented with scattered Greek and English “now Mike also understands Greek,” says Fotis “Isn’t that right?” Mavinga nods and smiles It’s not that Fotis hasn’t heard racist comments since he hired Mavinga besides the fact that he’s lived abroad and knows what it’s like to be a foreigner “I have learned to look people in the eye and I don’t care about these comments because I am not a racist he already knows that he will soon need another employee and Fotis is considering asking Mavinga to introduce him to someone from the African community of asylum seekers in Karditsa he will also be interviewed for his request for asylum Mike will stay here.” Back in the Congo Mavinga worked as an electronics technician installing and maintaining telecommunication antenna of a large company he only knew the “basics” about Greece: that the country had won EURO 2004 in football and in the following years experienced a financial crisis that lasted years A large number of asylum seekers in Greece envision their lives in another European country, with Germany being the most frequently mentioned. Some look for ways to leave the country while their asylum applications are still pending even if they eventually receive asylum in Greece depart for another European country as soon as they can Mavingka is not thinking of leaving Greece maybe if the boss comes,” he says in jest that it’s not at all easy to leave one country for another But he would not want to experience it again Solomon has been conducting extensive research on the employment realities for people on the move (asylum seekers and covering different regions of the country we’ve spoken with individuals and government officials researchers and people with experience in the field If we had to judge how representative Mavinga’s case is − in relation to the general experience that we’ve encountered during this time − a case of an asylum seeker who is an insured employee has a close relationship with his employer and is learning Greek with the aim to continue his studies and lay down roots in Greece say that Mike Mavinga is the exception rather than the rule About five years have passed since the peak of the refugee crisis the amount of EU funding that has been allocated to Greece exceeds €2 billion What about the integration of refugees into the labor market employment is explicitly recognized as a key element of the integration process as “finding a job is fundamental to participation in the economic and social life of the country.” Solomon’s research shows that despite the government’s announcements and the amount of funding that Greece has received few steps have actually been made towards this strategy In fact, we could argue that not only has employment integration not been achieved, but neither has it been taken into account. And that is why, inevitably, the images of recognized refugees being evicted from housing, which in recent weeks have been seen across Greece from Grevena to Corinth and Thessaloniki and Samir Hassan has used a piece of plastic to patch up the broken window of his farmhouse He knows that he’ll have to repair it immediately in order to stay warm during the cold weather But his limited income forced him to prioritize winter expenses: fix the window properly or buy wood for the stove my colleague Theodore Nikolaou and I are offered hot tea and cheap duty-free cigarettes from Acharnon or fall asleep listening to the adults’ conversation the wood-burning stove is the only piece of furniture that dominates the room Feraz is from Palestine and has been in Greece for 20 years “I immigrated for love,” he jokes has lived in Thessaloniki and half a dozen other cities who are recognized refugees and have been in Greece since 2018 They arrived on the island of Samos and stayed at the camp in Vathi where they were “forced to go back in time to 1,400 years ago” and “live with rats” before they were transferred to apartments in the town of Karditsa Common background is not the only thing the five Syrians share their relatives and friends had the “opportunity” to experience better living conditions on the Aegean islands where they ended up they were able to continue on to Europe much faster these relatives and friends have already managed to learn the language Some even got loans and purchased cars for their family “What about you?” and they told us that they often depend on their relatives who have succeeded in Europe and must ask them for financial help to make ends meet “We know that some people think that all we want is to receive benefits and handouts But while we were in Turkey we didn’t receive any kind of aid and we were fine − we were fine because we could work,” said Mohammad children start working from the time they’re in elementary school.” But when the conversation turns to their work experiences in Greece the tension rises and the expressions on their faces harden Mohammad was running a mobile phone shop with his father Salim Mahmoud made mattresses and curtains all of them have worked mainly in agriculture and construction – mostly uninsured Since 2015, when Karditsa began hosting refugees and asylum seekers, 25-50 people are employed every year in the agricultural sector through ANKA’s cooperation with local cooperatives and producers last summer the border with Albania (which is a main supplier of labor to the area) was closed for a long time Many got jobs and worked as insured laborers in the harvesting of peppers As Apostolos Kapsalis, a researcher at the Institute of Labor, explained in a recent interview with Solomon the producers themselves prefer to employ workers with an ergosimo or “worker’s check” since their payroll expenses can then be deducted from their taxes But the men we spoke to have worked in the fields They have also “crammed” two daily wages into one day: Samir Hassan says that for a time he worked in the morning in the fields and in the afternoon at a brick factory They have gone unpaid for long stretches of time during which they had to borrow money just to get to/from work They’ve been deceived by their employers and were made to sign documents in Greek (without knowing what they are signing) that confirmed their resignation They realized months later that despite what they thought Many of the employers mentioned in our conversation treated them well and made them feel that they also have a place in Greece There’s an Arabic proverb that states “start with a little The men we spoke with said that even when they were paid little in the morning when they’d head for the fields I will go to work,” says Salim Mahmoud The rest of their employment opportunities were mainly in construction Their fate is once again linked to that of the Albanians: they’re the ones who work on buildings being constructed in the city The daily wage they receive for hard labor in construction jobs is €15 They know that the employers who hire them are taking advantage of them gone through the same experiences themselves “They tell us themselves,” says Salim Mahmoud they were in the exact same place we are today And that no one else would accept the low pay that we accept.” a fact that should be taken into account is that both asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Greece have the right to work legally once asylum seekers applied for international protection they have the right to seek employment six months after they file their asylum application The explanatory statement regarding this change in legislation maintains that the amendment has been introduced “in order not to make the asylum system attractive to third-country nationals.” But the reality is that such a “fear” is not credible anyway In an extensive interview with Solomon, researcher and author Paul Schlag, (who recently published his study on refugee labor market integration in Greece) stated that although theoretically refugees enjoy full access to the labor market they are mostly forced into uninsured work resulting in their exclusion from labor rights and full social inclusion According to the UNHCR there are currently about 119,700 asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Greece; 100,600 are on the mainland and 19,100 on the Aegean islands on the number of adults currently engaged in dependent employment and who receive the required insurance We addressed the Ministry of Migration and Asylum the International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR We received timely replies from the international organizations (IOM but specific information on the matter was not available which recently appointed a Deputy Minister responsible for integration The circumstances in many parts of the country are a lot worse as the difficulties begin long before the job search – from obtaining a tax number to opening a bank account In an employment guide for asylum seekers the UNHCR aptly outlines the difficulties they may face “Note that the experience of opening a bank account in Greece varies from person to person You may consider seeking assistance from Greek friends or a Greek NGO.” The asylum seekers and NGO staff who we spoke to said that it’s an extremely common practice for banks to refuse to open accounts for asylum seekers even though a provision for doing so has been in effect for years even though provisions have been made for this as well This offers some people the opportunity to act as “mediators” and after securing a fee from the asylum seekers where they ensure that their “clients” will receive a tax number without any problems Things are just as bad at the reception centers in mainland Greece, which are managed by IOM, which operates 32 structures in mainland Greece only one in three (32.66%) has a tax number And only one in ten (10.90%) over the age of 15 is registered with OAED (employment agency) It is estimated that even fewer people are employed with insurance the reception center in Myrsini was considered a model center as it provided decent living conditions for the residents during the last harvest season – care was not taken for the refugees’ integration into the labor market nor was their existing vocational training utilized by the local community − refugees worked for a daily wage of €15 in the fields There are specific reasons why the example of Karditsa is of particular interest, regarding the employment of refugees. Karditsa, which has hosted refugees since 2015 and participates in the Network of Cities for Integration is considered a very positive example in the Greek reality employs 36 people to provide services related to refugees through the cooperation with the Cooperative Bank of Karditsa interpreters and social workers are provided for refugees to help them communicate with public services Refugees who already live in Karditsa participate in the integration effort no incidents against refugees have been reported (as has been the case in other parts of Greece) and about 450 refugees are now among the town’s population of 55,000 The positive relationships that have been formed between the refugees and the local population were evident during a catastrophic flood last September when refugees reached out to help flood victims from the very first moment that disaster struck There has been a similar mobilization to help deal with the pandemic the Multicultural Center that was created in 2019 in Karditsa we met 33-year-old Sabrin from Iraq and 31-year-old Sirouan from Syria with the donation of sewing machines from the UNHCR and the help of Mrs they have sewn “entire kilometers of fabric” as Mrs They produce about 150 masks a week which are then given to people in the town Sabrin and Sirouan have worked as tailors since they were very young and when the pandemic began they volunteered to use their skills to help the local community the problem of finding employment which will provide them with an income Sabrin says she has been searching for work since her first days in Karditsa she wants “to feel useful and not just sleep and eat and sit.” She would like to stay in Greece The same does not apply to the five Syrians we met They are determined to leave Greece when they receive their travel documents right now I have only €10 on me to buy milk for the children we know there are people who look through the trash for food at least give us our travel documents so we can move on and best wishes to you all,” says Mohammad They believe that Greece will regret not using the potential of the refugees to its advantage where they can work and support their family we feel comfortable with the people and the climate but so far I have only experienced pain and misery The prospect of going to Germany exists in the minds of many asylum seekers and recognized refugees in Greece where many of the problems that exist in other areas every now and then someone leaves for Germany and plans to build their life there instead The ANKA employees mention the case of a Syrian refugee could be the strongest example of integration He had been living in Karditsa for a year and a half he was happy with his salary and life in the town even he saved $1,500 to pay for the “extra help” in order to get his passport issued earlier The prospect of life in Germany has another affect too: when Greek classes are offered which they think will be more useful to them The government has stated that the issue of integration is a priority as the government has recently appointed a Deputy Minister responsible for integration But the person chosen for this position has referred to asylum seekers arriving in Greece as “unarmed invaders” In one of her first official statements after taking office, Sophia Voultepsi spoke of the skills that refugees will obtain which “will be useful when they return to their own countries.” the refugees cannot return to their countries and if they choose to return to their country they lose the protection status granted to them (since it means that they are no longer in danger there) they cannot return under the current conditions If the issue was simply that we were hungry we would have stayed put and just be hungry we never even left our city before the war broke out,” Hassan said shortly before we all said goodbye I left Syria so that I would not be killed and so that I would not have to kill anyone.” The article is published in the context of Solomon’s in-depth series of reports on “Migrant workers in Greece in the time of COVID-19 ″ and is supported by the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Office in Greece please consider donating and becoming a reader who makes our work possible He collected 35 points and led PAOK mateco to a victory with 87-79 against AC Karditsas Our team made a great effort and managed to have the 11th win in the Greek League so PAOK could have a good position in the standings for the play off The hosts started off better the game while they were ahead with 11-19 but Polley stepped up with 5 continuous points and reduced to 16-19 the three pointer Sibert provided the lead for PAOK mateco for the first time with 21-19 Yannick Franke was on charge and finished the first half with 16 points while PAOK mateco took the total control of the game and the difference extended for the first time to 10 points (37-27 15’) in the half of the second quarter PAOK mateco increased the gap to 12 points (47-35) and finished the first half by controlling the game and also by leading in the third period too (70-57) Karditsa tried to step up on the game and decreased the difference to 6 (79-73 36’) with a subscore 9-17 Franke paced PAOK with 35 points and provided again a double-digit difference but the hosts found a way to extend the gap to 5 (84-79) In the presence of the Secretary General Of Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Efthymios Bakoyannis and the Deputy- Director of the Department for Mobility and Transport DG Move Mr a teleconference was held for the announcement of the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between the 21 candidate Municipalities for the European Mission “100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030” and the General Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of the Ministry of Environment and Energy The parties to the Cities Pact 2030 are the Municipalities of Agrinion the Association for the Development of West Athens (Municipalities of Agia Varvara Chaidari) and the General Secretariat for Spatial Planning and Urban Environment Hellenic Ministry of Environment and Energy The event was also attended by representatives of the General Secretariat of the European Mission for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities and outgoing members of the Mission Board The aim of this Climate-Neutral & Smart Cities Pact (‘Cities Pact’) is to speed up the Cities’ transition to climate-neutrality and digital transformation by 2030 within the framework of the European Mission on ‘Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities’ and at the same time to contribute to the recovery of the Cities’ economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic The main areas of cooperation are ον the following sections: The Deputy- Director Matthew Baldwin emphasized the importance of the Mission Matthew Baldwin is a European Commission official: he is Deputy Director-General of DG MOVE where he has been since July 2016  Amongst his principal professional activities he is Manager of the Commission’s Mission for 100 Climate Neutral Cities by 2030; he is the EU Coordinator for road safety and sustainable urban mobility; and he is also managing the Commission’s crisis network of COVID-19 transport contact points Matthew Baldwin welcomed the action of the of twenty-one (21) Greek Municipalities to participate in the process of selecting the 100 climate neutral poles by 2030 and stressed that this Memorandum of Cooperation of Greek cities is an example for the other EU Member States which should adopt this particularly important initiative The Secretary General Efthymios Bakoyannis stated the support of the Ministry of Environment and Energy of the Greek Candidacies The Secretary General Spatial Planning and Urban Environment of YPEN pointed out that Ministry of Environment and Energy is working on the preparation of the Greek participations in collaboration with Mr he emphasized to the fact that the Greek cities have special characteristics which make them particularly important for the collection of data from the southeastern Mediterranean that will contribute to the goal of climate neutrality throughout Europe by 2050 Includes these water ports in Greece: Ouranoupoli Xalkidikis (LAOR) View important Copyright © information related to freeware files here The archive fsxgrwtr.zip has 17 files and directories contained within it This list displays the first 500 files in the package This add-on mentions the following files below in its description It may be dependent on these files in order to function properly It's possible that this is a repaint and the dependency below is the base package You may also need to download the following files: Signing-up for PRO gives you super fast, unrestricted speed to the thousands of MSFS, FSX, P3D & X-Plane downloads which include aircraft, scenery, and more - click here to view the library for free or.. 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