Septinsular Republic

The disruptions caused by the extended strike by Greek seamen was overcome on Friday by farmers on Naxos who used fishing boats to transport supplies including dairy products to neighboring Aegean islands, while two ferry companies (Ionian Group and Kefalonian Lines) operating the Zakynthos-Kyllini line broke the strike with two morning sailings on the pretext there was an emergency on the isla

Authorities on the islands of Lesvos and Zakynthos declared a state of emergency on Tuesday following the devastation of property and infrastructure wrought by heavy rain and hailstorms over the last few days, as bad weather continued across the country.

A 29-year-old man was arrested on Corfu on Monday in connection with five fires on the Ionian island earlier this year, authorities said.

The suspect is facing charges of deliberate arson.

The fire service tracked him down after a recent attempt to set fire to the forested area of Ano Korakiana.

A mild earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter scale hit the Ionian island of Corfu late Saturday, the Geodynamic Institute in Athens reported.

According to the institute, the tremor occurred 33 kilometers off the island's north coast at a depth of 10 kilometers.

There were no reports of injuries or damage. 

European lawmakers on Tuesday approved funding of over 1.5 million euros to assist three Greek islands that suffered widespread damage in a 6.1-Richter earthquake in November 2015.

Greek authorities say 50 refugees or other migrants have been rescued off western Greece after issuing a distress call from their crippled sailboat.

The Merchant Marine Ministry says the migrants were picked up by a Turkish-flagged cargo ship off the island of Zakynthos following a search and rescue operation involving four vessels.

The 60-year-old driver of a commuter bus on the Ionian island of Cephalonia suffered a heart attack and died on Monday while driving the route between Poros and Argostoli.

The bus reportedly veered into a wall when the driver lost consciousness behind the wheel and died.

None of the passengers was injured.

A mild earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter square hit the Ionian island of Cephalonia early Monday, according to the Geodynamic Institute in Athens.

The tremor's epicenter was located 15 kilometers west of Lixouri.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

The trial of 120 fraudulent beneficiaries of state benefits for the blind began on the eastern Aegean island of Chios on Thursday.

The beneficiaries, 15 of whom have died since charges were lodged against them, are all alleged to have pocketed benefits without having any visual impairment.

In the consciousness of the Serbian people, Corfu symbolizes "the trinity we are born with and we die with: suffering, salvation and hope."

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic made the statement on the Greek island of Corfu late on Monday.