Astakos

Giorgos Alevras, 38, plies the coast near the town of Astakos, in west-central Greece, in search of fish. Alevras, who returned to Greece last year after 10 years working abroad in biotechnology, has invested 250,000 euros in a fishing trawler, but the returns have been meager; so far, he says, he has recouped less than 5% of his investment.

A wildfire that broke out in Astakos, Etoloakarnania, on Monday was placed under control, the Hellenic Fire Service said.

A total of five vehicles and a 15-member crew remain on site to get the fire fully under control and guard against any possible rekindling. [AMNA]

Three out of four people arrested in connection with an international racket believed to have been smuggling large quantities of cocaine into Europe and Northwest Africa from the Caribbean island-country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines were remanded in custody on Wednesday.

"He should have been hanged in Syntagma Square, in Athens.  But, unfortunately, the death penalty has been abolished in Greece!" said the hyper taxi driver who was driving us back to Athens from the port of Astakos, just across the Ionian Sea islands of Lefkas, Kephalonia and Ithaki, in the western part of Greece.