Australian meth, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin use jumps 34% in one year
Australians consumed 34 per cent more methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. The survey found that 22.2 tonnes of these
Crackdown on antisemitism: Albanese warned to cut funding to universities failing to act
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under mounting pressure to withdraw public funding from universities, programs, and individuals who tolerate or fail to combat antisemitism, following a major report released today. The report, authored by Australia’s
Australia may face higher AUKUS costs and pressure to join US-China conflict
Australia’s nuclear submarine deal under AUKUS could become more costly and politically fraught, as the US Department of Defence reviews the trilateral agreement under President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. A report from The Age
Bipartisan support for PBS amid Trump’s Pharma tariff threat
Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceutical imports has united Australia’s political leadership in support of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The Albanese government reaffirmed its commitment that the PBS is “not
Qantas confirms data breach affected 5.7 million customers, criminal contact made
Qantas has confirmed that 5.7 million of its customers have had personal data compromised in a major cybersecurity breach, with the company now contacting those affected and working with law enforcement following contact from a
ATO GST scam rocks public sector as taxpayer losses hit $2 billion
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is facing one of the worst integrity scandals in its history, after it was revealed that a massive GST refund fraud—amplified on social media—has cost taxpayers over $2 billion. So
Opposition presses Albanese government over lagging productivity
Australia’s economic debate has intensified after Reserve Bank Governor Michele Bullock cited weak productivity as a key concern in her justification for holding interest rates steady — prompting the opposition to demand urgent action from
Wildfires rage across western Greece and the islands, devastating homes and forests
In the past 24 hours, 48 new fires broke out, bringing the total to 109 incidents since the outbreak began. For a second consecutive day, firefighters battled relentless wildfires across Western Greece and several Aegean islands, as authorities reported a record number of fires sweeping through the country. The most
Greece’s Milos voted “Best Island in Europe” by Travel & Leisure Magazine
The readers of the famous “Travel + Leisure” magazine recently voted the Greek island of Milos as “the best island in Europe” for 2019. The list is comprised of 15 islands across Europe, with Greece
Swordfish killed by swimmers on a beach in Chalkida, Greece
A swordfish which swam its way to the shallow waters of a beach in Chalkida on the island of Evia, was killed by beachgoers. The swordfish went to the shallow water to give birth and
Autonomy
The government intends to allow universities and not the education ministry to set the number of students they will admit each year. That addresses a basic need, the need (for many and varied reasons) for
Alarm bell
To avoid the errors of the past the current government must move swiftly to address the deficiencies left behind by previous ones. The extent of the natural disasters by which Greece was struck over the
Theofilus
About 150 years ago, the influential folk artist Theophilus (Theophilus Kefalas – Hatzimichail) was born in the village of Vareia, on the south-eastern tip of the island of Lesvos, overlooking the shores of Asia Minor.
Greek elections: Landslide victory for centre-right New Democracy party
Incumbent prime minister Alexis Tsipras, of Syriza, calls rival Kyriakos Mitsotakis to concede defeat Voters in Greece have given Kyria-kos Mitsotakis’ centre-right New Democracy party a resounding mandate to form a new government after it
August 15: Melbourne honours the “Easter of Summer” with splendor and devotion
August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, is one of the most important celebrations of Orthodoxy and is observed with deep emotion both in Greece and in Greek communities around the world. In Melbourne, celebrations began early in the morning, with the faithful filling churches to honor
Elon Musk and Billboard Chris win legal battle against Australian eSafety Commissioner
In a landmark legal victory, Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, and Canadian activist Chris Elston, also known as Billboard Chris, have successfully challenged a takedown notice issued by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant.
Heatwave in Italy: Woman dies of heart attack on the street, construction worker in coma
Italy is currently grappling with a brutal heatwave that has claimed the lives of at least two people in the central and southern regions, as the country faces record-high temperatures. The scorching heat has intensified,
Venezuela declares UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, persona non grata
In a significant diplomatic development, the Venezuelan National Assembly has declared Volker Turk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, persona non grata. This decision came after recent criticisms from his office regarding the
Penny Wong under pressure at strategic Quad talks amid rising tensions with Trump administration
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has faced intense diplomatic scrutiny in Washington as she joined her counterparts from the US, Japan, and India at a high-stakes Quad summit, amid growing uncertainty in Australia-US relations and
European Commission accepts 10% universal tariff from Trump – What it wants in return from the U.S.
The European Commission is willing to accept a trade agreement with the United States that includes a universal 10% tariff on its exports, but it seeks commitments from Washington to lower tariffs in key sectors
China warns Australia: Don’t be dragged into NATO’s military spending push
China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has issued a strong rebuke of NATO’s new military spending target, warning the Albanese government not to fall in line with what Beijing sees as a dangerous escalation of
