
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

2.9 million Australians use pay-on-demand services
With the cost of living putting more pressure on Australians, the use of pay-on-demand services has surged. New data from Finder shows that 14 percent of Australians—about 2.9 million people—have utilized these services in the

Fears for escalation tensions leads Jewish and Islamic schools to increase security
In response to rising cultural and religious tensions, numerous Islamic and Jewish schools across Australia are enhancing their security measures. The increased security comes amid concerns over potential violence linked to the Israel-Gaza conflict and

Magnitude 5.0 earthquake reported in NSW’s Upper Hunter region
A 5.0 magnitude earthquake has shaken parts of New South Wales. The earthquake epicentre was near the mining town of Denman, about 250km north of Sydney, at 10km deep. It was felt across the state,

Australia calls for protection of Gaza war cemetery amid Hamas threat
The Australian government has strongly condemned any threats to desecrate war graves following the revelation of a Hamas plot to exhume the remains of Australian soldiers. The conspiracy, detailed in a seven-page document discovered in

Coalition secures CFMEU’s placement under administration
The CFMEU is set to be placed into administration following an agreement between the Coalition and the federal government on new legislation targeting the controversial construction union. The Coalition has pledged to support the bill,

Pay up, Aussie scam victims call for new laws to force banks to return losses
Scam victims in Australia are calling for legislation similar to the UK’s, which mandates banks to reimburse customers for losses incurred through scams. Starting October, the UK’s Payment Systems Regulator will require banks to compensate

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

Winners and losers in global commodities this year
The global commodities market has experienced significant volatility this year, with prices generally remaining elevated across various sectors. The first half of the year saw orange juice and cocoa prices reach record highs, while crude

WHO reassures: Mpox is not the new COVID – We know how to control its spread
A World Health Organization (WHO) official emphasized today that Mpox, whether it’s the new or old strain of the disease, is not the new COVID-19, as health authorities have the knowledge to control its spread.

The Middle East on a razor’s edge: Tough bargaining for a ceasefire
International concerns over the escalation of war in the Middle East have peaked as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. This

Monkeypox: WHO Recommends Vaccination in Affected Areas
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday that countries affected by the mpox virus (commonly known as monkeypox) initiate vaccination programs, particularly in regions where cases have been reported. The mpox outbreak in the

Sicily shipwreck: Tech tycoon Mike Lynch among the missing
At least one person has died and six others are missing after a luxury yacht was struck by a severe storm and sank off the coast of Palermo, Sicily’s capital. Among the missing is British

159 countries poised to adopt BRICS new payment system
Amid ongoing efforts to create a SWIFT alternative, the BRICS alliance is developing its payment system. This system will play a crucial role in the bloc’s trade, enabling transactions without relying on the US dollar.