
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

Airports brace for busiest day of the year as Easter travel kicks off
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to jam airport queues and crowd roads today ahead of the long Easter weekend. More than 200,000 people are expected to pass through Sydney and Melbourne airports in

Sally Capp to step down as Lord Mayor of Melbourne
Sally Capp has announced she will step down as Lord Mayor of Melbourne after six years in the role. Capp, who was elected in 2018, announced this morning “with mixed emotions” that she would not

Melbourne and Sydney record surge in population
Both Melbourne and Sydney have seen a surge in population growth, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The biggest increase was seen in Melbourne, which jumped by 167,500 people in

Inflation holds steady at 3.4 per cent
Inflation has held stable at 3.4 per cent for the third month in a row, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Inflation in the 12 months to February was driven by increases

One in 20 mortgage holders spend more than they earn, says new RBA report
A new Reserve Bank report reveals a worrying trend in Australia, with one in 20 mortgage holders spending more money than they earn. What’s more, tens of thousands of households are at risk of running

Easter trading hours 2024: What major stores will be opened on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday?
Easter is upon us again and that means a whole heap of confusion with stores across the country either open, shut or operating at different hours. To make things easier for you around the busy

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

Greeks clap in gratitude to doctors and nurses against the coronavirus
Following the example of Spain, Greeks came out in their balconies at 9:00 p.m. Sunday and clapped in gratitude to doctors and nurses fighting the coronavirus in the country’s hospitals. The call to action was

Greece suspends services in worship places of all religions
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced late on Monday that services in all areas of religious worship of any religion or dogma are suspended. The conservative leader announced the decision on a tweet just an

Coronavirus Greece: 21 new confirmed cases, total 352
Greece’s health autho-rities announced on Monday 21 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, cases that increase the total number of inflections to 352. 65 patients are hospitalized, 9 of them are intubated hospitals ICU in Athens,

Greece shuts down Museums, Archaeological sites due to Coronavirus
The Greek Ministry of Culture announced on Friday that it is closing down the country’s museums and archaeological sites — at least until March 30 — to help control the spread of coronavirus. In a

Coronavirus: Greece holds its breath as tens of millions of Italians put in quarantine
As the number of coronavirus cases in the country rose to 84 on Monday with 11 new infections identified, health authorities called on people with symptoms of the virus to stay at home and avoid

The Hellenic Initiative Australia, renews grant for SOS family support program in Patras
The Hellenic Initiative Australia has renewed its support for SOS Children’s Villages Greece, providing children from disadvantaged families in the regional city of Patras with critical educational and nutritional support. The €20,000 grant renewal will

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

Greek expatriates tax and business online workshop
The General Secretariat for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, in collaboration with the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE), is organising an online workshop for expatriates and residents abroad on issues related to tax procedures

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