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
RBA keeps cash rate at 4.35%
The cash rate will remain at 4.35% following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) March monetary policy meeting. The decision was largely expected, as the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed annual trimmed mean
$216 Billion: The cost of Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop
The cost of building and operating the Allan Government’s new underground rail loop through Melbourne’s city centre, which will take five decades to build, has soared to $216 billion, according to an independent study. Estimates
Using Super for home deposits would inflate property prices by $75,000, study claims
A recent study suggests that a Coalition proposal allowing first-time homeowners to use their super for a house deposit could lead to a significant surge in prices, potentially raising property values by nearly $75,000 across
Australian PM is the first Western leader referred to ICC as ‘Accessory to Genocide in Gaza’
More than 100 lawyers endorsed the referral, which points to the military, intelligence, and rhetorical support Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has provided to the Israeli government. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, along with several Western
The Help to Buy scheme will help but it won’t solve the housing crisis
Brendan Coates – via The Conversation The federal government’s Help to Buy scheme is before the parliament. Both the Coalition and the Greens are opposed to it. If the bill is passed, the government will
By establishing a dedicated whistle-blowing body, Labor can prove its integrity credentials
Without the support of a whistleblower protection authority, too many whistleblowers remain silent, to the detriment of our democracy. Imagine finding something amiss at work: irregularities in project numbers as a public servant or discovering
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
Greek Christmas Question: Melomakarona or Kourabiedes?
This is the eternal Christmas question Greeks are challenged with every year: the traditional to-die-for Greek sweets during the festive days: Melomakarona or Kourabiedes? Melomakarona are egg-shaped calorie-bombs. They are soft and soaked in syrup
Germany: All EU members must take in Migrants
The continuing debate over migration is, at its core, about European federalism and the degree to which the European Union will be allowed to usurp decision-making powers from its 28 member states. If everything goes
Greek court hands down maximum sentences in Siemens bribery case; prominent defendants tried in absentia
A three-justice Athens appellate court on Monday handed down mostly the maximum possible prison sentences to defendants convicted last month in the more than decade-old Siemens bribery and money laundering case – although four of
EU Backs Athens and Nicosia, asks Turkey to publish Turkish – Libyan accord
During the daily briefing of the European Commission in Brussels on Wednesday, the EU asked Turkey to publish its agreement with Libya, and at the same time expressed its unequivocal solidarity with Greece and Cyprus
Dendias: Turkey blackmailed Libya
The Libyan-Turkish memorandum delineating common maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean is the product of Turkish blackmail to the embattled Libyan government and is totally devoid of substance, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said Sunday. “The Turkish
Greece issues damning statement following Turkey’s disrespectful remarks on Pontian Genocide
The Greek Foreign Ministry issued a damning response on Sunday morning to the Turkish slander published on Saturday evening regarding a conference about the Pontian Genocide, where Greece’s PM was present giving a speech. The
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
Tim Walz: Veteran military man chosen by Kamala Harris as Vice Presidential candidate
Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has selected Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate, a decision that surprised some observers. At 60, Walz has held various roles as a former teacher, coach, and military
“Drums of war” in the Middle East: Awaiting Iran’s retaliation – Israel on high alert
The Middle East appears ready to explode as the war atmosphere intensifies just hours after the U.S. declared that Tehran might attack Israel within the next 24 hours. All eyes are on Iran and the
Stock markets around the world are crashing right now, but why?
The answer to this question is the Yen carry trade, a term you’ll probably hear many times this week. So what exactly is the Yen carry trade and why did it cause a market downturn?
Japan’s Nikkei is down 12%, the largest drop ever
Japan’s Nikkei is down 12%, the largest point ever, as fears of a US recession shook global markets. The Topix index erased its yearly gains, experiencing its steepest sell-off since “Black Monday” in October 1987.
Will Turkey attack NATO with American ships?
President Joe Biden pushed through his sale of F-16s and upgrade kits to Turkey on the logic that the deal was necessary to get Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to drop his objection to Sweden
Australia’s preeminent strategic thinkers: The era of Anglo-Saxon dominance in the Pacific is ending
This might be the most compelling and influential argument against AUKUS, particularly because it comes from one of Australia’s foremost strategic thinkers: Hugh White, the inaugural Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and
