
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

Migrants arriving from Turkey, sleep on the streets on Greece’s Symi
The problem of the increasing migrant flows from Turkey to European shores was recently highlighted by the local authorities of the island of Symi. Symi is a small, picturesque island in the Dodecanese archipelago, that

Turkey sending fourth energy drill ship into Cyprus’ waters for oil exploration
Turkey has sent its fourth drilling ship to the eastern Mediterranean waters to participate in the exploration for natural gas and oil within the Cypriot maritime economic zones, defying European and international warnings. The Ministry

Mitsotakis govt announces measures to prevent another 2015-like migrant/refugee crisis
A recent spike in the number of landings of vessels carrying irregular migrants and would-be asylum seekers to a handful of eastern Aegean islands generated a Greek government reaction on Saturday, with a top defense

Greek FM summons Turkey’s Ambassador over mass migrants’ arrivals
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias summoned the Turkish ambassador to Athens in order to express Greece’s deep dissatisfaction over the increased influx of migrants from Turkey, that culminated with the unprecedented mass arrivals of more than

Major spike in number of illegal migrants, would-be asylum seekers landing in Lesvos last week
A significant spike in the number of small craft carrying third country nationals, mostly Afghans, to the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos (Mytilene) was recorded on Thursday, with no less than 13 flimsy inflatable vessels

Cosco-led Piraeus Port Authority submits revised master plan; worth 800 mln€
A revised master plan by the Cosco-managed Piraeus Port Authority was tabled on Friday for review by a shipping ministry ports committee in the coming period. The revised master plan, which according to the port

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

Orthodox mission in Fiji, faith beneath the southern cross
Before the sun lifts its golden veil over Vanua Levu, as the matangi—a soft morning breeze—stirs the banana trees and cassava leaves, a single flame flickers before an icon of Christ. In the stillness of

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

Son of Haftar visits Greek community in Libya – ‘We are not targeting Greece’
In a symbolic gesture amid rising diplomatic tensions, Al Sadiq Haftar, son of eastern Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar, paid a surprise visit to the president of the Greek community in Benghazi, Kanakis Mandalios. The visit

Trump’s tariff threat sparks alarm in Canberra over pharmaceutical exports
The Albanese government is scrambling to respond to a fresh trade threat from US President Donald Trump, who has floated a staggering 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceutical imports and a 50 per cent tariff

Yemen: Another Greek-owned ship attacked by Houthis – two injured, two missing
Another Greek-owned vessel sailing off the coast of Yemen has come under attack by Houthi militants, just a day after their assault on a Liberia-flagged cargo ship also managed by a Greek company. According to

Secret negotiations between Turkey and Syria over maritime zones
A letter signed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has, for the first time, confirmed that secret negotiations are underway to define maritime boundaries between Turkey and Syria, in anticipation of the post-Assad era. Secret