
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

Victorian Premier Dan Andrews resigns
Premier Andrews has resigned abruptly, stepping down from his role effective 5 pm Wednesday. Having recently surpassed John Cain Jr. as the longest-serving Labor Premier in Victoria’s history in April 2023, Andrews’ decision was celebrated

America’s “unique” relationship with Australia?
The enthusiasm of the members of Albanese’s staff seems to have run away with them. They declared that ‘the Australian-United States relationship is unique in scale, scope and significance reflecting more than 100 years of

A rethink of Australia’s national security
Sam Roggeveen’s basic storyline in The Echidna Strategy – that the China threat is grossly exaggerated, and that Australia should not, and need not, rely on America for our security protection – is causing predictable

Are earthquakes becoming more common in Melbourne?
Approximately 7,000 Victorians were alarmed by tremors at about 1:32am this morning as a magnitude 4.6 earthquake hit 127km east of Melbourne, near Rawson. Victoria has been hit by several quakes recently, including three in

This outrageously expensive subs deal simply caters to the US. Again
In one week the government’s justification for needing outrageously expensive nuclear submarines has shifted from defending the continent to the old 1960s forward defence policy in Asia which lured us into Vietnam – with all

Regular cannabis use now more accepted by Australians than smoking tobacco, study finds
Source: The Guardian Regular cannabis use has become more accepted than smoking tobacco, the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) has found. The 2019 data, compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

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

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

Libya’s parliament moves to ratify Turkey-Libya Maritime Agreement despite Greek objections
The Libyan House of Representatives is set to proceed with the ratification of the controversial Turkey-Libya memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones, despite strong opposition from Greece and other Mediterranean countries. According to reports,

Senior Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the killing of a founding member of Hamas and one of the chief architects of the October 7 massacre during a targeted airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Hakeem

Trump turns up the heat: Australia pressured to boost defence spending or face trade penalties
The Trump administration is putting mounting pressure on Australia to drastically increase its defence spending, aligning with NATO’s new benchmark of 5% of GDP. While NATO allies recently accepted this demand, Australia is resisting calls

Trump and Netanyahu reach Gaza ceasefire deal with Arab-led post-war plan
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza within the next two weeks, according to Times of Israel, citing Israel Hayom. The agreement was reached

Key quad meeting in Washington: Australia at the forefront of Indo-Pacific strategy
In a pivotal diplomatic gathering on July 1, the foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia will convene in Washington for the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with US Secretary of State