
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

Major archaeological discoveries made in Neolithic site in Central Greece
Greece’s Ministry of Culture issued a statement on Friday afternoon, regarding recent discoveries in a neolithic settlement that is located in Phthiotis region and dates back to 6,000 – 5,800 BC. The settlement, known to

EU prepares sanctions as Turkey presses on with drilling off Cyprus coast
The EU has agreed to bring financial and political sanctions against Turkey after repeat warnings over the past weeks. European Union officials on Mon-day agreed political and financial sanctions against Turkey after Ankara went ahead

Mitsotakis unveils reform-heavy, pro-market policy statements in Parliament address
New Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to practically every reform promised by him and his conservative New Democracy (ND) party over the past four years – and then some – expressing a pro-market, meritocracy-based

Exquisite ancient statuettes of Apollo, Artemis unveiled for first time in Chania next week
A pair of small statuettes, depicting mythical Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis, will be presented on Today at the archaeological museum in the west Cretan city of Chania (Hania), the product of excavations at

Athens municipality: Most quake-damaged buildings are abandoned structures
The city of Athens, the biggest municipality in the greater Athens agglomeration, so far announced that 15 buildings in its boundaries were significantly damaged from the 5.1 on the Richter scale earthquake that struck the

Tears at the Mati victims memorial service one year after deadly fires
Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis attended the memorial service held on Sunday in memory of the 102 victims of the deadly fire in Mati a year ago. “I can assure you that such a tragedy

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

Lawmakers to Trump: Turkey threatens Greece and Cyprus, action urged against Erdoğan
A group of U.S. lawmakers have expressed deep concern over Turkey’s ongoing aggressive behaviour both within and beyond its borders. In a detailed letter, they urge former President Donald Trump to confront Turkish President Recep

Pope Leo XIV: A New Chapter in the History of the Catholic Church
In a landmark moment for the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, has been elected as Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to ascend to the papacy. The announcement

Turkey: A Religious Backlash?
A 2018 survey revealed that, over the previous decade, there had been a 4% decline — from 55% to 51% — in the number of people in Turkey identifying as “religious,” accompanied by a rise

Moscow initiates ‘Plan B’ countdown: Kyiv could fall within 60 days
There are growing indications that something significant is shifting on the frontlines. Increasingly, reports suggest that Moscow is preparing to activate a so-called “Plan B” – Moscow initiates ‘Plan B’ countdown: Kyiv could fall within

Attack on Thrace and the Aegean planned by Islamist Erdoğan
Nordic Monitor unveils full invasion plan against Greece – How US and French presence has derailed the offensive. An Attack on Thrace and the Aegean was planned by Islamist Erdoğan. Turkey’s emergency war plans against

One of the Kashmir shooters was a former paratrooper of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services
The Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 24 Indian tourists, one Nepali national, and a local guide. The assailants, identified as members of the