
Australian father stranded in Iraq issues urgent Christmas plea amid legal limbo
An Australian father, Dr. Robert Pether, who spent more than four years in an Iraqi prison under what he calls “bogus charges,” has issued a desperate Christmas plea, urging Australians to push the government to

Aged care homes spending as little as $7 a day on residents food
Some aged care homes spend as little as $7 a day on food for each resident, a royal commission has been told. Celebrity chef Maggie Beer says that sort of budget is inadequate to prepare

Vic wants federal funds to remove cladding
The Commonwealth is being asked to stump up $300 million to help remove dangerous cladding from hundreds of buildings across Victoria. The state Labor government is establishing a $600 million fund, to be overseen by

Asylum seeker tries to set himself on fire at Melbourne detention facility
Another incident of self-harm has occurred in an Australian detention centre. An asylum seeker detained in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation facility has been taken to hospital after trying to set himself on fire, according

No paperwork, increasing rent: Sydney landlords exploiting international students
International students are being exploited by landlords in Sydney’s tight housing market, a new report has found. International students in Sydney are falling victim to financial exploitation by dodgy landlords, who are overcharging on bonds,

Record number of Aussies rush to file tax returns
A record number of Australians have lodged their tax returns in the hope of getting their hands on a hefty refund. About 650,000 people have already filed their tax returns, with this year’s early rush

Better Managing Australia’s future population growth
Key elements of the Morrison Government’s plan to better manage Australia’s future population have come into effect today. Launched in March this year, the Population Plan has four broad components: Easing the population pressures

Holiday traffic normalizes after Tuesday’s gridlock
After yesterday’s disruptions, traffic on the Athens–Lamia and Athens–Corinth highways is expected to return to normal today, Wednesday, as farmers and traffic police coordinated to improve vehicle flow ahead of Christmas. On Tuesday, drivers faced queues of up to 20 kilometres due to farmers’ roadblocks, leaving many stranded for hours.

Cyber-attacks against handful of Greek govt websites
A handful of Greek government and state websites were targets of hackers on Friday evening, with Turkish media reports claiming the cyber-attacks emanated from Turkey. A Facebook page, claiming to represent Turkish “hackers”, said the

The strong symbolism of the Sakellaropoulou nomination
The Prime Minister’s decision to nominate Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou to serve as President of the Hellenic Republic did not startle those in the know. For months most had known that Mr. Mitsotakis had singled out the

Man jailed for 11 months after Greek police mistake baking flour for drugs
A Scopian citizen spent 11 months in a Greek jail suspected of drug trafficking after Greek police mistook a bag of baking flour he was carrying for heroin. The incredible story of the 38-year-old resident

Hundreds of Santas take part in Athens run 2019
Hundreds of people dressed in Santa Claus costumes took part on Sunday in a special 3-kilometer charity run in the center of Athens. This merry tradition returned to the streets of Athens for the sixth

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

Australian father stranded in Iraq issues urgent Christmas plea amid legal limbo
An Australian father, Dr. Robert Pether, who spent more than four years in an Iraqi prison under what he calls “bogus charges,” has issued a desperate Christmas plea, urging Australians to push the government to secure his safe return. Dr. Pether was arrested in Iraq in 2021 and sentenced to

Democrats are in a quandary after Biden’s debate fiasco
US President Joe Biden’s appearance in the debate with former US President Donald Trump can only be described as disastrous. Democrats are in a quandary after Biden’s debate fiasco where it was obvious that he

Bolivian coup fails amid suspicion of foreign interference
Riot police closely monitored government buildings the day after army chief Zuniga deployed troops and tanks to the center of the capital. Bolivian coup fails amid suspicion of foreign interference in a coup attempt that

26 June – International Day against drug use and illicit trafficking
Message from Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General “The focus should be on rehabilitation rather than punishment and imprisonment for minor drug offences”. Tens of millions of people suffer from a substance use disorder. Less than

Julian Assange: Countdown to his return to Australia
The release of journalist Julian Assange from British jails following a plea bargain with the US justice system has dominated global headlines in recent hours. The final chapter of Julian Assange’s “odyssey” is expected to

Digital “twin” of Hagia Sophia created in case of collapse
A complete digital image of Hagia Sophia has been completed as part of a “holistic inventory” of the monument by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, according to the state-run TRT Haber network. As

Hezbollah’s Nasrallah warning of retaliation to Cyprus
Nasrallah’s Views on Cyprus: Insights and Implications Cyprus’ involvement in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, particularly through the use of British military bases on the island for operations into Gaza, has drawn the

