
Australia’s productivity collapses to zero amid weak investment and population surge
Australia’s labour productivity has effectively stalled, with new analysis showing growth has collapsed to zero, placing the country near the bottom of advanced economies since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an OECD assessment cited in

Liberal MP Roma Britnell walks out of parliamentary hearing over missing data on pregnancies and STIs in state care
A tense parliamentary hearing erupted into open frustration on Friday after Liberal MP Roma Britnell stormed out, accusing senior Victorian bureaucrats of repeatedly refusing to supply critical data about the wellbeing of children in state

Global Airbus warning grounds Jetstar A320 flights, causes widespread travel disruption
A major global aviation alert has triggered significant travel chaos, with Jetstar confirming that several of its Airbus A320 aircraft are currently unable to depart due to a critical software issue affecting thousands of jets

Teen launches High Court challenge against national social media ban
A Sydney high school student has launched an extraordinary High Court challenge against the federal government’s upcoming ban on social media use for children under 16, arguing the new law is unconstitutional and puts young

Why Australian workers are demanding pay transparency and would quit over unfair salaries
A growing number of Australian workers are demanding full salary transparency inside their workplaces, with new research showing a strong belief that pay secrecy primarily benefits employers — not staff. The findings, from recruitment firm

APRA to cap high-risk home loans amid housing boom
Australia’s banking regulator, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), will impose limits on high-risk home loans starting February 1, aiming to curb the rapid buildup of household debt. APRA announced that no more than 20

Australia faces shortfall in 2030 and 2035 climate targets, minister warns
Australia is projected to narrowly miss its 2030 climate target and is at serious risk of failing its 2035 target without significant policy changes, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen has warned. Speaking to Parliament in

PULS missile system paves the way for Greece’s “Achilles Shield” as defence cooperation with Israel and UAE deepens
Greece is moving decisively to strengthen its military deterrence, following parliamentary approval for the acquisition of the Israeli-made PULS multiple rocket launcher system, a key component of the country’s planned multi-layered air and missile defence architecture known as the “Achilles Shield”. The Special Standing Committee on Armaments Programs of the

‘Evdokia’ the 1200 Year Old Olive Tree in Corfu, Greece
An imposing olive tree on Corfu, known as ‘Evdokia’ by the locals, has been estimated to be between 1086 and 1200 years old, according to stu-dies by German scientists from the Dresden University of Technology.

When calves seek shade at the beach you know it’s Heat Wave in Greece
Heat wave in Greece: It is currently so boiling hot in Greece that even calves seek the beach and shade under the sun umbrella. A swimmer was surprised to see a calf to have made

Austerity, unemployment behind ND lanslide
‘I am committed to fewer taxes, many investments, for good and new jobs, and growth which will bring better salaries and higher pensions in an efficient state’ Mitsotakis said. Greece’s opposition conservatives returned to power

Mitsotakis to CNBC: Talks with European partners will begin immediately; ND has presented a clear plan, ‘without surprises’
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ first press statements after Sunday’s election victory by his center-right New Democracy (ND) came during an interview to CNBC, where he expressed gratitude over the election result – which will make him prime

The importance of the Greek Exclusive Economic Zone
In 1967, Malta’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Arvid Pardo, called for an international conference to devise a new law of the seas. In this call, he referred to the oceans as “the common heritage

Lamda Development warns against last-minute ministerial decisions regarding delay-plagued Helleniko project
A nascent “feud” between the international consortium that’s won a concession for the massive Helleniko property development in southeast Athens and the outgoing Tsipras government, given that the privatization remains mired in Greece’s ubiquitous “red

Robert Fico confronts Brussels, claiming EU has abandoned democracy
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has crossed a line Brussels hoped no European leader would openly cross — and he has done so publicly. In a sweeping and highly confrontational statement, Fico accused the European Union of suppressing free speech, manipulating democratic processes, enforcing double standards on energy policy, and

Saudi Arabia ends petrodollar agreement – or did they?
Stories about the fall of a long-standing ‘petrodollar’ deal between the US and Saudi Arabia spread like wildfire over the internet and social media. But the deal never officially existed. It seemed like big news,

Today is World Blood Donor Day
20 years of celebrating giving: thank you blood donors! On World Blood Donor Day, celebrated on 14 June 2024, WHO, its partners and communities across the world will unite behind the theme: 20 years of

EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn: Call on North Macedonia to respect the Prespa Agreement
In an appeal to the new government of North Macedonia and relevant stakeholders, European Union Commissioner Johannes Hahn stressed the importance of respecting the Prespa Agreement. Speaking to journalists in Brussels, he expressed concern about

Hamas accepts UN Security Council decision for ceasefire
Hamas has accepted the UN Security Council’s decision for a ceasefire in the Gaza war, Sami Abu Zuhri, a member of the Islamic organisation, told Reuters. Hamas is ready to negotiate the details of the

The European Parliament elections indicate a patriotic surge for right-wing parties
The European Parliament election outcomes reveal a significant surge in the favorability of right-wing parties: 🇫🇷 Marine Le Pen’s National Rally garnered 32-33% of the votes in France, leaving Macron’s Renaissance party trailing far behind

Mitzkoski: “I will call my country Macedonia”
VMRO-DPMNE leader and future Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mitzkoski, has said that while the constitutional name of the country (North Macedonia) will be used in official communications by state institutions, he will continue

