
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

Melbourne and Sydney record surge in population
Both Melbourne and Sydney have seen a surge in population growth, according to new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The biggest increase was seen in Melbourne, which jumped by 167,500 people in

Inflation holds steady at 3.4 per cent
Inflation has held stable at 3.4 per cent for the third month in a row, according to figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Inflation in the 12 months to February was driven by increases

One in 20 mortgage holders spend more than they earn, says new RBA report
A new Reserve Bank report reveals a worrying trend in Australia, with one in 20 mortgage holders spending more money than they earn. What’s more, tens of thousands of households are at risk of running

Easter trading hours 2024: What major stores will be opened on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday?
Easter is upon us again and that means a whole heap of confusion with stores across the country either open, shut or operating at different hours. To make things easier for you around the busy

Measles outbreak in Melbourne’s south-east: Residents advised to be on alert
A case of measles in Melbourne’s south-east has prompted local health authorities to alert residents. The patient, a returning traveler to the area, had visited 18 locations in the area between 14 and 19 March

Hundreds of cannabis plants seized in Melbourne’s north
A major cannabis plant seizure has taken place in Melbourne’s northern suburbs as police raided a factory that was operating a sophisticated cannabis cultivation facility. Specifically, police discovered and seized more than 500 cannabis plants

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

The undermining of Greece’s geopolitical credibility under the Mitsotakis government!
The Mitsotakis government’s foreign policy has led Greece into an unprecedented crisis of geopolitical credibility, with serious consequences for national interests, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The policy of appeasement towards Turkey, the signing of

Moscow bans Greek official and warns of further retaliation
Russia is dangerously hardening its stance towards Greece, openly denouncing the New Democracy government as a servant of the West. Moscow bans a Greek official and warns of further retaliation, openly denouncing the New Democracy

Sinai Monastery on the Altar of cheap energy
Corriere links Mitsotakis–Sisi deal to historic sell-off of the Sinai Monastery on the Altar of cheap energy. On the altar of cheap energy! Corriere della Serra links the issue of the Monastery of Sinai to

The fall of Constantinople 29th March 1453: An Orthodox perspective on betrayal and loss
On 29 May 1453, the heart of Eastern Christendom fell. Constantinople — once the crown jewel of the Byzantine Empire and the spiritual stronghold of Eastern Orthodoxy — was overrun by the forces of Sultan

Tsitsipas hires Goran Ivanišević, Djokovic’s former coach, to revive career
Greek tennis star Stefanos Tsitsipas hires Goran Ivanišević, Djokovic’s former coach, to revive career in a decisive move to reverse a prolonged slump and re-establish himself among the world’s elite. The 26-year-old two-time Grand Slam

Greek sovereignty undermined, Turkish mafia targets Greek agents
EYP Ethniki Ypiresia Pliroforion (Εθνική Υπηρεσία Πληροφοριών) agents were inside the vehicle that came under fire from another car on Thursday afternoon in Thermi, Thessaloniki. Greek sovereignty undermined, Turkish mafia targets Greek agents according to

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

Pipeline Wars Revisited
Pipeline wars are often overlooked in the scheme of things, where pipelines represent competing national interests of a purely economic sort, beyond the usual political rhetoric surrounding ideology and demagoguery. Because a gas pipeline transports

Cyprus repays remainder of Russian loan, two years early
Cyprus’ finance minister said on Monday that the country has repaid ahead of schedule the remaining 1.58 billion euros ($1.73 billion) of a 2.5 billion euro ($2.74 billion) loan it received from Russia in 2011

What is going on in Libya?
Libya is now ruled by the Government of National Accord (GNA). The GNA is recognized by the UN and holds Tripoli but little else. The situation is immensely complex and forever in flux. For eight

US slaps new tariffs on China; One minute later China retaliates
The biggest reason for last week’s torrid stock market rally was rekindled “optimism” that the escalating trade war between the US and China may be on the verge of another ceasefire following phone conversations, fake

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

US demands that Turkey should cease all activity in Cyprus waters
The US State Department has called on the Turkish authorities to remove its drilling vessels from the territorial waters around Cyprus and to cease immediately any “unlawful activities”. The demand comes as Turkey has established

