
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

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

Greece’s Civil Aviation has suspended flights to/from North Italy
Greece’s Civil Aviation Authority has decided to suspend flights from all Greek airports to and from North Italy on Monday. “All flights to and from Northern Italy are suspended from all Greek airports and for

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

Trump and Erdogan meet at the White House – “We can make a deal on F-35s, but Erdogan must do something for us first”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a long-awaited meeting at the White House on Thursday evening, in an atmosphere of cautious optimism. The two leaders met for over two hours,

Australia’s social media age laws praised as ‘world-leading’ at UN
Australia has taken centre stage on the global arena after passing landmark legislation raising the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16. The reforms, unveiled at the United Nations in New York,

Erdoğan visits White House with over $50 billion shopping list
For the first time in six years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is visiting the White House, bringing a series of major deals aimed at restoring the strained relations between Turkey and the United States.

Trump’s U-turn on Ukraine: from concessions to Moscow to full territorial recovery
A fresh shift in Donald Trump’s position on the Ukraine war has been reported by CNN, raising concern across the West and creating unease among allies. The U.S. President, who previously argued that Kyiv should

Mitsotakis at Greek-American community luncheon: Greece returns strongly
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed a luncheon organized by 28 Greek-Australian organizations, highlighting the progress of the Greek economy and the return of young Greeks from abroad. Mitsotakis described it as a “privilege” to

Mitsotakis at UN: Considering a ban on social media for children under 16
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at the “Protecting Children in the Digital Age” event hosted by Australia during the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, announced that Greece is seriously considering banning social

