
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
Barnier: EU ready to respond to Turkish provocations
Michel Barnier, the European Union’s chief negotiator for Brexit, reiterated on Monday EU readiness to respond accordingly in case Turkey carries out illegal hydrocarbon drilling activities, noting that the EU stands clearly behind Cyprus. Barnier,

Ceremonies for the 100th Anniversary of the Pontic Genocide Culminate at the Turkish Consulate
The ceremonies for the Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Pontian Greeks’ genocide on Sunday culminated at the Turkish Consulate with Pontic associations delivering a resolution. The ceremonies, that were organized by the Pan-Pontian

100 Years of Silence
Pontus (“sea” in Greek),is an historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Anatolia, Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region and its

Temple of Nemesis found under an ancient Greek Theatre. Here’s Why…
A Temple of Nemesis has recently been unearthed under the ruins of an ancient theatre in Mytilene, on the Greek island of Lesbos. In the ancient Greek and Roman world, Nemesis was the goddess who

Golden Dawn ballots destroyed with antiseptic by unknown perpetrators
Unknown perpetrators have destroyed the whole load of municipality elections ballots of the far-right party Golden Dawn in the suburb of Kallithea, south Athens. The perpetrators used antiseptic Bedatine that soaked into the 92,000 ballot

The dilemma of the elections
This year European Parliament and local elections are neither simple nor commonplace. Their crucial nature is patently obvious. They are considered and indeed are a dress rehearsal for the upcoming parliamentary election, which has not

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

East-West prisoner swap: Largest since the Cold War
US President Joe Biden has celebrated the return of three Americans who were imprisoned in Russian penal colonies after secret “sham” trials. They were freed as part of a significant East-West prisoner swap. Biden and

USA: We are working to ensure that North Macedonia respects the Prespa agreement
The assurance that the US is working to ensure that the new government of North Macedonia respects the Prespa Agreement was underlined by Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien. During

Man accused of plotting the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, reaches plea deal
The man accused of plotting the September 11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and two of his accomplices have reached a plea deal with US prosecutors, the Pentagon said Wednesday local time. The trio have reportedly

Maduro under scrutiny at the International Criminal Court?
OAS Secretary General recommends his arrest for bloodshed in Venezuela The turmoil in Venezuela following the recent election results continues to escalate, drawing international reactions. On Wednesday, Luis Almagro, the Secretary General of the Organization

Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran
Tehran: Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion immediately fell on Israel, which has vowed to kill Haniyeh and

Italy and China forge three-year action plan as Meloni aims to reset ties
Italy and China signed a three-year action plan on Sunday to implement past agreements and explore new forms of cooperation, announced Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during her official visit to Beijing. That’s a rather

