
Capital Gains Tax discount reform under consideration
Speculation is intensifying that one of Australia’s most controversial tax concessions, the capital gains tax (CGT) discount, may undergo significant reform as a central feature of this year’s federal budget. Senior government ministers have stopped

Anglicare: It costs more to be poor
Unemployment benefits are not enough to cover basic living costs, according to a new report from Anglicare Australia. The national not-for-profit organisation highlighted the impact of inflation – and cost-of-living increases from energy suppliers that

Study finds two-thirds of retirees less financially secure amid cost of living crisis
Most retirees in Australia are happy with their retirement, but a significant proportion are concerned about their financial security, according to research commissioned by investment firm Challenger and conducted by YouGov. The survey of 1,000

Regional hospitals are collapsing
Regional hospitals are warning they face ‘inevitable closures’ or widespread job losses following a Victorian-wide mandate to cut spending ahead of this year’s state budget. Leaked internal documents reveal that chief executives of many of

Samantha Mostyn: The next Governor General of Australia
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Samantha Mostyn will be the next Governor General of the country. Ms Mostyn, a prominent businesswoman and gender equality advocate, will succeed David Hurley and become Australia’s 28th

“Battle” to release documents from Daniel Andrews’ time in office
In a legal battle with implications for government transparency, Jacinta Allan’s Premier’s Office is fighting to keep secret hundreds of documents from the time of former premier Daniel Andrews. Lawyers for the Premier’s office are

When does daylight saving end?
Australians in most states will get an extra hour’s sleep when clocks go back an hour at the end of daylight saving time in April. The change will bring sunrise and sunset earlier in the

EU–US backed power link shatters Turkey–Libya maritime claims
The Egypt–Greece 3 GW electricity interconnector has received a €9.56 million EU grant to support further studies and implementation. EU–US backed power link shatters Turkey–Libya maritime claims. The European Commission has approved the funding for additional preparatory work on the 3-gigawatt electricity link connecting the power systems of Greece and

Exquisite ancient statuettes of Apollo, Artemis unveiled for first time in Chania next week
A pair of small statuettes, depicting mythical Apollo and his twin sister, Artemis, will be presented on Today at the archaeological museum in the west Cretan city of Chania (Hania), the product of excavations at

Athens municipality: Most quake-damaged buildings are abandoned structures
The city of Athens, the biggest municipality in the greater Athens agglomeration, so far announced that 15 buildings in its boundaries were significantly damaged from the 5.1 on the Richter scale earthquake that struck the

Tears at the Mati victims memorial service one year after deadly fires
Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis attended the memorial service held on Sunday in memory of the 102 victims of the deadly fire in Mati a year ago. “I can assure you that such a tragedy

PM Mitsotakis announces generous tax cuts incl. properties ENFIA
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has set as his top priority to implement his pre-election program and proceed with taxation cuts as soon as possible. In his policy statement late on Saturday, he announced several tax

PIPES: Kastelorizo: Mediterranean flash point
That Athens controls this wisp of land implies it could (but does not yet) claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean Sea extending 200 nautical miles to Kastelorizo. This would reduce the Turkish

EU agrees to sanction turkey for drilling in Cypriot water
A surprisingly muscular response beyond mere threatening rhetoric out of the European Union over Turkey’s violations of Cypriot territorial waters related to offshore drilling operations: the EU has agreed to bring financial and political sanctions

EU–US backed power link shatters Turkey–Libya maritime claims
The Egypt–Greece 3 GW electricity interconnector has received a €9.56 million EU grant to support further studies and implementation. EU–US backed power link shatters Turkey–Libya maritime claims. The European Commission has approved the funding for additional preparatory work on the 3-gigawatt electricity link connecting the power systems of Greece and

Israel orders Doctors Without Borders to halt operations in Gaza by February 28
Israel has announced it will terminate the activities of Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières – MSF) in the Gaza Strip by February 28, citing the organisation’s refusal to provide a list of its Palestinian

Gold and silver plunge as trump’s fed pick sparks $US 15 trillion market wipe-out
Global precious metals markets suffered a dramatic sell-off after US President Donald Trump announced his nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, triggering what analysts described as one of the

Great Power Shield: China & Russia naval move forces Trump into strike-or-stand-down moment
Updated Strategic Assessment (Early hours of Friday, 30 January) The intelligence “wild card” long concealed by Tehran has now been revealed. The entry of China and Russia into the maritime theatre — specifically the Sea

Israel sends shockwaves: “Half of Cyprus is under Turkish occupation and the world looks away”
Israel sends shockwaves: “Half of Cyprus is under Turkish occupation and the world looks away”, as Israel has once again expressed support for Hellenism through a pointed public intervention highlighting the unresolved occupation of the

Strike on Iran looms as Trump issues ‘Ultimatum’ and explicit threat via social media
Strike on Iran looms as Trump issues ‘ultimatum’ with explicit social media threat as geopolitical tensions surge once again. In a move that sharply escalates the crisis, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 28 January,

Macron bans social media for children under 15, mobile phones banned in French schools
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a major policy change that will ban social media use for children under the age of 15 and prohibit mobile phones in schools across France starting from the next

