
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

Aged care homes spending as little as $7 a day on residents food
Some aged care homes spend as little as $7 a day on food for each resident, a royal commission has been told. Celebrity chef Maggie Beer says that sort of budget is inadequate to prepare

Vic wants federal funds to remove cladding
The Commonwealth is being asked to stump up $300 million to help remove dangerous cladding from hundreds of buildings across Victoria. The state Labor government is establishing a $600 million fund, to be overseen by

Asylum seeker tries to set himself on fire at Melbourne detention facility
Another incident of self-harm has occurred in an Australian detention centre. An asylum seeker detained in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation facility has been taken to hospital after trying to set himself on fire, according

No paperwork, increasing rent: Sydney landlords exploiting international students
International students are being exploited by landlords in Sydney’s tight housing market, a new report has found. International students in Sydney are falling victim to financial exploitation by dodgy landlords, who are overcharging on bonds,

Record number of Aussies rush to file tax returns
A record number of Australians have lodged their tax returns in the hope of getting their hands on a hefty refund. About 650,000 people have already filed their tax returns, with this year’s early rush

Better Managing Australia’s future population growth
Key elements of the Morrison Government’s plan to better manage Australia’s future population have come into effect today. Launched in March this year, the Population Plan has four broad components: Easing the population pressures

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

Turkey eyes area off Kastellorizo
Athens is observing with concern as Turkey continues to plan to prospect for hydrocarbons south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo despite warnings from the European Union of sanctions over its drilling off Cyprus. The

€2,000 for every newborn child in Greece as of 1.1.2020
Deputy Labor Minister Domna Michaelidou said that 2,000 euros will be given to parents of every new born child in Greece as of 1st January, 2020. She revised her statement beginning of the week that

Greece bans imported pork from Bulgaria amid African swine fever outbreak
Bulgarian Agriculture Minister Desislava Taneva said on Friday that Greece has decided to ban imported pork from her country, due to an outbreak of African Swine Fever disease that has been detected in thousands of animals

Major archaeological discoveries made in Neolithic site in Central Greece
Greece’s Ministry of Culture issued a statement on Friday afternoon, regarding recent discoveries in a neolithic settlement that is located in Phthiotis region and dates back to 6,000 – 5,800 BC. The settlement, known to

EU prepares sanctions as Turkey presses on with drilling off Cyprus coast
The EU has agreed to bring financial and political sanctions against Turkey after repeat warnings over the past weeks. European Union officials on Mon-day agreed political and financial sanctions against Turkey after Ankara went ahead

Mitsotakis unveils reform-heavy, pro-market policy statements in Parliament address
New Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to practically every reform promised by him and his conservative New Democracy (ND) party over the past four years – and then some – expressing a pro-market, meritocracy-based

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

Libya parliament speaker declares Turkey–Libya memorandum invalid, opens door to talks with Greece, Egypt and Turkey
Libya’s House of Representatives Speaker, Aqila Saleh, has publicly declared the 2019 Turkey–Libya maritime memorandum “invalid,” marking the first such statement in six years and signalling a potential shift in Libya’s approach to maritime disputes

Cyprus–France Strategic Agreement signed in Paris, boosting defence, energy and Schengen cooperation
Cyprus and France have signed a comprehensive Strategic Cooperation Agreement in Paris, elevating their bilateral relationship to a more structured and operational level at a time of growing security challenges across Europe and the Eastern

Leaked US strategy reveals Trump’s plan to break up the EU
A leaked US strategy reveals Trump’s plan to break up the EU, with a draft of a highly classified National Security Strategy (NSS) suggesting that the United States may be pushing for Austria, Italy, Hungary,

Prepare for a coming world War, NATO chief warns
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has issued a stark warning to the alliance, declaring, “We must prepare for a coming world war, NATO chief warns.” Speaking in Berlin, Rutte urged NATO member states to dramatically intensify

Ukraine submits response to latest U.S. peace proposal as diplomatic efforts intensify
Ukraine has formally delivered its response to the latest U.S.-drafted peace proposal aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia, according to officials in Washington and Kyiv cited by CNN. The proposal outlines the creation

China will destroy US military in fight over Taiwan, top secret document
China will destroy US military in fight over Taiwan, according to a leaked top-secret document from the United States Department of Defense known as the “Overmatch Brief.” The report warns that if war erupts between

