
3 Interest Rate cuts spark biggest Home Loan rush since the Pandemic
Australia’s housing market is experiencing an unprecedented surge in home loan applications, driven by three consecutive interest rate cuts in 2025 that have significantly boosted buyers’ borrowing power. According to recent data from Commonwealth Bank

Australia considers new Road Usage Tax as part of broader fiscal reform
The Australian federal government is considering introducing a new road usage tax, as part of broader tax reform and the transition to new mobility trends. The proposal emerged following a three-day productivity forum in Canberra,

New report shows Australians embracing AI in the workplace
Australian workers are optimistic about artificial intelligence adoption and the impact it will have in the workplace, with a new report from the Tech Council of Australia (TCA) finding most workers believe technology has improved

Australia-Israel diplomatic standoff: Visa revocations for Australian representatives to Palestine
An unprecedented diplomatic confrontation has erupted between Australia and Israel following the Australian government’s decision to recognise the Palestinian state. This move triggered a series of retaliatory actions, with the Israeli government revoking visas for

Covid-19 linked to accelerated blood vessel ageing, Australian patients included in major global study
A major international study involving Australian participants has revealed that Covid-19 may accelerate the ageing of blood vessels, particularly in women, raising fresh concerns about the long-term cardiovascular risks of the virus. The research, published

Australian meth, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin use jumps 34% in one year
Australians consumed 34 per cent more methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. The survey found that 22.2 tonnes of these

Nationwide ban on abusive childcare workers could take a year, Attorney-General warns
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has admitted that urgent measures to close loopholes in Australia’s childcare system, which are being exploited by child abusers, may take up to 12 months to implement. Speaking ahead of a meeting

Sokratis Famellos calls for joint action of progressive parties on Gaza
In a move to coordinate and strengthen Greece’s diplomatic stance amid the crisis in Gaza, Sokratis Famellos, leader of SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance, reached out today to the heads of progressive opposition parties. His goal is to promote unified positions toward the government, urging Greece to take initiatives to halt the invasion of

Athens-Piraeus again in ‘top 10’ in terms of global shipping hubs
The Athens-Piraeus area has returned to the world’s top 10 shipping hubs, according to a recent study by Baltic Exchange. The Greek capital bumped Korea’s Pusan from the “top 10” list, while Singapore remained first,

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake in Kozani, Northern Greece
According to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the epicenter of the quake was located 8 klm south of Kozani, in northern Greece. The earthquake struck at 13:50 on Sunday with a

Greece’s Milos voted “Best Island in Europe” by Travel & Leisure Magazine
The readers of the famous “Travel + Leisure” magazine recently voted the Greek island of Milos as “the best island in Europe” for 2019. The list is comprised of 15 islands across Europe, with Greece

Swordfish killed by swimmers on a beach in Chalkida, Greece
A swordfish which swam its way to the shallow waters of a beach in Chalkida on the island of Evia, was killed by beachgoers. The swordfish went to the shallow water to give birth and

Autonomy
The government intends to allow universities and not the education ministry to set the number of students they will admit each year. That addresses a basic need, the need (for many and varied reasons) for

Alarm bell
To avoid the errors of the past the current government must move swiftly to address the deficiencies left behind by previous ones. The extent of the natural disasters by which Greece was struck over the

Ukraine thriller continues – Trump: “In two weeks we’ll know if peace is possible”
The war in Ukraine, now over three and a half years ongoing, remains at a critical juncture. Former U.S. President Donald Trump continues diplomatic efforts to arrange a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an attempt to achieve peace, though significant obstacles persist. Tonight,

Baltimore: Francis Scott Key Bridge collapses – 6 presumed dead
via the Associated Press A cargo ship lost power and rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore early Tuesday, destroying the span in a matter of seconds and plunging it into the river in a

Moscow terror attack a blow to Putin, who promised Russia security
Barely a week since Vladimir Putin secured his fifth presidential term, Russia has been plunged into carnage and disarray. The appalling attack on the vast Crocus City Hall concert venue and shopping complex near Moscow,

Shock and dismay from the UN and EU over terrorist attacks in Moscow, but who was behind it?
The EU is shocked and dismayed by the reports of a terrorist attack in the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. The EU condemns any attacks against civilians. Our thoughts are with all those Russian citizens

World Happiness Report 2024
While the top ten countries remain largely unchanged, there has been much more action in the top twenty Finland has retained its position as the happiest country in the world for the seventh consecutive year,

Putin: Is he now more powerful than ever?
Vladimir Putin wins fifth term as President of Russia with a record percentage Vladimir Putin has secured his fifth term as president of Russia with a record-breaking percentage, amid protests and allegations. What does this

War in Ukraine: from caution to panic, what Macron’s change of heart hides
This is an exceedingly rare and fascinating article in the French magazine Marianne, who got access to “several confidential defense reports” from the French army on the situation in Ukraine: https://marianne.net/monde/europe/guerre-en-ukraine-endurance-russe-echec-de-la-contre-offensive-ce-que-cache-le-virage-de-macron . This explains the