
Australia to mandate cash payments for essential purchases from 2026
Australia will introduce a nationwide cash mandate requiring major grocery and fuel retailers to accept cash payments from January 1, 2026, in a move aimed at protecting consumers who rely on physical currency for everyday

Manhunt for Dezi Freeman intensifies as new police taskforce takes over
Victoria Police have reaffirmed their commitment to capturing fugitive Dezi Freeman, the man accused of killing two police officers before disappearing into dense bushland near his home in Porepunkah, in the state’s north-east. A newly

Senior CFMEU official sacked over alleged bribery scandal
A senior figure within the Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU), and close associate of ousted leader John Setka, has been sacked following explosive allegations that he accepted bribes and secret benefits from construction

Australia sees record haul of illegal cigarettes and vapes in bold smuggling crackdown
Australia’s border authorities have intercepted a wave of illegal cigarette and vape smuggling, seizing more than 586 million cigarettes and over three million vapes between July and September 2025 — marking one of the largest

What are critical minerals, and why they matter to Australia
Critical minerals are having a moment. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is at the White House to promote Australia’s rich deposits to President Donald Trump. What are critical minerals, and why they matter to Australia. Meanwhile, China, which

Opposition calls for senate inquiry into Chinese-linked net zero project
The federal opposition in Australia has called for a formal investigation into a $2.6 billion renewable energy project after it was revealed that Genaspi Energy, the Australian company behind the initiative, had outsourced key components

Australia poised for economic boom from ‘game-changer’ rare earths deal
Australia is set to reap massive economic benefits from a landmark rare earths agreement signed between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Donald Trump, described by industry leaders as a “game-changer” for the nation’s

Mitsotakis unveils major housing, loan and farming measures during Budget speech
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis used his address to Parliament during the debate on the State Budget to announce a series of significant policy initiatives targeting housing affordability, Swiss franc loan holders, and farmers. The announcements were described as some of the most substantial interventions of the current parliamentary term.

Revolution! Modern art exhibition at the archaeological site of Delos
An unprecedented exhibition by British sculptor Antony Gormley at the archaeological site of Delos. 29 iron “bodyforms” have been scattered among the ancient columns and stones of what it once was the holy sanctuary for

Crafting a regional policy to contain Erdoğan
Turkey poses a long-term threat to the security of the Middle East. Containing Neo-Ottomanism requires a defensive policy that integrates Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and theKurds into a regional alliance. A new era has dawned in

Micro-brewery sector in Greece surging on back of global beer trend
A burgeoning presence but limited profits are, in general terms, the main characteristics of the micro-brewing sector in Greece so far, although forecasts continue to be very bright – as Greek consumers are following a

Five suitors in next phase of IGB pipeline tender
Five consortia have been approved for the next phase of an international tender to build the Greece – Bulgaria (IGB) gas inter-connector pipeline between the Greek and Bulgarian natural gas grids, a project worth 145

Paralysis
With less than one month to go before the European Parliament election, the difficult situation in which Prime Minister Alexis finds himself is constantly worsening. With the cards stacked against them, none of the initiatives

Ancient Greek shipwreck now open to divers
A remarkably preserved shipwreck on the northern coast of the Greek island Aloneissos has become a remarkable new underwater museum. The ship has played a major role in the way archeologists understand the art of

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 in the Eastern Mediterranean. Speaking to the Libyan News Agency, just days after an official

SIPRI reports record arms sales in 2024
Global arms sales hit record $679 billion amid ongoing conflicts The world’s top 100 arms manufacturers reached record revenues in 2024, totaling $679 billion (€586 billion), marking a 5.9% increase compared to the previous year,

US fighter jets patrol international airspace around Venezuela, WSJ reports
US fighter jets have been conducting near-continuous patrols in international airspace surrounding Venezuela amid sharply escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday. The development comes shortly

Global Airbus warning grounds Jetstar A320 flights, causes widespread travel disruption
A major global aviation alert has triggered significant travel chaos, with Jetstar confirming that several of its Airbus A320 aircraft are currently unable to depart due to a critical software issue affecting thousands of jets

Israel breaks up Turkish-linked network smuggling arms and funds to West Bank
Israel breaks up Turkish-linked network smuggling arms and funds to West Bank, uncovering what officials describe as one of the most significant counter-terrorism operations of 2025. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police

Cyprus calls on Turkey to negotiate maritime boundaries under UNCLOS
Cyprus Calls on Turkey to negotiate maritime boundaries under UNCLOS, with President Nikos Christodoulides extending an open invitation to Ankara to sit down with the Republic of Cyprus and engage in direct talks on defining

EU delivers landmark decision: Digital platforms to be held liable for online fraud under sweeping new rules
The European Union has reached a historic agreement introducing strict new obligations for digital platforms, social media companies and banks, making them jointly responsible for combating the rapid rise of online fraud. After eight hours

