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
Labor’s First Home Buyer Scheme sparks fears of price surge and market instability
Just two days after its launch, Labor’s new first home buyer scheme has come under fire for allegedly driving property prices up almost overnight. A key plank of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s re-election campaign, the
Australian activists detained in Israeli prison – Canberra demands access and answers
Australian consular officials are heading to a notorious Israeli prison where five Australian citizens are reportedly being held after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid,
Andrew Hastie Resigns from Sussan Ley’s Frontbench Amid Immigration Policy Rift
Liberal leadership hopeful Andrew Hastie has dramatically quit Sussan Ley’s Coalition frontbench after refusing to accept new expectations set by the Opposition Leader, including being sidelined from leading the party’s immigration response. The West Australian
Brett Button appeals 32-year sentence over deadly Hunter Valley bus crash
The driver of a bus that crashed in the New South Wales Hunter Valley in 2023, killing ten wedding guests, has appealed his 32-year jail sentence, arguing it was “manifestly excessive.” Brett Andrew Button is
NSW Police moves to block pro-Palestine march at the Sydney Opera House
New South Wales Police have filed a legal action in the Supreme Court seeking to block a planned pro-Palestine march involving an estimated 10,000 participants set to take place at the Sydney Opera House on
Melbourne launches new flood risk register – hundreds of thousands of homes to receive climate hazard rating
In a landmark shift for urban planning and climate adaptation, Melbourne Water has unveiled a new flood risk register that will classify hundreds of thousands of homes across the city into six hazard categories (1–6).
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.
“Medusa 14”: A Greek–Egyptian message of strength and deterrence in the southeastern Mediterranean
The large-scale air–naval exercise “Medusa 14” is in full progress in the wider area of Alexandria, Egypt, from 16 to 26 November. The exercise, which began a decade ago as a bilateral joint-operation initiative between
Greece expands tourism footprint with new GNTO (EOT) office opening in Melbourne, Australia
Greece has taken a significant step toward strengthening its presence in the Australian tourism market with the official launch of a new Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office in Melbourne. The office, housed within the
“His hand worked like a compressor, it was brutal” – Eyewitnesses describe 29-year-old’s fatal beating of 58-year-old in Neos Kosmos
Eyewitnesses have described extreme violence in the assault that led to the death of a 58-year-old man in Neos Kosmos. The 29-year-old attacker reportedly targeted the man because he had blocked him on the road.
Dendias’ stark message on war casualties alarms Europe
A storm has erupted in recent days over Defence Minister Nikos Dendias’ deeply unsettling comments about a supposed shift in Europe’s “culture of sacrifice”. Dendias’ stark message on war casualties alarms Europe and Greece. In
Mitsotakis calls for return of Parthenon Marbles, highlights tourism strategy
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reaffirmed Greece’s long-standing position that the Parthenon Marbles should be returned to the Acropolis Museum, describing the issue as “highly complex” and noting that progress in negotiations with the British
Over 23,000 protesters marked the 52nd anniversary of Polytechnic Uprising
Over 23,000 people participated in peaceful demonstrations across Greece yesterday to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic Uprising. Large gatherings were also reported in Thessaloniki, Patras, Larissa, and other major cities. The central
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
Tim Walz: Veteran military man chosen by Kamala Harris as Vice Presidential candidate
Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has selected Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate, a decision that surprised some observers. At 60, Walz has held various roles as a former teacher, coach, and military
“Drums of war” in the Middle East: Awaiting Iran’s retaliation – Israel on high alert
The Middle East appears ready to explode as the war atmosphere intensifies just hours after the U.S. declared that Tehran might attack Israel within the next 24 hours. All eyes are on Iran and the
Stock markets around the world are crashing right now, but why?
The answer to this question is the Yen carry trade, a term you’ll probably hear many times this week. So what exactly is the Yen carry trade and why did it cause a market downturn?
Japan’s Nikkei is down 12%, the largest drop ever
Japan’s Nikkei is down 12%, the largest point ever, as fears of a US recession shook global markets. The Topix index erased its yearly gains, experiencing its steepest sell-off since “Black Monday” in October 1987.
Will Turkey attack NATO with American ships?
President Joe Biden pushed through his sale of F-16s and upgrade kits to Turkey on the logic that the deal was necessary to get Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to drop his objection to Sweden
Australia’s preeminent strategic thinkers: The era of Anglo-Saxon dominance in the Pacific is ending
This might be the most compelling and influential argument against AUKUS, particularly because it comes from one of Australia’s foremost strategic thinkers: Hugh White, the inaugural Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and
