
Australia deploys Wedgetail surveillance aircraft to Gulf as Iran conflict escalates
Australia will deploy a Royal Australian Air Force surveillance aircraft to the Middle East after a request from the United Arab Emirates, as regional tensions escalate amid Iranian attacks involving drones and rockets. Prime Minister

Prime Minister Albanese confirms direct line to President Trump
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that he now has a direct line of communication with United States President Donald Trump, putting to rest months of speculation and political criticism over his alleged lack of

Nationals vote to scrap 2050 Net Zero target, calling for “alternative” climate path
Australia’s National Party has voted to abandon its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 — a landmark decision that reignites internal Coalition tensions and challenges the nation’s long-term climate goals. The move, confirmed

Immigration concerns surge as One Nation’s support doubles amid public backlash
Public anxiety over immigration has surged dramatically in Australia, with new polling showing it has overtaken the economy and climate change as one of the nation’s top political issues. A Freshwater Strategy survey released this

$7.9 billion bulk billing overhaul aims to make GP visits free for more Australians
A major transformation of Australia’s Medicare system came into effect today, with a $7.9 billion bulk billing overhaul designed to expand access to free GP consultations across the country. The federal government’s reform, introduced from

Hamas seeks to overturn Australian terror designation through Federal Court
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has taken the unprecedented step of intervening in an Australian Federal Court case, seeking to overturn its designation as a terrorist organisation. The move forms part of a case launched

Wave of violence in retail stores
Australia’s retail sector is facing a disturbing surge in violence, with Bunnings and Kmart workers subjected to more than 1,000 physical assaults and threats every month, according to their parent company, Wesfarmers. The alarming data

Greece’s political crisis intensifies amid scandal storm
A society at boiling point amid daily scandals and misuse of public funds – growing calls for immediate elections, as the public dismisses manipulated polling Greek society is increasingly on edge, with daily scandals and the alleged misuse of public funds fuelling public anger. Greece’s political crisis intensifies amid scandal

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

Archaeology Piece of skull found in Greece ‘is oldest human fossil outside Africa’
A broken skull chiselled from a lump of rock in a cave in Greece is the oldest modern human fossil ever found outside Africa, researchers claim. The partial skull was discovered in the Apidima cave

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

The Battle of the Strait of Hormuz
For the past few hours, amid a howling south-westerly wind (gusts exceeding 50 mph), reflecting on the The Battle of the Strait of Hormuz and practical realities of the United States attempting to blockade all maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports. Admiral James Stavridis, a familiar “authoritative voice” within

One of the Kashmir shooters was a former paratrooper of the Pakistan Army’s Special Services
The Pahalgam attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, 2025, resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians, including 24 Indian tourists, one Nepali national, and a local guide. The assailants, identified as members of the

Karystianou, “For three minutes, my daughter was alive”
In a powerful statement to the Sunday Times, one of Britain’s leading newspapers, Maria Karystianou expressed her determination to see justice served in the Tempi rail disaster. Karystianou, “For three minutes, my daughter was alive”,

Pope Francis Dies at 88: A Legacy of Unity, Compassion, and His Enduring Bond with Greece
Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church, passed away on Easter Monday, 21 April 2025, at the age of 88. His death occurred at his residence in the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Vatican

Archbishop’s Easter message calls for the ‘Expulsion of the Turkish invader”
The Easter message of Archbishop George of Cyprus, as translated into Turkish and broadcast by a Turkish Cypriot “news agency,” has drawn sharp criticism from Turkish Cypriot politicians. The Archbishop’s Easter message calls for the

Greece defeats Hungary to win Women’s Water Polo World Cup
Greece defeats Hungary to win Women’s Water Polo World Cup in Chengdu, China, overcoming Hungary 13–9 on Easter Sunday morning. Harry Pavlidis’ side earned their place in the final after a thrilling 15–13 win over

Why ASEAN won’t abandon China for Washington
After Vietnam, this should give Trump a rather strong indication that ASEAN countries have no interest in following Washington’s lead in decoupling from China. In fact, quite the opposite is happening. And it makes perfect

