
Fresh scrutiny over federal politicians’ expenses rules after pre-election change
Fresh questions are being raised about the expenses federal politicians are entitled to claim, after revelations that key rules governing travel allowances were altered just weeks before the last federal election. While Prime Minister Anthony

Australia unwittingly buys nearly $1bn in fuel linked to Russian oil, analysis shows
Australia has unknowingly helped funnel close to $1 billion into refineries processing Russian crude oil, according to new sector analysis revealing the extent to which imported fuel is tied to Moscow’s war economy. Data from

Liberal MP Roma Britnell walks out of parliamentary hearing over missing data on pregnancies and STIs in state care
A tense parliamentary hearing erupted into open frustration on Friday after Liberal MP Roma Britnell stormed out, accusing senior Victorian bureaucrats of repeatedly refusing to supply critical data about the wellbeing of children in state

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

Teen launches High Court challenge against national social media ban
A Sydney high school student has launched an extraordinary High Court challenge against the federal government’s upcoming ban on social media use for children under 16, arguing the new law is unconstitutional and puts young

Why Australian workers are demanding pay transparency and would quit over unfair salaries
A growing number of Australian workers are demanding full salary transparency inside their workplaces, with new research showing a strong belief that pay secrecy primarily benefits employers — not staff. The findings, from recruitment firm

APRA to cap high-risk home loans amid housing boom
Australia’s banking regulator, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), will impose limits on high-risk home loans starting February 1, aiming to curb the rapid buildup of household debt. APRA announced that no more than 20

Greece hails Pierrakakis’ Eurogroup victory as a win for the nation — Implications for Australia–EU relations
Greece’s Minister for National Economy, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, received an overwhelmingly enthusiastic welcome from the parliamentary caucus of New Democracy after his election as President of the Eurogroup. His elevation to one of Europe’s most influential economic positions has been framed in Athens as a national milestone, extending beyond party lines

Gerapetritis: “The Western Balkans must accelerate their path toward the European family”
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called for the acceleration of the Western Balkans’ European integration during the Berlin Process Summit held in London, emphasizing that “the only sure path to peace and prosperity in the

Gerapetritis’ Blunder: The phrase that diminished Greek diplomacy
No matter how much we try to hide it, reality speaks for itself. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under George Gerapetritis seems unable to find its footing. Gerapetritis’ Blunder: The phrase that diminished Greek diplomacy.

Dionysis Savvopoulos: The voice that sang Greece has fallen silent
The beloved Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos has died at the age of 81, marking the end of an era in modern Greek music and culture. Known affectionately as “Nionios,” Savvopoulos was more than a composer

Plevris: Migration alone cannot solve Greece’s demographic challenge
Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, emphasized in a recent interview with Ertnews that migration cannot be treated as a cure-all for the country’s demographic problems. Speaking on Monday evening, Plevris highlighted the

Mitsotakis in the Financial Times: Five golden rules for Europe’s green transition
The European Green Deal stands at a critical crossroads, with soaring energy prices and new geopolitical challenges threatening the EU’s strategy for climate neutrality. In an article for the Financial Times, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Finikounda murders: Athens businessman questioned for 4 hours over crucial phone call after double killing
The investigation into the shocking double murder in Finikounda has entered its main judicial phase, with key testimonies now being collected by the Kalamata investigating magistrate. On Saturday, a businessman from Athens — the employer

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, and Poland to distance themselves from the European Union as part of a bold new

Hamas signals openness to “freezing or storing” weapons as talks enter difficult second phase
Hamas has indicated it is willing to discuss the “freezing or storing” of its weapons arsenal as part of the emerging ceasefire framework with Israel, according to senior official Bassem Naim, who spoke to the

Modi welcomes Putin with full honours in New Delhi
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a ceremonial welcome in India on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting him in a display designed to highlight the deep and enduring ties between the two nations. Putin

Deported neo-Nazi protester arrives in South Africa after visa cancellation
A South African national who took part in a widely condemned neo-Nazi demonstration in Sydney has arrived back in Johannesburg after being deported by Australian authorities. Matthew Gruter, 35, was removed from the country following

Europe’s fear isn’t of Russia, it’s of itself
Europe’s fear isn’t of Russia, it’s of itself. The Guardian splashed its front page with the usual hysteria, hoping readers wouldn’t notice the one line that undercut the entire narrative: “We are not planning to

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

