
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

Mitsotakis govt announces measures to prevent another 2015-like migrant/refugee crisis
A recent spike in the number of landings of vessels carrying irregular migrants and would-be asylum seekers to a handful of eastern Aegean islands generated a Greek government reaction on Saturday, with a top defense

Greek FM summons Turkey’s Ambassador over mass migrants’ arrivals
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias summoned the Turkish ambassador to Athens in order to express Greece’s deep dissatisfaction over the increased influx of migrants from Turkey, that culminated with the unprecedented mass arrivals of more than

Major spike in number of illegal migrants, would-be asylum seekers landing in Lesvos last week
A significant spike in the number of small craft carrying third country nationals, mostly Afghans, to the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos (Mytilene) was recorded on Thursday, with no less than 13 flimsy inflatable vessels

Cosco-led Piraeus Port Authority submits revised master plan; worth 800 mln€
A revised master plan by the Cosco-managed Piraeus Port Authority was tabled on Friday for review by a shipping ministry ports committee in the coming period. The revised master plan, which according to the port

Mitsotakis to Observer: Athens will ask for loaning of Parthenon Marbles amid 2021 series of events
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis referred to the “loaning” of the Parthenon Marbles – 14 friezes or metopes – from the British Museum in London to Greece on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of

Greek state collects 1.138 bln€ with 26-week T-bills issue; yield at 0.15%
Demand for a new tranche of 26-week T-bills was slightly down on Wednesday, compared to similar issues over the past few months, with an auction of 875 million euros of paper attracting bids of 1.536

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

Erdogan: “We will take our share in the Mediterranean – win-win Cooperation with Neighbours”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, returning from the UN General Assembly in New York, reiterated Ankara’s hardline stance on the Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus. Speaking to journalists aboard his flight, Erdoğan declared Turkey’s determination to

Trump and Erdogan meet at the White House – “We can make a deal on F-35s, but Erdogan must do something for us first”
U.S. President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a long-awaited meeting at the White House on Thursday evening, in an atmosphere of cautious optimism. The two leaders met for over two hours,

Australia’s social media age laws praised as ‘world-leading’ at UN
Australia has taken centre stage on the global arena after passing landmark legislation raising the minimum age for social media use from 13 to 16. The reforms, unveiled at the United Nations in New York,

Erdoğan visits White House with over $50 billion shopping list
For the first time in six years, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is visiting the White House, bringing a series of major deals aimed at restoring the strained relations between Turkey and the United States.

Trump’s U-turn on Ukraine: from concessions to Moscow to full territorial recovery
A fresh shift in Donald Trump’s position on the Ukraine war has been reported by CNN, raising concern across the West and creating unease among allies. The U.S. President, who previously argued that Kyiv should

Mitsotakis at Greek-American community luncheon: Greece returns strongly
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed a luncheon organized by 28 Greek-Australian organizations, highlighting the progress of the Greek economy and the return of young Greeks from abroad. Mitsotakis described it as a “privilege” to

