
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

Iron ore vs AUKUS: Albanese courts $120 billion China trade while walking US defence tightrope.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is continuing his six-day official visit to China, where Australia’s $120 billion iron ore trade is front and centre — but concerns over defence obligations to the US are never far

Canberra on alert: National summit to tackle surge in AI-generated child abuse
Australia is facing an alarming surge in child sexual abuse material generated using artificial intelligence — and this Thursday, the nation’s leading experts and officials will gather in Canberra for an emergency summit. The National

Australia backs ‘status quo’ amid US pressure on Taiwan
In a move that highlights the delicate balance of international relations, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated his government’s stance on Taiwan amidst increasing pressure from the United States. During a visit to Shanghai,

Albanese to raise “full range of issues” in high-stakes China trip
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is embarking on a politically delicate six-day mission to China, vowing to raise the “full range of issues” troubling the bilateral relationship. From the unjust jailing of Australian academic Dr.

Commonwealth Bank executive charged in shocking child exploitation aase
A senior Commonwealth Bank executive has been charged with child exploitation offences after allegedly attempting to lure two underage girls to a Brisbane hotel via a sex worker contact. Christopher McCann, 50, was arrested on

Internal chaos in Trump White House threatens future of AUKUS submarine deal
The AUKUS submarine deal is under renewed scrutiny amid reports of internal dysfunction within the Trump administration, described by insiders as “Game of Thrones politics.” While U.S. Secretary of State Marc Rubio has sought to

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.

Koukolopoulos follows Gervoulanos in warning over PASOK’s stagnant polls
Greek MP and former minister Paris Koukolopoulos has announced that he may raise the issue of PASOK’s stagnant polling in party bodies if there is no recovery by Christmas. Speaking after Pavlos Gervoulanos referenced the

Mitsotakis rules out Turkey’s participation in EU SAFE program amid Aegean disputes
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reiterated that Turkey cannot participate in the EU’s Strategic Armaments Framework (SAFE) program as long as it maintains a casus belli against Greece and disputes the sovereignty of Greek

Mitsotakis: Comprehensive european defense, competitiveness, and green transition on summit agenda
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will participate today Thursday in the European People’s Party Summit and the European Council meeting, where key topics will include defense, security, competitiveness, the green transition, the Middle East, and

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

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

