
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

NSW officers admit assaulting naked woman in mental health crisis
Two former NSW police officers have admitted to assaulting a 48-year-old naked woman who was experiencing a psychotic episode on a Sydney street in January 2023. Nathan Black (28) and Timothy Trautsch (30), both off-duty

Crackdown on antisemitism: Albanese warned to cut funding to universities failing to act
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under mounting pressure to withdraw public funding from universities, programs, and individuals who tolerate or fail to combat antisemitism, following a major report released today. The report, authored by Australia’s

Australia may face higher AUKUS costs and pressure to join US-China conflict
Australia’s nuclear submarine deal under AUKUS could become more costly and politically fraught, as the US Department of Defence reviews the trilateral agreement under President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. A report from The Age

Bipartisan support for PBS amid Trump’s Pharma tariff threat
Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 200% tariff on pharmaceutical imports has united Australia’s political leadership in support of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). The Albanese government reaffirmed its commitment that the PBS is “not

Qantas confirms data breach affected 5.7 million customers, criminal contact made
Qantas has confirmed that 5.7 million of its customers have had personal data compromised in a major cybersecurity breach, with the company now contacting those affected and working with law enforcement following contact from a

ATO GST scam rocks public sector as taxpayer losses hit $2 billion
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is facing one of the worst integrity scandals in its history, after it was revealed that a massive GST refund fraud—amplified on social media—has cost taxpayers over $2 billion. So

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.

Cretan Mafia: Suspects hurled insults and sarcasm as they appeared before prosecutor
48-hour extension granted for testimonies. Tense scenes unfolded yesterday afternoon at the Chania Courthouse, as the first defendants in the major criminal case that has shaken Crete were brought before the authorities. According to police,

Mitsotakis attends signing for new chair on Alexander the Great at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
In the presence of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a memorandum of cooperation was signed for the establishment of a new academic chair at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), dedicated to Alexander the Great. The

Zoe Konstantopoulou attacks Alexis Tsipras: “What he misses is the money of power”
Zoe Konstantopoulou, president of the Freedom Movement (Plevsi Eleftherias), launched a sharp attack on former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, criticizing his political and personal ambitions. Speaking on Open TV, Konstantopoulou claimed that Tsipras’ desire to return to the political

Chatzivasileiou: “Europe must be ready to defend its common values”
A strong message on the future of European security was delivered in Copenhagen by Tasos Chatzivasileiou, MP for Serres and Secretary for International Relations of New Democracy, who headed the Greek parliamentary delegation at the

Sokratis Famellos calls for joint action of progressive parties on Gaza
In a move to coordinate and strengthen Greece’s diplomatic stance amid the crisis in Gaza, Sokratis Famellos, leader of SYRIZA–Progressive Alliance, reached out today to the heads of progressive opposition parties. His goal is to promote

Apostolos Vesyropoulos Dies – Tragic irony of missing defibrillator
The sudden death of Apostolos Vesyropoulos, Secretary of the Parliamentary Group of New Democracy and Member of Parliament for Imathia, at the age of 59, has shocked Greece’s political community. A tragic irony surrounds his passing, as Vesyropoulos had

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

Trump extends “olive branch” to Mamdani after New York election victory
Just weeks after dismissing Zohran Mamdani as “the communist running for mayor” and warning he might cut funding or even leave New York if Mamdani won, President Donald Trump has dramatically shifted his tone, offering

Diplomatic flurry in Paris as Barrot holds talks with European ministers on Ukraine and the Trump Plan
Paris is entering a phase of heightened diplomatic activity as European governments attempt to navigate growing pressure over the war in Ukraine and the controversial peace proposal put forward by Washington. France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël

Guardian: Ukraine peace plan appears to be a direct translation from Russian
Growing criticism surrounds a proposed 28-point peace plan for the war in Ukraine, with many observers arguing that the document reflects the strategic interests—and even the linguistic fingerprints—of the Kremlin. According to The Guardian, a

Trump’s “Peace Plan” branded a fantasy as critics warn Russia will only accept battlefield reality
A Ukrainian lawmaker has published what he claims is the Ukrainian translation of US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace plan — a document that, if genuine, outlines sweeping security, territorial and military conditions for

The Norwegian energy success story and what Greece can learn
As part of my ongoing analysis on NewsBreaks artilce regarding energy policy and national resource management, Michalis Christodoulides examine here how Norway transformed its hydrocarbon reserves into a long-term national advantage — and what lessons

Michael Rubin issues stinging indictment of Turkish human rights abuses
Michael Rubin — a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and one of Washington’s most experienced analysts on Turkey and the broader Middle East — has published a blistering commentary accusing Ankara of systemic

