
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

Coalition pushes Albanese to meet Trump amid AUKUS uncertainty
Australia’s opposition is urging Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to urgently secure a meeting with US President Donald Trump, following news that the Trump administration is reviewing the AUKUS security pact. The review casts doubt over the

Strategic Gap: Australia ranks 15th in global defence spending amid growing regional threats
As geopolitical tensions mount, Australia finds itself under increasing pressure to reassess its military preparedness. New data has revealed that the country ranks only 15th globally in defence spending – far behind nations like Saudi

Police under fire for failing to warn women about released violent partners
Victoria Police is facing fierce criticism after admitting it does not have the resources to warn women when their violent former partners are released from jail. The decision came despite a recommendation from State Coroner

Moira Deeming referred to IBAC over alleged preselection bribe offer
Victorian Liberal MP Moira Deeming has been referred to the state’s anti-corruption body, IBAC, following explosive allegations she offered to withdraw bankruptcy proceedings against former Liberal leader John Pesutto in exchange for guaranteed preselection for

RBA rate cuts could add $141,000 to property prices by 2026
Australian home prices are poised to rise by as much as 12 per cent—equating to an extra $141,000 on the median house price in the capital cities—if the Reserve Bank of Australia cuts the cash rate

Costeen Hatzi sends heartfelt message to Nick Kyrgios after breakup
Influencer and entrepreneur Costeen Hatzi has opened up publicly for the first time since her high-profile breakup with Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios, offering a message of kindness and reflection amid their split. Costeen Hatzi

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.

Controversial Migration Bill sparks outcry in Greek Parliament
Left-wing parties denounce asylum restrictions as unconstitutional and “shameful” A new migration bill tabled by the Greek government has triggered a political firestorm in Parliament, with opposition parties accusing the Mitsotakis administration of violating international

Mourtzoukou confession shocks Greece: “I wanted to hurt someone”
The Greek public is reeling from the horrifying confession of 25-year-old Eirini Mourtzoukou, who has admitted to killing four children, including her own daughters and her baby sister. Following her arrest on Monday at a

Greece moves to clamp down on migrant arrivals from Libya with detention and asylum ban
As arrivals spike in Crete, the government revives 2020 border strategies and seeks deeper cooperation with Eastern Libya The Greek government has announced tough new measures to curb illegal immigration from North Africa, particularly from

Greece tables emergency asylum bill – Immediate deportations for illegal entries from North Africa
The Greek Parliament is debating today a controversial emergency amendment that imposes a three-month suspension on asylum applications by individuals entering the country illegally via sea routes from North Africa. The amendment, attached to a

4.4 Magnitude earthquake strikes off Amorgos coast – no damage reported
A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck off the coast of Amorgos in the early hours of Thursday, sparking concern among residents but causing no reported damage or injuries. According to the Geodynamic Institute of Athens, the

Oropos fire: Fierce overnight battle with flames – improvement in Asprochori, concerns shift to Sykamino
A large wildfire continues to burn in the Oropos region of Attica, with two active fronts threatening local communities. One front is advancing toward Asprochori and the other toward Sykamino, where the situation is currently

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

Australia at centre of AUKUS push as UK and US call for faster delivery and greater burden sharing
Australia has been thrust firmly into the spotlight of the AUKUS security pact, with both the United Kingdom and United States urging Canberra to accelerate its commitments and take on a greater share of the

Germany: Record number of bankruptcies for businesses and individuals
Germany is experiencing its highest number of bankruptcies since 2014, with experts warning that the peak of the crisis “has not yet been reached.” According to the credit rating agency Creditreform, approximately 23,900 companies will

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

