
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

Australian Liberal Party abandons Net Zero policy amid internal divisions
In a dramatic shift, the federal Liberal Party has officially abandoned its policy of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while committing to remain part of the Paris Agreement and acknowledging a carbon-neutral future

Albanese slams Coalition over Net Zero infighting
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has sharply criticised the Liberal Party’s deep divisions over its net zero emissions policy, calling the ongoing internal conflict a “clownshow” and warning that Australians “cannot afford to keep paying the

Fractured Liberals on the brink: Can Sussan Ley hold the line?
With tensions mounting inside the Liberal Party over its energy and identity crisis, senior MPs have rallied — at least publicly — behind Opposition Leader Sussan Ley. Fractured Liberals on the brink: Can Sussan Ley

Australia Post issues urgent warning on Christmas scams
As the holiday season approaches, Australia Post has issued an urgent warning to Australians to remain vigilant against scams targeting online shoppers and sellers. The festive period, with its surge in online transactions, provides fertile

Cost-of-living pressures push Australians into side hustles
As the cost of living continues to rise, more Australians are turning to “side hustles” — small, independent income streams — to supplement their wages and manage day-to-day expenses. According to new research from Westpac,

Millions of Australians face sharp rise in health insurance premiums amid soaring costs
Millions of Australians with private health insurance are set to face a significant increase in their annual premiums next year, marking the steepest rise in more than five years. The change comes as private health

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.

50% of waste in Greece’s seas consists of plastic bags & bottles, aluminum cans
Fifty percent of waste found into Greek seas are plastic bags, plastic bottles and aluminum cans for beer and soft drinks, Professor Giorgos Papatheodorou of the Marine Geology and Natural Oceanography Laboratory at Patras University

Speculation of price hikes for Greeks’ beloved souvlaki/gyros causes outcry, social media frenzy
The recent international rally in meat prices, emanating from the devastating effects of African swine fever disease in China – the world’s biggest producer and consumer of pork – has touched a “raw nerve” in

More than 300,000 ancient treasures unearthed during metro digging in Thessaloniki
Metro digging in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece, has unearthed an extraordinary treasure trove of more than 300,000 ancient artefacts, from gold wreaths and rings to statues of the goddess Aphrodite. The construction of a metro network

Ancient Greek migrants built the famous Stonehenge, DNA reveals
Britons who built the famous Stonehenge were product of ancient wave of migrant farmers, that is of Greeks from Asia Minor, DNA tests have revealed. Ancient skeletons have revealed that the arrival of population from

First two PPC orders for LNG approved for July
State-run Public Power Corp. (PPC) is ready to place its first-ever orders for liquefied natural gas (LNG) over the summer from the Revythoussa isle terminal off Piraeus, a move aimed to reduce power generation costs.
Bill protecting unlicensed buildings on beaches revised
A controversial draft bill that has been widely criticized as giving the green light to illegal construction on the country’s coasts has been revised by the government and resubmitted to Parliament. The bill that was

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

US enters shutdown for first time since 2018: what it means and who is affected
The United States officially entered a government shutdown at midnight on Tuesday (2 p.m. Wednesday Melbourne time), after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on federal spending. The shutdown is expected to place

China temporarily bans BHP iron ore exports, raising concerns in Australia
Prime Minister Albanese urges quick resolution to maintain smooth market operations. China has temporarily banned iron ore exports from BHP, Australia’s largest mining company, sparking concern in the Australian government. According to Bloomberg reports, the

Tragedy in the Philippines: At least 26 dead after 6.9-magnitude earthquake – Buildings collapse, dramatic footage emerges
A devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu Island in the Philippines, leaving at least 26 people dead and 147 injured, according to local media. The quake, which hit late Tuesday night, caused widespread destruction, triggering landslides,

Countdown for Hamas: Trump’s ultimatum and pressure from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to accept Gaza Peace Plan
Global attention has turned once again to Gaza, as U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-page peace plan aimed at halting the bloodshed — accompanied by a stern ultimatum. According to Axios and iefimerida.gr,

Anthony Albanese invites UAE retail giant LuLu to Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown keen interest in the international retail chain LuLu Hypermarket, inviting Indian billionaire MA Yusuff Ali to consider expanding the company into Australia. The invitation came during the Prime

US gives green light to AUKUS ahead of Albanese’s visit to Washington
Australia’s largest-ever defence agreement, AUKUS, appears to have successfully passed a US government review, paving the way for its continuation ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month. The review began in

