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
Super beaver moon and meteor showers to illuminate Australian skies tonight
Australian stargazers are in for a celestial spectacle tonight, with a dazzling “super beaver moon” lighting up the night sky, followed by an impressive meteor display later this month. The beaver moon is the traditional
ASIO chief warns: At least three foreign nations willing to kill on Australian soil
Australia’s top intelligence chief has issued one of the country’s starkest national security warnings in years, revealing that at least three foreign nations are willing and capable of carrying out assassinations on Australian soil. Speaking
Reddit and Kick added to Australia’s under-16 social media ban
Australia has expanded its upcoming under-16 social media ban to include Reddit and the Australian streaming platform Kick, just five weeks before the law takes effect. The two platforms join a growing list of services
Interest rates remain unchanged at 3.6% — RBA says “It’s not yet time to ease”
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to keep the official cash rate steady at 3.6%, confirming predictions from the nation’s four major banks and sending a message of “patience” to borrowers hoping for
Jamie Melham makes history with Melbourne Cup triumph aboard Half Yours
History was made at Flemington as Jamie Melham became only the second female jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup, steering Half Yours to victory in the 2025 edition of the iconic race. Ten years
Priya’s Law: new legal protections for bereaved parents after stillbirth or infant loss
A major step forward in compassionate workplace reform has been achieved, as the Australian Parliament passed the landmark “Priya’s Law” on Monday — an amendment to the Fair Work Act ensuring paid parental leave remains
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.
Greece furious over north neighbor’s “Wines of Macedonia”
It came as expected and feared. Companies in North Macedonia omit the geographic term and sell their products with state labeling as simple “Macedonian.” And this despite the Prespes Agreement or because of it that
2,300 Year old Greek Necropolis found in Bari, South Italy
Bari, the capitol of south Italy’s Puglia region was one of the many coastal city states of Magna Greacia (‘Great Greece’) settled by the Greeks from the 8th century BC. The enduring legacy of Greek
Impressive! The moment lights go off as Acropolis joins Earth Hour
It was a moment of magic to see Greece’s famous landmark sinking in the dark. At 8:30 sharp on Saturday night, lights went off in Acropolis as in many other buildings of the Greek capital
Unpardonable and irresponsible lies
The theoretical and easy self-criticism of ministers and SYRIZA cadres is fine, but at some point they have to confront the results. We make mistakes and sometimes unpardonable ones, Deputy PM Yannis Dragasakis told Parliament
Opportunity
The Pasok-centred Movement for change paid a debt of honour to Andreas Papandreou. It is a debt not just because Andreas Papandreou played a leadimg role in fashioning the contremporary centre-left, but also because the
Envelope for the next PM
The climate and atmosphere surrounding the government is not the best. Pressures from the electorate are patently obvious. There are plenty of disputes and initiatives which are collapsing one after the other. These initiatives do
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
Netanyahu condemns West Bank settler violence: “A handful of extremists do not represent us”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned recent violence carried out by a “handful of extremists” among settlers in the occupied West Bank, stressing that they do not represent the broader settler community. The
Greece’s early loan repayment brings unexpected benefit to France, says Le Monde
Greece’s decision to repay early a €1.1 billion loan to France has been described as an “unexpected benefit” for French public finances, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. The loan, originally contracted in the
Europe on high alert: Poland enters pre-war phase as Germany warns of potential conflict with Russia
Europe faces rising tensions as senior military and political officials warn of the increasing likelihood of conflict with Russia. After Germany’s stark warning last week, Poland has now declared a state of heightened alert. Polish
Albanese issues ultimatum to Turkey over hosting COP31 Climate Talks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has drawn a firm line in ongoing negotiations with Turkey over the hosting of next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), ruling out any possibility of co-hosting the event. Speaking
Zelensky signals new energy agreement ahead of today’s Athens visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Kyiv and Athens are preparing a new bilateral agreement in the energy sector, ahead of his official visit to the Greek capital today, Sunday, 16 November. In a
Putin and Netanyahu hold phone call amid escalating Middle East tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin confirmed on Saturday. The call comes as regional
