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
Teenage volunteer firefighter charged with arson in Western Sydney – faces multiple serious offences
A shocking case has emerged in New South Wales, where a 17-year-old volunteer firefighter has been charged with deliberately lighting bushfires across western Sydney. The teenager was arrested early Wednesday in the Lower Blue Mountains
ATO 2024/25 Tax Deadline: What Australians must do before October 31 to avoid penalties
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is reminding taxpayers that the deadline for filing 2024-2025 tax returns is Friday, October 31, 2025. Australians who miss the date could face penalties and fines, officials have warned. When
Lord William Hague praises Australia’s social media ban for under-16s, criticises Albanese government over Palestinian recognition
Oxford University Chancellor Lord William Hague has praised Australia’s “bold and responsible” move to ban social media for children under 16, calling it a landmark step in protecting young people’s mental health and civic integrity.
RBA warns of rising global risks: Overvalued markets, cyber threats, and China’s slowdown
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), in its semi-annual Financial Stability Review, has warned that global financial risks are not easing — in fact, they are rising — as uncertainty continues to cloud the economic
Australia’s opposition demands strong support for BHP in China dispute
Australia’s opposition is urging the Albanese government to actively intervene as BHP faces a reported freeze on iron ore shipments to China following stalled price negotiations. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson criticized the government’s “hands-off”
‘Mushroom Murderer’ Erin Patterson to lodge appeal against convictions
Erin Patterson, infamously known as the “mushroom murderer,” is preparing to appeal her convictions for three counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. The Victorian Supreme Court has granted her an additional 28
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.
First Greek defence and security micro-satellites successfully launched
Greece has officially entered the space age with the launch of its first Greek micro-satellites for Defence and Security on 28 November, from the Space Launch Complex 4E (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in
Tsipras announces plans for a new “progressive party” focused on self-organization
Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced plans for the creation of a new political movement aimed at reorganizing the progressive space in Greece, during a high-profile event at the Pallas theater. Speaking in front of
Farmers stage roadblocks across Macedonia ahead of major protests
Farmers and livestock breeders in Macedonia and Thrace are preparing major roadblocks, with key sites targeted in Thessaloniki, Halkidiki, and the Evros region. On Friday (December 5), farmers from Epanomi, Trilofos, Vasilika, Halkidiki, Galatista, and
Chatzidakis: With a fairer system, the country will not lose a single euro in agricultural subsidies
Greek Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Chatzidakis provided detailed information on the government’s agricultural subsidy plan, following recent announcements. Speaking to Alpha TV, he said that Greek farmers will receive a total of €3.7 billion this
Greece holds Winter Olympic Games flame-lighting ceremony Indoors
The countdown to the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics begins this week as the Olympic flame is lit in Greece, marking the start of the torch relay. This year’s ceremony, normally held outdoors in Ancient
Salamina murder: security camera audio exposes 46-year-old daughter-in-law for brutal killing of 75-year-old
New evidence from security cameras has led Greek authorities to arrest a 46-year-old woman for the murder of her 75-year-old mother-in-law in Salamina, a killing she has now confessed to. According to police, a combination
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
Winners and losers in global commodities this year
The global commodities market has experienced significant volatility this year, with prices generally remaining elevated across various sectors. The first half of the year saw orange juice and cocoa prices reach record highs, while crude
WHO reassures: Mpox is not the new COVID – We know how to control its spread
A World Health Organization (WHO) official emphasized today that Mpox, whether it’s the new or old strain of the disease, is not the new COVID-19, as health authorities have the knowledge to control its spread.
The Middle East on a razor’s edge: Tough bargaining for a ceasefire
International concerns over the escalation of war in the Middle East have peaked as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. This
Monkeypox: WHO Recommends Vaccination in Affected Areas
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday that countries affected by the mpox virus (commonly known as monkeypox) initiate vaccination programs, particularly in regions where cases have been reported. The mpox outbreak in the
Sicily shipwreck: Tech tycoon Mike Lynch among the missing
At least one person has died and six others are missing after a luxury yacht was struck by a severe storm and sank off the coast of Palermo, Sicily’s capital. Among the missing is British
159 countries poised to adopt BRICS new payment system
Amid ongoing efforts to create a SWIFT alternative, the BRICS alliance is developing its payment system. This system will play a crucial role in the bloc’s trade, enabling transactions without relying on the US dollar.
