
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

Measles alert: Second case in Cairns – Vaccination urged for Bali travellers
Queensland health authorities have confirmed a second case of measles in Cairns, urging travellers to Bali to ensure they are vaccinated. The new case involves a close contact of a person diagnosed last week after

Dementia now Australia’s leading cause of death
Dementia has overtaken all other illnesses to become the leading cause of death in Australia, according to a sobering new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). In 2023, nearly 17,400 Australians

Awkward Moment for Anthony Albanese at Pacific Summit – $100 Million Pledge to Climate Fund
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese found himself in an awkward situation during the Pacific Islands Forum in the Solomon Islands when he arrived wearing the wrong shirt. Instead of the navy-blue shirt worn by the

Alleged tobacco ‘mastermind’ arrested after major Melbourne raid
Melbourne authorities have charged the alleged ringleader of a criminal syndicate believed to supply illegal tobacco across the city, following a raid on a North Coburg property. The 49-year-old man is accused of orchestrating a

Australia launches world-first Koala Vaccine to combat Chlamydia
Australia has approved a groundbreaking vaccine to protect its koala population against chlamydia, marking a world-first initiative. Researchers at the University of the Sunshine Coast spent over ten years developing the single-dose vaccine, designed to

Long wait times still plague Services Australia calls despite recent improvements
New operational data from Services Australia for April–June 2025 has revealed which Australians face the longest call wait times — and who gives up first. Older Australians experienced the longest waits, averaging 36.5 minutes, while

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 protests Ben Gvir’s call to jail Gaza flotilla activists instead of deporting them
Greece has lodged a formal protest with Israel following controversial remarks by far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who demanded that the 470 activists of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” be imprisoned rather than

New NAVTEX issued by Turkey for “Piri Reis” research mission
The oceanographic vessel will conduct “scientific research” from October 4 to 14 — Greece responds with a counter-NAVTEX Turkey is once again testing Greek-Turkish relations, only days after the controversial cancellation of the planned Mitsotakis–Erdogan

New Left and Plefsi Eleftherias say No to the acquisition of a fourth Belharra Frigate
They have submitted a request for a roll-call vote on the ratification of the agreement for the acquisition of a fourth Belharra frigate and the upgrade of the existing ones. The parliamentary groups of New

Why Greece refuses to send Mirage Jets to Ukraine – NATO and EU pressures mount over Turkey’s role in European defence
Greece is facing mounting diplomatic pressure from NATO allies to increase its military assistance to Ukraine, with the focus now shifting to the possible transfer of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets — a move Athens firmly

Greek F-16 Viper fly over Cyprus for 65th independence anniversary
Greece marked the 65th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Cyprus with a dramatic display, sending two F-16 Viper fighter jets of the Hellenic Air Force to fly over Nicosia during the military

Internal strife in SYRIZA over defense spending and the 4th Behlarra Frigate
Tensions have emerged within SYRIZA and between SYRIZA and New Left as the government’s defense program, particularly the fourth FDI Behlarra frigate, is discussed in Parliament today. Although SYRIZA’s parliamentary leadership decided to vote in

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

NATO: All member countries to meet 2% of GDP defense spending target this year – Expansion plan up to 2035
All 32 NATO member countries are set to meet the long-standing target of allocating at least 2% of their GDP to defense this year, according to new figures released in Brussels. This goal was established

Ukraine thriller continues – Trump: “In two weeks we’ll know if peace is possible”
The war in Ukraine, now over three and a half years ongoing, remains at a critical juncture. Former U.S. President Donald Trump continues diplomatic efforts to arrange a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and

Niger Army Reports Killing of Boko Haram Leader
The Nigerien army announced on Thursday that during an operation in the Lake Chad basin, it had successfully eliminated the notorious leader of the jihadist group Boko Haram, known by the alias Bakura, whose real name

Covid-19 linked to accelerated blood vessel ageing, Australian patients included in major global study
A major international study involving Australian participants has revealed that Covid-19 may accelerate the ageing of blood vessels, particularly in women, raising fresh concerns about the long-term cardiovascular risks of the virus. The research, published

August 15: Melbourne honours the “Easter of Summer” with splendor and devotion
August 15, the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, is one of the most important celebrations of Orthodoxy and is observed with deep emotion both in Greece and in Greek communities around the world.

Turkey’s population reaches 85.8 million amid aging trend
Turkey’s population reached 85,824,854 in the first half of 2025, increasing by 159,910 people, according to data released today by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TUIK). Annual demographic changes indicate a clear trend of population aging.

