
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

Sydney tragedy: Greek-Australian surfer Mercury Psillakis killed in shark attack
The Greek-Australian community is mourning the tragic death of 57-year-old surfer Mercury Psillakis, who was killed in a shark attack at Dee Why on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. The well-known ομογενής, a passionate surfer and respected

Albanese holds fourth call with Trump without confirmation of in-person talks
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has marked his fourth phone call with US President Donald Trump since the Republican’s re-election, describing the conversation as “warm and constructive.” Yet, despite repeated contact, there is still no

Rare ‘Blood Moon’ to illuminate Australian skies on Monday
Millions of Australians will be treated to a rare celestial spectacle in the early hours of Monday, 8 September, when a striking “blood moon” is set to appear. The phenomenon, known scientifically as a total

Flag row erupts in Australian Senate as politics clash over national emblem
A heated political dispute erupted in Australia’s Senate after the national flag became the centre of attention. Coalition Senator Jacinta Price wrapped herself in the Australian flag during her speech to mark National Flag Day. Soon

Australia: Support for Religion in Public Schools Collapses
Support for religious education in Australia’s government schools has reached a historic low, according to new polling that shows a dramatic collapse over the past quarter century. The Roy Morgan survey found Australians evenly divided

Backlash over Daniel Andrews attending Beijing’s military parade
Former Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has sparked controversy in Australia after being warmly greeted by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Beijing’s massive military parade marking 80 years since the end of World War II. The

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.

Greek elections: Landslide victory for centre-right New Democracy party
Incumbent prime minister Alexis Tsipras, of Syriza, calls rival Kyriakos Mitsotakis to concede defeat Voters in Greece have given Kyria-kos Mitsotakis’ centre-right New Democracy party a resounding mandate to form a new government after it

Ballot Box stolen from polling center in Exarchia and set on fire
At least one ballot box was stolen from a polling station in the anarchists’ district of Exarchia in Athens and were allegedly set on fire. The unprecedented incidents took place on early Sunday evening short

‘Evdokia’ the 1200 Year Old Olive Tree in Corfu, Greece
An imposing olive tree on Corfu, known as ‘Evdokia’ by the locals, has been estimated to be between 1086 and 1200 years old, according to stu-dies by German scientists from the Dresden University of Technology.

When calves seek shade at the beach you know it’s Heat Wave in Greece
Heat wave in Greece: It is currently so boiling hot in Greece that even calves seek the beach and shade under the sun umbrella. A swimmer was surprised to see a calf to have made

Austerity, unemployment behind ND lanslide
‘I am committed to fewer taxes, many investments, for good and new jobs, and growth which will bring better salaries and higher pensions in an efficient state’ Mitsotakis said. Greece’s opposition conservatives returned to power

Mitsotakis to CNBC: Talks with European partners will begin immediately; ND has presented a clear plan, ‘without surprises’
Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ first press statements after Sunday’s election victory by his center-right New Democracy (ND) came during an interview to CNBC, where he expressed gratitude over the election result – which will make him prime

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

SIPRI reports record arms sales in 2024
Global arms sales hit record $679 billion amid ongoing conflicts The world’s top 100 arms manufacturers reached record revenues in 2024, totaling $679 billion (€586 billion), marking a 5.9% increase compared to the previous year,

US fighter jets patrol international airspace around Venezuela, WSJ reports
US fighter jets have been conducting near-continuous patrols in international airspace surrounding Venezuela amid sharply escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, according to a Wall Street Journal report published on Saturday. The development comes shortly

Global Airbus warning grounds Jetstar A320 flights, causes widespread travel disruption
A major global aviation alert has triggered significant travel chaos, with Jetstar confirming that several of its Airbus A320 aircraft are currently unable to depart due to a critical software issue affecting thousands of jets

Israel breaks up Turkish-linked network smuggling arms and funds to West Bank
Israel breaks up Turkish-linked network smuggling arms and funds to West Bank, uncovering what officials describe as one of the most significant counter-terrorism operations of 2025. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) and Israel Police

Cyprus calls on Turkey to negotiate maritime boundaries under UNCLOS
Cyprus Calls on Turkey to negotiate maritime boundaries under UNCLOS, with President Nikos Christodoulides extending an open invitation to Ankara to sit down with the Republic of Cyprus and engage in direct talks on defining

EU delivers landmark decision: Digital platforms to be held liable for online fraud under sweeping new rules
The European Union has reached a historic agreement introducing strict new obligations for digital platforms, social media companies and banks, making them jointly responsible for combating the rapid rise of online fraud. After eight hours

