
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 meth, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin use jumps 34% in one year
Australians consumed 34 per cent more methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. The survey found that 22.2 tonnes of these

Nationwide ban on abusive childcare workers could take a year, Attorney-General warns
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has admitted that urgent measures to close loopholes in Australia’s childcare system, which are being exploited by child abusers, may take up to 12 months to implement. Speaking ahead of a meeting

Brother of murdered Australian-Israeli Galit Carbone slams Anthony Albanese over Palestinian statehood recognition
The Australian and Israeli communities are shaken by the powerful statement of Danny Majzner, brother of Galit Carbone, the Australian-Israeli woman brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023. Mr. Majzner, 63, has strongly

4-Day work week plan could starve CBD cafés and kill productivity
“The 4-day week may sound good on TV appearances—but for cafés and CBD venues, it’s a path to empty stores and debt—not productivity” The Australian Restaurant & Cafe Association (ARCA) warns that the ACTU’s push

Reserve Bank of Australia cuts Interest Rates: What it means for borrowers and the economy
The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) lowered the official cash rate by 25 basis points to 3.60%, a move that had been widely anticipated by economists and financial markets. The decision aims to provide relief

Albanese and Chalmers under pressure to act on negative gearing reform
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Treasurer Jim Chalmers are facing renewed pressure to overhaul Australia’s negative gearing rules amid growing concern about housing affordability and younger Australians being locked out of the property market. Unions

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.
Thessaloniki: Protesters against name deal target President Pavlopoulos
About 250 protesters, have gathered outside Thessaloniki’s Music Hall to protest against the deal which will rename Greece’s northern neighbor “North Macedonia”. The protest is being staged on the occasion of the visit of Greek

FYROM’s name change deal may be an achievement for the E.U., but undemocratic
After the disintegration of Yugoslavia in 1991, Greece’s northern neighbor stole the Greek name “Macedonia”—but Athens refused to recognize it, saying it gave legitimacy to territorial, historical, and ethnic claims over the millenial old northern

Costas Karamanlis on Prespa agreement: ND’s criticism ‘powerful and fully documented’
Former Greek prime minister Costas Karamanlis (2004-2009) on Thursday removed any doubts over his stance regarding the contentious Prespa agreement, which comes up for ratification in Greece’s Parliament later in the evening. Karamanlis and his

Greece one of least prepared Countries in EU for electric cars
Netherlands-based automobile leasing and fleet management company, LeasePlan, says that Greece is one of the least prepared countries in Europe to welcome the use of electric cars. This is greatly due to the fact that

EU Parliament groups nominate Tsipras and Zaev for Nobel peace prize 2019
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev have been nominated for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize by the leader of the EU parliament Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group Udo Bullmann,

Greek parliament ratifies Prespes agreement with 153 YES
The Greek Parliament ratified the historical Prespes Agreement with 153 YES. The majority was achieved with 145 SYRIZA votes as well as with the votes of ministers Kountoura (ex ANEL) and Papakosta (independent), two votes

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

