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
Chinese spying on Australia’s military exercises: Defence Minister speaks out
Australia’s Defence Minister, Richard Marles, has responded to growing concerns about Chinese espionage during the ongoing Operation Talisman Sabre military exercises, which involve more than 30,000 personnel from 19 nations across Australia. While speaking on
Albanese wraps up China visit amid tensions and trade talks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to conclude his six-day visit to China today, wrapping up a trip marked by high-stakes discussions on trade, national security, and diplomatic relations. His final stop in China takes
German backpacker Carolina Wilga leaves Perth Hospital after surviving outback ordeal
Carolina Wilga, the German backpacker who captivated the world with her survival story after spending 12 harrowing days alone in the Australian outback, has finally left hospital. The 26-year-old was discharged from Fiona Stanley Hospital
Tip-off leads to major 3D-printed gun and drug bust in Melbourne’s south-east
A 30-year-old man has been charged with over 27 serious offences following a major police bust in Melbourne’s south-east, where authorities uncovered a cache of illegal firearms—including 3D-printed weapons—drugs, ammunition, and cash. The investigation was
Anthony Albanese commits to reviewing Australia-China Free Trade Agreement during Beijing visit
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has committed to reviewing Australia’s free trade agreement with China as part of a series of deals signed during his official trade visit to Beijing. The Prime Minister signed six memorandums
Taxi drivers win $271.8 million settlement in landmark Uber case
Thousands of Australian cabbies and hire-car operators to receive compensation after years-long battle against Uber’s disruptive market entry. In a historic legal victory, taxi and hire-car drivers and owners across Australia are set to share
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.
Athens fires back at Ankara over East Med dispute: “Turkey cannot lecture others on International Law”
Greece has issued a stern diplomatic response to fresh accusations from Turkey regarding its stance on the controversial Turkey-Libya maritime agreement. The Greek Foreign Ministry, through diplomatic sources, denounced Turkey’s latest comments as “incompatible with
Mitsotakis pushes for EU action on Libya migration route and defence funding
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking after the conclusion of the EU Summit, called for urgent action to address a new irregular migration route emerging from Eastern Libya to Crete. “We will use every means
Karamanlis Inquiry: Fast-tracked parliamentary probe sparks political backlash
The Hellenic Parliament’s special inquiry committee into former Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis opened its first session today under accusations of political orchestration, as the government appears determined to fast-track the process surrounding the deadly Tempi
Wildfire disaster in Chios: Tens of thousands of acres burned as blaze continues to rage
Chios is currently experiencing one of the most severe environmental disasters in recent Greek history. For the third consecutive day, an uncontrollable wildfire has scorched vast swathes of the island, with more than 30,000 hectares
Tensions flare with Libya over offshore licensing south of Crete
An unexpected complication has emerged ahead of Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis’ planned visit to Libya, where he was due to hold meetings in both Tripoli and Benghazi. Tensions flare with Libya over offshore licensing
Petro-Loukas Chalkias: The great clarinet virtuoso dies at the age of 90
Petro-Loukas Chalkias was the patriarch of the Epirus clarinet, an authentic representative of the musical soul of Epirus, who honoured his homeland and Greece as a whole with his career and artistry. Through his unique
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
Afghanistan: Women defy Taliban bans by singing online
Women were the first to suffer the restrictions imposed by the new government. Recording themselves while singing, showing only a small part of their faces to the camera: dozens of Afghan women are participating in
UN condemns Taliban ban on women’s Voices in public spaces
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan expressed deep concern on Sunday over a new law recently endorsed by the Taliban that imposes further restrictions on women. The new legislation, published last Wednesday, is based on
RFK Jr. suspends 2024 campaign and joins Trump at Arizona rally
RFK Jr. suspends the 2024 campaign and joins Trump at the Arizona rally, endorsing former President Donald Trump. During an event in Phoenix, Arizona, Kennedy urged voters in red or blue states to support him
Putin’s 702 decree caused outrage in the West
As reported by journalists from China, Russian President Vladimir Putin caused outrage in the West with a new surprise decree. Relations between Russia and the West have reached their lowest point since the collapse of
Why was Telegram’s Pavel Durov effectively kidnapped at Paris Airport?
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France today on various charges. Telegram has been a key platform for sharing information about the Israeli actions in Gaza, with thousands of videos
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
