
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

Albanese demands ‘Respect’ in first post-election press conference
In his first press conference since winning re-election, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese projected a new, assertive tone, calling for “respect” from both the media and political peers, and signalling a shift in his leadership style.

Protect the Truth: How to identify false information in elections
Australia’s electoral system is one of the most reliable in the world, and every voter has a role to play in protecting it. You may encounter false or misleading information about the electoral process. It

Airport Rail Project Could Limit Services in Melbourne’s West
The operation of Melbourne’s new Airport Rail line is expected to impact services on existing western suburban rail lines through the $15 billion Metro Tunnel, newly released track diagrams reveal. The $10 billion Airport Rail

Melbourne renters squeezed as rents rise and supply shrinks
Melbourne renters face rising costs and limited options as rental prices rise and the city’s affordability crisis deepens. According to the latest PropTrack data, the average advertised rent across Melbourne increased by $15 per week

Patient transfer time from ambulances to emergency rooms is increasing
AMA calls for funding from the major parties for hospitals this election The waiting time for ambulances to transport patients to overcrowded hospitals – is deteriorating across Australia, prompting urgent calls from the medical community

Aged Care reform sparks concern among Greek Australians
With significant federal aged care reforms due to take effect from 1 July, growing concerns are being raised about the financial strain they may place on older Australians — particularly pensioners. Aged Care reform sparks

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

Netanyahu condemns West Bank settler violence: “A handful of extremists do not represent us”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly condemned recent violence carried out by a “handful of extremists” among settlers in the occupied West Bank, stressing that they do not represent the broader settler community. The

Greece’s early loan repayment brings unexpected benefit to France, says Le Monde
Greece’s decision to repay early a €1.1 billion loan to France has been described as an “unexpected benefit” for French public finances, according to the French newspaper Le Monde. The loan, originally contracted in the

Europe on high alert: Poland enters pre-war phase as Germany warns of potential conflict with Russia
Europe faces rising tensions as senior military and political officials warn of the increasing likelihood of conflict with Russia. After Germany’s stark warning last week, Poland has now declared a state of heightened alert. Polish

Albanese issues ultimatum to Turkey over hosting COP31 Climate Talks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has drawn a firm line in ongoing negotiations with Turkey over the hosting of next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), ruling out any possibility of co-hosting the event. Speaking

Zelensky signals new energy agreement ahead of today’s Athens visit
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Kyiv and Athens are preparing a new bilateral agreement in the energy sector, ahead of his official visit to the Greek capital today, Sunday, 16 November. In a

Putin and Netanyahu hold phone call amid escalating Middle East tensions
Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a telephone conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, the Kremlin confirmed on Saturday. The call comes as regional

