
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

NSW to roll out digital birth certificates for young people aged 16–21
Young people in New South Wales will soon be able to access a digital birth certificate on their mobile phone for the first time, as part of a major step towards modernising identity documents across

Half of Australia’s students missing a month of school as fears about the future surge
A landmark national report has revealed an alarming shift inside Australia’s classrooms, with more than half of government secondary students missing at least a month of school each year. The first State of Australia’s Children

Major student debt relief begins for three million Australians as Albanese government rolls out $16bn initiative
A sweeping cost-of-living boost has begun reaching millions of Australians, with the Albanese government activating its long-promised plan to cut student debt for roughly three million people. The $16 billion initiative—legislated in July—will be implemented

Australian home prices poised to break all records in 2026
Australia’s housing market is set to enter unprecedented territory, with both house and unit prices in every capital city projected to hit new all-time highs by the end of 2026, according to Domain’s Forecast Report

Australia concedes defeat in high-stakes battle to host COP31, handing victory to Turkey
Australia is preparing to concede defeat in its bid to host next year’s major United Nations climate summit, COP31, despite months of lobbying, millions of dollars in preparatory work, and strong public advocacy from senior

Greece expands tourism footprint with new GNTO (EOT) office opening in Melbourne, Australia
Greece has taken a significant step toward strengthening its presence in the Australian tourism market with the official launch of a new Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) office in Melbourne. The office, housed within 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.

Turkey drills for gas in Cyprus’ waters, prompting EU outcry
The EU and US have urged Turkey to stop drilling for gas in Cyprus’ maritime zone – but Ankara has told its allies it would do so anyway. Brussels and Washington spoke out over the

Cyprus: Turkey’s drilling bid violates international law
Cyprus’ foreign ministry says Turkey’s bid to drill for natural gas in waters where the island nation has exclusive economic rights is a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty under international law. The ministry in a

How ancient Greek vases were made
From the Neolithic period onwards, the ancient Greeks made pots in a variety of different styles. The most characteristic styles of pottery being black-figure and red-figure. In black-figure, the figures are painted using a slip

Tsipras tells Cretans he will seek WWII reparations from Germany
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on a campaign stop in Anogeia, Crete today touted his intention to seek German WWII reparation after a parliamentary resolution authorised the government to do so. «After many years, the road

Lies and responsibilities
From the first hours of last summer’s disastrous wilfire in Mati the weaknesses of crumbling state services, a lack of coordination, and the absence of even rudimentary emergency plans were glaring. One witnessed in amazement

Revolution! Modern art exhibition at the archaeological site of Delos
An unprecedented exhibition by British sculptor Antony Gormley at the archaeological site of Delos. 29 iron “bodyforms” have been scattered among the ancient columns and stones of what it once was the holy sanctuary for

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

China defends ‘provocative’ jet move after Australia’s protest over South China Sea incident
China has accused Australia of “provocative acts” and “illegal intrusion” after a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) surveillance plane was targeted by flares from a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea on Sunday,

Europe in wartime readiness: Germany urges citizens to prepare emergency backpacks
The European continent, once rebuilt from the ashes of two world wars, is once again gripped by anxiety and preparation fever. With tensions escalating in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, the spectre

Skopje: VMRO-DPMNE scores sweeping victory in first round of municipal elections
The right-leaning ruling party VMRO-DPMNE, led by Prime Minister Christian Mitskoski, achieved a decisive victory in the first round of municipal elections held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in the Republic of Skopje. According to

Albanese walks diplomatic tightrope in Trump White House – Canberra seeks ‘no fireworks’ in Oval Office test
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese embarks on one of the most delicate missions of his tenure — a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington, where experts say the key goal is simple:

Putin’s “Harem”: From the $78 million cleaner to the Olympic lover – The hidden power behind the Kremlin walls
Explosive revelations from new book “The Tsar Himself” expose the secret life of Vladimir Putin A bombshell book by Russian investigative journalists Roman Badanin and Mikhail Rubin reveals the secret world of Vladimir Putin —

“No Kings”: millions protest Trump’s “authoritarian rule” across the United States
Millions of Americans took to the streets on Saturday, October 18, under the banner “No Kings”, in what has become one of the largest waves of protest since Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

