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.
PM Mitsotakis announces generous tax cuts incl. properties ENFIA
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has set as his top priority to implement his pre-election program and proceed with taxation cuts as soon as possible. In his policy statement late on Saturday, he announced several tax
PIPES: Kastelorizo: Mediterranean flash point
That Athens controls this wisp of land implies it could (but does not yet) claim an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Mediterranean Sea extending 200 nautical miles to Kastelorizo. This would reduce the Turkish
EU agrees to sanction turkey for drilling in Cypriot water
A surprisingly muscular response beyond mere threatening rhetoric out of the European Union over Turkey’s violations of Cypriot territorial waters related to offshore drilling operations: the EU has agreed to bring financial and political sanctions
Archaeology Piece of skull found in Greece ‘is oldest human fossil outside Africa’
A broken skull chiselled from a lump of rock in a cave in Greece is the oldest modern human fossil ever found outside Africa, researchers claim. The partial skull was discovered in the Apidima cave
Athens-Piraeus again in ‘top 10’ in terms of global shipping hubs
The Athens-Piraeus area has returned to the world’s top 10 shipping hubs, according to a recent study by Baltic Exchange. The Greek capital bumped Korea’s Pusan from the “top 10” list, while Singapore remained first,
4.6 Magnitude Earthquake in Kozani, Northern Greece
According to the Geodynamic Institute of the National Observatory of Athens, the epicenter of the quake was located 8 klm south of Kozani, in northern Greece. The earthquake struck at 13:50 on Sunday with a
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
Fidan raises the war tone: ‘If Diplomacy Fails, the Military Speaks’ – Ankara’s fear of encirclement in the Eastern Mediterranean
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has issued a stark warning, claiming that alliances are forming in the Eastern Mediterranean with the aim of encircling Turkey. In a statement laden with military undertones, Fidan declared that
Ceasefire and hostage talks to begin in Egypt tomorrow
Hamas accepts US peace plan in principle but refuses disarmament — Israel insists on Gaza demilitarisation Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas are set to begin tomorrow in Cairo, aiming to achieve a ceasefire in
Trump urges immediate ceasefire as 57 killed in Gaza overnight bombings
At least 57 people were killed overnight in the Gaza Strip following intense Israeli airstrikes, according to the Palestinian Civil Defence, which operates under the Hamas-run administration. The strikes began in the early hours of
Prosecutor’s probe against Israel as “Sumud” flotilla activists testify in Istanbul (Constantinople)
A group of activists who participated in the “Sumud” flotilla — an international convoy that attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza — have begun giving testimony before prosecutors in Istanbul (Constantinople), following their
At least 30 injured in Russian drone strike on Ukrainian railway station
Zelensky condemns ‘barbaric attack’ in Sumy region – victims include railway workers and passengers At least 30 people have been injured following a Russian drone strike on a railway station in the Ukrainian city of
Australian activists detained in Israeli prison – Canberra demands access and answers
Australian consular officials are heading to a notorious Israeli prison where five Australian citizens are reportedly being held after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla en route to Gaza. The flotilla, carrying humanitarian aid,
