
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

Regular cannabis use now more accepted by Australians than smoking tobacco, study finds
Source: The Guardian Regular cannabis use has become more accepted than smoking tobacco, the latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) has found. The 2019 data, compiled by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Telstra moves call centres back to Australia after customers made their preference ‘loud and clear’
Source: 9news Telstra has moved all its call centres that service Australian customers and small businesses back to Australian shores to appease its customers. Telstra CEO Andy Penn has announced the move today, saying it

Cybersafety expert’s alarm over Snapchat’s new precise location feature: ‘Literally shows where you sleep at night’
Source: 9news Sometimes it feels like a full-time job keeping our children safe from online predators. So the last thing we need is technology making the job even harder. But a new feature on the

NASA successfully launches its first rocket from newly created Arnhem Space Centre
Source: ABCnews NASA has successfully launched its first rocket from Australian soil in more than a quarter of a century. After rain and wind delayed the launch by more than an hour, the suborbital sounding rocket took

16 hours from Australia to Greece may become a reality with Qantas
Source: Greekcitytimes Qantas has launched direct flights between Australia and Europe with non-stop routes becoming available between Perth to Rome. The new route will be the only direct flight between Australia and continental Europe offered

Australia’s bulk billing clinics are not covered by Medicare subsidies, doctors say
Doctors warn that regional areas will soon be left with few bulk-billing practices if Medicare subsidies for general practitioners are not increased. An increasing number of practices in Australia have stopped using bulk billing in

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.

Greece tightens gun laws: Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis announces seven tough new measures against illegal firearms possession
The Greek government has announced sweeping new reforms aimed at cracking down on illegal gun ownership and use, following a series of violent incidents such as the recent shooting in the village of Vorizia, Crete.

U.S., Greece, Cyprus, and Israel form joint front for energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean
A new chapter in regional cooperation unfolded in Athens this week as the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to energy security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Meeting at the Zappeion

Greece emerges as a key energy security partner in U.S. talks
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held a high-level meeting at the Maximou Mansion with U.S. officials, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, ahead of the 6th Ministerial Meeting

Vorisia tragedy: Three brothers surrender after Crete double murder as families plead for calm
Crete remains gripped by shock and grief following the brutal double murder in the village of Vorisia, Heraklion, which has revived painful memories of violent vendettas on the island. Late on Tuesday night, the three

Kimberly Guilfoyle will officially begin her duties in Greece tomorrow with presentation of credentials to President Konstantinos Tassoulas
Kimberly Guilfoyle will officially assumed her role as the new United States Ambassador to Greece, presenting her credentials to the President of the Hellenic Republic, Konstantinos Tassoulas, at the Presidential Mansion on Tuesday. The ceremony

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

Turkey closes the Great School of the Nation after 571 years!
While in Athens the government continues to repeat its narrative of “calm waters,” the Erdoğan regime presses ahead, having sensed the Greek leadership’s unwillingness to react. Turkey closes the Great School of the Nation after

Ukraine’s Ambassador warns: “Russia is using disinformation as a weapon against Australian society”
Ukraine’s Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has warned that Russia is targeting Australians with fake narratives designed to “break down society from within.” Speaking ahead of a major forum on Thursday at the University of

Australia hails Trump for historic Gaza peace deal – Joint statement from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong
Australia has joined global leaders in praising US President Donald Trump for brokering a long-awaited ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, marking what officials in Canberra have described as a “historic breakthrough” toward peace in Gaza.

A Historic day in Israel: Hostages freed as Trump delivers message of peace at the Knesset
In a moment charged with emotion and hope for Middle East peace, the eyes of the world turned to Israel on Monday, October 13, 2025, as the first hostages held by Hamas were released —

Afghanistan–Pakistan border clash leaves 58 Pakistani soldiers dead
At least 58 Pakistani soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in fierce overnight clashes along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, according to Taliban officials in Kabul. The Afghan forces reportedly seized over 20 Pakistani military outposts in

Iran declines attendance at Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt
Iran announced that it will not participate in the high-level summit on peace in the Gaza Strip taking place today in Egypt, despite receiving an official invitation. The summit, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, is co-chaired


