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
UN: Overwhelming approval for Palestinian participation – A strong signal amid geopolitical tensions
On Friday (September 19), the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly approved—by 145 votes in favor, only 5 against, and 6 abstentions—a resolution granting Palestine participation rights in the proceedings of the 80th Session as a
Bulgaria boosts Air Force readiness to defend national airspace
€3.27 billion EU funding secured for defence modernization Bulgaria’s Air Force is on full operational alert to defend the nation’s airspace, either independently or as part of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System. Defence
Albanese embarks on pivotal tour to US, UK and UAE – First UNGA address as Prime Minister
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese departs today for a three-nation diplomatic mission covering the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. The trip marks his first address to the United Nations General
Furious reactions at UN Security Council after new US veto on Gaza ceasefire resolution
The United States once again blocked the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire and humanitarian access in Gaza, provoking widespread anger among member states. Fourteen members voted in favor, but
Signs of life on TRAPPIST-1e ignite astronomers’ hopes
Astronomers are edging closer than ever to confirming an Earth-like atmosphere on a distant exoplanet. Preliminary data from the James Webb Space Telescope suggest TRAPPIST-1e, one of seven rocky worlds orbiting the ultracool dwarf star
Premier Jacinta Allan secures Chinese tunnelling machines for Melbourne’s $34.5bn Suburban Rail Loop
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has sealed a $453 million deal with Chinese industry leaders to supply four massive tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop, the state’s most expensive transport project to date.
