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.
Mendoni: The goal of returning the Parthenon Sculptures is closer than it has ever been in the past 50 years
“The government is working systematically and methodically toward reunification,” said the Minister of Culture — How she commented on the dinner at the British Museum. “Our goal for the return of the Parthenon Sculptures is
Antonis Samaras hints at new party as he attacks Mitsotakis over ‘arrogance’ and ‘betrayal of principles’
Former Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has strongly criticised Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accusing him of turning New Democracy into a “personal property” and abandoning its conservative roots. Speaking in an in-depth interview on Sunday,
Two Ukrainians arrested for brutal torture and murder of compatriot in Agios Panteleimon
Greek police have arrested two Ukrainian nationals, aged 29 and 38, accused of the brutal murder of a 31-year-old compatriot in his apartment in Agios Panteleimon, central Athens. The shocking crime, committed on October 10,
Thessaloniki–Skopje oil pipeline set to reopen after 12 years of inactivity
Skopje government approves payment for fuel transport via VARDAX pipeline – gas interconnection with Greece also advancing The government of Skopje has approved the final measure paving the way for the reopening of the Thessaloniki–Skopje
Nearly 3,000 Civil Defence Shelters across Greece — Government updates parliament on emergency readiness
Greece currently has 2,892 designated shelters available to protect civilians in the event of a crisis, according to new data released by the Ministry for Citizen Protection. The figures were submitted to Parliament by Deputy
Eurobarometer: Greeks most concerned about cost of living and irregular migration — EU’s top challenges
According to recent data from the Eurobarometer survey published on 7 November 2025, Greeks are particularly worried about two major issues: the high cost of living and irregular migration. The survey highlights how these concerns
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 warns Australia: Don’t be dragged into NATO’s military spending push
China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, has issued a strong rebuke of NATO’s new military spending target, warning the Albanese government not to fall in line with what Beijing sees as a dangerous escalation of
Libya’s parliament moves to ratify Turkey-Libya Maritime Agreement despite Greek objections
The Libyan House of Representatives is set to proceed with the ratification of the controversial Turkey-Libya memorandum on the delimitation of maritime zones, despite strong opposition from Greece and other Mediterranean countries. According to reports,
Senior Hamas leader killed in Israeli airstrike
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced the killing of a founding member of Hamas and one of the chief architects of the October 7 massacre during a targeted airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Hakeem
Trump turns up the heat: Australia pressured to boost defence spending or face trade penalties
The Trump administration is putting mounting pressure on Australia to drastically increase its defence spending, aligning with NATO’s new benchmark of 5% of GDP. While NATO allies recently accepted this demand, Australia is resisting calls
Trump and Netanyahu reach Gaza ceasefire deal with Arab-led post-war plan
U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly agreed to a ceasefire in Gaza within the next two weeks, according to Times of Israel, citing Israel Hayom. The agreement was reached
Key quad meeting in Washington: Australia at the forefront of Indo-Pacific strategy
In a pivotal diplomatic gathering on July 1, the foreign ministers of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia will convene in Washington for the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, with US Secretary of State
