
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

Statement from the Premier
This week I had another round of scans and a meeting with my care team at the Alfred and got some good news. The broken vertebra has almost fully healed and they’re letting me take

What is the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine? Will it be available in Australia soon? And does it use mRNA?
Source: abcnews The Novavax COVID-19 vaccine has been found to have more than 90 per cent efficacy, paving the way for it to be available later this year in Australia. The successful results from the phase 3

‘Signal to the world’: Singapore ready and waiting for Australian travel bubble
Singapore’s so-called “Cruises to Nowhere” have been a big hit since being given the green light last November, with more than 120,000 passengers. “They’ve made something that sounds tacky actually quite fun and enjoyable,” said

Flights between India and Australia suspended until May 15
Flights to and from India into Australia have now been suspended, amid increasing concerns over the nation’s escalating COVID-19 situation. Flights to and from India into Australia have now been suspended, Scott Morrison has announced,

Trans-Tasman travel bubble: The big difference between Australia and New Zealand
Stepping foot on-board one of the trans-Tasman bubble flights was a cause for celebration. But the surprise came on the journey home. A year in the making, it was the flight Australia was itching for.

Qantas sticks to international travel plan despite COVID vaccine delay
Despite the majority of Australians unlikely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 until next year, Qantas is holding firm on their plan to fly overseas by October 31. Australia had been aiming to open its international

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 navigates diplomatic minefield in Libya: Gerapetritis’ second visit tests Athens’ strategy
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis’ second visit to Tripoli highlighted both the persistence of geopolitical challenges in Libya and Athens’ continued efforts to open up meaningful diplomatic dialogue. While Libyan officials, including Foreign Minister Taher

Plevris confirms permanent closed migrant facility in Crete, enforces tough measures
Migration crisis and government response Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris has confirmed plans for at least one permanent closed identification facility for migrants and asylum seekers on Crete. This decision is a reaction to rising

OPEKEPE scandal: Government triggers inquiry, opposition cries cover-up
The Greek government has ignited a political storm by announcing the formation of a parliamentary inquiry (Exetastiki Epitropi) to investigate the OPEKEPE agricultural payment authority from 1998 to the present day. The move, seen by

Irene Mourtzoukou to testify today over four child murders – Dozens of notes and new attempted murder allegations
Today, Sunday, July 13, Irene Mourtzoukou is scheduled to appear before the Patras investigating magistrate to testify in connection with the chilling case of four child murders — a case she has already confessed to.

Migration Crisis: Key Decisions Taken at Ministry of Migration Meeting on Increased Flows to Crete
A broad meeting was held at the Ministry of Migration and Asylum at noon on July 11, 2025, to discuss the escalating migration flows to Crete. The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Migration

DNA for Sale? The untold story of Greece’s newborn screening scandal
It seemed as though Greece had stepped into a remake of Gattaca—a world where every child’s future is predetermined by genetic analysis, infused with a hint of Orphan Black in the veil of secrecy surrounding

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

Australia at centre of AUKUS push as UK and US call for faster delivery and greater burden sharing
Australia has been thrust firmly into the spotlight of the AUKUS security pact, with both the United Kingdom and United States urging Canberra to accelerate its commitments and take on a greater share of the

Germany: Record number of bankruptcies for businesses and individuals
Germany is experiencing its highest number of bankruptcies since 2014, with experts warning that the peak of the crisis “has not yet been reached.” According to the credit rating agency Creditreform, approximately 23,900 companies will

Hamas signals openness to “freezing or storing” weapons as talks enter difficult second phase
Hamas has indicated it is willing to discuss the “freezing or storing” of its weapons arsenal as part of the emerging ceasefire framework with Israel, according to senior official Bassem Naim, who spoke to the

Modi welcomes Putin with full honours in New Delhi
Russian President Vladimir Putin received a ceremonial welcome in India on Friday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosting him in a display designed to highlight the deep and enduring ties between the two nations. Putin

Deported neo-Nazi protester arrives in South Africa after visa cancellation
A South African national who took part in a widely condemned neo-Nazi demonstration in Sydney has arrived back in Johannesburg after being deported by Australian authorities. Matthew Gruter, 35, was removed from the country following

Europe’s fear isn’t of Russia, it’s of itself
Europe’s fear isn’t of Russia, it’s of itself. The Guardian splashed its front page with the usual hysteria, hoping readers wouldn’t notice the one line that undercut the entire narrative: “We are not planning to

