
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.

The 23-year-old farmer who drove the roadblocks and the government crazy with her fighting spirit
The 23-year-old farmer who drove the roadblocks and the government crazy with her fighting spirit has become a symbol of resilience and authenticity in Greece’s ongoing farmers’ protests. Anna Kampani, just 23 years old, has

Director of “Avgi” resigns after controversial front page featuring Alexis Tsipras
A significant internal shock has hit SYRIZA after the director of the newspaper Avgi, Spyros Sourmelidis, resigned following a controversial Sunday front page that placed former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in direct contrast with the

Tragedy south of Crete: Seventeen illegal migrants found dead — bodies stored in refrigerated truck as authorities investigate
Greek authorities are facing a major tragedy after 17 bodies of illegal migrants were recovered south of Crete following the sinking of a small boat in rough seas. Only two survivors, aged 16 and 20,

Tragedy in Zakynthos: Father of 2-year-old Leo speaks out — “I took in the pit bull because it was dying, and it killed my son”
The father of 2-year-old Leo, who was killed after being mauled by a pit bull in the village of Agios Leontas on Zakynthos, has spoken publicly in deep grief. The dog, which was kept chained

Farmers begin airport blockades: “This is a warning – we are not backing down”
Greek farmers are escalating their nationwide mobilisations, warning the government that symbolic road and border blockades are only the beginning. Speaking to journalists, representatives from agricultural unions insist they “will not retreat unless justice is

Pavlos Kontogiannidis launches fierce attack on Alexis Tsipras over new party plans
Greek actor and former MP Pavlos Kontogiannidis has issued an unusually harsh public critique of former prime minister Alexis Tsipras, accusing him of hypocrisy, political opportunism and an attempt to launch a new political party

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

US enters shutdown for first time since 2018: what it means and who is affected
The United States officially entered a government shutdown at midnight on Tuesday (2 p.m. Wednesday Melbourne time), after Republicans and Democrats failed to reach an agreement on federal spending. The shutdown is expected to place

China temporarily bans BHP iron ore exports, raising concerns in Australia
Prime Minister Albanese urges quick resolution to maintain smooth market operations. China has temporarily banned iron ore exports from BHP, Australia’s largest mining company, sparking concern in the Australian government. According to Bloomberg reports, the

Tragedy in the Philippines: At least 26 dead after 6.9-magnitude earthquake – Buildings collapse, dramatic footage emerges
A devastating 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Cebu Island in the Philippines, leaving at least 26 people dead and 147 injured, according to local media. The quake, which hit late Tuesday night, caused widespread destruction, triggering landslides,

Countdown for Hamas: Trump’s ultimatum and pressure from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to accept Gaza Peace Plan
Global attention has turned once again to Gaza, as U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-page peace plan aimed at halting the bloodshed — accompanied by a stern ultimatum. According to Axios and iefimerida.gr,

Anthony Albanese invites UAE retail giant LuLu to Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown keen interest in the international retail chain LuLu Hypermarket, inviting Indian billionaire MA Yusuff Ali to consider expanding the company into Australia. The invitation came during the Prime

US gives green light to AUKUS ahead of Albanese’s visit to Washington
Australia’s largest-ever defence agreement, AUKUS, appears to have successfully passed a US government review, paving the way for its continuation ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month. The review began in

