
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.

Plevris: Migration alone cannot solve Greece’s demographic challenge
Greece’s Minister of Migration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, emphasized in a recent interview with Ertnews that migration cannot be treated as a cure-all for the country’s demographic problems. Speaking on Monday evening, Plevris highlighted the

Mitsotakis in the Financial Times: Five golden rules for Europe’s green transition
The European Green Deal stands at a critical crossroads, with soaring energy prices and new geopolitical challenges threatening the EU’s strategy for climate neutrality. In an article for the Financial Times, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Finikounda murders: Athens businessman questioned for 4 hours over crucial phone call after double killing
The investigation into the shocking double murder in Finikounda has entered its main judicial phase, with key testimonies now being collected by the Kalamata investigating magistrate. On Saturday, a businessman from Athens — the employer

Athens plans multilateral conference with Turkey, Cyprus, Libya, and Egypt
Athens is preparing an ambitious diplomatic initiative aimed at fostering regional cooperation and dialogue among Eastern Mediterranean states. The Greek government plans to host a multilateral meeting involving Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, and Libya to discuss

Athens mayor Haris Doukas challenges PASOK leadership, calls for unity and dialogue with Tsipras’ party
A wave of political tension has rippled through the ranks of PASOK after Athens Mayor Haris Doukas voiced his discontent over the exclusion of several senior party figures from the party’s upcoming Congress committees, while

Opinion Poll: ND leads by 16.3 points – rising public discontent and political fluidity
A new Opinion Poll survey for October shows the New Democracy (ND) party maintaining a 16.3-point lead over PASOK, but with growing public dissatisfaction and a volatile political landscape. ND records 30.1% (-0.4%), PASOK 13.8%

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

Iran responds to Trump: Vows stronger retaliation if attacked again by US or Israel
Iran issued a stern warning to the United States and Israel on Monday, promising a more forceful response if it faces further military aggression. The statement came from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who addressed

Asteroid the size of the Empire State Building could hit the moon in 2029- How could that affect Earth?
An asteroid measuring approximately 400 metres — about the size of the Empire State Building — is on a potential collision course with the Moon, according to astronomers. The object, identified as 2022 SF289, is

UK MPs call for recognition of Palestinian State
More than 200 Members of the UK Parliament have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognize the State of Palestine. In a joint letter signed by 221 MPs from nine political parties, lawmakers appealed to

“Kapodistrias” a cinematic tribute to Greece’s first martyr statesman
Set to Hit Cinemas on December 25 At the beginning of July, filming was completed for Kapodistrias, the new film by acclaimed Greek director Yannis Smaragdis. “Kapodistrias” a cinematic tribute to Greece’s first martyr statesman,

Greek passport soars to 5th strongest worldwide in 2025 rankings
The Greek passport has officially entered the ranks of the world’s most powerful, securing 5th place in the 2025 Henley Passport Index. The Greek passport soars to 5th strongest worldwide in 2025 rankings on the

Orban raises prospectof EU exit, citing Brussels’ authoritarian drift
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has once again raised the prospect of a Hungarian exit from the European Union, suggesting that the bloc’s authoritarian evolution may soon outweigh the benefits of membership. Speaking in an

