
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.

Firefighters battle overnight wildfires in Attica, Euboea, Kythera, Chania, and Messinia
Greek firefighters have been battling relentless wildfires throughout the night in several regions including Attica, Euboea, Kythera, Chania, and Messinia. Ground forces, volunteers, and local residents are working tirelessly to control the fires, which have

Greece endures unprecedented triple weather threat: heatwave, winds and dust
Greece is facing one of its most severe and unusual weather events in recent history, with meteorologists describing a rare “triple phenomenon” combining a relentless heatwave, powerful northeasterly winds, and African dust. According to meteorologist

“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,

Mitsotakis: Greece will not discuss sovereignty with Turkey – “Twitter diplomacy is easy”
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis firmly ruled out any negotiations with Turkey on matters of national sovereignty, in a televised interview with SKAI anchor Sia Kossioni on Tuesday evening. “Greece does not discuss issues of

Shockwaves in PASOK: Cretan party official resigns amid OPEKEPE subsidy scandal
A political storm has erupted within PASOK following the resignation of Lampros Antonopoulos, Secretary of the Heraklion Prefectural Committee, after his alleged involvement in the controversial OPEKEPE agricultural subsidy case. Antonopoulos submitted a formal resignation

Ex-wife of murdered Polish professor in custody – maintains her innocence
The 43-year-old ex-wife of the murdered Polish professor has been remanded in custody after being accused of orchestrating his killing. She is alleged to be the mastermind behind the plot, despite her claims of innocence.

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

Trump extends “olive branch” to Mamdani after New York election victory
Just weeks after dismissing Zohran Mamdani as “the communist running for mayor” and warning he might cut funding or even leave New York if Mamdani won, President Donald Trump has dramatically shifted his tone, offering

Diplomatic flurry in Paris as Barrot holds talks with European ministers on Ukraine and the Trump Plan
Paris is entering a phase of heightened diplomatic activity as European governments attempt to navigate growing pressure over the war in Ukraine and the controversial peace proposal put forward by Washington. France’s Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël

Guardian: Ukraine peace plan appears to be a direct translation from Russian
Growing criticism surrounds a proposed 28-point peace plan for the war in Ukraine, with many observers arguing that the document reflects the strategic interests—and even the linguistic fingerprints—of the Kremlin. According to The Guardian, a

Trump’s “Peace Plan” branded a fantasy as critics warn Russia will only accept battlefield reality
A Ukrainian lawmaker has published what he claims is the Ukrainian translation of US President Donald Trump’s proposed 28-point peace plan — a document that, if genuine, outlines sweeping security, territorial and military conditions for

The Norwegian energy success story and what Greece can learn
As part of my ongoing analysis on NewsBreaks artilce regarding energy policy and national resource management, Michalis Christodoulides examine here how Norway transformed its hydrocarbon reserves into a long-term national advantage — and what lessons

Michael Rubin issues stinging indictment of Turkish human rights abuses
Michael Rubin — a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and one of Washington’s most experienced analysts on Turkey and the broader Middle East — has published a blistering commentary accusing Ankara of systemic

