
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

Wild winds to smash popular camp spots in final days of school holidays
The final days of school holidays will be wild and windswept, with these popular tourist spots set to cop a battering. Popular holiday spots are among the locations bracing for wild wind, with the Bureau

Greg Hunt plays down impact of NZ case on travel bubble
The Health Minister has responded to a COVID-19 case in New Zealand and its potential impact on the trans-Tasman travel bubble. The trans-Tasman travel bubble will not be derailed despite New Zealand suffering a COVID-19

The coming Greater Depression of the 2020s
While there is never a good time for a pandemic, the COVID-19 crisis has arrived at a particularly bad moment for the global economy. The world has long been drifting into a perfect storm of

Australia’s post-war recovery program provides a direction as to how to get out of this
As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the world, wartime metaphors abound. And, with what amounts to a war economy now in place, attention has inevitably turned to post-war reconstruction. It is self-evident that, without any

CORONOAVIRUS CLOSURES: Everything that will shut from midnight tonight
Australians will face even tighter restrictions on daily life as the country grapples with the an upturn (that will peak sometime inn April or May) in coronavirus cases. An expanded list of businesses will be

What coronavirus has done or could do to your super — and why you shouldn’t panic
Watching the stock market nosedive and freaking out about what it’s doing to your super? Superannuation analyst SuperRatings has a message for you — don’t panic. “It is putting pressure on super,” said SuperRatings CEO

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.

Koukolopoulos follows Gervoulanos in warning over PASOK’s stagnant polls
Greek MP and former minister Paris Koukolopoulos has announced that he may raise the issue of PASOK’s stagnant polling in party bodies if there is no recovery by Christmas. Speaking after Pavlos Gervoulanos referenced the

Mitsotakis rules out Turkey’s participation in EU SAFE program amid Aegean disputes
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has reiterated that Turkey cannot participate in the EU’s Strategic Armaments Framework (SAFE) program as long as it maintains a casus belli against Greece and disputes the sovereignty of Greek

Mitsotakis: Comprehensive european defense, competitiveness, and green transition on summit agenda
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will participate today Thursday in the European People’s Party Summit and the European Council meeting, where key topics will include defense, security, competitiveness, the green transition, the Middle East, and

Gerapetritis: “The Western Balkans must accelerate their path toward the European family”
Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis called for the acceleration of the Western Balkans’ European integration during the Berlin Process Summit held in London, emphasizing that “the only sure path to peace and prosperity in the

Gerapetritis’ Blunder: The phrase that diminished Greek diplomacy
No matter how much we try to hide it, reality speaks for itself. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs under George Gerapetritis seems unable to find its footing. Gerapetritis’ Blunder: The phrase that diminished Greek diplomacy.

Dionysis Savvopoulos: The voice that sang Greece has fallen silent
The beloved Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos has died at the age of 81, marking the end of an era in modern Greek music and culture. Known affectionately as “Nionios,” Savvopoulos was more than a composer

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

Three Hamas members arrested in Germany
Planned terror attacks against Jewish institutions – weapons seized during raid German authorities have arrested three men suspected of being members of Hamas, accused of plotting terror attacks on Jewish and Israeli institutions across Germany.

EU leaders approve pan-European anti-drone shield
“Frozen” Russian assets to fund Ukraine’s defence – Strategic readiness by 2030 European Union leaders have agreed to create a pan-European anti-drone shield, aiming to protect the continent from Russia’s growing use of unmanned aerial

Israeli commandos raid Gaza Aid Flotilla – Greta Thunberg detained amid communications blackout
A dramatic maritime confrontation unfolded late Wednesday when Israeli naval forces intercepted multiple vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, a pro-Palestinian convoy sailing towards Gaza to break the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. According to

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,

