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
ANZ and NAB chiefs face parliamentary scrutiny after record fines and misconduct
Australia’s largest banks are facing intense parliamentary scrutiny as the government examines past misconduct, employment practices, and customer protections. ANZ’s new chief executive, Nuno Matos, publicly apologised to a parliamentary committee for the bank’s historic
Australians hold 209 million days of unused annual leave as employment landscape shifts
Australian workers are heading into the summer break with a massive stockpile of unused annual leave, collectively sitting on 209 million days of accrued holidays, new data from research firm Roy Morgan shows. The near-record
Surge in social media use replaces sport, reading and arts among Australian children
A dramatic rise in social media use among children and adolescents is reshaping daily routines and pushing aside key developmental activities such as sport, reading and music, according to a major new study by the
Optus fined $826,320 after major verification flaw allows scammers to steal customer identities and tens of thousands of dollars
Optus has been hit with a substantial $826,320 penalty after a serious security lapse allowed scammers to bypass customer verification processes and steal as much as $39,000 from individual victims. The Australian Communications and Media
Albanese issues ultimatum to Turkey over hosting COP31 Climate Talks
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has drawn a firm line in ongoing negotiations with Turkey over the hosting of next year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), ruling out any possibility of co-hosting the event. Speaking
Australian families face rising private health insurance premiums in 2026
Australian families may be set to pay significantly more for private health insurance in 2026, as premiums are projected to rise between 3.9 and 4.4 per cent. According to analysis by Money.com.au, this increase could
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.
Ancient Tombs unearthed in Nemea, Greece shed light on Mycenaean Civilization
An ancient, unlooted chamber tombs dating from the Late Mycenaean period, (1400 – 1200 BC), near Nemea in the Peloponnesian Peninsula. The newly-found tombs at the Aidonia burial site include five full burials and the
Three Greek Students Sweep Medals at 26th International Mathematics Competition
Three Greek university students swept the medals, winning one gold and two silver, in this year’s International Mathematics Competition (IMC), which took place in Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria between July 28 and August 3. The team from
Greeks most pessimistic about future of EU
Greeks are the most pessimistic among their EU peers about the future of the European Union, according to the Standard Eurobarometer survey of spring 2019 published on Monday, which inquired about topics such as the
Ancient shipwrecks off Greek island of Evitha yield treasure trove of discoveries
The first underwater archaeological research period of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities off the island of Levitha has yielded some important discoveries, according to the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The research was conducted from
Drowning of three children on a day raise questions about pools safety
In two separate incidents, three youngsters drowned in swimming pools of hotels on the islands of Rhodes and Crete on a single day. An 8-year-old child drowned in the swimming pool of a hotel in
Greece records two deaths from West Nile virus
Greek health authorities disclosed on Thursday that Greece has experienced the first deaths this year from the West Nile virus. The two victims of the virus were both over the age of 80. The National
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
Humanitarian aid enters Gaza at a slow pace, says the UN
More than 37,000 tonnes of UN humanitarian aid have entered Gaza since the ceasefire began on October 10, according to a UN spokesperson who criticised the slow pace at which barriers to aid delivery are
Eurobarometer: Greeks most concerned about cost of living and irregular migration — EU’s top challenges
According to recent data from the Eurobarometer survey published on 7 November 2025, Greeks are particularly worried about two major issues: the high cost of living and irregular migration. The survey highlights how these concerns
UN Security Council votes to lift sanctions on Syrian transitional President Ahmad al-Sara
The United Nations Security Council has voted to lift sanctions against the transitional President of Syria, Ahmad al-Sara, and Interior Minister Anas Hatab, removing them from the UN sanctions list linked to the terrorist group
Trump open to discussing lifting sanctions on Iran, announces rapid deployment of international force to Gaza
U.S. President Donald Trump said yesterday that Iran has repeatedly requested the lifting of U.S. sanctions and that he is “open” to discussions on the matter. “Iran has asked for sanctions to be lifted,” Trump
U.S., Greece, Cyprus, and Israel form joint front for energy security in the Eastern Mediterranean
A new chapter in regional cooperation unfolded in Athens this week as the United States, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel reaffirmed their commitment to energy security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. Meeting at the Zappeion
China to resume imports of Australian canola after five-year ban
In a major breakthrough for Australian agriculture, China has agreed to import 65,000 tonnes of Australian canola for the first time in five years, marking what experts say could be the start of a renewed
