
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.

“Hello, Greece! What an incredible honor”: Kimberly Guilfoyle’s first message as new U.S. ambassador
Kimberly Guilfoyle has officially arrived in Athens to begin her tenure as the new United States Ambassador to the Hellenic Republic, marking her first day in the post with a warm bilingual message on social

Two dead, several injured in Crete -watch video
Village locked down after deadly vendetta — police fearing revenge attacks The quiet mountain village of Vorizia, in Heraklion, Crete, has turned into what locals describe as a “no man’s land” after a brutal vendetta

Nikos Dendias: Greece’s defence transformation and strategic clarity toward Turkey
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias outlined a comprehensive vision for the modernization of Greece’s Armed Forces, emphasizing innovation, technological autonomy, and national unity during his address at the 4th Naftemporiki Economic Conference at the Zappeion

The day small nations taught the World to say no
Greece’s Oxi Day and Israel’s doctrine of Ein Brera reveal how small nations survive — by turning defiance into strategy, power into peace, and alliances into security. The Day small nations taught the World to

A new face for the Greek Ministry of Defence: Mitsotakis and Dendias at the inauguration
Athens – In a stunning ceremony, the Ministry of National Defence unveiled the new bioclimatic façade of its central building, transforming the historic “Pentagon” into a modern landmark for the capital. The south façade, over

Brian Cox urges return of Parthenon Marbles to Greece
Famed Scottish actor Brian Cox, known for his role in Succession, has taken a clear stance in favor of returning the Parthenon Marbles to Greece. Speaking exclusively to Greek state broadcaster ERT, Cox commented on

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

Weapons cache found near Tbilisi amid coup plot
Georgia’s State Security Service has announced that during recent waves of unrest in the capital, authorities uncovered a significant, weapons cache found near Tbilisi amid coup plot. Officials claim the arsenal was intended for a

Australian activist alleges abuse in Israeli detention
Australian humanitarian claims physical abuse during Gaza aid mission detention An Australian activist, Surya McEwen, has alleged severe mistreatment while detained by Israeli authorities following an attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. McEwen, from

Tony Abbott urges UK to use Australian-style migration measures
Former Australian PM calls UK migrant arrivals a ‘peaceful invasion’ Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has sparked controversy by suggesting that the United Kingdom should adopt stringent measures similar to those implemented in Australia

Seven Australians released from Israeli custody, deported to Jordan
Seven Australian activists who were detained by Israeli authorities after being intercepted aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla have been released and deported to Jordan. The activists, who had been in custody since October 2, reportedly

Denmark to ban social media for children under 15
New law to require parental approval from age 13 Denmark is set to ban social media use for minors under 15, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced during the opening session of Parliament, in a move

New political deadlock for Macron – early elections loom on November 16
Elysée tells regional authorities to “prepare” as pressure mounts France is heading into another phase of political turmoil, with President Emmanuel Macron facing mounting pressure from both the opposition and the public — as well

