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.
Greece to monitor Methana Volcano, just 50km away of Athens
For the first time, the Greek Geodynamic Institute will install six seismological stations to monitor the volcano of Methana in the Saronic Gulf, just 50 km away from capital Athens. “ A source of concern
The ‘Atlantis of Crete’: The sinking village sinks again
The locals call it the “Atlantis of Crete”, as the village of Sfentyli sinks slowly and gradually into the waters coming from the Aposelemis dam. One part of the Cretan village has sunk completely. It
“Repressed Macedonian Slav minority” angers Greece
The article of BBC “Greece’s invisible minority – The Macedonian Slavs” triggered angry reactions in Athens with the government to speak of “inaccurate and distorted Information.” The point that angered the Greek government is the
Ancient Greeks proved the earth was round 2,000 years ago using a stick
Long before the first satellites were sent to space in the 1960’s in order to prove that the Earth is indeed round, Ancient Greek mathematician Eratosthenes had found the proof using a simple …stick. And
Greece, Albania discussing EEZ, not land border
The land border between Greece and Albania is not among the issues being discussed between the two countries, sources from the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday, in response to suggestions to that
More than 7,000 Turks have submitted asylum requests since 2016
An upward of 7,000 Turkish nationals have requested international protection in Greece since the failed coup attempt in their country in 2016, according to the data published by the country’s asylum service late last week.
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
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,
Countdown for Hamas: Trump’s ultimatum and pressure from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to accept Gaza Peace Plan
Global attention has turned once again to Gaza, as U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive 20-page peace plan aimed at halting the bloodshed — accompanied by a stern ultimatum. According to Axios and iefimerida.gr,
Anthony Albanese invites UAE retail giant LuLu to Australia
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shown keen interest in the international retail chain LuLu Hypermarket, inviting Indian billionaire MA Yusuff Ali to consider expanding the company into Australia. The invitation came during the Prime
US gives green light to AUKUS ahead of Albanese’s visit to Washington
Australia’s largest-ever defence agreement, AUKUS, appears to have successfully passed a US government review, paving the way for its continuation ahead of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Washington next month. The review began in
Plans for a nuclear strike on an asteroid threatening the moon – challenges and prospects
The scientific community is seriously considering the use of a nuclear weapon to intercept asteroid 2024 YR4, which has a significant chance of colliding with the Moon in 2032. Measuring approximately 55 meters in diameter,
