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
Liberal MP breaks ranks to call for increase to Newstart
Liberal senator Dean Smith has broken ranks with the federal government to call for an increase to the Newstart payment. WA Senator Dean Smith has become the first Liberal MP to publicly back an increase
Aged care homes spending as little as $7 a day on residents food
Some aged care homes spend as little as $7 a day on food for each resident, a royal commission has been told. Celebrity chef Maggie Beer says that sort of budget is inadequate to prepare
Vic wants federal funds to remove cladding
The Commonwealth is being asked to stump up $300 million to help remove dangerous cladding from hundreds of buildings across Victoria. The state Labor government is establishing a $600 million fund, to be overseen by
Asylum seeker tries to set himself on fire at Melbourne detention facility
Another incident of self-harm has occurred in an Australian detention centre. An asylum seeker detained in the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation facility has been taken to hospital after trying to set himself on fire, according
No paperwork, increasing rent: Sydney landlords exploiting international students
International students are being exploited by landlords in Sydney’s tight housing market, a new report has found. International students in Sydney are falling victim to financial exploitation by dodgy landlords, who are overcharging on bonds,
Record number of Aussies rush to file tax returns
A record number of Australians have lodged their tax returns in the hope of getting their hands on a hefty refund. About 650,000 people have already filed their tax returns, with this year’s early rush
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.
Greek-Turkish talks: Preparations for Mitsotakis – Erdogan meeting in Ankara
The forthcoming meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marks the start of negotiations between the two countries at a time of relative calm in the Eastern Mediterranean. The
Turkey’s ambition to conquer Greece through military means or demographic shift
Turkey’s ambition to conquer Greece through military means or demographic shift and occupy the Greek Aegean islands remains a concerning issue. The Turkish media persistently asserts that “152 Greek islands and islets in the Aegean
Greece’s minimum wage set to rise today
The new minimum salary to be introduced from today, will amount to 830 euros gross, increased by 6.4%, the government announced on Friday. It will concern at least 560,000 workers already employed in the private
Bicommunal Bi-zonal Federation
For 50 years they have been plaguing us with their three-carat bi-communal bi-zonal federation. Since August 16, 1974, when the Foreign Office finally decided on a “solution” to the Cyprus problem only after the two
Mykonos: where legislation regarding beach use remains unenforced
The incidents of lawlessness on the Greek islands involving businesses seem endless, as they have recently faced legal issues. Last summer, Mykonos was prominently featured on the list of islands where legislation regarding beach use
Tempe Train incident: A year ago the chairman of the engine drivers alleged editing of evidence – he was never invited to the inquiry
A few days after the train tragedy in Tempe, and specifically on March 3, 2023, the former president of the engine drivers, Kostas Genidounias, had spoken about tampering of audio recordings containing the stationmaster’s conversations
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
Iran declines attendance at Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt
Iran announced that it will not participate in the high-level summit on peace in the Gaza Strip taking place today in Egypt, despite receiving an official invitation. The summit, held in Sharm el-Sheikh, is co-chaired
France’s new government: Sébastien Lecornu appointed prime minister amid political test
Macron seeks stability and approval of the 2026 budget France has a new government, with Sébastien Lecornu sworn in as Prime Minister after days of negotiations and internal tensions within President Emmanuel Macron’s camp. The
Hostage release nears as Trump heads to the Middle East for Gaza Peace Summit
Hamas gathers hostages for handover to Red Cross Hamas has reportedly gathered all living hostages at three designated locations across the Gaza Strip, preparing for their transfer to the Red Cross later today, according to
Donald Trump to meet families of Gaza hostages before addressing the Knesset
US President to travel from Washington to Israel and Egypt as peace ceremony looms US President Donald Trump will meet with relatives of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza before delivering a historic address to
Three Qatari diplomats killed in Egypt car crash en route to Gaza peace summit
Sharm el-Sheikh tragedy casts shadow over crucial international talks Three diplomats from Qatar were killed and two others injured in a road accident near the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, as they
Violent clashes erupt along Afghanistan-Pakistan border
Kabul accuses Islamabad of airstrikes and violating Afghan sovereignty Intense fighting has erupted along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border, deepening tensions between the two neighboring countries. The Taliban accused Pakistan’s military of carrying out airstrikes inside Afghan
