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.
Greece furious over north neighbor’s “Wines of Macedonia”
It came as expected and feared. Companies in North Macedonia omit the geographic term and sell their products with state labeling as simple “Macedonian.” And this despite the Prespes Agreement or because of it that
2,300 Year old Greek Necropolis found in Bari, South Italy
Bari, the capitol of south Italy’s Puglia region was one of the many coastal city states of Magna Greacia (‘Great Greece’) settled by the Greeks from the 8th century BC. The enduring legacy of Greek
Impressive! The moment lights go off as Acropolis joins Earth Hour
It was a moment of magic to see Greece’s famous landmark sinking in the dark. At 8:30 sharp on Saturday night, lights went off in Acropolis as in many other buildings of the Greek capital
Unpardonable and irresponsible lies
The theoretical and easy self-criticism of ministers and SYRIZA cadres is fine, but at some point they have to confront the results. We make mistakes and sometimes unpardonable ones, Deputy PM Yannis Dragasakis told Parliament
Opportunity
The Pasok-centred Movement for change paid a debt of honour to Andreas Papandreou. It is a debt not just because Andreas Papandreou played a leadimg role in fashioning the contremporary centre-left, but also because the
Envelope for the next PM
The climate and atmosphere surrounding the government is not the best. Pressures from the electorate are patently obvious. There are plenty of disputes and initiatives which are collapsing one after the other. These initiatives do
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
Australian activists claim to have “outsmarted” Israeli military as aid flotilla nears Gaza
A group of Australian activists on board an aid flotilla bound for Gaza claim they have “outsmarted” Israeli forces and are still on course to reach the besieged Palestinian enclave. Australian filmmaker Juliet Lamont posted
Australia’s opposition demands strong support for BHP in China dispute
Australia’s opposition is urging the Albanese government to actively intervene as BHP faces a reported freeze on iron ore shipments to China following stalled price negotiations. Opposition finance spokesman James Paterson criticized the government’s “hands-off”
Zelensky warns of nuclear risk after Russian drone strike near Chernobyl causes power outage at decommissioned plant
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of recklessly endangering global safety after a wave of drone strikes caused a three-hour power outage at the decommissioned Chernobyl nuclear facility, site of the world’s worst nuclear
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
