
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.

Eurovision 2025: Klavdia’s “Asteromata” secures Greece a spot in the grand final
Greece has officially qualified for the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 with Klavdia and her captivating performance of the song “Asteromata” (which translates as “Starry Eyes”). Eurovision 2025: Klavdia’s “Asteromata” secures Greece

Maria Karystianou shocks the European Parliament, there’s no rule of law in Greece
New Democracy has paid people to assassinate the characters of victims’ relatives and smear anyone who dares to speak out.” At the event titled “Journalism on Trial”, held at the European Parliament, Maria Karystianou delivered

Tempi in the European Parliament on 19 June – ND–European People’s Party manoeuvres fall flat
The European People’s Party (EPP) and its allies have failed in their attempt to cover up the Tempi crime. The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament has officially approved the inclusion of the matter

Northern Epirus Youth: Himarians reject Mastoras at Rama’s Himara rally
3 May 2025 will remain etched in the collective memory of Himara and all of Northern Epirus as a day of deep insult and bitter disappointment — a day that underscored the daily mockery and

Turkey’s invasion plans for Greece blocked by US, France, sparking Erdogan’s fury
Turkey’s contingency war plans against Greece, particularly targeting Western Thrace and the Aegean islands, have suffered a serious setback due to the expanded military presence of the United States and France in support of Greek

Greek court awards damages for AstraZeneca Vaccine side effect, a legal first
In a landmark ruling, a Greek court has, for the first time, awarded financial compensation to a citizen who suffered a serious adverse reaction following vaccination with AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. TGreek court awards damages for

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

Putin’s 702 decree caused outrage in the West
As reported by journalists from China, Russian President Vladimir Putin caused outrage in the West with a new surprise decree. Relations between Russia and the West have reached their lowest point since the collapse of

Why was Telegram’s Pavel Durov effectively kidnapped at Paris Airport?
Pavel Durov, the founder and CEO of Telegram, was arrested in France today on various charges. Telegram has been a key platform for sharing information about the Israeli actions in Gaza, with thousands of videos

Winners and losers in global commodities this year
The global commodities market has experienced significant volatility this year, with prices generally remaining elevated across various sectors. The first half of the year saw orange juice and cocoa prices reach record highs, while crude

WHO reassures: Mpox is not the new COVID – We know how to control its spread
A World Health Organization (WHO) official emphasized today that Mpox, whether it’s the new or old strain of the disease, is not the new COVID-19, as health authorities have the knowledge to control its spread.

The Middle East on a razor’s edge: Tough bargaining for a ceasefire
International concerns over the escalation of war in the Middle East have peaked as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Israel in a last-ditch diplomatic effort to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. This

Monkeypox: WHO Recommends Vaccination in Affected Areas
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended on Monday that countries affected by the mpox virus (commonly known as monkeypox) initiate vaccination programs, particularly in regions where cases have been reported. The mpox outbreak in the

