NEWS

Australians are being reminded once again to stop panic buying as more and more service stations run out of fuel.

SYDNEY — Sydneysiders and visitors can look forward to a mix of family fun, outdoor adventures and selective shopping during the Easter long weekend 2026, which runs from Good Friday, April 3, to Easter Monday, April 6.

In a rather unusual move, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will address the nation regarding the government's response to the Iran war.

Nearly 25,000 cases of flu have been recorded at the end of March 2026, and Aussies are now being encouraged to get their shots.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced that surcharges for debit, prepaid, and credit cards and card networks will be scrapped.

Spanish officials have announced that Spain's airspace has been closed off to planes from the United States involved in the war.

Easter isn't looking very merry for 2026 as many have cancelled their trips due to the fuel crisis, and it also looks like rain is on the way.

Victoria will be providing free public transport for one month, while Tasmania will be offering it until July.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that fuel excised will be halved for three months in response to the oil crisis.

Some petrol stations in New South Wales have imposed caps on fuel purchases amid the ongoing fuel crisis that has affected supply.

Anthony Albanese is emphasizing yet again that he received no formal request from the US to help with the Middle East conflict.

A representative for Meghan Markle and Prince Harry emphasized that their upcoming trip to Australia is privately funded.

Iranians with valid visitor visas are now temporarily barred from entering Australia for six months.

Tehran has informed the United Nations that "non-hostile vessels" can transit the Strait of Hormuz provided they abide by one condition.

Proposed legislation in Queensland looks to ban children under the age of 16 from riding e-bikes and e-scooters.

Public transport fare reduction and work-from-home mandates are unlikely to be passed even as more service stations run out of diesel.

SYDNEY — Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX: CBA), the nation's largest lender by market capitalization, closed lower Friday amid elevated trading activity and ongoing volatility in the financial sector, finishing at A$175.64, down A$1.72 or 0.97% from Thursday's close of A$177.36.

CANBERRA, Australia — The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) continues to roll out detailed guidance and compliance reminders in March 2026, focusing on international tax reforms, upcoming superannuation changes and key lodgment deadlines for businesses and individuals.

WASHINGTON — The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.22% for the week ending March 19, 2026, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 203.72 points, or 0.44%, to close at 46,021.43 on Thursday, March 19, 2026, extending a string of declines as persistent inflation fears and a surge in oil prices weighed on investor sentiment.

Three flight attendants of a Delta flight from Los Angeles have been hospitalised after the plane hit severe turbulence as it was descending into Sydney.

GameStop Corp. shares traded modestly lower in early trading on March 19, 2026, as investors positioned themselves for the retailer's upcoming quarterly earnings report later this month.

OCALA, Fla. — Shares of AIM ImmunoTech Inc. (NYSE American: AIM) rocketed higher Wednesday, closing at $1.02, up 31 cents or 43.66%, on extraordinarily heavy trading volume exceeding 183 million shares as investors reacted to a key patent milestone and ongoing clinical advancements in its lead drug Ampligen for pancreatic cancer.

Palantir Technologies Inc. shares fell modestly Wednesday, closing at $152.77, down $2.31 or 1.49%, as investors locked in gains following a strong rally earlier in the month. The pullback came on elevated volume of about 32.3 million shares, reflecting typical profit-taking in a high-momentum AI stock amid broader market caution over valuations and macroeconomic uncertainties.

Tropical Cyclone Narelle has reached category five intensity and is expected to make landfall on Friday morning.

Netflix Inc. shares edged higher Wednesday, closing at $94.70, up 36 cents or 0.36%, as Wall Street renewed its optimism over the streaming giant's disciplined capital allocation and untapped pricing power following its exit from a high-stakes bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery assets.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY) is under investigation by multiple law firms for potential securities fraud following a sharp stock drop after the company disclosed promotional .com domain pricing that reduced upfront bookings and tempered 2026 revenue guidance, prompting shareholder alerts and calls for legal action.

Australia's Prime Minister says there's nothing to worry about in terms of the country's fuel supply even as major fuel suppliers are now being investigated.

Sydney — As Australia intensifies its push toward net-zero emissions and circular economy practices in 2026, a growing number of businesses are setting benchmarks for environmental responsibility.