Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented – The Hill

  1. Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if ceasefire deal is implemented  The Hill
  2. Hamas says American-Israeli hostage will only be freed if ceasefire is implemented  Fox News
  3. Citing its private demands, Witkoff rejects Hamas offer to free Edan Alexander, 4 dead hostages  The Times of Israel
  4. Dangerous dilemma: Hamas traps Netanyahu with 'willingness' to free U.S.-Israeli hostages  Haaretz
  5. Hamas says it will release Israeli-American hostage and four deceased captives  NBC News
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Serbia: Protesters flood Belgrade with Vucic under pressure – DW (English)

  1. Serbia: Protesters flood Belgrade with Vucic under pressure  DW (English)
  2. Serbia's largest-ever rally sees 325,000 protest against government  BBC.com
  3. An estimated 100,000 join antigovernment rally in Serbia’s Belgrade  Al Jazeera English
  4. Serbians stage huge protest in Belgrade against their president  The Guardian
  5. Protest Against Serbian Leader Draws Over 100,000 in Biggest Crowd Yet  The New York Times
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Australia’s trade minister warns Trump tariff war could raise price of Big Mac in US

Don Farrell points out most Australian beef exported to US goes to fast food giant McDonald’s

Donald Trump’s trade war could raise the price of American hamburgers, Australia’s trade minister has warned, amid fears that tariffs could be extended to beef and other agricultural products.

The trade minister, Don Farrell, said most of Australia’s beef exported to the United States went to fast food giant McDonald’s, and any new tariffs on our goods would inevitably increase the price Americans pay for their cheeseburgers or Big Macs.

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Gout Gout lights up the track in Brisbane with world-leading 200m time

  • Sprint sensation clocks 20.05 secs in U20 heat at state championships
  • Australian breaks 20-second barrier in final with wind-assisted 19.98s

Sprint sensation Gout Gout, Australia’s fastest man over 200m, has lit up the track with a world-leading run during the Queensland Athletics championships on Sunday.

Gout first blitzed the field in the under-20 heats to cross the line in 20.05s for the fastest 200m recorded across the globe in all ages in 2025. The 17-year-old smashed the previous best 20.13s clocked by Zimbabwe’s Makanakaishe Charamba in Texas last month but better was still to come in the final in Brisbane.

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Women to save thousands of dollars a year as new fertility and endometriosis drugs listed on PBS

New contraceptives, IVF and endometriosis treatments added to federal subsidy scheme, with Coalition leaders backing the move

New medications related to contraception, endometriosis and IVF will be subsidised on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 May, with some women expected to save thousands of dollars each year.

The announcement from the federal government on Sunday was welcomed by health campaigners, who said women’s health issues have been sidelined for far too long.

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New drugs added to PBS; alleged e-scooter bandit arrested – as it happened

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Bandt: government could deliver cheap renewable energy

The Australian government could use publicly owned electricity generators and retailers such as Snowy Hydro to offer power at cost to households and businesses, Bandt says.

I think a surplus mentality, understanding that we have got an enormous amount of sun and wind and if we back it up with storage, we could really drive down the cost of electricity in this country, and make it a place that you bring your businesses to from overseas, deliver cheap electricity for households. A mind shift is needed and the government could play a big role in that given its stake in a publicly owned generator.

We need to fast-track the build of renewables and also of storage.

But look, we have to wait to see – is there a peace [deal]? What is the agreement? What is the request that is being made? There are things that could be done right now, though. The ABC reported a couple of weeks ago that Australia is still the largest buyer of Russian oil. And it’s meant to be sanctions imposed.

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Millions in Cuba without electricity after substation failure – NBC News

  1. Millions in Cuba without electricity after substation failure  NBC News
  2. Cuba struggles to restore power to millions as night falls  Reuters Canada
  3. Cuba hit by widespread blackouts after national energy grid collapses  The Guardian
  4. Huge power outage in Cuba leaves millions in darkness  Al Jazeera English
  5. Cuba's national grid fails, leaving millions without power  DW (English)
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Influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mom issues apology – NBC News

  1. Influencer who snatched baby wombat from its mom issues apology  NBC News
  2. Calling all influencers: never pick up a wild animal. Especially a baby wombat.  National Geographic
  3. Wombats are cute, furry marsupials — that shouldn’t be picked up  The Associated Press
  4. After An Influencer Caused Massive Outrage By Taking A Baby Wombat From Its Mother, She Has Issued A Statement  Yahoo
  5. Baby wombat-snatching US influencer apologises and says she was ‘concerned’ for Australian animal  The Guardian
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PM says ‘small’ Australian contribution to Ukraine peacekeeping force could follow ceasefire

Coalition opposes putting ‘boots on the ground’ in Ukraine saying peacekeeping is Europe’s responsibility

Anthony Albanese says Australia may send a “small contribution” of peacekeepers to Ukraine if asked, but it was premature to discuss the details before Russia agrees to a ceasefire agreement.

The prime minister joined a phone hook-up overnight that was chaired by the UK’s Keir Starmer and included the leaders of Canada, New Zealand and Europe, a collection referred to as the “Coalition of the Willing”. It also included the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

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