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According to the Henley Passport Index, South African passport holders can travel to 101 destinations without a prior visa. The ranking places the country 50th or 96th globally, depending on the report, with regional highlights across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and the Caribbean.
The Brisbane Broncos face a must-win clash against the Penrith Panthers, who lead the NRL ladder, as the defending premiers look to break an eight-game losing streak. The Broncos' finals hopes hinge on winning all remaining games, a task complicated by their poor points differential, while key players return from Origin duty for both sides.
A national mobile network outage at Telstra disrupted train services, payment systems and some emergency calls after a software defect in time-keeping servers. Telstra apologised and said services were restored, while the prime minister called the incident deeply concerning and the communications regulator opened an investigation.
The State of Origin series concludes with Queensland hosting New South Wales at Brisbane's Lang Park in a winner-takes-all Game III. The Maroons levelled the series with a Game II win in Melbourne, while the Blues have won only three of their 13 deciders at the venue. Coverage includes broadcast details, kick-off times across regions, and a recap of the opening matches.
Australia and Fiji have signed a major defense alliance, the Ocean of Peace Alliance, committing to mutual defense obligations. The pact, signed by Prime Ministers Anthony Albanese and Sitiveni Rabuka in Suva, marks Fiji's first alliance and Australia's fourth formal ally. The move is seen as part of Australia's broader strategy to counter China's influence in the Pacific, which has intensified following China's recent test of a nuclear-capable missile in the region.
New South Wales can win the State of Origin shield with a victory in Game II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday night. After a record comeback in Game I, the Blues are one win away from the title, while Queensland must triumph to force a decider in Brisbane.
Queensland captain Cameron Munster has expressed confidence that teammate Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will honour his late father Fereti in State of Origin II, after Fereti died following a battle with cancer. Fa'asuamaleaui left the Maroons' camp to be with family before rejoining the team in Melbourne, and Munster, who went through a similar loss last year, says he knows exactly how his teammate feels.
Israel has opened a new embassy in Fiji's capital, Suva, 30 years after the previous one was closed, with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar attending the ceremony. The move is part of a broader diplomatic strategy to deepen ties with Pacific nations that have consistently supported Israel, and includes new cooperation agreements on national security and diplomatic training. Israel also announced plans to open a representative office in Papua New Guinea.
The 2026 men's State of Origin series begins Wednesday night in Sydney, with Queensland defending the shield won in 2025. Kick-off is set for 8:05pm AEST at Stadium Australia, with the match broadcast on Channel Nine and 9Now. New South Wales has made a late halves change after Mitchell Moses was ruled out.