SWITZERLAND: The Swiss National Bank has ruled out issuing a central bank digital currency (CBDC) for everyday use by the public.

investomania.co.uk/swiss-national…

AUSTRALIA: A report released by the Reserve Bank showed Australians made 30,859,700 ATM cash withdrawals in February, up 3.6% compared to February 2023.

9news.com.au/national/cashl…

IRELAND: The Irish Multiplex Cinemas, Ireland's largest cinema chain, is still refusing to accept cash in its flagship venue despite receiving a Government grant to attract new customers.

businessplus.ie/news/cinema-ca…

AUSTRALIA: Popular tourist hot spot Hamilton Island is facing scrutiny after it was revealed it has quietly banned the use of cash.

thewest.com.au/news/thousands…

GREECE: The government recently expanded use of the gov.gr digital wallet app making it mandatory for entrance in stadiums as of April 9.

ekathimerini.com/news/1235775/d…

CANADA: Starting this week British Columbians will have access to a free COVID-19 booster.

Masks are no longer mandatory in Island Health facilities. Healthcare workers will continue to wear masks and other protective equipment.

mytriportnow.com/39220/news/pro…

RUSSIA: The governor of the Bank of Russia has suggested a gradual transition to digital ruble adoption. Significant scaling is projected post-2025 and mass usage is estimated to span five to seven years.

news.ng/russias-centra…

SOUTH KOREA: Patients will be required to present their photo identification cards to receive treatment at hospitals and clinics, starting next month.

m.asiatoday.co.kr/en/view.php?ke…

India's #CBDC , the e-Rupee, has trended downward since Dec 2023 & transaction rates were only helped by banks disbursing employee benefits as digital rupees.

That's basically all CBDCs are - hype. Cash still rules in #India for most people.

theregister.com/2024/04/08/ind…

USA: Amazon has announced that it plans to remove its Just Walk Out technology from its Amazon Fresh grocery stores.

forbes.com/sites/christop…

AUSTRALIA: The Australian Senate has passed a Digital ID Bill, which sets up Australia’s first digital identity scheme to roll out to the private sector and states and territories.

lawyersweekly.com.au/biglaw/39395-a…

UK: A new lobby group called Basic Income for Farmers (BI4Farmers) has set out the case for a so-called Universal Basic Income (UBI) payment in a new report.

fwi.co.uk/business/payme…

UK: For the first time in Ealing, police have used live facial recognition technology in a number of locations around Ealing Broadway.

ealing.news/crime/ealing-p…

USA: The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a former AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals employee fired in 2022 for not taking the COVID-19 shot, which she declined on religious grounds.

washingtontimes.com/news/2024/apr/…

UK: In Lancaster, Barclays bank has announced it is closing at end of April, & new ‘cashless’ service being launched in nearby hotel.

Lancaster MP Cat Smith contacted Barclays with her and bank customers concerns about the closure.

lancasterguardian.co.uk/news/national/…

RUSSIA: Moskva Metro reports that 100 million trips have now been made using biometric payment.

Facial recognition cameras link a person to their payment option, removing the need for a ticket, smart card or mobile device.

railwaygazette.com/technology-dat…

UK: Jersey's Economic Development Minister believes that Islanders’ right to use cash should be enshrined in law.

jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2024/04/0…

IRELAND: The Irish Daily Mail has revealed that the Coalition is planning to subsidise private providers of ATMs and cash-in-transit vans to ensure they provide access to cash for people in rural Ireland.

businessplus.ie/news/atms-acce…

AUSTRALIA: Australian activists organized a protest on April 2, to withdraw cash from ATMs called 'Draw out some cash day.'

atmmarketplace.com/news/australia…

USA: The Federal Trade Commission has blocked plans for a new technology that could analyze a user's face to determine their age, preventing minors from accessing certain games and features.

hitmarker.net/news/ftc-block…