United News of Bangladesh

A man has been shot dead by police after allegedly aiming a rifle at officers following a car crash southwest of Sydney. The police force in the state of New South Wales said in a statement that officers were deployed to reports that a car had been driven into a tree near the small town of Rugby, 210 km southwest of Sydney, shortly before 3 p.m. on Sunday. Police arrived and approached the vehicle to help the driver, who was believed to be unconscious, when he allegedly aimed a rifle at officers and was subsequently shot. Officers commenced CPR, but he died at the scene. Police said that the man has not been formally identified, but is believed to be aged 45. A crime scene was established and police commenced an investigation into the incident, which will be overseen and reviewed by internal integrity bodies.

Ten people have been hospitalized after a car crashed into a crowd in the Australian city of Newcastle, 110 km north of Sydney, on Saturday morning. The assistant commissioner of police in the Australian state of New South Wales, David Waddell, told reporters on Saturday afternoon that a car was driving erratically before the driver lost control and crashed into a crowd around 9:30 a.m. local time. He said that the crowd had gathered along the side of the road as part of an official farewell event for local team the Newcastle Knights as they traveled to Sydney to play in the National Rugby League grand final on Sunday night. Police said that 10 people were injured, including a five-year-old girl and a 67-year-old man who were hospitalized in critical condition. The remaining eight people, including a second five-year-old girl and a two-year-old girl, were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The ambulance service earlier reported that nine people were injured. The driver of the vehicle, an 18-year-old man, was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for mandatory drug and alcohol testing. Waddell said that he would likely be charged by police on Saturday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement posted on social media that it should have been a weekend of excitement and pride in Newcastle. "My thoughts are with everyone injured or involved in the horrible incident this morning in Newcastle," he said.  

Australians will be able to opt out of content algorithms on social media platforms under proposed laws, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday. Albanese told reporters at Parliament House that the digital duty of care laws would require social media platforms to give users the choice to opt out of algorithms and only see content from accounts that they follow. Additionally, Albanese and Communications Minister Anika Wells said the proposed laws would require platforms to protect users younger than 18 from harmful content, including content that promotes eating disorders, misogynistic content and content that glorifies crime. Platforms found to breach the new regulations will face fines worth up to 100 million Australian dollars (about 72.1 million U.S. dollars). "It's about giving people control. It's about putting choice back into the hands of Australians online," Albanese said. Wells described the new laws as the next step forward in requiring technology companies to take responsibility for the harms caused by their platforms. "For too long, tech companies have been running real-time unregulated product testing on Australians, and their platforms and tools have infiltrated our daily lives in ways we could have never imagined," she said. "There is a global reckoning coming for big tech." It comes after Albanese's Labor Party government in 2024 legislated a world-first social media ban for children younger than 16, which came into effect in December 2025. Albanese and Wells said in June that the government would double the maximum fine for breaches of the minimum age law to 99 million Australian dollars.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and visiting Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker on Monday highlighted the strong potential for expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The remarks came during a joint press conference in Ankara following a meeting between Erdogan and Stocker, who was making his first visit to Türkiye since becoming chancellor. Erdogan said the two sides discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, as well as Türkiye-EU ties and regional and global developments. "Türkiye and Austria have significant potential for cooperation in green energy, critical minerals, high technology, transportation and defense industries," Erdogan said. Stocker said economic and social relations provide the foundation for close cooperation between the two countries. He also highlighted opportunities to further expand economic ties, particularly through cross-border railway projects.

Australia has accused Iran of “deliberately inflicting economic pain” worldwide following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong made the remarks after the United Kingdom hosted a virtual meeting of around 40 countries to discuss the disruption of the key shipping route. She said Iran’s actions were impacting communities globally, with the burden falling most heavily on vulnerable populations. Wong said the meeting focused on diplomatic and civilian measures that countries could take to ensure the strait remains open and secure. She added that participating ministers stressed the need for continued coordination and collective efforts. Australia, she said, is not engaging in offensive operations against Iran and has no plans to deploy troops on the ground. The Australian government continues to support efforts aimed at de-escalation and a peaceful resolution to the situation, she added.  #From Al Jazeera

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a reduction in fuel taxes to help lower living costs, as global supply disruptions linked to the US-Israeli war against Iran continue to impact prices. “The halving of the fuel excise will reduce the cost of fuel by 26.3 cents per litre ($0.18),” Albanese said. “We are making fuel cheaper today because we understand that Australians are under serious pressure.” The tax cut will come into effect next Wednesday and remain in place for at least four months. National Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the measure would lower the cost of filling a 65-litre tank by about 19 Australian dollars ($13). “So it is a substantial cost-of-living relief. It is timely, it is temporary, and it is responsible,” Chalmers said. #From Al Jazeera

Australia has begun releasing fuel from its reserves after panic buying led to shortages at some petrol stations amid rising global energy tensions. The government approved the move overnight, allowing an additional 762 million litres of petrol and diesel to enter the market from Tuesday. Officials expect the increased supply to help ease prices that have surged in recent weeks. Petrol prices rose by nearly 50 cents per litre across Australia’s five largest cities between Feb 20 and Mar 11, with the average price reaching about A$2.20 per litre, according to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Authorities in New South Wales, the country’s most populous state, said 32 of its roughly 3,000 petrol stations were running low or had already run out of fuel. Long queues have formed at petrol stations as motorists rush to stock up, despite government appeals urging people to buy only what they need. Energy Minister Chris Bowen said demand for fuel has doubled since the bombing of Iran, warning that panic buying could worsen supply pressures.   With inputs from BBC

The Australian Fatwa Council has announced that Ramadan 1447AH will end on Thursday, March 19, making Friday, March 20 the first day of Eid-ul-Fitr and the beginning of Shawwal 1447AH. The decision was made following consultations with local and international moon observatories, using calculations of the new moon’s appearance, moonset, and visibility across Australia and neighbouring regions — a method recognised by many prominent global scholarly councils. The Australian National Imams Council and the Fatwa Council noted that some scholars and Imams may follow alternative approaches and urged the community to respect differing opinions while fostering unity. The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, along with member Imams, extended Eid greetings to the Muslim community. They encouraged Australians to remember Palestinians in Gaza through prayers, donations, and support, and to engage with neighbours to share the peaceful and authentic values of Islam. The councils emphasised that the moon sighting calculations ensure an accurate and consistent start to Shawwal 1447AH while acknowledging diversity of opinions within the Muslim community. Source: Gulf News

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has apologised after describing former Australian of the Year Grace Tame as “difficult”, a remark that triggered criticism from the survivor and political leaders. Albanese made the comment during a rapid response, one word question session, when asked to describe Tame, who was named Australian of the Year in 2021 for her advocacy for survivors of child sexual abuse. Tame said the term reflected what she called a “misogynist’s code” often used for women who refuse to comply, adding that history usually labels such women as courageous. Following criticism, Albanese said he was sorry if his words were misinterpreted, explaining that he had been referring to the hardships Tame has faced in her life and praising her for turning personal trauma into advocacy for others. However, Tame later rejected the apology, posting on social media that it was condescending and insisting the meaning of the remark was clear. The comment also drew condemnation from other politicians. Greens leader Larissa Waters said describing Tame as difficult was completely unwarranted and criticised the tendency to label outspoken women in that way. During the same session, Albanese described Donald Trump as “president”, opposition coalition leader Angus Taylor as “leader”, and One Nation chief Pauline Hanson as “divisive”. He also used a derogatory term when referring to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, drawing applause from the audience. Tame was awarded Australian of the Year for her campaign to overturn laws in Tasmania that prevented survivors of sexual abuse from speaking publicly about their experiences. In recent years, she has been a prominent critic of political leaders over responses to sexual assault allegations and workplace culture in parliament. More recently, Tame has again drawn public attention after speaking at a pro-Palestine rally, where her remarks sparked debate and criticism from some politicians, including calls from figures such as Barnaby Joyce for her to be stripped of her national honour. The controversy has renewed debate in Australia over political language, gender, and how public figures respond to survivors who challenge those in power.   With inputs from BBC

Australian police have defended their response after violent clashes erupted during a pro-Palestinian protest in Sydney against a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog, with 27 people arrested as authorities enforced new restrictions on public demonstrations. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said officers showed “remarkable restraint” and acted as required after confrontations broke out near Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday night. Police said about 6,000 people attended the rally, which followed a failed last-minute court challenge by organisers seeking to overturn police powers limiting their right to march. The federal government invited Herzog to Australia following a deadly antisemitic shooting at Bondi Beach in December, saying the visit would help the Jewish community heal. Fifteen people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed when gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Dec 14. Pro-Palestinian groups opposed the invitation. Video footage from the protest appeared to show physical confrontations, including police punching demonstrators and removing Muslim men who were praying. Josh Lees of the Palestine Action Group said the violence was the worst he had seen in years, adding that tensions could have been avoided if authorities had allowed a march from Town Hall to parliament or Hyde Park. After the Bondi Beach attack, NSW introduced tighter protest rules and, days before Monday’s rally, invoked “major event” powers that allowed gatherings but banned marches and gave police authority to shut down parts of the city. Protesters lost a legal bid to overturn the measures shortly before the rally began. NSW Premier Chris Minns backed police actions, saying officers were placed in an “impossible situation” and warning against judging events based on short video clips. Assistant Commissioner Peter McKenna said police were threatened and assaulted during multiple clashes and were significantly outnumbered. The crowd included Jewish demonstrators opposing Herzog’s visit. Linda Feinberg held a placard reading “Jews say no to genocide” and criticised the government’s decision to invite him. Protester Sihal Jamila attended with her young daughter, saying the issue was deeply personal. Speeches at Town Hall were initially peaceful, but tensions escalated when protesters demanded to march. Police moved in and used pepper spray, causing panic as demonstrators were unable to leave due to police lines. Minns later said officers needed to keep protesters away from a nearby event Herzog was attending. Another protest was planned outside a Sydney police station on Tuesday, with organisers demanding charges be dropped and investigations into police conduct. The Australian National Imams Council condemned footage showing Muslim men being dragged away while praying as unacceptable. NSW Greens MP Abigail Boyd said she was pushed and shoved by police despite identifying herself as a lawmaker. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was devastated by the scenes and said they should not have occurred, but defended Herzog’s invitation and criticised protesters for undermining their cause. Pro-Palestinian groups cited a UN commission report that accused Herzog and other Israeli leaders of inciting genocide through public statements. Herzog has rejected the findings, saying his words were taken out of context, while Israel’s foreign minister dismissed the report as false.   With inputs from BBC