United News of Bangladesh

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

Three people were killed when a light aircraft crashed south of Adelaide on Friday afternoon, South Australia Police said on Saturday. Police said they received reports of a light plane crashing into the ocean at about 4:20 p.m. local time and responded immediately, according to a statement. Read More: 15 killed as passenger plane crashes in northern Colombia All three men on board were found dead the 57 year-old pilot, along with an 18 year-old and a 19 year-old, it said, adding that the aircraft’s wreckage has been recovered and brought ashore. Transport safety investigators were at the scene on Saturday, and inquiries into the crash are ongoing, it said.

Eight skiers lost their lives in three separate avalanches across Austria over the weekend, authorities reported. A woman was fatally buried by an avalanche around 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Bad Hofgastein area of western Austria, at an altitude of about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet), according to the Pongau mountain rescue service. About 90 minutes later, another avalanche struck the nearby Gastein Valley, south of Salzburg, sweeping away seven people. Four died, two were seriously injured, and one escaped unharmed. Factory explosion in China's Inner Mongolia region kills 2, hospitalizes 66 In central Austria’s Pusterwald, three Czech skiers were killed in an avalanche shortly before 4:30 p.m., police said. Four of their companions were rescued and brought to safety. Gerhard Kremser, head of the Pongau mountain rescue service, said the incidents highlight “how serious the current avalanche situation is,” stressing that “clear and repeated warnings” had been issued about avalanche risks.

Families of victims of the deadly Bondi Beach attack in Sydney have called on Australia’s federal government to take stronger action against rising antisemitism and investigate security failures linked to the country’s worst mass shooting in three decades. In an open letter released on Monday, families of those killed and wounded in the Dec 14 attack urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a federal royal commission to probe the surge in antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 and the shortcomings of security agencies. Two gunmen allegedly opened fire at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and wounding at least 40 others. Seventeen families said a royal commission, Australia’s most powerful form of public inquiry, was needed to determine why warning signs were ignored and how extremist hatred was allowed to grow unchecked. “We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward,” the letter said. Albanese, however, continued to reject calls for a federal royal commission, arguing that such an inquiry would take years to deliver findings. Instead, he announced a review led by former senior bureaucrat Dennis Richardson to examine legal and procedural failures linked to the attack, which authorities say was inspired by the Islamic State group. The review is expected to report in April next year. “My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the Bondi terrorist atrocity,” Albanese told reporters, adding that the Richardson review was in the national interest. He said the federal government would support a royal commission announced by the New South Wales state government, but the families argued that a state-level inquiry would be insufficient. “The rise of antisemitism in Australia goes far beyond one state jurisdiction. It is a national crisis that demands a powerful response,” the letter said. Meanwhile, New Year’s Eve celebrations at Bondi Beach have been canceled, with organizers saying tickets for an annual music festival would be refunded. Security will be tightened across Sydney, where more than one million people are expected to attend celebrations around the harbour. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said discussions were underway with the federal government about possible military involvement to strengthen security in Sydney. Police said one of the alleged attackers was shot dead at the scene, while his son survived and now faces multiple charges, including 15 counts of murder. As public debate continues, Albanese has sought to highlight acts of bravery during the attack, including the actions of a bystander who disarmed one of the gunmen before being injured. His intervention has drawn widespread praise and international donations, while a mural in Melbourne has commemorated what many have described as an act embodying Australian values.  

Australian police on Monday said that Naveed Akram, accused of killing 15 people in the Bondi Beach attack, conducted firearms training with his father, Sajid Akram, in a New South Wales area outside Sydney prior to the massacre. Police documents released after Akram’s video court appearance from a Sydney hospital, where he is being treated for an abdominal injury, showed the pair had recorded footage justifying the meticulously planned attack. Officers shot Naveed Akram at the scene of the Dec. 14 attack and killed his 50-year-old father. The 24-year-old suspect was transferred from hospital to prison on Monday, though authorities did not disclose the facilities. According to the documents, the father-son duo began their assault by throwing four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) toward a crowd celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, but none detonated. Police described the devices as three aluminum pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb containing explosives, gunpowder, and steel ball bearings, calling them “viable” IEDs. Before the attack, the pair rented a room in Sydney’s Campsie suburb for three weeks. CCTV footage showed them leaving at 2:16 a.m. with two shotguns, a rifle, five IEDs, and two homemade Islamic State flags wrapped in blankets. Police also released images of the attackers shooting from a footbridge, which provided an elevated position and partial cover behind concrete walls. The largest IED was later found in the trunk of Naveed Akram’s car, draped with the flags. Authorities have charged Akram with 59 offenses, including 15 counts of murder, 40 counts of causing harm with intent to murder, and one count of committing a terrorist act. The attack, targeting the Jewish community during Hanukkah, is Australia’s deadliest mass shooting since 1996. In response, the New South Wales government on Monday introduced draft laws that Premier Chris Minns said would be the toughest in Australia. The new rules would require Australian citizenship to qualify for a firearms license, which would have excluded Sajid Akram, an Indian citizen and permanent resident. New limits for recreational shooters would restrict ownership to a maximum of four guns, down from six, which Sajid Akram legally possessed. Police said videos recovered from Naveed Akram’s phone show him and his father expressing extremist political and religious views, condemning Zionists, and following an ideology linked to Islamic State. Footage from October also shows them conducting tactical firearms training in open grassland. Authorities allege the father and son meticulously planned the attack for several months. The Bondi beachfront returned to normal activity on Monday after an impromptu memorial near Bondi Pavilion was removed, while the Sydney Jewish Museum will preserve part of it. Funerals continued, including that of 27-year-old French national Dan Elkayam, one of the victims. Twelve wounded people remain hospitalized.