Australia to halve fuel tax in response to Middle East warSYDNEY, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Australia will halve a tax on fuel to reduce costs for motorists experiencing soaring petrol prices due to war in the Middle East, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday. "We are making fuel cheaper today because we understand that Australians are under serious pressure," Albanese said. Australia charges a sales tax of 52 cents on each litre on petrol sold at the pump, which will be halved for three months.

HONG KONG, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Oil prices rallied and stocks tumbled again Monday as the Middle East crisis escalated with the entry of Houthi rebels into the Iran war and investors grew increasingly concerned the United States would send in ground troops. The news sent the price of oil to its highest level since earlier in the month after the United States and Israel began their campaign against Iran. The losses followed a bad day on Wall Street, where all three main indexes tumbled after the United States and Israel struck Iranian nuclear sites. "The market is now reacting to higher crude pricing and towards the fallout in the economic consequences," wrote Pepperstone's Chris Weston. "Any meaningful disruption, married with a sharp rise in insurance costs, could drive another leg higher in crude and further pressure risk assets."

PARIS, France, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Four-time World Cup winners Italy hope to end a 12-year absence from football's biggest stage on Tuesday, while Kosovo are dreaming of a first ever appearance at a major tournament. Graham Potter's Sweden, whose win over Ukraine was their first of the qualifying campaign, will be at home in Stockholm against a Poland side seeking to go to a third successive World Cup. They edged Slovakia 4-3 in Bratislava to set up a clash with Turkey, who have not played at the World Cup since a surprise third-place finish in 2002. Turkey beat Romania 1-0 with a goal from Brighton's Ferdi Kadioglu. The Czech Republic last went to the World Cup in 2006, while Denmark have played at three of the last four finals.

YAOUND, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Crunch WTO talks in Yaounde failed to agree an extension of a years-long moratorium exempting e-commerce from customs duties, dealing a setback to developed countries and to Washington in particular. The moratorium, which has been renewed every two years since it was introduced in 1998, is now set to lapse on Monday. Its expiration does not automatically trigger duties on digital trade, since WTO members can continue to individually choose not to impose customs duties on online goods and services ranging from e-books and music to telemedicine.

HAVANA, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Sunday that Moscow could send oil to Cuba despite Washington's de facto fuel blockade, as a Russian tanker was expected to deliver some much-needed crude to the crisis-hit island. "If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it's Russia or not," Trump told reporters as he flew back to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Cuba lost its main regional ally and oil supplier in January when US forces captured Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump subsequently threatened to impose tariffs on any country sending oil to Cuba and has mused about "taking" the island. Another ship that was reportedly carrying Russian diesel to Cuba, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, rerouted to Venezuela this week.

BERLIN, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa is visiting Germany on Monday for talks on the Middle East war, rebuilding his country and Berlin's efforts to send back Syrian refugees. As a result, many international sanctions on Syria have been lifted to help the country rebuild after its bloody 14-year civil war. Ahead of the visit, the German interior ministry announced a new initiative to provide support to Syria's disaster management ministry and help train emergency services. Merz said last year that, with Syria's civil war over, people from that country now have "no grounds for asylum in Germany". - Protest against visit -Sharaa was initially planning to visit Germany in January, but the trip was postponed as he sought to end fighting between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in the country's north.

MOSCOW, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - An overnight drone strike on the Russian port city Taganrog killed a man and wounded eight others, the mayor said early Monday. Air defences intercepted the attack on Rostov region, but falling drone debris cratered into buildings and sent emergency crews scrambling across the city, according to Mayor Svetlana Kambulova. "The main tragedy of this night is the death of a civilian," she posted on Telegram just after midnight. Farther south, the mayor of Krasnodar said three people, including two children, were wounded, while in Belgorod, two women sustained shrapnel wounds after their cars were struck in a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor said. Across the border, the Ukrainian air force issued a countrywide missile alert after confirming the takeoff of Russian bombers.

MIAMI, March 30, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - World number two Jannik Sinner powered past Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-4 to win the ATP Miami Masters 1000 for a second time on Sunday, adding the title to his Indian Wells crown. Sinner had just pocketed the first set when the showers hit again, halting the match for 90 minutes. His return game was also spot on as he handed 22nd-ranked Czech Lehecka his first service break of the tournament for a 2-1 lead in the opening frame. Sinner trailed 0-40 in the following game but fired three service winners and a pair of aces to hold. Lehecka fought off five more break points before Sinner pounced for the lone break of the second set and a 5-4 lead, the Czech gifting Sinner a break chance with a loose forehand.

The newest is Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, following the young cadets at the titular school and led by Holly Hunter as the chancellor. Read on for everything we know so far about a Starfleet Academy Season 3. Will there be a Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 3? We look forward to sharing the upcoming second and final season with everyone, and continuing to celebrate the cast, crew, and all that was accomplished with this series.”When will Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 2 premiere? What could we have seen in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 3?

Health Minister Sardar Sakhawat Hossain Bakul has accused previous governments of “plundering” the health sector, claiming Upazila health complexes lack even basic funds to purchase gauze, bandages, and syringes. Speaking in parliament on Sunday, in response to a question from Gaibandha-4 MP Mohammad Shamim Kaiser, the minister said decades of mismanagement have left no funds for developmental work. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Opposition leader Shafiqur Rahman attended. The minister highlighted that Upazila health complexes currently have no operational funds. Previous interim governments’ limited resources have also been exhausted.”He added that he had discussed the crisis with the premiere two to three times.

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Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton hit blistering half-centuries to lead Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders as they opened their Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign in style on Sunday. Chasing 221 for victory, five-time champions Mumbai rode a commanding 148-run opening stand from Rohit (78) and Rickelton (81) to reach their target with five balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium. South African wicketkeeper-batter Rickelton kept up the attack as he hit his eighth six after Rohit's departure, continuing the pummelling of the Kolkata attack. Pandya won the toss and invited three-time winners Kolkata to bat first amid a loud roar from the home Mumbai crowd. Rinku Singh's unbeaten 33 off 21 balls gave Kolkata a late lift, but it wasn't enough to challenge Mumbai.

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President Mohammed Shahabuddin this evening held a view-exchange meeting with local journalists, working at different mainstream and local media outlets including television channels, news agencies and online news portals here in the district. The Head of the State, also a lifelong member of the Pabna Press Club, held the meeting at the Samson H. Chowdhury Auditorium here today, on the second day of his four-day visit to his hometown Pabna. During the two-hour meeting, the President reminisced childhood memories with his friends, his educational life, journalism and participation in the 1971 Liberation War in Pabna. On his arrival there, Pabna Press Club President Akhtaruzzaman Akhter and General Secretary Zohurul Islam, Square Group Director and media personality Anjan Chowdhury welcomed the President with a bouquet of flowers. President Shahabuddin also exchanged greetings with all those present there on the auspicious evening.