Australia to ban surcharges on payment cards, cut bank fees

The central bank estimated the change would save consumers A$1.6 billion (S$1.42 billion) a year.

Hindu devotional clubbing sways India’s youth

“Bhajan clubbing” represents a modern twist that is gaining traction in New Delhi.

Korean Air to shift to emergency mode in April amid rising oil prices from Iran war

Fuel surcharge for flights from Incheon to New York and Chicago are set to jump by 200 per cent.

A surprising new idea about how the Big Bang may have happened

Scientists at the University of Waterloo have uncovered a bold new way to explain how the universe began—one that could reshape our understanding of the Big Bang. Instead of relying on patched-together theories, their approach shows that the universe’s explosive early growth

Thailand’s king endorses PM Anutin’s new Cabinet, Royal Gazette says

The approval clears the way for the Cabinet to be sworn in before the king.

First look at Trump's library: Miami skyscraper with ballroom, golden statue, even aircraft

Eric Trump, President Trump’s son, unveiled the first renderings of his father’s presidential library and museum on Monday, which will be built in downtown Miami. The younger Trump wrote on the social platform X that he has “poured my heart and soul into this project” with his

King Charles should meet Epstein victims, US lawmaker says

While the trip is not officially confirmed, the King and Queen Camilla are reportedly planning to visit the US at the end of April.

Eurovision launching Asia edition, grand final to take place in Bangkok in November

So far, broadcasters from 10 countries across Asia have confirmed their participation.

'A succulent Chinese meal' - iconic Australian quote immortalised in national archive

The theatrical monologue given by Jack Karlson as he was arrested in 1991 has been officially recognised as a "lasting piece of cultural folklore".

The Army Opens Inquiry After Kid Rock’s Personal Apache Helicopter Flyby

The Army has opened an inquiry into two videos shared by Kid Rock that show a pair of Apache helicopters flying by his Nashville residence over the weekend, Pentagon officials told the New York Times. A rep for Rock did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.

Kid Rock sparks US Army probe after helicopter flyby at his mansion

The country rock artist posted footage on Saturday of himself saluting the aircraft from his outdoor pool.

Australia’s fuel tax cut will take time to be felt by consumers

Australia has seen sporadic panic buying in recent weeks, especially in rural areas.

Indonesia summons Meta and Google over non-compliance with child social media curbs, minister says

Failure to implement the curbs may result in sanctions or even a block on the platform.

Madonna, Maren Morris, Pedro Pascal, and More Call for Shut Down of Notorious ICE Detention Center

Dozens of stars signed an open letter urging the federal government to shutter the Dilley Immigration Processing Center in Texas

German firms trapped between US and China, study finds

Germany's largest companies are deeply entangled with rival businesses in China and the US, and unable to escape either superpower, according to new research published by the University of Sussex and King's College London. The findings are published in the journal Review of

Giant oil tanker off Dubai hit by Iranian strike, Trump threatens to obliterate Iran energy, oil plants

By Alexander Cornwell, Trevor Hunnicutt and Yomna Ehab TEL AVIV/WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - Iran attacked and set ablaze a fully loaded crude oil tanker off Dubai on Monday, as President Donald Trump warned the U.S. would obliterate Iran's energy plants and oil wells if it

How Pakistan won over Trump to become an unlikely mediator in the Iran war

Pakistan's role as intermediary in this conflict took many by surprise. But perhaps it shouldn't have.

Tropical geckos in Australia are more adaptable than we thought

Earth is teeming with life: creatures big and small have spread and adapted to vastly different environments. Many animals can also change their physiology—how their bodies function—in response to local fluctuations. Just think of hibernating bears in winter, for example.

How Flamingos Got Their Pink

Against the morphological backdrop of the rest of nature, a giant pink bird on stilts sounds like something out of Lewis Carroll’s imagination. And yet flamingos came out of evolution’s laboratory, surprising and inevitable as the neocortex, so extravagant in their

Disney's AI Olaf Animatronic Malfunctions at Disneyland Paris Debut

Disney's new Olaf animatronic made its debut at Disneyland Paris, but suffered a hilarious malfunction when it stopped working and collapsed.

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s Protégé Unveils Polyamorous Romantic Drama ‘Between Two Lovers’

Nanako Hirose's Japan-Taiwan co-production stars Masami Nagasawa, Tasuku Emoto and Shizuka Ishibashi and probes unconventional love and family structures among a trio of attractive young Tokyoites.

Asian stocks fall, oil up as Trump threatens Iran

New forensic tool provides intelligence to link serial killer victims by analyzing facial similarities

Researchers at Murdoch University have developed a forensic intelligence tool which could help police link the victims of serial offenders by analyzing their facial appearance. The study, "Development of face similarity linkage for the attribution of intelligence links in

Astronaut Michael Fincke was rendered unable to speak...

Astronaut Michael Fincke was rendered unable to speak while on the ISS , prompting an evacuation to Earth. “We’re almost 100% sure that this is a space-related thing.” Uh, I’ve been reading a lot of sci-fi recently; this is *exactly* how It starts.

Artemis II will fly astronauts around moon: What to know about launch

NASA’s Artemis II test flight is set for Wednesday, a trip that will mark the first crewed mission to head toward the moon in more than five decades. The launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Fla., is scheduled for 6:24 p.m. ET on Wednesday. The onsite

Your post-gym protein shake may get a taste upgrade: Manufacturing can improve whey protein drink palatability

The taste and texture profile of protein shakes could be improved by tweaking the way whey protein is made, new research has found. An ongoing collaboration among the University of Reading, Aberystwyth University and Arla Foods Ingredients has resulted in the production of whey

Scientists discover sleep switch that builds muscle, burns fat, and boosts brainpower

Deep sleep does far more than rest the body — it activates a powerful brain-driven system that controls growth hormone, fueling muscle and bone strength, metabolism, and even mental performance. Scientists have now mapped the neural circuits behind this process, uncovering a

Trump tells aides he is willing to end Iran war without reopening Hormuz, WSJ reports

March 30 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told aides he is willing to end the military campaign against Iran even if the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed and leave a complex operation to reopen it for a later date, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday,

How the solar wind really works

The sun, our nearest star, never stops breathing. Every second of every day, it exhales a vast stream of charged particles that sweeps outward through the solar system at hundreds of kilometers per second. We call it the solar wind, and while that name conjures something gentle

Indonesia calls for restraint after three peacekeepers killed in Lebanon

The Indonesian casualties occurred in two separate incidents over the past two days.

Argentine court charges football chief 'Chiqui' Tapia and top AFA officials with tax fraud

An Argentine court on Monday charged the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, treasurer Pablo Toviggino, and three other officials with misappropriation of tax revenue and social security funds, in a case involving unpaid withholdings of more

Argentine microsatellite to fly on NASA's Artemis 2 Moon mission

A microsatellite designed and built entirely in Argentina will travel as a secondary payload on the crewed Artemis 2 mission, which NASA plans to launch Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Argentina is the only Latin American country selected to participate and

Chile's new government freezes migrant legalization, eyes deportations

President José Antonio Kast's government has suspended a decree drafted by the previous administration of Gabriel Boric that would have regularized some 182,000 people who entered Chile irregularly and voluntarily registered with immigration authorities.

How scientists prepare expeditions in remote environments

Scientific expeditions require months of planning before scientists can acquire the first data. A bark cuts through the Arctic silence, waking Anna up. She slept only three hours after collecting the last sample. Anna reaches for her rifle, exits the tent, and steps onto the

NASA begins countdown for first crewed Moon mission in over 50 years

The countdown for the Artemis 2 mission began Monday at 4:44 p.m. local time at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with liftoff targeted for 6:24 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. It will be the first time astronauts have traveled toward the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Oil tops $114 a barrel as Iran conflict drives record monthly surge

Brent crude, the European benchmark, closed Monday at $112.78 per barrel and continued climbing in the futures market past $114, its highest level since July 2022. Oil has surged roughly 55% in March, the largest monthly gain since the contract's inception in 1988.

Mars-like worlds near M-dwarfs may lose air in millions of years

The criteria for finding an Earth-like planet unofficially comes down to two things: water and the habitable zone. But a phenomenon known as atmospheric escape often "escapes" the minds of many astronomy fans, and it turns out that atmospheric escape is one of the key

Cardi B Shuts Down Lawsuit Claiming ‘Enough (Miami)’ Used Beats From ‘Reservation Dogs’ Song

A federal judge in Texas ruled it would be “futile” for the producers to try again with a third amended complaint

A new study shows that since 1990, the United States has...

A new study shows that since 1990, the United States has caused $10 trillion in global climate damages . China is responsible for $9T. “Our emissions have caused damage not only to ourselves, but pretty substantial damage in other parts of the world.”

Spaceflight captures audiences when it centers on people because human space travel is hazardous

The central premise of the blockbuster film "Project Hail Mary" is a long-shot mission with a familiar goal: Save humanity from extinction. While the details of the threat facing humanity are new to this story, moviegoers are used to binging on popcorn while watching a heroic

Japan spots Chinese survey ship operating in disputed waters

TOKYO, March 31 - Japan's Coast Guard said it had confirmed a Chinese marine research vessel was operating in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) west-northwest of Uotsuri Island on Monday and had demanded that the activity be halted.

Vanuatu Indigenous leaders raise concerns over plans to build resort for cruise tourists

Exclusive: Environmental impact assessments are ‘incomplete’, say leaders, and private beach club could harm fragile ecosystems Indigenous community leaders in Vanuatu have raised concerns over plans by the cruise operator Royal Caribbean to build a private beach club on the

US trade chief sees only limited role for WTO after failed meeting in Cameroon

WASHINGTON, March 30 - The World Trade Organization will play only a limited role in global trade policy after a failed ministerial meeting in Cameroon, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Monday, vowing to seek alternative arrangements s with like-minded countries.

Why some tax refunds may actually be smaller than expected in 2026

The Trump administration has projected "very large refunds" for taxpayers in 2026, but some may be less than thrilled with the amount of money they get back.

What learning English means to migrants

It is widely accepted that learning English is essential for many adult migrants who move to the UK. Yet in the last census, over 1 million residents in England and Wales reported not speaking English well or at all.

Fuel frenzy across Causeway: Johor businesses expect more Singaporeans to shop, fill petrol

The RON97 price difference is significant enough for Singapo­reans to cross the Causeway, say businesses.

After sex abuse claims, activists and lawmakers rethink Cesar Chavez Day

California has renamed Cesar Chavez Day to Farmworkers Day after the labour-rights icon was accused of sexual abuse.

Africa: Meeks, Jacobs Lead Warning to Rubio Not to End Lifesaving Assistance to 7 African Countries

[U.S. House of Representatives] Washington, DC -- Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Sara Jacobs, Ranking Member of the Africa Subcommittee, joined by other Africa Subcommittee Democrats, today sent a letter to Secretary

Human touch leaves chicks feeling happy, study finds

Chicks, just like pets, also benefit from gentle human touch, new research has revealed. Scientists at the University of Bristol have discovered that gentle human interactions do not only prevent fear in baby chicks but also trigger positive emotions. The findings offer new