Top World News

Apr 15, 2026 - World

Smoke warning for residents south of Viva oil refinery in Corio as Geelong mayor calls fire ‘unprecedented’Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn explosive blaze at a Geelong oil refinery – which supplies half of the fuel in Victoria’s fuel and 10% of the nation’s – has broken out, with petrol production to be affected some time and authorities warning the full extent of the damage is still unknown.The blaze at the Viva Energy facility in Corio – one of two refineries left in Australia – broke out just after 11pm Wednesday, with Fire Rescue Victoria alerted to the incident by multiple calls to Triple Zero “reporting explosions and flames”. Continue reading...

Apr 15, 2026 - World

White House denies US asked for ceasefire extension and says negotiations are ‘ongoing’; Benjamin Netanyahu says ‘too early to say how matter will end’Donald Trump said the “special relationship” between the US and UK was in a poor state but that it will not have impact on King Charle’s upcoming state visit to America.In an interview with Sky News, the US president once again criticised Keir Starmer over his policies, particularly on energy and immigration, and reiterated his disappointment that the UK and other Nato allies had not joined his war against Iran when the US “needed them”. Continue reading...

Apr 15, 2026 - World

Company has received about £8.7bn in renewable energy subsidies since 2012, despite claims wood pellets are not sourced sustainablyThe owner of the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire received record subsidies of almost £1bn for burning trees to generate electricity in 2025, a climate thinktank has calculated.The company was paid £999m last year for generating about 4.5% of Great Britain’s electricity from its biomass plant, costing each household £13 a year, according to analysts at Ember. Continue reading...

Apr 15, 2026 - World

Proceedings brought to halt as protesters condemn Russ Vought for slashing Pepfar program amid sweeping aid cutsProtesters decrying delays to funding in the battle against HIV/Aids charged into a congressional hearing where the Trump administration’s budget czar, Russell Vought, was testifying in Washington on Wednesday.The demonstrators disrupted the proceedings on Capitol Hill and twice brought the hearing to a halt. Continue reading...

Apr 15, 2026 - World

Chevron's president of downstream, midstream, and chemicals. Andy Walz advises Americans to drive less amid rising oil prices.