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News live: Marles says Australia facing most challenging geopolitical environment since 1940s; former pilot to be extradited to US after losing appeal
Follow the latest updates liveFull report: Geelong oil refinery fireGeelong oil refinery fire: what we know so farGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastFire officer says officials haven’t detected any contaminants spreading from blazeEarlier this morning, Fire Rescue Victoria assistant chief fire officer, Mick McGuinness, provided an update to ABC Radio Melbourne. Shortly before 7am, he said about 50 firefighting vehicles were continuing to fight the blaze in the Mogas (motor gasoline) plant section of the refinery.This fire has been quite large overnight. It is still burning at the moment, and we would still declare it as not yet under control … And the fire is mainly being fed by various types of hydrocarbon fuels. So predominantly liquid petrol … and also some gas and vapours that are feeding this fire at the moment.We were concerned with the smoke that was coming off this fire, so our initial reactions were to get an alert message out to the community. We’ve since been able to have our specialist hazardous materials teams come in from locally Geelong and also in Melbourne and set up some atmospheric monitoring equipment and do a lot of sensing and sampling of not only the atmosphere but also the fire water runoff that we’re using to contain the fire. We’ve been able to determine … that we haven’t detected any sort of contaminants there.We’re predicting that this still could burn for another three or four hours, if not longer. But we are starting to see a reduction in the intensity of the fire, which is an indication that the depressurising of the systems and the pipe work is occurring and that we will see a lesser amount of fuel being available to feed the fire. And of course, that allows us to continue to cool that area more rapidly and then be able to get crews in there to look at how we can start to isolate pipe work and valve systems.It shows that we have very fragile, very thin energy security platform when it comes to refinery, only the two refineries left. And as mayor, I’ve been calling this out since being elected back in 2024, that Viva is not only a significant employer and corporate citizen for Geelong, but it has a significance for Victoria and Australia.And it just shows that we, as a country, need to invest more in this type of capability. Continue reading...
US Senate fails to pass war powers resolution for fourth time – as it happened
This blog is now closed. Our latest full report is here: US and Iran in indirect talks to extend two-week ceasefireDonald 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...
Former NSW MP spruiked as ‘esteemed’ Liberal at campaign event – despite Icac’s ‘serious corrupt conduct’ finding
Exclusive: John Sidoti wins cheers and applause at re-election fundraiser for his successorFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA former New South Wales minister found by Icac to have engaged in serious corrupt conduct has been feted as one of the “esteemed luminaries of the Liberal party” at an election fundraiser headlined by the state opposition leader, Kellie Sloane.John Sidoti, a former Liberal minister and state member for Drummoyne who left the party in 2021 amid an investigation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption, attended a re-election campaign launch event last week for his successor as MP and former staffer, Stephanie Di Pasqua. Continue reading...
Democrats file articles of impeachment against Hegseth for ‘high crimes and misdemeanors’
Accusations refer to attack on Iran without congressional authorization and strikes on alleged drug smuggling boatsHouse Democrats filed six articles of impeachment against Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, accusing the defense security of “high crimes and misdemeanors”, in reference to the attack on Iran without congressional authorization and deadly strikes on suspected drug smuggling boats, among other official acts.The move comes as the Trump administration faces mounting scrutiny over recent foreign action, particularly the war with Iran. Continue reading...
When the ‘Dubai dream’ goes wrong - podcast
Journalist Will Coldwell tells the story of how a British businessman was imprisoned in Dubai – and how his family finally got him homeWhen Albert Douglas found out he was facing a long prison sentence in Dubai, he tried to escape the UAE … and failed. What followed was years of court proceedings, time in prison and even, Douglas says, beatings and torture.In recent years, scores of business owners, unsuspecting tourists and influencers have been detained in Dubai – caught up in an opaque legal system, charged with breaking laws they may not even have been aware of. Continue reading...
House Democrats file six articles of impeachment against defense secretary Pete Hegseth – as it happened
This live blog is now closed.Trump news at a glance: president renews threats against federal reserve chair, pushes his replacementSign up for the Breaking News US emailAt a Turning Point USA event in Georgia on Tuesday, vice-president JD Vance was heckled by a protester who seemed to criticized the conflicts in the Middle East, including the war in Gaza.“Jesus Christ does not support genocide,” the audience member shouted. The vice-president addressed the demonstrator and agreed with their statement, before responding to further comments from the heckler who appeared to say that the administration “supports a genocide in Gaza”. Continue reading...
Australia fuel watch tracker: check current petrol and diesel prices, service station outages and shipments – in charts
How much fuel does Australia have left today, and when could we run out? Track how much petrol and diesel prices have risen near you in Sydney, Melbourne and across the country.Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe federal government has released fuel reserves, cut fuel excise taxes and rolled out a national fuel security plan as Australia battles a fuel crisis.While we know there have been outages and price increases, it can be difficult to get a full picture of what is happening – this is partly due to the thousands of independent businesses and different governments involved. We have brought together the latest data on prices, outages and oil tanker deliveries. Continue reading...
Hezbollah Hints At Ceasefire In Lebanon, Israel To Ramp Up Attacks
Israel's top general has approved plans for continuing attacks -- both in Lebanon and Iran.
Georgia man charged over attacks that killed DHS worker and another woman
Killings of Lauren Bullis and woman not yet identified in ‘random’ Monday attacks draw attention of Trump officialsAn Atlanta man has been charged in a string of attacks over a matter of hours that left two women dead and a man in critical condition, drawing the Trump administration’s attention after one of the victims was identified as a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee who was walking her dog.The killing of the DHS worker, Lauren Bullis, and shootings of the two other victims on Monday led the homeland security secretary Markwayne Mullin to issue a statement raising concerns that the 26-year-old suspect, British native Olaolukitan Adon Abel, was granted US citizenship in 2022. Continue reading...
US-Iran War Live Updates: Netanyahu Says US, Israel Have 'Identical Goals' On Iran
US-Iran War Live: The Iran war began when the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states that host US bases.
"Turn Around Or Will Use Force": US Warning To Ships Transiting Hormuz
Iran has rejected the US move outright, with its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei saying the country is "not 'blockadable'".
US, Iran Consider Extending Ceasefire To Buy Time For Peace Talks: Report
Tensions remain particularly high over Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil and gas that's been effectively shuttered since the start of the war almost seven weeks ago.
Apr 16, 2026