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A late-night fire at Viva Energy Group's Geelong refinery in southern Australia has triggered an emergency response, with local authorities describing the incident as "significant" as crews work to bring the blaze under control. The full scale of the damage was not immediately known. Fire Rescue Victoria said in a statement that the fire was reported at about 11 p.m. local time today. The agency said the blaze was still not under control, but confirmed that all staff had been accounted for. Emergency crews were sent to the…

Thursday March 19, 2026 QatarEnergy's liquefied natural gas production facilities at Ras Laffan Industrial City Iranian missile strikes on Qatar’s flagship Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country’s main gas hub, left “significant damage,” authorities said. “The State of Qatar expresses its strong condemnation and denunciation of the blatant Iranian attack targeting Ras Laffan Industrial City, which caused fires resulting in significant damage to the facility,” Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on…

Ireland charters Oman flight to repatriate citizens as airlines add Dubai–Dublin services amid Middle East airspace shutdown Ireland will repatriate up to 280 citizens stranded across the Middle East on a government-chartered flight from Oman in the coming days, as commercial carriers add limited services and thousands of travelers race to leave the region following days of US-Israeli strikes on Iran that have effectively shut down much of the region’s airspace. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee called the Oman charter…

Oman says U.S.-Iran nuclear talks make ‘significant progress’ as military buildup intensifies Technical talks planned in Vienna next week; move could avert threatened U.S. strikes, but gaps remain on missiles and sanctions Oman said the United States and Iran made significant progress in talks aimed at resolving a longstanding nuclear dispute and averting new U.S. strikes, as Washington expands its military footprint across the Middle East. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi said in a post on X that the two sides…

GENEVA — Oman said the United States and Iran made “significant progress” in talks aimed at breaking a longstanding nuclear impasse and averting potential new U.S. strikes, as both sides agreed to reconvene within a week and send technical teams to Vienna. Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, who is mediating the diplomacy, said on X, formerly Twitter, that negotiations in Switzerland ended with “creative and positive ideas” on the table and a plan to resume discussions soon after consultations in both capitals.…

Somalia's Puntland State Forces Stand Strong in the Fight Against ISIS BOSASO, Somalia - As the desolate sands of the Cal-Miskaad mountains stretch across northeastern Somalia, a determined wave of Puntland State forces is rewriting the confrontational narrative that has marred this region for years. Following the activation of Operation Hillaac, these brave soldiers have engaged ISIS militants in a series of decisive clashes, culminating in a sustained offensive that has intensified in recent weeks. Strategic Gains in a…

The Diplomatic Dance: Zuma’s Controversial Endorsement of Morocco’s Claim Over Western Sahara Former South African President Jacob Zuma’s recent visit to Rabat has ignited fresh debate over the sensitive and long-standing issue of Western Sahara's status. By endorsing Morocco's claim of sovereignty over the region—as an autonomous area—Zuma has taken a surprising turn from his previous position, raising questions about motives and the implications for broader African unity. A Shifting Paradigm Once a staunch advocate for…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has labeled a recent Russian missile attack involving a new type of ballistic missile as a “stark and serious escalation” in the ongoing conflict with Russia, urging for a robust global response. “This represents a clear and grave intensification of the violence in this war,” Zelensky posted on X, citing a strike that hit the central Ukrainian city of Dnipro. “The employment of ballistic missiles today underscores Russia's utter disregard for peace.” "We need the world's support," he…

"In Mykolaiv, Ukraine, November 17, 2024, a firefighter is in the thick of a catastrophic scene—another grim chapter in Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine, marked by a residential house engulfed in turmoil after a drone strike," reported via a handout from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, circulated by REUTERS. It's crucial to comprehend the relentless nature of the conflict to grasp the physical and psychological toll it is taking on the population. Russia launched a substantial offensive, the fiercest in nearly…

A collaborative effort among various firms has welcomed the arrival of the initial set of 275 container wagons, designed to boost the transport capabilities of the Lobito Corridor project. This ambitious railway initiative stretches from Angola's Lobito port, reaching into the Democratic Republic of Congo and extending to Zambia. Unveiled in 2023 as part of the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, this corridor is backed by both the United States and the European Union. Once fully operational, it…