Top World News

Mar 16, 2026 - World

Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDiscovery of fire ant nest at New Farm park reflects growing need to deal with threat, group saysLast week, the Invasive Species Council said fire ant nests had been detected and destroyed in World Heritage rainforest in the Gold Coast hinterland. The ants have also been detected on sporting fields across Brisbane and surrounds, including at Mount Gravatt, Rocklea, Coorparoo and the Redlands.That’s an iconic location in Brisbane. If we don’t eradicate fire ants, this is going to happen everywhere in the country. Brisbane is getting a taste of it now.Local sporting clubs need to be alert to this. For the time being it’s an increased maintenance burden for them.An insecticide which instantly kills fire ants was injected directly into the nest. The affected area was temporarily closed while treatment was under way but has since reopened and is safe to use. Continue reading...

Mar 16, 2026 - World

Trump warns Nato faces ‘very bad’ future if US allies fail to assist in opening the vital oil route; Israel says thousands of targets in Iran remain – follow it liveHow have you been affected by the latest Middle East events?Continued from previous post:Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said she has no immediate plans to send her country’s maritime self-defence forces to help protect tanker traffic in the strait of Homuz.We have not made any decisions whatsoever about dispatching escort ships. We are continuing to examine what Japan can do independently and what can be done ⁠within the legal framework.I would like to ⁠engage in solid discussions based on Japan’s views and position regarding the need for early de-escalation. Continue reading...

Mar 16, 2026 - World

Study shows average time on screens each day is 41 minutes, with some watching more than three hours a dayThree-quarters of nine-month-old babies in England are allowed daily screen time, while a small “heavy use” group watch more than three hours a day, according to a study.Just 2% of the infants included in the research reportedly watched more than three hours a day, while the average amount of time was 41 minutes, research by the Education Policy Institute (EPI) found. Continue reading...

Mar 16, 2026 - World

Jasper Jones author also charged with additional count of possessing child exploitation materialFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian author Craig Silvey has been charged with more child exploitation offences.The 43-year-old was previously charged with possessing and distributing child exploitation material in early January. Continue reading...

Mar 16, 2026 - World

Passenger on Flight VA 328 alerted the crew who responded by ‘containing the device’ before plane landedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Virgin Australia flight from Brisbane to Melbourne was met by firefighters after smoke was seen coming from a vape on board.Flight VA 328 landed safely and all passengers disembarked normally after a vape “activated” in the cabin shortly before landing at about 4pm on Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, Melbourne airport said. Continue reading...