A massive explosion at Valero’s Port Arthur refinery in Texas has sent shockwaves through the US energy sector, raising alarms over fuel supply and refining capacity. Authorities have issued a shelter-in-place order as thick black smoke engulfs the facility, with emergency crews responding to the unprecedented blast. This refinery, handling 435,000 barrels per day, is a critical node in America’s fuel infrastructure, and the incident comes at a time when global oil markets are already under strain. The Port Arthur disaster has intensified concerns over US energy security, while Brent crude prices surge above $103 amid simultaneous disruptions in the Gulf due to geopolitical tensions. Analysts warn that this could trigger a dual energy crisis, impacting gasoline, diesel and industrial fuel prices worldwide.
26 March,2026 12:40 AM IST
The United States takes a historic leap in energy production as President Donald Trump announces the first new oil refinery in 50 years, powered by a landmark $300 billion investment from India’s Reliance Industries. This groundbreaking project in Brownsville, Texas, is set to create thousands of jobs, inject billions into the U.S. economy, and strengthen America’s energy independence. Trump praises Reliance’s backing as a pivotal moment for the U.S. energy sector, emphasizing the strategic importance of the refinery in stabilizing oil and gas markets amid rising global tensions. With streamlined permits, tax incentives, and an “America First” approach, the Brownsville refinery aims to fuel domestic markets, boost exports, and enhance national security.
11 March,2026 06:25 PM IST
Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from House lawmakers during a scheduled deposition at a federal prison facility in Texas, invoking her Fifth Amendment rights and declining to provide testimony in a congressional investigation into Epstein’s trafficking network. Behind closed doors, Maxwell’s legal team delivered a message to lawmakers: she would be willing to testify “fully and honestly”, but only if President Donald Trump were to grant her clemency or commute her prison sentence. Her attorney claimed that Maxwell could confirm that neither Trump nor former President Bill Clinton committed criminal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein, framing her testimony as contingent on presidential intervention. WATCH
13 February,2026 07:01 PM IST
A powerful and far-reaching winter storm is accelerating eastward, placing nearly two-thirds of the United States under escalating weather threats. Forecast models indicate a rapidly intensifying system stretching from Texas to New England, capable of delivering crippling ice, heavy snowfall and extreme Arctic cold over several days. A critical 72-hour window highlights a direct hit along the I-95 corridor, with cities from Washington D.C. to New York and Boston facing the potential for disruptive snow and damaging ice. Forecasters warn that ice accumulation in some regions could rival hurricane-level impacts, particularly where power infrastructure is most vulnerable. WATCH
24 January,2026 12:57 AM ISTADVERTISEMENT
