2 h. ago Australia denies visa to Dutch Olympian convicted of child rape

Dutch Olympian Steven van de Velde has been denied a visa to compete in the beach volleyball world championships in Australia

Events

3 h. ago Dutch volleyballer and convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde denied Australian visa

Player’s visa application rejected ahead of world championships Van de Velde served prison sentence for raping 12-year-old girl in 2014Netherlands beach volleyball player and convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde has been banned from entering Australia for the looming world titles.Van de Velde had been named in a Dutch team to contest the world championships in Adelaide starting on 14 November, but the Australian government rejected his visa application. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago How 'the lady of the manor' sold her family's estate for £25million

Adlington estate (pictured, with the owner) in Cheshire, it has now emerged, has been earmarked as the site of an entire new town with up to 20,000 homes - infuriating locals.

Economics

5 h. ago Man finds surfboard that drifted 2,400km from Australia to New Zealand

The board was found covered in barnacles and mussels in Raglan, nearly 18 months after it was lost during a boat trip near TasmaniaA surfboard lost off Australia’s coast nearly 18 months ago has washed up on one of New Zealand’s most famed surf beaches, thousands of kilometres from where it was last seen.New Zealand-based French surfer Alvaro Bon was kite surfing in Raglan on the North Island’s west coast on 15 October, when his kite caught in the water and he began drifting out to sea. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Man finds surfboard that drifted 2,400km from Australia to New Zealand – and tracks down owner

Board was found covered in barnacles and mussels in Raglan, nearly 18 months after it was lost during a boat trip near TasmaniaA surfboard lost off Australia’s coast nearly 18 months ago has washed up on one of New Zealand’s most famed surf beaches, thousands of kilometres from where it was last seen.New Zealand-based French surfer Alvaro Bon was kite surfing in Raglan on the North Island’s west coast on 15 October, when his kite caught in the water and he began drifting out to sea. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Convicted child rapist and volleyball player Steven van de Velde is BANNED from Australia ahead of competition

A call has been made on convicted child rapist and volleyball player Steven van de Velde who wants to come to Australia to compete next month.

Sport

5 h. ago Woman arrested after gas supplies allegedly sabotaged at two Sydney hospitals

NSW police allege water and gas mains were cut at first hospital in Sutherland before gas main switched off at nearby facilityFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA woman has been arrested after gas supplies were allegedly sabotaged at two Sydney hospitals.Sutherland hospital in southern Sydney lost medical gases on Tuesday morning, requiring them to switch to portable oxygen and air as part of their contingency plans, the New South Wales health minister, Ryan Park, said in a statement. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Former New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern to 'take time out of family holiday' to speak at Scottish cinema

Jacinta Ardern was leader of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023

Politics

10 h. ago At least 174 racehorses died from racing or training injuries in past 12 months in Australia, report finds

That’s the highest number recorded by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses since they began tracking deaths 10 years agoFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAt least 174 thoroughbred racehorses died at the track or as a result of injuries sustained while racing or training in the past 12 months – the highest number recorded by animal rights activists since they began tracking 10 years ago.The report from the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses (CPR) was released on Tuesday, one week ahead of Australia’s most important horse race, the Melbourne Cup. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago Swan disrupts Glasgow Central train services in rush hour chaos on station track

ScotRail, Avanti West Coast and TransPennine Express trains have been all been affected with services cancelled, delayed or revised.

Events

12 h. ago Lewis Moody 'honoured' as England icon given Twickenham role for emotional return

Lewis Moody is set to play a part in England's autumnal opener against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, with the former Leicester Tigers and Bath flanker set for a special honour

Politics

12 h. ago Get expert tips and insider news from the Independent Racing newsletter with Jonathan Doidge

Every Friday Jonathan Doidge’s Independent Racing newsletter will bring you the inside track on the sport: what to watch out for, who’s in form, and which horses might just be worth keeping an eye on

Politics

12 h. ago Lewis Moody to make emotional Twickenham appearance before England vs Australia

Lewis Moody will play a part in England's autumn opener against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, with a special honour awaiting the retired Leicester Tigers and Bath Rugby flanker

Politics

13 h. ago Steve Smith's return as Australia skipper shows principles take a back seat in The Ashes

Pat Cummins will miss the first Ashes Test in Perth as he continues to recover from a back injury and that means disgraced ex-captain will once again step up lead the Aussies against England

Politics

14 h. ago New footage shows just how close F1 marshals came to disaster in Mexico GP incident

Formula 1 star Liam Lawson was nearly involved in a disastrous incident in Mexico when marshals entered the track with the Racing Bulls driver nearby on his lap

Events

14 h. ago 'It breaks my heart': Owner of major company cancels huge Christmas event in Greater Manchester

P.Louise Pinkmas event had already been rearranged after plans to hold it at the Trafford Centre fell through

Politics

14 h. ago Jockey, 30, banned for TEN years after stewards rule he was in possession of electrical device

Marshall Mendez, who has ridden on the track in America since 2021, has had 469 winners in his career. He is allowed to appeal the October 23 ruling by the stewards

Events

15 h. ago Steven Finn: ‘Saying I was not selectable was clumsy language and it damaged me’

In his candid new book, the former England fast bowler talks about the lasting mental turmoil that ended his 2013-14 Ashes tour“I couldn’t get the words out because I was crying,” Steven Finn says as he remembers how, hunched over a microphone, he stared at the last lines he was meant to read aloud for the audio version of his raw and revealing new book. Emotion clogged his throat after he had belonged to three Ashes-winning England squads, while never feeling he fulfilled his immense wicket-taking talent, and having ended up lost and broken on the 2013-14 tour of Australia.Finn tried again but stifled crying choked his reading. He looked up and nodded at the encouraging producer. His mouth almost crumpled but, this time, he got through it. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Celebrated composer's visit to Wishaw marked with event at town's golf club

An unforgettable evening at Wishaw Golf Club took place this week where the sound of Chopin’s music once again drifted across the grounds that were once part of Wishaw House — the very place where the composer stayed in 1848, cared for by Jane Stirling.

Politics

15 h. ago Glamorous granny who 'looks 20 years younger' shares youthful secrets

Lorraine Cassar from Melbourne, Australia, says she's often mistaken for her 55-year-old daughter's sister,and she's shared the secrets to her youthful looks – including no sex

Politics