1 week ago The 'special' Scottish island coral beach that 'feels like a tropical bay'

One Scottish island is home to a "special" beach that has been likened to a tropical bay.

Politics

2 w. ago Australian beach culture used to feel off limits to me. This summer I claimed the beach as my own

I was a non-swimmer, living miles away from Sydney’s glittering water belt. Taking up ocean racing felt like a badge of not only belonging to, but thriving in, this city of waterIt’s 7:45 am on a Saturday and my alarm blares. I am up. My swim bag is already packed; I snap on my one-piece with crisscross back straps that leaves dark slashes of tan. Gulping water and toast, I pass a carrot to Tally – who wags her tail appreciatively but is deeply unimpressed her morning walk will be delayed – and head downstairs.My ride is my neighbour R, a former life-saver hijabi. We are a well-oiled machine, carpooling for toll and petrol costs. In the quiet morning, Canterbury-Bankstown’s Palestinian flags on cars, manoush bakeries and bro-gyms give way to the skin-cancer clinics, juice bars and women in athleisure of Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago NSW and Queensland floods update: BoM defends forecasts after claim coastal community not properly warned

Bureau urged to review its systems after Fraser Coast mayor says Hervey Bay was pelted with 260mm of rain after being told it was not in firing lineEx-Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Bureau of Meteorology has defended its forecasting against criticism it failed to give the coastal Queensland community of Harvey Bay enough notice of a torrential downpour in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.The Fraser Coast mayor, George Seymour, said the bureau should review its systems, claiming the area was not adequately warned before it was pelted with more than 260mm of rain in a few hours on Sunday, sparking an emergency situation and about a dozen rescues.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tropical Scottish island beach crowned one of 'best in the world'

A Scottish island beach with a "tropical feel" has ranked among the top across the globe

Politics

3 w. ago Jose Mourinho: Born in Portugal. Made in Largs. What are the Special One's links to a quaint Scottish seaside town?

Having promised himself that he'd do everything in his power to improve his chances of climbing the ladder, Jose Mourinho enrolled in an SFA coaching course at Largs and packed his bags.

Politics

3 w. ago Australia news live: Tropical Cyclone Alfred updates – gale force winds hit Byron Bay as NSW closes 122 schools and opens evacuation centres

Premier Chris Minns says the Northern Rivers schools have been shut for today and tomorrow; wind gusts over 100km/h recorded in Byron region. Follow today’s news liveGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSandbag queues ‘about an hour’ in Brisbane – WellsThe federal sports minister, Anika Wells, also spoke on the Today Show this morning from Brisbane and said it was the “calm before the storm”.At the moment that’s the shortest it’s been in 24 hours. It’s a big couple of days ahead for south-east Queensland. We’re more than up to the task, but everybody’s doing their bit.So everyone’s doing their bit and we thank them for it.We know that there’s going to be damaging winds, there is going to be powerful surf, coastal erosion, and it will be followed by significant rain that can last a couple of days. So we’re really urging people to be alert, to be prepared, just like the SES is. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago ‘I want to see that movie’: Brighton Beach residents on Anora’s Oscar triumph

Mikey Madison called out the Brooklyn seaside setting on Oscar night. How did locals feel the morning after?Anora’s Mikey Madison may have won the Oscar for best actress, but the real star of Sean Baker’s madcap anti-love story was New York’s Brighton Beach.Situated on the southern shore of Brooklyn, next to Coney Island, the tight-knit Russian and eastern European enclave retains a midcentury, pre-gentrification charm. In the film, it is the fairytale setting for Madison’s Anora, a sex worker who falls for and marries the childish son of a Russian oligarch. When the honeymoon period abruptly ends, Anora’s husband runs away and leaves her the hostage of his father’s goons – and Brighton Beach’s boardwalk begins to feel more sinister. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago AD FEATURE: Scottish launch of mobile app where sharing your views on your favourite shops could earn you money

Join over 90,000 UK consumers who have downloaded the Vypr app, with a 2,000-point reward available for new members

Economics