The man accused of going on a deadly stabbing rampage in central Sydney on Tuesday will defend the charges laid against him on the grounds of mental illness, his lawyer says. Mert Ney, 20, appeared briefly at Parramatta Bail Court via video link from Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged last night. His lawyer Zemarai Khatiz told the …

The sixth wife of the ruler of Dubai has emerged at a London court after weeks of hiding to ask for a forced marriage protection order, claiming she fears for her life. Princess Haya Bint al-Hussein, 45, is the third woman to try to escape the court of her 70-year-old billionaire husband Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum. The sheikh owns Godolphin …

Three convicted terrorists will spend more than a decade each behind bars for firebombing a Melbourne mosque in an attack motivated by hate, intolerance and malevolence. Ahmed Mohamed and Abdullah Chaarani attempted once to burn the Imam Ali Islamic Centre at Fawkner in November 2016, before succeeding in a second attempt a month later, helped by Hatim Moukhaiber. Mohamed and …

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has reacted angrily after another professional swimmer – Britain’s Duncan Scott – refused to shake hands amid allegations of doping against the Chinese athlete. Footage has emerged of Yang smirking and calling Scott a “loser” after the Briton, who won bronze on Tuesday night, ignored the Chinese champion’s offer to shake hands on the podium. “”You loser,” Sun …

A woman who threw an egg at the Prime Minister’s head during an election campaign event has been sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and will have to complete 150 hours of community service. Amber Holt, 25, was sentenced at the Albury Local Court on Tuesday. Magistrate Rodney Brender said it was unacceptable for citizens to be subject to …

Reports that many foreign fighters have returned to Australia emphasises the need for parliament to pass legislation to prevent such dual-citizens temporarily heading home from war zones, a federal cabinet minister says. News Corp newspapers reported 40 Australians who joined Islamic State and other extremist military groups fighting in Syria and Iraq are now back home. It says federal government …

A man charged with terror offences planned to create an Islamic State (IS) base in the Blue Mountains and encourage fighters to launch “guerilla-stye” attacks in Sydney, court documents allege. Isaak el Matari, 20, had his matter heard in Parramatta Local Court this Thursday charged with three offences including being a member of IS and preparing a terrorist act. He …

One of the three men arrested during counterterrorism raids in Sydney’s west this morning was planning an attack on prominent Harbour City buildings, police allege. Isaak el Matari, 20, was taken into custody this morning as part of the operation, which targeted suburbs including Canada Bay, Chester Hill, Greenacre, Green Valley, Ingleburn and Toongabbie. Police allege he had a range …

The catfish stalker convicted of using a soap star’s profile to harass and stalk women online will remain free on bail until her appeal is heard in October 2020. Lydia Abdelmalek, who was sentenced to two years and eight months’ jail earlier this month, reappeared in court this morning before her family clashed with media outside. Her father used an …

Firefighters say they were beaten back by flames as they tried to save a young family from an “intense” house fire in Singleton in the NSW Hunter Valley which has left three children dead. Two five-year-old twin girls, Matilda and Scarlett Rinkin, were taken to Singleton Hospital but could not be saved and the body of their 11-year-old brother was later …