“Your mum is safe in heaven and now nothing can ever hurt her again.”

England will field a completely changed side in their tour match against South Africa’s Southern Barbarians in Kimberley on Wednesday.

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it has unearthed a “remarkable” 12.76-carat pink diamond in Australia, the largest of the rare and precious stones ever found in the resources-rich nation, which could be worth up to US$12m (€9m).

A middle-aged man found dead with his two children spent their last night alive visiting their sick mother in hospital.

A senior police officer in Britain killed his wife and six-year-old girl in a frenzied attack on his family days after being sacked.

Dozens of rare species of wallaby, bandicoot and other Australian animals could become extinct within 20 years unless urgent action is taken, scientists have warned.

Zimbabwe began selling diamonds worth more than a £1bn (€1.2bn) today mined from an area where soldiers are accused of killing 200 people, raping women and forcing children into hard labour.

A new agreement allowing Zimbabwe to sell its controversial diamonds was met with caution by rights groups who documented violations and killings in the country’s diamond mines.

FORMER France defender Marcel Desailly believes the mood in les Bleus’ camp is upbeat ahead of their World Cup opener against Uruguay tomorrow night.

WE’RE going to kick off proceedings with the most unlikely call to arms you’re going to hear this week: let’s hear it for Peter de Villiers.

SHE is the oldest mother of any species ever found, a 380-million-year-old fish immortalised in a fossil while still attached to her offspring by an umbilical cord.

Twelve South African patients were killed when the bus they were being transported in was involved in an accident, police said today.

SPRINGBOK midfielder Jean de Villiers will stay at home when the rest of his team-mates depart on a two-match tour of Ireland and Scotland later today.

Ashwin Willemse is a shock inclusion by South Africa coach Jake White in the team to play Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium next Saturday.

Ashwin Willemse was the shock inclusion when South Africa coach Jake White named his team on Friday to play Wales at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday, November 6.

THE Department of Justice has stepped up moves to deport immigrants whose marriages to Irish citizens have broken down.

Former Springbok coach Andre Markgraaff has withdrawn his name from the shortlist to coach South Africa after the death of his younger brother Pierre.

JOHNNY Murtagh's decision to bypass Cork, in favour of Naas, saw Fran Berry grab the opportunity with both hands and land the featured King Charlemagne Stakes on Miss Honorine at the southern venue yesterday.

THE classy Prince Of Tara will be the focus of much attention in the opening Athgarvan Hurdle at

One of the most powerful cyclones ever recorded in Australia hammered the country’s north-western coast early today with wind gusts expected to reach 180 mph.