Brian Carroll outlines the bizarre case of Kevin McGeever, who conned his way around the world duping investors on a fictional path that lead to his conviction over a fake kidnapping

A 91-year-old retired surgeon has been charged with importing cocaine hidden in soap into Australia, prompting police to warn travellers to beware they are not tricked into becoming drug mules.

On another day, Jake Schatz would have been a great story.

A former Playboy model has been extradited from the US to Australia to face cocaine conspiracy charges.

Australia’s government ordered an emergency arbitration hearing today after Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet amid a bitter dispute with striking workers, stranding passengers around the world.

An Air Canada flight has been forced to return to Sydney airport, although an airport official could not confirm reports of a fire on board the plane.

A Qantas Boeing 747 jet bound for Argentina returned to Sydney, Australia, after experiencing a suspected electrical fault, the airline said today.

AUSTRALIA’S worst dust storm in 70 years blanketed the heavily populated east coast yesterday in a cloud of red outback grit, nearly closed the country’s largest airport and left millions of people coughing and sputtering in the streets.

Australia captain Stirling Mortlock's Tri-Nations campaign remains in serious doubt with the veteran set to undergo scans on his injured left knee tomorrow morning to determine his immediate playing future.

Qantas Airways chief executive Geoff Dixon said today that his airline is “probably the safest” in the world after Australia’s aviation agency launched a review of its safety standards.

The pilot of a Manila-bound Qantas jetliner made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport when fluid began leaking from the plane, Australian authorities said.

Aging Hollywood hunk Sylvester Stallone faces stiff fines after trying to bring vials of a muscle-building hormone into Australia, where it is restricted.

Actor Sylvester Stallone was detained for several hours at Sydney Airport on Friday, after officials found "prohibited items" in his luggage.

Actor Sylvester Stallone dismissed the confiscation of contraband from his party’s luggage at Sydney Airport as a mistake today.

Spanish construction company Grupo Ferrovial said today that it sold its 50% stake in the UK’s Bristol Airport to Australia’s Macquarie Bank for £106m (€157.1m), while postponing the planned sale of a stake in Sydney Airport.

Rapper Busta Rhymes infuriated fans in Sydney, Australia on Sunday when he cancelled his concert at the last minute for the second time in two years.

An airliner arriving from Fiji was stopped away from the terminal at Australia’s biggest airport and its passengers evacuated today because of a security threat, officials said.

A Spanish company tonight looked to have won a dramatic £10bn (€14.5bn) takeover battle for control of the UK’s biggest airports.

A Qantas Airways 747 airliner flying to Los Angeles returned to Sydney today after an engine caught fire minutes after take-off.

Four years after he was officially pronounced dead, a wealthy businessman has appeared in a Sydney court charged over a 3.5 million Australian dollars (€2.2m) life insurance fraud.

NEW Zealand coach Graham Henry believes it is time to “move on” and stop dwelling on the spear tackle on Brian O’Driscoll during the opening Lions Test last summer.

There are reports that a United Airlines pilot has turned back to Sydney 90 minutes after take-off after a security scare on board the flight.

Australia’s main international airport was evacuated today after a man tried to get on to a Qantas flight to Los Angeles without a boarding pass, federal police said.

Matt Williams did not face quite the dilemma he expected when deciding who to cut from Scotland’s touring squad ahead of the Test matches against Australia, with three recent replacements and four injured players heading home.

Duran Duran are reportedly proving as popular as Robbie Williams in Australia and New Zealand where they are supporting him on tour.

Australian authorities have defended their decision to search the New Zealand Prime Minister for explosives at Sydney Airport last month.

George Gregan today warned New Zealand that the French spirit of 99 is alive and kicking in the Australia camp on the eve of their World Cup semi-final.

CHAMPIONS Australia plan to play their strongest team in every match at the World Cup, according to coach Eddie Jones.

THE early stages of the World Cup will be home-from-home for Ireland flanker Keith Gleeson.

Ireland trained in heavy rain in Australia today, for the first time since a downpour during a session in Perth last June as they prepared to face the World Cup hosts on their Summer Tour.

Sydney Airport has been forced to introduce jet fuel rationing today after the body responsible for distributing fuel at the airport said it can only supply a third of the normal demand from airlines.

A huge earthquake rocked southern New Zealand early today, authorities said. It rattled houses and hotels but caused no injuries or major damage in the mountainous and sparsely populated region.

A 22-year-old was arrested at Sydney airport today after he allegedly stabbed a fellow traveller in the neck with a fork during an argument about seating on a flight from Bangkok.

A 22-year-old was arrested at Sydney airport today after he allegedly stabbed a fellow traveller in the neck with a fork during an argument about seating on a flight from Bangkok.

Belfast City Airport has been bought by Spanish engineering and construction company Ferrovial, it was confirmed today.

WALLABY captain George Gregan will return to Britain for Saturday’s rugby test against England after rushing home for the birth of his daughter, Charlie, the Australian Rugby Union said yesterday.

Richard Branson said Virgin Atlantic plans to commence flights between Australia and Hong Kong in 2003.

INDONESIA yesterday blamed the al-Qaida network for the Bali bomb explosions that killed 181 people conceding for the first time that the group was operating in the Muslim country.

A British Airways 747-400 made an emergency landing at Sydney Airport today amid conflicting reports that there may have been an electrical fire in the cargo hold.

Hard-line Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock today hugged Australia’s six millionth migrant since the Second World War - a Filipino computer expert.

Cool weather today allowed 15,000 firefighters to contain many of the wildfires that have been burning out of control across Australia’s most populous state.

Sydney is facing a new threat as bush fires have encircled the city - deadly snakes are fleeing the flames and entering the suburbs.

Part of the international arrivals hall at Sydney airport in Australia has been evacuated after a suspicious box containing a white powder was found.

Singapore’s Changi Airport said today it had bought a 50% stake in a British airport and development company Alterra Partners and is bidding for airports in Oman and Cyprus.