News: Try (and pay) before you buy? Some say OK.

1. Quarter of women willing to pay to try on clothes

We’ve covered the idea of charging rooms on Mamamia before here, but now a survey reveals 25 per cent of women don’t mind, if any try-on fee is refunded at the point of sale. The survey, conducted by Canstar Blue, examined the increasing number of cases where ‘bricks and mortar’ retailers charged fees to try and prevent shoppers trying for sizes before buying online. Christopher Zinn of Choice effectively called the idea stupid and said there were no ‘admission’ fees on the Internet and that retailers worth their salt wouldn’t go anywhere near a try-on charge.

2. Hugh Grant, first time father

Hugh Grant is the ‘delighted father of a baby girl’ – his first child – at the age of 51. Hugh isn’t in a relationship, with his spokesperson saying: “He and the mother had a fleeting affair and while this was not planned, Hugh could not be happier or more supportive. He and the mother have discussed everything and are on very friendly terms.” Speaking years ago about children, Hugh had said: “As much as I adore myself, I’m quite keen to find someone else to care about more.” Well, there you go.

3. Justin Bieber hit with paternity lawsuit

Wait, what the heck? A 20-year-old woman has filed a paternity lawsuit against the 17-year-old singer who she says is the father of her child after the pair got jiggy with it backstage after one of Bieber’s concerts a year ago. The singer, not surprisingly, denies it. Bieber is dating Selene Gomez. According to the report they recently adopted a puppy. Good. Taking it slow.

4. Asylum seekers drown, possibly headed to Australia

At least seven asylum seekers are dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Java, Indonesia. It was thought to be headed to Australia. Twenty more are missing. The bodies of seven people were pulled from the water, including women and two children. Earlier this year about 50 asylum seekers died when their boat slipped through border protection and was smashed against rocks at Christmas Island. Home affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said: “‘This is a tragic event which underscores the absolute dire need for the strongest possible deterrent to people smugglers and to prevent dangerous vessels embarking on a journey to Australia. We have seen too many people lured onto unseaworthy vessels.”

5. Judge tells Bali boy not to be afraid.

The teenager arrested on three drug charges in Indonesia faced his first day of court yesterday. The court was blacked out from the media using Spongebob Squarepants curtains. The Judge apparently told the boy: “We are one family, don’t be afraid.” Witnesses were called. The case will resume on Friday.

6. Reserve Bank cuts rates

The Reserve Bank of Australia handed down a quarter percentage point rate cut yesterday shortly before the Melbourne Cup was run. Westpac passed on the cut almost immediately, resulting in a $40 per month saving for home loans of $250,o00. The Commonwealth Bank followed suit however the ANZ and NAB have yet to signal their intentions. The official cash rate is now 4.50%.

7. Taylor Swift has a nude photo?

Well, not if you listen to the young singer who is going head-to-head with a celebrity gossip website which published a photo of her apparently topless, laying on a bed. She says it’s not her and has launched legal action.

8. Australians wealthiest in the world, are you feeling it?

The Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report 2011 found Australians were the wealthiest in the world with a median worth of $222,000 (this is a measure between the wealthiest adult and the poorest) and an average worth of $397,000. Australian’s scored the highest in the median measure and the second highest in the world for average wealth, second to Switzerland with $540,000. Wealth in Australia is more evenly distributed than in other countries, particularly compared to the US, which has median wealth of about $US53,000.

9. New songs from Amy Winehouse to be released before Christmas

The soul singer who passed away in July after drinking too much vodka for her system to handle recorded songs that are yet to be released. The 12 tracks on the Lioness: Hidden Treasure album should go on sale before Christmas and feature a duet she recorded with Tony Bennett called Body and Soul. It was her last. The singer’s family were invited to listen to the album before its release and her father is said to have wept.