Thursday's news in under 5 minutes

1. Bleach throwers jailed

Two Sydney women who threw bleach onto the face of a four-year old girl have been jailed for a year.

Sarah Louise Roan, 21, and Lauren Jackson, 22 threw a bottle of bleach and gel at a mother who was pushing a six-month-old baby in a pram and holding hands with her four-year-old daughter on May 8 last year

The bleach splashed onto the four-year-old girl’s clothes, face and eyes, causing her immediate distress and trauma, the court heard.

“I just threw my socks out of the window because they were smelly and then we kept throwing more things out,” Roan – who has a Certificate III in childcare – told police during her interview.

The women hoped for a good behaviour bond.

The judge told them their behavior was extremely reckless, and sentenced them to a minimum 6 months imprisonment.

2. Asylum Seeker ‘burns’

The Prime Minister has backed the Immigration Minister and rejected allegations that asylum-seeker’s were beaten and burned by the Australian Navy.

The Australian reports today two of the asylum-seekers already had burns when the navy picked them up.

Navy and Customs officials have ruled out misconduct on the part of any Australian official. They believe the wounds were probably either sustained as the asylum-seekers tried to restart their faulty motor or disable the motor to ensure they were rescued, or self-inflicted.

3. Abduction story made up

A Sydney woman is facing charges after she made up a story about an ‘attempted abduction’ in Liverpool last week.

The woman known as ‘Aida’ faced the cameras saying a group of men attempted to snatch her in front of several people and no one came to her assistance. Yesterday police said they had charged the 29-year-old from Rockdale, Sydney with making a false representation resulting in a police investigation.

4. Vouchers for counselling

The Federal Government is encouraging people to work on their relationships with a $200 voucher for marriage counselling to be available from July 1, as part of a $20 million trial to strengthen relationships and avoid family breakdowns.

The Federal Government believes the move will strengthen relationships – couples who are in a committed relationship, including same-sex couples, will also be eligible for the payment.

5. Unacceptable outfit for the pool

A Sydney woman has been told her outfit was not acceptable swimwear at a council run pool, and banned from entering.

For more – and to see the outfit deemed ‘unacceptable’ read this post here “ Katherine Polu’s outfit was deemed ‘unacceptable’ swimwear.”

6. Michael Schumacher

News today that Formula One Champion Michael Schumacher may be in a permanent vegetative state.

Doctors have warned his family that he may be suffering from Apallic Syndrome, a diagnosis that can’t be verified until months after an injury. He has been in a coma for four weeks now.

People with the condition show responses like anger, hunger or pleasure but not the same way or in response to the same things that they would if they were awake.

7. Will Corby get a $3m interview deal?

With Schapelle Corby’s parole imminent the SMH report that Australia’s commercial TV networks are immersed in a bidding war to secure her first post-jail interview, with one agent predicting Schapelle could net up to $3 million from the tell-all.

A source from one station says “everyone will open their chequebooks” for what will “obviously be the interview of the decade”.

Due to our proceeds of Crime laws, she may not be able to receive the money directly.

8. Will the UK ban the veil

Britain may consider banning Muslim women from wearing veils in schools and public places. Jeremy Browne, a Liberal Democrat and Home Office Minister has told The Telegraph that there needs to be a national debate about whether the state should step in to protect young women from having the veil “imposed” on them.

The debate was given momentum last week when David Cameron’s spokesman said the Prime Minister would have no problem with the veil being banned in his children’s schools.

9. Mother calls for more online responsibility

A mother in the UK has called on Tumblr to do more to protect vulnerable young people from the ‘insidious aspects of the internet’ after her 15-year old daughter became caught up in the ‘clutches of a toxic digital world’.

The 15-year old committed suicide last year. Her mother called on blogging sites to take an active role in policing and swiftly removing unsuitable material.

Sarah Wilson said, “She was in the clutches of a toxic digital world where in the final few weeks we could no longer reach her.

‘I was shocked by the ease with which Tallulah and other children can access online self harm and suicide blogs.’

If you or anyone you know needs help contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

10. Sudan atrocities

A report released has detailed gang-rapes and mass killings in South Sudan as negotiators try to break a deadlock in talks in Ethiopia aimed at ending weeks of brutal conflict.

The UN says both sides have committed atrocities, including mass killings, sexual violence and widespread destruction.

11. $2 million present for their kids

The SMH report that Cate Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton, have continued the trend of parents buying real estate for their sons by purchasing a $2million waterfront apartment for their son in Sydney’s Elizabeth Bay.

Sources close to the sale said the purchase is an investment for their three sons, Dashiell, 12, Roman, 9, and Ignatius, 5.

In brief:

Tennis: Rafael Nadal has beaten Grigor Dimitrov. 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (9-7) 6-2

Roger Federer has ousted Andy Murray from the Australian Open. 6-3 6-4 6-7 (8-6) 6-3 t

 What news are you talking about today?