Thursday's afternoon news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. David Hicks has his name cleared by a US court. Australian government won’t apologise.

David Hicks has won his appeal to have his terrorism conviction reversed in an American military court today.

At a press conference in Sydney, Hicks said he was “looking forward to getting on with my life now that my name has been cleared”.

While he would not seek a formal apology, Hicks told the media “someone” should pay his extensive medical bills.

“It is becoming an expensive exercise to fix myself from torture,” Mr Hicks said.

“Being kept in freezing conditions, small rooms for years. Not being able to move or exercise.

“The body deteriorates over five-and-a-half years, even without the added torture, such as stress positions, being beaten, etc.”

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he would not issue an apology to Hicks on behalf of the Australian government for its lack of support during his detainment at the notorious Guantanamo Bay prison.

“Let’s not forget whatever the legalities, and this was essentially a matter for an American court dealing with American law, he was up to no good on his own admission,” Tony Abbott told the media.

“I’m not in the business of apologising for the actions that Australian governments take to protect our country.”

Hicks was detained at Guantanamo Bay between 2002 and 2007, charged by the United States with Material Support for Terrorism. The conviction was controversial as Hicks was tried under laws that did not exist at the time of his alleged offense.

In 2012, the US Appeals court ruled the sentence was invalid.

2. The entire Greyhound Racing board has been dismissed amid live baiting scandal.

By ABC News.

The entire board of Greyhound Racing NSW has been dismissed following revelations of widespread live baiting within the industry, the New South Wales Government says.

The board’s powers have been referred to interim chief executive officer and head of the Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing, Paul Newson.

NSW Racing Minister Troy Grant said he dismissed the board because his government wanted to restore the integrity of the industry.

“They have agreed with me that the community has lost confidence in the industry, and we now need the clear air in order to reform and reshape the industry,” he said.

The prevalence of live baiting was again highlighted by this week’s Four Corners program, which revealed live animals were being used to blood the dogs for a competitive edge on the track.

Dozens of greyhound trainers around the country were now facing prosecution and possible lifetime bans from the sport.

So far, six trainers have been stood down in NSW, 10 in Victoria and 13 in Queensland.

This article originally appeared on the ABC and was republished here with full permission. 

3. Babies born to teenage boys are at a high risk of being autistic.

A new study has found that babies born to teenage fathers are 30 per cent more likely to have autism, schizophrenia and spina bifida.

According to researchers, adolescent boys have far more “copying errors” in their sperm cells — meaning their children could be more prone to a range of conditions caused by genetic mutations.

The study was conducted by analysing blood and saliva samples submitted with paternity tests for more than 24,000 parents and children.

The Australian reported that, while men have more reproductive cell mutations than women, it had previously been thought teenage boys had less than adult fathers.

4. Storms intensify in Northern Territory and Queensland.

People are being evacuated in the Northern Territory ahead of Cyclone Lam, which has now been upgraded to a category four.

Hundreds of members of the Warruwi Aboriginal community were evacuated from South Goulburn Island to Darwin.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Marcia off the central coast of Queensland has also intensified to a category four storm.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the storm will be category five by the time it reaches the mainland around 7am tomorrow morning.

5. Racist soccer fans filmed on public transport

Police have launched an investigation after Chelsea Football club fans were filmed racially vilifying a man on the Paris Metro.

The racist soccer fiends were filmed on a mobile phone as they chanted “We are racist and that’s the way we like it” while shoving a man and barring him from boarding the metro train.

The Guardian has reported police began their investigation into crimes of racial violence on public transport, with Scotland Yard agreeing to study the video and identify those involved.

If found guilty, the perpetrators could face at least three years in prison and a fine of €45,000 ($AUD 65,576).

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