Friday's news in under 5 minutes

Breaking News: Derryn Hinch has just been released from prison.

The human headline had spent 50 days in prison for ignoring a suppression order about Jill Meagher’s killer.

Hinch, 69, was offered the chance to pay a $100,000 fine in January, or face 50 days in prison.

The Human Headline decided to do the time, saying the decision was ‘based on principle’.

Hinch was released just before 8am this morning from Langi Kal Kal jail in Trawalla, which is about 150km from Melbourne.

1. Newborn found deceased

Police are appealing for witnesses over the discovery of a dead baby on a footpath in the Melbourne suburb of St Albans, around 3pm yesterday.

The Herald Sun report that the newborn’s body was found alone and on the pavement. Reports are that a family member alerted police after the body was found.

Overnight they have been interviewing an 18-year old woman over the death.

Police are calling for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

2. Crimea votes to become part of Russia

The parliament in the Ukrainian region of Crimea has voted to become part of Russia.

A referendum will be held on March 16 to allow voters to decide whether to back the decision.

The EU and the US have joined the government in Kiev as describing the move as unconstitutional.

4. Oscar Pistorius trial

On the fourth day of the trial of Oscar Pistorius evidence was heard from a Doctor who came to Reeva Steenkamp’s aid moments after she was shot.

He said when he arrived Oscar Pistorius was crying.

“He was crying, he was praying, he was talking to God, he was telling God to let her live, please don’t let her die,” Dr Stipp told the Pretoria High Court on Thursday.

“He was making promises to God, he was trying, I don’t know, to get atonement.”

Pistorius wept and shuddered in the dock. At one stage he gagged as though he would vomit – and was handed a plastic bag.

He sat crying with his head down, and covered his ears as he heard the evidence.

5. UN call

In an opening address at the Human Rights Council 25th Session in Geneva on Thursday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has called on Australia to review its policies on asylum seeker processing. She said:

“Recent violence in the Regional Processing Centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, has underscored the need to review the Regional Resettlement Arrangements signed by Australia with Papua New Guinea and Nauru, to ensure that the human rights of migrants and asylum seekers are fully protected in accordance with international law.”

6. Today’s weather

Need to know what the weather is like where you are today? Mamamia Rogue has got you covered.

Read the weather post here.

7. Aussie Journo held in a cage

The family of Australian journalist Peter Greste who is being held in Cairo after being arrested accused of backing the black-listed Muslim Brotherhood and broadcasting “misleading” news about the political situation in Egypt have said that they were depressed after seeing images of their son in a cage in court.

Juris Greste told reporters: “It certainly shocked me. It absolutely rocked me to see him in the cage.”

8. Mum pleads guilty

A Mother has pleaded guilty to murdering her seven-month old daughter by drowning her and throwing her over a fence.

Her case has shed light on some of the most severe forms of post-natal depression. Fore more read this post here.

“Tragic: She threw her seven-month old daughter over a fence.”

If you or anyone you know needs help please contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or PANDA (Post and antenatal depression Association) on 1300 726 306

 9. Mercedes apologises

Mercedes Corby has issued an apology to the Indonesian public over any offense her interview with the Seven Network may have caused them.

Her apology comes as the Indonesian authorities decide whether to revoke her sister Schapelle’s parole.

10. Plan to pay kids to eat veggies

An unusual plan to pay kids 25c a day to eat their veggies is being put to the NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell by a visiting US professor, Kevin Volpp.

News Limited report that last year in the US state of Utah a study by two economics professors paid primary school children 25c a day to eat a serve of fruit and vegetables and doubled consumption from 40-80 per cent.

This plan is backed by nutritionist Rosemary Stanton.

 11. Gina attacks the welfare system

Australia’s mining magnate Gina Rinehart has criticised welfare recipients saying we are living in an age of entitlement.

“We are living beyond our means,” she wrote for the Australian Resources and Investment Magazine “and its consequences are creating problems for all of us, our children and our grandchildren.

 12. UP-skirting rules ‘not illegal’

A Court in the US has ruled that it is not illegal to secretly photograph underneath a person’s clothing. The Massachusetts high court rules that “upskirting” was not a breach of the law because the women were not naked or partially naked.

 13. Scrap NAPLAN?

The NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli has called for the controversial My School website to be scrapped. he has told The Sydney Morning Herald that it is a waste of money that could be better spent on improving teacher quality.

Mr Piccoli said the publishing of NAPLAN results on My School was directly responsible for putting students under unnecessary and inappropriate stress.

 14. Aussie women’s unpaid work

It seems we are all working too hard with a study showing that Australian women are doing an average of five hours’ unpaid work every day.

OECD statistics show Aussie women’s unpaid work, such as housework is well above the OECD average. The study showed that Australian men spend just under three hours a day working around the house.

The OECD report said “In virtually every country, men are able to fit in valuable extra minutes of leisure daily while women spend more time doing unpaid housework.’’

15. Adoption recognition laws

Good news for families adopting children from overseas today with new laws which streamline the process commencing.

The Prime Minister has announced that these laws will slash waiting times and costs for people wanting to adopt children from overseas. Families who received an adoption compliance certificate from a Hague Convention country automatically will have their adoption recognized under Australian law.

What news are you talking about today?