News: Slipper resigns as Speaker.

And here’s the video:

And here are some of the other news stories you may have missed today……

It was the most talked about moment of this year's Golden Globes: Jodie Foster's acceptance speech where she spoke publicly about her sexual orientation. But not everyone in the gay community is congratulating Jodie, with her speech drawing criticism for not explicitly the words "gay" or "lesbian". Fred Sainz of the Human Rights Campaign, a national gay rights group has said "everyone watching clearly understood that she was communicating to people that she is gay. She is to be congratulated, no matter how awkward or inarticulate it may have seemed to some. It took an awful lot of courage."

Oprah Winfrey has made a guest appearance on the US show 'This Morning' ahead of her much anticipated interview with cyclist and accused drug cheat, Lance Armstrong. Though Oprah has not explicity said whether Armstrong has confessed to his alleged use of performance enhancing drugs during her interview with him, she did reveal that she was " mesmerised and riveted by some of his answers," and that he "did not come clean in the manner that I expected." The interview will be aired in Australia on the Discovery Channel at 1pm (AEST).

The International Monetary Fund study examined 200 years worth of government financial records and found two periods of

Snake on a plane. For real. Passengers on a Qantas flight from Cairns to Port Moresby captured this image of a three-metre snake on the plane’s wing on Thursday. The snake was reportedly thrown against the end of the plane and it was dead when the plane arrived in Papua New Guinea.

The head of the Australian Medical Association say Melanie’s Marvellous Measles – a book about a young girl who gets measles – is misleading parents. The AMA’s Steve Hambleton said publishers “should be ashamed of themselves” for publishing the book which suggests getting measles is safer than getting the vaccination.

TV host Oprah will interview Lance Armstrong in his first sit-down interview since he was stripped of his Tour de France titles. The pre-recorded interview will air on Oprah’s network and be streamed online on January 17.

Former federal speaker Peter Slipper has been summoned to court amid allegations he misused taxi vouchers during his time in the position. He’s been accused of using the cab charges on three occasions to visit wineries in the Canberra region in 2010.

A heatwave has swept across eastern parts of Australia sparking hundreds of bushfires. So far, homes have been destroyed in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania, but no lives have been lost. (Image via NSW Rural Fire Service)

There's been reports the 15-year-old Saudi Arabian girl locked herself in a bedroom to escape her 90-year-old husband on their wedding night. Two days later she fled the house. The 90-year-old man is reportedly suing the girl's family. He wants the US$17,500 dowry he paid for her returned.

Tony Abbott's chief of staff Peta Credlin has spoken publicly in defence of the Opposition Leader and his position on IVF. Ms Credlin spoke to women's magazine Marie Claire and told them how supportive Mr Abbott had been during her attempts to have a child through IVF with her husband, federal director of the Liberal Party, Brian Loughnane.

Mr Credlin also told the magazine about her first meeting with Abbott before she started working with him in 2012. She reportedly said: 'I will just never agree with you on abortion. I think you are opposed to it, desperately opposed to it, and you would ban it if you could.' Mr Abbott replied: 'Well, that's just bullshit. I believe it should be safe, legal and rare.''

At least 85 properties were destroyed when bush fires tore through Tasmania on the weekend. According to police, no deaths have been recorded. The warm temperatures will continue in Hobart today - it's forecast to reach 29 degrees today. Photo via Matt Green on Facebook.

Malala - the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by Taliban members because of her work to promote women's rights and access to education - has been released from hospital. She'll have to have more surgery in the future and in the meantime she'll stay at the family's temporary home in the UK for further rehabilitation.

William Marotta answered an ad on Craig's List three years ago and made a sperm donation to Angela Bauer and Jennifer Schreiner, who later gave birth to a little girl. He agreed to have no parental rights and has had no contact with the child but because the insemination was not performed by a doctor it became a legal issue when the two mothers sought state assistance for their child.

The family of Australia woman Denni North have travelled to bali to investigate how their daughter died. The 33-year-old was found in the pool of the villa where she lived in Seminyak. Her dad says he suspects foul play.

After a unidentified Indian student has died after she was brutally gang raped and beaten on a bus in New Delhi, many people in have been asking 'why does India treat its women so badly?'

Police say the 23-year-old victim was travelling with a male friend in the 'rape capital of India' when they were attacked on December 16. She was stripped, beaten and raped for nearly an hour before being thrown out of the bus. Six men have since been arrested.

In the days since the attack, peaceful protesters have gathered around the world to call for action against sexual crimes in India.

Cricketing legend Tony Grieg died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 66.

Police in Swaziland have resurrected a colonial criminal code from 1889 to enforce a ban on miniskirts, that also extends to tops that show mid drift and low rise jeans. Police spokeswoman Wendy Hleta said: 'They will be arrested… The act of the rapist is made easy, because it would be easy to remove the half-cloth worn by the women…. We do not encourage that women should be harmed, but at the same time people should note acceptable conduct of behaviour.'

A P-Plater who was photographed driving with his legs outside his car window has handed himself into police. After the photograph went viral, the Volkswagen golf driver handed himself in. Earlier, a Major Collision Investigation Unit inspector said: 'This young man, his behaviour without any further examination is conduct endangering life - that’s a very serious criminal charge.'

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, has made a public apology for those who have

Prince Harry has allegedly killed a Taliban commander in Afghanistan, according to news reports. The UK's The Sun is reporting the 28-year-old - who is nicknamed Big H - unleashed a missile strike on a senior terror leader while on tour in Helmand.

There have been reports that Jacintha Saldana - the British nurse who killed herself after the royal prank - has been prescribed antidepressants after two previous suicide attempts. It's also been reported that 46-year-old mother of two did not tell her family about the incident.

Koko, the dog who starred in the Australian movie Red Dog, has died. Koko’s owner, who was the film’s producer, told the ABC: ‘through the making of Red Dog, Koko became Australia's favourite dog. He certainly changed my life forever.’ ‘I will miss his companionship, his remarkable outgoing, friendly nature and the many long walks that we enjoyed together in Perth and around the country.’

Whitehouse spokesperson Jay Carney confirmed Obama supported the proposed ban on assault weapons. He said: ‘He (Obama) is actively supportive of, for example, Senator Feinstein's stated intent to revive a piece of legislation that would reinstate the assault weapons ban.’

He also said President Obama was interested in restrictions on high-capacity ammunition clips - magazines that hold dozens of rounds - and would support moves to close ‘gun show loophole,’ which allows people to buy weapons without background checks and unlicensed indiduals to sell guns.

There have been reports of a shortage of a drug used in epidurals. It could be six months before a key drug used in the pain relief – commonly used for women in labour - is returned to normal supply. But Doctors say pregnant patients shouldn’t be worried – there are other drugs that can be used with local anaesthetics to help with pain relief.

Clothing line Cotton On Kids has been fined $1 million following action from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). The retailer was found to be selling children’s pyjamas that did not meet safety standards during a period from September 2010 until December 2010.

Sandy Hook Elementary School Principal Dawn Hochsprung's daughter Christina Hassinger sent this series of tweets in the days following the shooting.

This is Christina's daughter meeting with President Barack Obama when he visited Newtown on Sunday.

There has been reports a 6-year-old was the sole survivor from one of the classrooms at Sandy Hook Elementary School. She apparently lay among the bodies of her 15 dead classmates until she thought it was safe to leave… According to a local pastor: 'She ran out of the school building covered from head to toe with blood and the first thing she said to her mom was, 'Mommy, I'm OK but all my friends are dead.'

'It's Christmas. Time for Jesus to come out.' That's the slogan from New Zealand billboard asking Jesus was gay. St Matthews-in-the-City of Auckland New Zealand says the billboard was designed to create conversation about the sexual orientation of Jesus. 'Some scholars have tried to make the case that he might have been gay. But it is all conjecture. Maybe gay, maybe not. Does it matter?' was the questions asked by the church's Reverend.

There's been reports that 27-year-old teacher Victoria Soto hid her students in cupboards at Sandy Hook Elementary School and convinced the gunman her pupils were in another area of the school. Her cousin told ABC America: 'The family was informed that she was trying to shield, get her children into a closet and protect them from harm, and by doing that put herself between the gunman and the children,' Wiltsie said. 'And that's when she was tragically shot and killed.'

Dawn Hochsprung was the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary School. The 47-year-old was one of the gunman's first victims. It's being reported that her murder was broadcast over the school intercom. It's unknown whether Dawn turned the intercom on on purpose or whether it was still on from morning announcements - but either way, it gave other teachers an opportunity to lock their doors.

Catherine Hubbard was 6 years old. Her parents released a statement following the shootings. It read: 'We are greatly saddened by the loss of our beautiful daughter, Catherine Violet and our thoughts and prayers are with the other families who have been affected by this tragedy. We appreciate the overwhelming support from our community that we have received over the past 24 hours.'

Seven-year-old Emilie Parker's father spoke publicly about his daughter. 'My daughter Emilie would be one of the first ones to be standing and giving support to all the victims because that's the kind of kid she is,' he said.

Jesse Lewis, 6, was reportedly looking forward to school last Friday because the class was going to make gingerbread houses.

Meanwhile, a 60-year-old man from Indiana has been arrested after he threatened to go to a local primary school and 'kill as many people as he could before police could stop him'. Von Meyer's wife called police when he threatened to set her on fire and continue his rampage at the local school. Police found 47 weapons in the house when they arrived.

The Australian Vaccination Network will be forced by NSW Office of Fair Trading to change their misleading name and be upfront about their efforts to prevent families from vaccinating their children. The NSW Minister has said that this name change was an issue of 'life and death'.

Three women who were dining at a restaurant in California got a surprise when they were referred to as

Former Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes arrived back in Australia this morning. Hughes flew in from London - after he was extradited amid sexual abuse allegations - and was met by police at Sydney airport. He's expected to face 11 charges relating to the sexual abuse of 5 girls between 1985 and 1990.

Would you vote for him? Julian Assange says he plans to run for the Australian Senate next election. He told Fairfax media he plans to set up an Australian Wikileaks party and he says 'a number of very worthy people admired by the Australian public' have expressed interest in joining.

Pope Benedict XVI sent his first tweet….

A six month old baby has died after she was left in a car in Bendigo in central Victoria. The girl was found at around 7pm last night. Paramedics attempted to revive her on the way to the hospital but she died later in the evening. The temperature reached 30.1C at 7pm in Bendigo yesterday.,

According to a new study, Australian Year Four students' reading skills rank 27th of 45 countries internationally. Australia ranked behind countries like US, England, Canada, Portugal and Bulgaria.The study found one in four Australian students had substantial literacy problems.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard hosted some of Australia's most influential women bloggers for drinks at her official Sydney residence - including Mamamia and iVillage staff members. She posted this photo on Facebook with the caption 'Some of Australia's most influential women take over Kirribilli at the PM's Christmas Drinks.'

It's the second time in six months the PM has hosted an event like this. The ABC reported the PM was 'harnessing the power of social media to connect with women'

Philanthropist Dame Elisabeth Murdoch has died at her home in Langwarrin, Victoria at the age of 103. Dame Elisabeth was married to pioneering Australian journalist Sir Keith Murdoch. They had four children together - Helen, media mogul Rupert, Anne and Janet. Throughout her life she gave millions of dollars to hundreds of Australian charities and organisations.

Dame Elisabeth's son Rupert Murdoch has led the tributes to his mother, describing her as 'A great lady, wife, mother and citizen.' In a statement he said: 'We have lost the most wonderful mother but we are all grateful to have had her love and wisdom for so many years.' Julia Gillard has also expressed her condolences. 'Her example of kindness, humility and grace was constant. She was not only generous, she led others to generosity. Australia's children and Australia's artists have lost one of their greatest benefactors,' the Prime Minister said.

A school in Newcastle was evacuated today after a Grade 5 student brought in a hand grenade for show and tell. The bomb and rescue squad attended the scene, but police say the grenade was inactive. The 11-year-old student said she thought the the weapon - which police said resembled those used in WW11 - was a 'dummy grendade' and that she borrowed it from a family friend.

Get this. Anna Wintour - aka the Editor of US Vogue - is rumoured to be up for the official job as US Ambassador in the UK. Wintour was one of the biggest fundraisers in Obama's presidential campaign this year (she raised over $500,000). According to UK reports, the Obama administration likes to reward top donors with the prestigious diplomatic positions.

What do young Australians fear the most? According to a new national survey, it's their family's finances. A Mission Australia survey of 15,000 15 to 19 year old released today found young people worry their parents will not be able to pay the bills. In previous years, their number one concern has been the environment.

A 17-year-old teenager has drowned during Schoolies celebrations in Fiji. Police are reporting that Harrison Kadell - who was vice captain of his QLD school - was found dead at around 4am this morning. He had been partying with his friends earlier that night at the Plantation Island resort.

Last week, another 17-year-old school leaver died when she fell off the balcony of her Surfers Paradise apartment.

A 14-year-old girl in Afghanistan was attacked and beheaded because she refused to get married. International media are reporting that the girl, whose name was Gasitina, was attacked while she was fetching water by two men - one of whom asked her to marry him. Both men have since been arrested.

The parents of Daniel Morcombe - a QLD teenager who was abducted and murdered in 2003 - will finally be able to bury their son after a coroner ruled that his remains should be returned to them. Bruce and Denise Morcombe are hoping to give Daniel a funeral on the 9th anniversary of his death.

The UN has officially voted 138-9 in favour of recognising Palestine as a non-member observer state. Forty one nations did not vote. The US and Canada sided in Israel in opposing raising Palestine's status at the UN.

This is an infographic of the countries that voted yes (138) the ones that abstained (41) and the ones that voted no (9)

A Bangladeshi woman has been forced to remarry the husband who threw acid on her face. Thirty-six-year-old Nurbanu divorced her husband after she discovered his infidelities - and he doused her with acid wight days later. Nurbanu's husband spent one year in jail for the crime, but her sons have convinced her to remarry him since.

A Chinese newspaper has named North Korean leader Kim Jong Il as 2012's Sexiest Man of the Year after it fell for a spoof by US website The Onion.

The mum of a Grade Three student from Queensland is refusing to cut her son's rat's tail despite the hairstyle being classified as

A breast cancer survivor in Melbourne has become the first Australian woman to become pregnant after an ovarian tissue transplant. Seven years ago, the woman underwent surgery to have a piece of her ovary removed before she started chemotherapy, a treatment which can damage ovaries.This year the tissue was re-implanted and she became pregnant through IVF. The miracle treatment could lead to women being able to get pregnant after menopause.

A New York nanny who was accused of the stabbing deaths of two children in her care has pleaded not guilty to the crimes. Yoselyn Ortega was in hospital (being treated for self-inflicted stab wounds) when she entered the plea. The judge declared she should be healed without bail while undergoing a psych evaluation.

A Labor MP has been forced to apologise after he sent tweets this morning calling Deputy Opposition Leader Julia Bishop

Steve Gibbons sent one tweet reading 'Libs are led by a gutless douchebag and a narcissistic bimbo who aren’t fit to be MP’s let alone PM and Deputy. Both should be sacked' and another saying 'Apologies to those offended by my use of the word Bimbo. I’ll replace that word with 'Fool'.'

Both tweets were deleted soon after. Gibbons later sent an apology tweet which read: 'To all of those offended by my Tweet posts this morning - I unreservedly apologise.'

Shocking images of Halle Berry's ex-boyfriend Gabriel Aubry have emerged. Aubry, who is the father of Berry's daughter, won a restraining order against her fiancée Olivier Martinez after Martinez reportedly assaulted him during a drop off on Thanksgiving

There are reports today that Prime Minister Julia Gillard has had to give in to pressure from her cabinet colleagues and agree that Australia will abstain from a vote to upgrade Palestine’s status at the United Nations.

It was expected Australia would follow the US and Israel in voting against the resolution but it is understood that Foreign minister Bob Carr led a successful charge against the Prime Minister’s original position.

The parents of Daniel Morcombe, Bruce and Denise, were forced to view shocking images of their dead son's bones during the committal hearing for their murder of their teenage son.

Daniel's remains were found last year after he went missing in 2003. Forty-three-year-old Brett Peter Cowan is facing five charges relating to the abduction and murder of Daniel.

Australian television and stage legend Bert Newton has been rushed to hospital. Online news sites are reporting that the star will undergo a quadruple bypass tomorrow.

A 17-year-old girl who was celebrating schoolies on The Gold Goast has died after she fell from the 23rd floor balcony of an apartment building.

The girl reportedly fell at around 9:30pm on Thursday night. Crews preformed CPR on the Brisbane girl, but she could not be revived.

Newspaper reports quote a a former senior partner in the law firm where Prime Minister Gillard was previously employed at saying there was 'deep disquiet' over Ms Gillard's actions while she was a lawyer for the AWU.

Pressure on the Prime Minister is growing in regard to her connection with an almost 17-year-old union fraud scandal, that could potentially have involved upwards of $1 million.

Israel launched a series of airstrikes on the Gaza strip and has killed senior Hamas military commander Ahmed Al-Jaabari. Another eight people were also killed in the strikes and the United Nations believes that number is likely to rise. In response to the attacks, Palestinian militants have suggested Israel has opened 'the gates of hell'.

The US has thrown its support behind Israel. A US State Department spokesperson said: 'We support Israel's right to defend itself, and we encourage Israel to continue to take every effort to avoid civilian casualties…We strongly condemn the barrage of rocket fire from Gaza into southern Israel, and we regret the death and injury of innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians caused by the ensuing violence.' This is a picture of Ahmed Al-Jaabari

Palastinian terrorist group Hamas warns Israel 'you have unleashed the gates of hell'

Yesterday one of his victims said the honorary burial was 'the final insult'. He said: 'How can this man, a convicted paedophile, die and be buried in the priests' section of the cemetery? Fletcher should never have been buried as a priest.'

After years of campaigning, the Federal Government has backed down on its plan to implement mandatory Internet filters. Labour made the promise early in its first term, but opponents argued it would cost too much and require too much censorship.

Despite abandoning the filter plan, the government will implement measures to ban all websites related to child abuse. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said doing so would help keep children safe from abuse. 'It meets community expectations, and fulfils the government's commitment to preventing Australian internet users from accessing child-abuse material online,’ he said.

We’re glad it wasn’t us who pressed the publish button instead of delete on Mitt Romney’s ready-to-go President-Elect website. For a brief moment on Wednesday, a draft version of Mitt Romney’s site was published featuring a logo which read ‘Office of the President-Elect.’

The site was taken down shortly after it was published – but not before these screenshots were captured by the political wire blog.

Meet Kristen Neel. Moments after it was announced the Mitt Romney had lost the race to become the president of the United States, Ms Neel – a Republican – tweeted ‘moving to Australia, because their president is a Christian and actually supports what he says.’ She was met by thousands of replies from Australians who informed her the Prime Minister of Australia is a female – and an atheist. Whoops.

Fourteen year old Modern Family star Ariel Winter, who plays Alex Dunphy in the comedy series, was reportedly removed from her mother’s home overnight amid allegations of emotional and physical abuse.

US media is reporting Ariel’s mother, Crystal Workman, has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Ariel and that Ariel has been placed under temporary guardianship with her sister.

Barack Obama won the 2012 Election and then he tweeted this picture. It was an image of him hugging his wife, Michelle, and it was captioned with the words ‘four more years.’ The photo has since made social media history – it’s the most retweeted and shared ever.

Two Western Australian women were recently kicked out of a Kelly Clarkson concert for kissing. Freedom Bradbury and Meagan Bousfield were surprised when a security guard tapped them on the shoulder and asked them to leave. ‘We were having a good time and when our favourite song began we enjoyed a romantic kiss. That is, until a security attendant approached us, tapped me on the shoulder and asked us to leave,’ Ms Bradbury told inmycommunity.com.au

Doctors have told a man in the UK he was accidentally ‘cooking his sperm’ by resting his laptop on his lap. The man and his wife consulted doctors after unsuccessfully trying to have a baby. The doctors found the man was producing enough sperm – but those sperm were suffering from heat damage. They recommended the man start using a desk instead of his lap – and his wife was pregnant three months later. (NB: This is not the man.)

Pictures of a decidedly under-dressed Kylie Fullerton, an assisstant principal in New Zealand, are circulating through local schools after students found the images on her Facebook account. Proving that you can never be too careful about information you post on the internet, pictures of Fullerton in a bikini and another in lacy underwear and a white buiness shirt are readily available to the public, along with information and links to the school she works at. Principal Terry Heweston told AAP he would be talking to Fullerton about the images, saying 'I think I need to have a discussion with her around that.

A new anti-smoking campaign launched by the Federal Government over the weekend will target pregnant women and indigenous Australians. Latest figures suggest one in seven women smoke during pregnancy – but that figure is as high as half for indigenous women. The television and print ads highlight the dangers of smoking while pregnant and offers support online and via a smartphone app.

Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said: 'Education and support are the best way forward for helping people give up. We know that tobacco is a very strong addiction... I'm sure that most women who are smoking while they're pregnant would like to give up.'

Almost two years after 29 people lost their lives, a royal commission will release its findings into what went wrong at the Pike River Mine in New Zealand. Family members are hoping the findings will lead to better safety and health practices at other mines.

A Victorian night club owner told a group of Year 12 leavers to “kill yourself” after they asked him to remove suggestive images from his venue’s Facebook page. The 17 and 18 year old girls were at a ‘pens down’ party when the photos were taken. When they asked for the imaged to be removed, the club owner responded on social media by saying 'I just love how these year 12s are happy to get their tits out for photos, then send threatening messages if they're not deleted off our Facebook page. Kill Yourself.'

It’s the fertility issue no one’s talking about. A new survey has found women who undergo IVF treatment often experience sexual problems. According to the researchers ‘70 percent of the male and female respondents said that the IVF had hurt their sexual relationship.’

The study’s author, Jody Lyneé Madeirab, told the Huffington Post: ‘Women undergoing IVF report much lower scores in sexual interest, desire, orgasm, satisfaction, sexual activity and overall sexual function….Sex becomes mechanical and enforced: a means to an end, rather than a source of pleasure.’

Corporal Daniel Keighran received Australia’s highest military honour when the Governor General Quentin Bryce presented him with the Victoria Cross. He is the third soldier to be given the award for service in Afghanistan. Only 99 Australians have ever received the Victoria Cross, which is ‘awarded to persons who, in the presence of the enemy, display the most conspicuous gallantry; a daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice; or extreme devotion to duty’.

It was August 24, 2010 when Corporal Daniel Keighran put his life on the line multiple times during the Battle of Derapet against the Taliban. On the same day Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney lost his life.

Two hundred and ninety eight dollars and three demerit points. That’s how much it will cost you if you’re caught touching your mobile phone while driving in NSW from today. Under new laws, which came into effect at midnight, people are only allowed to use phones if they’re in a cradle device or if the phone can be operated through technology like Bluetooth. Do you think the laws should be extended to other states?

Did you know you it’s possible to have your breasts screened too often? British experts are warning that for every woman who is saved by a breast cancer screening, three are treated for cancer that never would have harmed them.

A British study found that breast screening reduced a woman’s chance of dying of breast cancer by 20 percent. But it found 19 percent of cancers picked up by mammograms would never have caused harm. The researchers said this lead to women being treated unnecessarily (with surgery and other treatments, such as chemotherapy).

The East Coast of the North America is preparing for Hurricane Sandy, which is predicted to hit areas such as New York City in the next few hours. They’re calling it the Frankenstorm. More than 12,00 flights have been cancelled, the New York Stock Exchange has closed down and thousands of people living in low-lying areas have been evacuated. The hurricane has already made its way through the Caribbean where it claimed 66 lives.

Former Member for Bennalong Maxine McKew has released her explosive new book today. In the book she details what happened in the days before former Prime Minister Rudd lost the most important position in the country. McKew's books have prompted fresh calls from Kevin Rudd that those involved 'be honest' about how the move was planned and executed.

Over the weekend, the South Australian Labor Party voted on the order of preference for their Senators on next year's election ballot. The outcome - which saw Finance Minister Penny Wong demoted to second place in favour of faceless man and co-leader of the coup that saw Kevin Rudd deposed, David Feeney - has caused a split in the party. Today, following Opposition taunts and an intense media focus, Senator Feeney confirmed that he will be stepping aside for Senator Wong.

Adrian Bailey, the man who was charged with the rape and murder of Melbourne woman Jill Meagher, has been taken to hospital after injuring himself in a maximum-security prison in Melbourne. It’s understood Mr Bailey attempted to take his own life and has sad surgery for self-inflicted wounds.

Meanwhile, Jill’s friends and family have celebrated what would have been her 30th birthday. Jill had planned a birthday party for herself – so her friends, family and former colleagues still attended the event.

A US mother has described her shock when she discovered an image of her nine-year-old daughter was being used by a cyber impersonator. The picture of Terri Johnson’s daughter Katie – who has down syndrome - was being shared on Facebook with the caption 'This is my sister Mallory. She has Down syndrome and doesn't think she's beautiful. Please like this photo so I can show her later that she truly is beautiful'. News.com.au suggested these cyber stunts were marketing techniques used for profit and exposure.

Meet Caterina Migliorini. She’s a 20-year-old Brazilian student and she’s just sold he virginity for $780,000. Her virginity was auctioned as part of an Australian documentary called Virgins Wanted and it was bought by a Japanese business man. Caterina says she wants to use the money for charity: ‘I saw this as a business. If you only do it once in your life then you are not a prostitute, just like if you take one amazing photograph it does not automatically make you a photographer.’ Caterina will be interviewed before and after her ‘delivery’ for the film.

Alex also sold his virginity. For $3000.

Wikileaks have released a new set of classified US miliary documents. The US department of defence documents include a Guantanamo Bay prisoner treatment manual. ‘This document is of significant historical importance. Guantanamo Bay has become the symbol for systematised human rights abuse in the West with good reason,’ Wikileaks founder Julian Assange said. The website plans to release a further 100 classified documents in the coming months.

This photo is going viral – and for good reason. US president Barack Obama was visiting a school in Florida when the shot – and the cute young couple kissing in the back row - was captured.

An Australian lawyer working for mining company Rio Tinto has been detained in Mongolia. Thirty-two year old Sarah Armstrong was trying to board a flight to Hong Kong when government officials stopped her. A spokesperson for Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr told media: ‘She was stopped at the airport and asked not to leave the country so that she can assist with an investigation. We understand the investigation relates to someone else and there have been no charges laid against Ms Armstrong.’

Police officers raided the home of federal MP Craig Thompson this morning following up on accusations he misused around $100,000 worth of Health Services Union (HSU) funds to pay for prostitutes, travel and cash withdrawals. Eight officers entered Mr Thompson’s house at around 7am and left at 10am carrying evidence bags.

Apple unveiled the iPad mini. The mini is a 7.9-inch shrunken down version of the iPad. It’s 7.2 millimeters thick, 0.63 pounds and comes in white and slate black. The mini will retail from $379.

World cycling body UCI has officially stripped Lance Armstrong of his 7 Tour de France titles and banned him from cycling for life. The UCI president said: ‘‘The UCI will ban Lance Armstrong from cycling and the UCI will strip him of his seven Tours de France titles. Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling. He deserves to be forgotten.’

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Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan announced the mid-year Budget update. The Government is forecasting surplus of $1.1 billion this financial year, $400 million less than forecast at the May budget.

The savings include cutting the baby bonus from $5000 to $3000 for the second and each subsequent child, and reducing the level of rebate the government will provide for private health insurance.

An Australian solider has been killed in Afghanistan. According to news.com.au, the solider was ‘killed at a compound near the southern border by an improvised explosive device’. He is the 39th soldier killed in Afghanistan since the war started in 2001.

Australia has secured a seat on the United Nations Security Council after a five-year campaign. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said ‘It's always good to see Australia win - and this is a big, juicy, decisive win.’ The stint will start on January 1 and will last for two years.

Children as young as seven will be taught sex education at school under the proposed new national curriculum. A senate estimate hearing has heard kids in grades three and four will learn ‘the appropriate knowledge, understanding and skills to manage the physical, emotional and social changes they will experience as they reach puberty’. When do you kids should start sexual education?

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has ordered radio host Alan Jones undergo basic media training on 'factual accuracy and significant viewpoints.' The order comes after findings that Jones breached commercial radio codes of practice following a statement he made about carbon dioxide last year.

Kabang is the snout-less hero dog who jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle just as it was about to hit two girls on the streets of Zamboanga City, in the Phillippines. As a result her snout, jaw and one of her eyelids were taken off.

Kabang is the snout-less hero dog who jumped in front of a speeding motorcycle just as it was about to hit two girls on the streets of Zamboanga City, in the Phillippines.

A former Catholic priest, known as Father F, is expected to be charged with the sexual assault of three young girls in the 1970s. He was taken into custody this morning.

The Macquarie Dictionary has declared it is time to broaden the definition of the word 'misogyny' after Prime Minister Julia Gillard's fiery speech in Parliament last week where she accused Tony Abbott of sexism and misogyny. Currently, misogyny is defined as a hatred of women. The official second definition will be 'an entrenched prejudice against women'.

Last night’s ABC Four Corners report on Lance Armstrong was watched by more than 1.03 million viewers. Armstrong claims he never took drugs, but last night’s program showed ‘sworn depositions from friends and former colleagues of Lance Armstrong who say the former champion used performance enhancing drugs.’

In the coming weeks, the world’s cycling body (the UCI) will deliver its findings – based on the testimonies of 15 professional cyclists – on whether the 7-time Tour de France winner cheated.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in India for three days holding top-level talks with Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, which will include discussions about Australia’s proposed uranium deal. Prime Minister Gillard has come under criticism for the deal because India is not a signatory on the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. But she says India is a reliable country who will use the uranium safely.

The Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has returned from Indonesia where he held talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Mr Abbott said he spoke to the Indonesian President about a ‘broad range of issues’. But it’s being reported that he did not raise his turn-back-the-boats policy.

On Sunday, Austrian man Felix Baumgartner became the first man to break the sound barrier in a freefall jump from the edge of space. The 43-year-old leapt from a capsule more than 39km above the earth and reached a top speed of 1342km/h. Watch the video below.

This man was photographed at a Romney/Ryan campaign event in Ohio over the weekend and understandably, images of this t-shirt drew some severe reactions from social media. Republicans have condemned the t-shirt, which includes the official Romney/Ryan badge.

This cute-as-a-button baby bear has recently been found alone in the woods of California after she was abandoned by her mother. The 4.5kg cub was brought into the California Wildlife centre, where she's being rehabilitated. She will spend the winter at the North California Centre before being released back into the wild.

The world’s worst internet troll has been exposed as a 49-year-old grandfather from Texas. Michael Brutsch is reportedly the man behind a Reddit message board called ‘Creepshots,’ which encourages men to upload photos of unsuspecting women. When his identity was revealed by webite Gawker, he said: ‘'I got a home and a mortgage, and if this hits the fan, I believe this will affect negatively on my employment… I do my job, go home watch TV, and go on the internet. I just like riling people up in my spare time.’

Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made a surprise visit to Australian troops in the Afghan province of Oruzgan. She used the time to tell soldiers: ‘One reason I'm here today is just to say a big thank-you to you on behalf of the Australian nation for everything you do. We understand how hard it is.’

A new study has found women who sleep on their backs during pregnancy were 6 times more likely to have a stillborn baby.

Researchers studied 295 women - 103 families who had lost a baby and 192 control families - from eight hospitals around Australia and found the ‘most important findings have been related to foetal movements, baby growth and maternal sleep position.’

Media have been given permission to publish this photo of Adrian Ernest Bayley – the accused killer of Jill Meagher – after a court ruling in Melbourne yesterday. Deputy Chief Magistrate Felicity Broughton said she did not believe publishing the photo would prejudice Bayley’s trial. But she ordered that any damaging material be removed from the internet.

Big Brother contestant Josh has had to leave the house after the sudden death of his brother Toby. His parents, Carolyn and Terry, were let into the house to deliver the news. After Josh received the news, the BB cameras were switched off to allow him to grieve with the housemates. Producers of the show have confirmed there will be no eviction this Sunday night, but the live show will go ahead.

Is it the biggest doping conspiracy in sport history? The US anti-doping authority has submitted a report in response to its life ban on Lance Armstrong from cycling. USANA has released 1000 pages worth of evidence, including evidence from 26 people.

Tweet from Mia Freedman (@MiaFreedman)

Tweet from Mark Colvin (@Colvinius)

Tweet from Darren Goodsir, Director of News at the Sydney Morning Herald

And the original article.

An Indonesian school has reportedly reversed its decision expel a 14-year-old rape victim. The media were previously reporting that the girl was expelled because ‘she tarnished the institution's image after she was raped by a trafficking syndicate.’

Surgeons have sucessfully removed a bullet from the head of a 14-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for exposing the difficulties of life under Taliban rule. Malala Yousufzai was shot in the head and the neck on her way home from school.

Malala has been an outspoken advocate for the education of girls. In 2011 she was nominated for a International Peace Prize for the blog she wrote for the BBC using a pseudonym.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard yesterday hosted a Q&A session on Faceboook that quickly turned to personal abuse after she had finished answering questions.

The Prime Minister answered questions on education but was met with sexist and offensive comments like ‘How's your Dad?’ and ‘Are your pubes as radiant, shiny and glorious as mine?’

An inquest into the death of 21 year old Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti has revealed his final moments before he was tasered to death by police. Shortly before midnight on March 18, Curti took a third of a tab of the hallucinogenic drug LSD and had a severely adverse reaction.More than 50 CCTV cameras caught his erratic movements through Sydney's CBD before police caught up with.While trying to run from the police, Curti was tackled 3 times and hit by 5 taser probes.

Gaby Scanlon, an 18 year old British girl has had her stomach removed after she ingested liquid nitrogen at a bar. The substance, more commonly known as dry ice, has gained popularity through bartenders who use it to dramatic effect in their cocktails.

During question time today, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said: 'another day of shame for this parliament, another day of shame for a government which should have already died of shame.'

TV personality Charlotte Dawson says she plans to sue Melbourne newspaper The Herald Sun over an article that ran about her role in Brownlow Medal fashion coverage.

Charlotte told FoxFM’s Matt and Jo: ‘I’m suing the Herald Sun, because the journalist that wrote that I wasn’t fit to work and I wasn’t fit to be a judge and I wasn’t fit to do anything hadn’t even seen the broadcast, and she admitted such.’

‘…it’s highly defamatory and it ended up with me being viciously attacked online again. I think, you know, enough’s enough,’ she said. Charlotte was recently admitted following the abuse she received via Twitter.

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange says he is considering suing Prime Minister Julia Gillard for defamation. In 2010, Prime Minister Gillard allegedly told a radio station Wikileaks lay by releasing hundreds of thousands of US diplomatic cables. He says her comments were used by Mastercard as justification for blocking its Australian cardholders from donating to WikiLeaks.

October 5 - This tweet – posted on the @Kitchenaid account – caught the eye of millions during the presidential debate between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney.

October 5 -The tweet was deleted soon after – but not before it was screenshotted by thousands – and Kitchenaid apologised to the President and his family.

October 3 - A Family Court judge has ordered four sisters at the centre of a custody dispute be returned to their father in Italy. Justice Colin Forrest said the girls should be returned “as soon as practical”. The order follows five months of legal disputes as the mother tried to keep her daughter in Australia.

October 3 - His mum Terri said: I'm so proud of Robert. He's growing up to be a chip off the old block.

October 3 - Eight-year-old Robert ‘Bob’ Irwin fed the crocs for the first time at Australia Zoo.

October 2 - There have been reports that players from the Canterbury Bulldogs hurled abuse at a female TV journalist during Mad Monday celebrations following their loss to Melbourne Strom in the NRL Grand Final.

October 1 - Ikea has come under fire after a controversial decision to airbrush out women and girls from their Saudi Arabian catalogue. Ikea spokeswoman Ulrika Englesson Sandman has defended the decision, saying that the company always tries to balance local culture and legislation with its own values when entering a new marketplace and they were looking into the matter.

October 1 - Marissa Mayer, the Yahoo CEO who famously said she would only take two weeks off work when her baby was born, has given birth to a baby boy.

October 1 - Li Cunxin, one of the worlds most respected dancers has taken the plunge back into the ballet world after taking a job as a stockbroker for past 15 years to better support his family.

October 1 - Li is also known as ‘Mao’s Last Dancer’, for the film and book of the same name inspired by the events of his life.

September 24 - There's been a huge social media compaign to find 29-year-old ABC worker Jill Meagher after she failed to come home on Saturday night.

September 24 - Jill was reported by husband Tom on Saturday.

September 27 - A child in the UK has been born with an extra strand of DNA. Doctors say it’s a world first. Doctors made the discovery when Alfie Clamp six weeks old after a series of tests. He was found to have a seventh chromosome, which has an extra arm.

September 27 - Alfie Clamp was born blind and severely disabled. His parents have no idea what his life expectancy will be, but in the first few weeks of his life he’s already been rushed to hospital numerous times.

September 27 - There’s been a push for the labels on baby formula to better spell out the health benefits offered by breastfeeding. Food Standards Australia New Zealand is seeking feedback on altering the label in an effort to push breastfeeding rates.

September 27 - But the Infant Nutrition Council chief executive said that while breastfeeding was the ultimate form of nutrition, mothers should be made to feel anxious about feeding their children formula.

September 27 - JK Rowling’s new book comes out today. It’s called The Casual Vacancy and it’s her first book for adults.

September 27 - In other JK news, while on the publicity trail she hinted at another Harry Potter book. She said she would write another Harry Potter novel if she had a ‘fabulous idea’.

September 26 - A Canadian father is causing controversy after he wrote a blog post admitting he has a favourite child. Forty-two-year-old Buzz Bishop wrote a post on Babble where he said ‘I have a favourite son and I’m not ashamed to admit it. I’m guessing you could look deep in the mirror and admit you have a favourite too.'

September 26 - Buzz has two sons - 5-year-old Zacharie and 2-year-old Charlie. 'I admit it, my oldest son is my favourite because he can do more things. To me, he’s more fun,' he wrote.

September 26 - Matthew Newton appeared in court today (via video link from New York) over his charge of assaulting a cab driver. He told the magistrate he was a ‘different person’ and that he was ‘clearer, happier and nicer than I've ever been’ since he went off medication. The magistrate dismissed the charges because he said Newton was a ‘mentally ill man.’

September 26 - There’s a new campaign in 50 New York public schools to tackle teenage pregnancy. Girls are being given the morning after pill – often before they’ve even had sex. Nurses and physicians dispense the pill, and parents can choose for their daughters to opt out. Approximately 7000 15-17 year olds get pregnant in New York every year and more than two-thirds end in abortion.

September 26 - Doctors have warned of a ‘grey market’ in prescription drugs where people are taking medication not prescribed for them. This includes parents taking their children’s ADHD medication. Doctors say it’s dangerous – taking someone else’s medication can cause the same side effects as illegal drugs.

September 24 - A new contraceptive pill will allow women to go four months without a period. The new dispenser called Yaz Flex will monitor usage and inform women when they're skipped a pill.

September 25 - A little boy in the UK was able to call emergency services when his pregnant mum collapsed because he knew the number from the TV show Fireman Sam. Six-year-old Liam Robinson climbed up the bookshelf to reach the phone when he remembered the Fireman Sam song says to call 999.

September 24 - Prime Minister Julia Gillard is in New York this week where she'll bid to win Australia a seat on the UN Security Council.

September 24 - This weekend, the Cantebury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm will battle it out in the NRL grand final on Sunday.

September 24 - And the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorn Hawks will play at the MCG on Saturday.

September 20 - There have been calls to pregnancy test female soldiers after a British woman – who says she was unaware she was pregnant – gave birth to a baby boy.

September 20 - The Chaser’s Craig Reucassel has apologised for ‘any offence or distress caused’ after he attempted to interview Tony Abbott about freedom of speech in the moments an event with Bali bombing victims.

September 20 - Have a look at this. These are twitter pics of people queuing for the iPhone 5, which was released today. Would you bother? (via @residentofmelb)

September 20 - Have a look at this. These are twitter pics of people queuing for the iPhone 5, which was released today. Would you bother? (via @jendudley)

September 20 - The mother who appeared in the controversial TIME breastfeeding cover earlier this year has spoken out about the cover that made headlines around the world. Jamie Lynne Grumet said 'I definitely don't agree with the cover, and I don't agree with the article.'

September 20 - She's also appeared on another mag cover.

September 19 - French schools, embassies and cultural centres will be close in around 20 Muslim countries today after French magazine Charlie Hebdo printed crude cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.

September 20 - The Jordanian mother who was criticised for taking a photo of her young son holding a sign that said 'Behead those who insult the prophet' has admitted she didn't know what 'behead' meant. The 28-year-old woman said she only recognised the word 'prophet.'

September 20 - The man who shot and killed legendary heart surgeon Victor Chang in 1991 was granted parole this week, just 21 years after he was jailed. Our thoughts are with the Chang family.

September 20 - Family and friends of Port Adelaide footballer John McCarthy gathered in Victoria to say goodbye to the 22-year-old. John died last week during a trip to Las Vegas with his teammates.

September 20 - Robert Hughes, the former Hey Dad actor who was charged with the sexual assault of five children between 1985 and 1990, appeared in a London court. He said he is keen to return to Australia and fight the charges.

September 19 - That's President Obama with Jay Z and Beyonce, who last night hosted a $40,000-a-head campaign dinner last night. Obama tweeted this photo. Respect.

September 19 - South Australian Senator Cory Bernardi has compared same sex marriage to beastiality.

September 19 - Malcolm Turnbull has responded to Senator Bernardi's comments. He thinks he's an idiot (we paraphrased for him).

September 19 - Greens leader Christine Milne will hold a press conference this morning, calling for Senator Bernardi to be sacked. Bernardi has since resigned as shadow parliamentary secretary.

September 19 - The House of Representatives voted on the same sex mariage bill today. Here are those who voted for...

September 19 - And those who voted against.

September 19 - Muslims around the world have taken to Twitter to respond to Newsweek's sensationalist headline 'Muslim Rage'

September 19 - The results have been pretty funny.

September 19 - In the US, 13-year-old Christian Fernandez has been charged with murdering his 2-year-old brother and sexually abusing his 5-year-old brother. He's been charged as an adult and could face life in prison.

September 19 - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been touring the Pacifiic as part of their royal tour. Here they are in Tuvalu getting their groove on.

September 19 - The iPhone 5. It's got a bigger screen, it's faster and it'll work on the 4G network. Will you be lining up for one?

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