Wednesday's news in under 5 minutes

1. Details emerge on Gerard Baden-Clay

A Supreme Court jury has found Gerard Baden-Clay guilty of murdering his wife Allison.

After his first night spent in jail, new details have emerged about his private life today — including revelations in The Courier Mail that he joined a sex and swingers online site “AdultFriendFinder” under a false name while searching for extra marital sex.

Baden-Clay used the pseudonym Bruce Overland, the same fake name he used when communicating with his mistress Toni McHugh, after Allison found out about his affair.

He wrote on the site: “Married, but don’t want to be – looking for some sex on the side!”

It has also been reported that five years ago, a woman named Melissa Romano went to Baden-Clay for real estate work – and instead he asked her to kill his wife.

The Courier Mail reports: “She told police she laughed at the time, but he insisted he was serious.” It is reported that detectives investigated but concluded it was likely a “throwaway line” and suspected Baden-Clay was “trying to hit on the attractive job seeker.”

2. Push for overhaul of domestic violence laws

Labor senator Nova Peris has called for all states and territories to emulate the Northern Territory laws that make it a crime for any adult to fail to report domestic violence to police.

The NT laws require all adults to notify police if another person has caused or is likely to cause harm to a person with whom they have a domestic relationship. They require all adults to report to police if the life or safety of a person is under threat because domestic violence has been, is being or is about to be committed.

Fairfax Media reports Senator Peris told family violence prevention workers in Canberra: ”We need every Australian to speak up whenever they suspect domestic violence may be occurring.”

“Even if it potentially involves dobbing in a mate. And even if it could potentially lead to retribution,” she said.

3. Anorexia linked to suicide in Coroner’s report

The suicide of a young Sydney woman has been linked to anorexia by the Coroner — and it’s believed this the first case where a death certificate includes a reference to both suicide and anorexia.

Coroner Mark Douglass found 23-year old Alana Goldsmith died as a result of committing suicide while suffering from anorexia nervosa, but said the reasons for his finding would not be released until next week.

The chief executive of the Butterfly Foundation, Christine Morgan, said outside court: “By recognising suicide risk is heightened for someone suffering from anorexia nervosa, this finding can jolt a seismic shift in the way governments resource communities to address eating disorders.”

If you need help you can contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673

Or get in touch with Lifeline on 13 11 14 

4. Winter break for pollies

The Senate has extending their sitting hours to allow the government to have key bills debated- perhaps even debating into the weekend before the winter break.

The Australian reports that Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer has said the carbon tax should be repealed soon, with the vote appearing likely to take place today.

However it seems that Federal Parliament will head into a winter break a key piece of legislation remaining unresolved, with PUP Senate leader Glenn Lazarus saying his party would not support the abolition of measures linked to the mining tax repeal.

Overnight, Cabinet approved a compromise on the Qantas Act that will keep the airline Australian owned, and that Bill will go before the Senate today.

5. Oscar Pistorius “brawl”

Oscar Pistorius is making headlines for allegedly being involved in a fight in a nightclub with a man.

According to reports, the man “aggressively engaged” him about his ongoing murder trial.

A spokeswoman for Pistorius confirmed the altercation took place in the upmarket VIP nightclub.

South African news website The Juice says the man, Jared Mortimer, claimed Pistorius was “drunk and very aggressive” and poked the other man in the chest while telling him, “you’ll never get the better of me”.

The athlete, sometimes known as “Blade Runner”, is on trial for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, who he shot and killed in the early morning hours of Valentine’s Day last year.

He claims he thought he was shooting an intruder and did not intentionally shoot Reeva Steenkamp.

6. Snowboard deaths

Police today will examine the footage from a GoPro camera found strapped to the body of 32-year-old snowboarder Daniel Kerr.

The Melbourne man was killed in an avalanche along with 33-year old Martie Buckland on Mt Bogong in Victoria on Monday.

7. Bring back the strap, government adviser says

The head of the Abbott Government’s curriculum review, Kevin Donnelly, has backed calls for the strap to be reinstated across Australian schools while speaking on Fairfax Radio.

Corporal punishment had been the most effective form of punishment in his experience, he said.

For more on this story, see this post. 

8. Moscow crash

A train crash in Moscow has left 21 people dead and an as yet unaccountable number seriously injured.

Over 130 people were taken to hospital, the most urgent cases in medical helicopters, after an underground train derailment on the Moscow Metro during rush hour.

The tragedy is the worst accident in the transport network’s history.

As The Times reports, survivors spoke of their panic, a long wait to escape and “fear of suffocation” after the packed commuter train slammed to a halt and three carriages jack-knifed off the rails shortly after 9am this morning.

It was not clear what caused the derailment, but the head of Moscow’s Transportation Department said it was not a terrorist attack. However, the incident is subject to a criminal investigation as authorities seek to find out what’s behind the crash.

9. Homophobia in sport

A study into homophobia into Australian sport has shown homophobic abuse is more common in team sporting environments than in society.

In the largest survey of its kind, Out on the Fields, released in the wake of Ian Thorpe’s revelations that he is gay, the study showed that 85 percent of gay athletes have experienced or witnessed homophobic abuse.

The Age reports that 13 percent suffered physical assaults.

The most common form of homophobia was verbal abuse, with 82 per cent saying they had heard or been the target of slurs such as “fag”, “dyke” or “poofter” either as players or spectators.

10. #BringBackourgirls

The families of many of the girls kidnapped by Islamist group Boko Haram have cancelled a scheduled meeting with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

Mr Jonathan had planned to meet 12 parents and five girls who escaped shortly after being captured but the parents withdrew at the last minute without giving any reason.

“Unfortunately, political forces within the Nigerian chapter of Bring Back Our Girls have decided to take this opportunity to play politics with the situation and the grief of the parents and the girls. They should be ashamed of their actions,” he said in a statement.

11. Thor now a woman

Marvel Comics have announced that their male hero Thor is now a female hero.

“The inscription on Thor’s hammer reads ‘Whosoever holds this hammer, if HE be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.’ Well it’s time to update that inscription,” said Marvel editor Wil Moss in a statement.

“The new Thor continues Marvel’s proud tradition of strong female characters like Captain Marvel, Storm, Black Widow and more. And this new Thor isn’t a temporary female substitute – she’s now the one and only Thor, and she is worthy!”

The announcement was made on The View with the show tweeting: ‪”@Marvel announces that Thor is no longer worthy of Mjolnir, and now a woman will be wielding the mighty Uru Hammer! ‪#TheView.”

Thor will be Marvel’s eighth comic featuring a female in its leading role.

12. Royal baby speculation

Speculation is mounting that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are set to announce a second royal pregnancy – with even a day – next Tuesday – expected to be the big day it is revealed.

Overnight, the British bookmakers Coral suspended betting on a royal pregnancy announcement after a flurry of online bets came in quick succession.

Ladbrokes has also suspended betting on a July pregnancy announcement after slashing odds from 8/11 to 4/1 overnight.

Speculation came from Australian magazine New Idea, which reported a “friend” of the Duchess has confirmed the pregnancy.

However Buckingham Palace told The Independent this former friend was “indeed a ‘former friend’ of the Duchess – one that she hasn’t spoken to for a great many years and definitely not one still in touch with her ‘buzzing inner circle’.”

Next Tuesday marks the first birthday of Prince George.

 13. Eamon Sullivan retires

Former freestyle world record holder Eamon Sullivan, 28, has announced his immediate retirement from competitive swimming.

The shock announcement is due to ongoing shoulder injury concerns, the ABC reports.

West Australian Sullivan had been hoping surgery would extend his swimming career until the 2016 Olympics, but has reportedly decided his body was not up to the demands that challenge would present.

Sullivan, who won two Olympic silver medals in Beijing and was once holder of the 50m and 100m freestyle world records,pulled out of the Glasgow Games due to shoulder surgery last month.

Sullivan said the decision had not come easily but that he now had a chance to explore other interests, News.com.au reports.

“Moving forward, I’m excited to explore the other passions in my life, like cooking and hospitality. I’m keen to stay involved with Swimming Australia and mentor our young swimmers, as well as spend more time in my restaurant (Bib & Tucker) and cafe (Louis Baxters Espresso Bar).”

14. Outcry over “inappropriate” teen bikini banner

A promotional banner featuring a 17-year-old in a bikini was removed earlier this month following claims it was “inappropriate”– but now, it’s set to be re-erected following uproar in the local community.

A petition went around Evans Head, NSW, asking that the promotional banner, strung across the main street, be removed.

Richmond Valley Council agreed and removed the poster — but following a counter-petition in support of the banner, it’s now reportedly set to be reinstalled.

The banner depicts a bikini-clad local surfer Kirrah Cooke, who represents soccer and cross country for the region and assists with life-saving, News.com.au reports.

“That girl is everything a mother would be proud to call her daughter,” local proprietor Petria Powell told the Northern Star.

“We are proud of what she represents for this town.”

The council’s General Manager John Walker told the Northern Star the banner would now be re-hung.

“The clear majority of people have told us they want to see the banners back up and Council has listened and will act; the banners will be rehung within the next two weeks,” Mr Walker said.

15. Sophie Holmes nominated for a Pride of Australia Child of Courage Medal

Sophie Holmes is only five, but she’s already something of a hero.

The five-year-old saved her three-year-old brother Blake’s life in January — and now, she has been nominated by her grandmother for a Pride of Australia Child of Courage Medal, the Courier Mail reports.

“I was sitting with the kids and then the next thing I hear is ‘Blake, Blake’,’’ the children’s mother Vicki Holmes told the newspaper.

“Blake had fallen in the deep end, with his hoodie towel around his head… Sophie put her arms around him and swam to the side, using lifesaving skills she had learnt in swimming lessons only a month before. She saved his life,” Ms Holmes said.

What news are you talking about today?