It’s the weekend and you’re busy, so we’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world.
1. Copenhagen shooting: Gunman opens fire near Danish free speech meeting attended by artist who drew the Prophet Mohammed as a dog.
Copenhagen café that was hosting a public event on freedom of speech. The event featured a Swedish artist, Lars Vilks, who had received death threats after drawing a caricature of the Prophet Muhammad as a dog in 2007.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, has called the shooting a terrorist attack and has put the nation on high alert. She told Reuters, “Denmark has today been hit by a cynical act of violence. Everything leads us to believe that the shooting was a political attack and therefore a terrorist act.”
The artist, Vilks, was unharmed, as was the French Ambassador to Denmark who was at the event. The French ambassador told French news agency AFP, “They shot us from outside the building, it was the same intention as for Charlie Hebdo, except that they couldn’t get in.”
The shooter who wore a parka and balaclava fled the scene in a dark-coloured car that he later abandoned. Police are now searching for the gunman and have released an image of the gunman.
2. Bali Nine: Clemency petition for Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran garners 150,000 signatures as state Attorneys-General appeal to Indonesia.
By ABC
A petition of more than 150,000 signatures asking for clemency for two Australians on death row in Bali will today be presented to members of the men’s families in Sydney.
A meeting will take place in Jakarta tomorrow between Australian officials and Indonesian Foreign Ministry officials, during which the details of the procedure for the executions of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will be outlined.
A ministry spokesman said the meeting is to advise foreign embassies about the 72-hour notification the Australians will be given before their planned executions this month and other procedures including media coverage.
Several other foreigners are also on the list to be killed.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have made repeated calls for clemency for the men, arguing they have been rehabilitated and should be shown leniency.
A version of this article originally appeared on the ABC and was republished here with full permission.
3. Defamation action after lawyer likened to character from The Castle.
A lawyer has launched defamation proceedings against a man who allegedly referred to him as a bumbling fictional character from Australian comedy film The Castle.
The Courier Mail reports Ipswich lawyer Brett Clayton Smith alleged Kenneth Craig Lucht referred to him in email as “Dennis Denuto from Ipswich” – an incompetent solicitor who works from a shady-looking suburban office and who tells a judge “it’s the vibe of the thing” in reference to the Australian Constitution.
Smith alleged Lucht also made other statements that implied he was unprofessional, inexperienced, incompetent and foolish.
Smith, who has been a lawyer for more than 30 years and heads an Ipswich law firm, sought damages for distress, humiliation and harmed reputation.
While Lucht applied for a stay of proceedings in Brisband District Court, the application was dismissed by Judge Douglas McGill on Friday.
Lucht was ordered to pay costs.
4. Sophie Delezio dreams of competing at the Paralympics, 12 years after horrific car crash.
Car crash victim Sophie Delezio has never stopped dreaming.
Twice a week the 13-year-old’s alarm clock buzzes at 4:30am, signally it was time for rowing training.
“The Paralympics is my dream,” Sophie told The Sunday Telegraph.
A car slammed into her Sydney childcare centre 12 years ago, causing third-degree burns to 85% her body. She lost both feet, some fingers, and her right ear. She was struck again at a pedestrian crossing in 2006.
While Sophie was forced to give up her dream of swimming in the Paralympics due to her many skin-grafting operations, she found a new passion.
The Year 9 student joined the Balmain Rowing Club and uses a prosthetic hand attached to her right oar and prosthetic legs to row in the single skulls for Balmain.
Sophie plans to compete at several upcoming high school meets before the Australian Nationals in March.
The 2020 Paralympics will be held in Tokyo.
What about today’s news has you talking?