We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.
1. Five people found guilty of prostituting 14-year-old girl.
Five people have been found guilty of charges relating to the prostitution of a 14-year-old girl in Melbourne.
The girl was reported missing by her parents in 2012, and was located by police working in a brothel later that year.
The five people — three brothel managers, a receptionist, and a licensee — were fined a combined total of $51,000, WA Today reports.
The courts heard the girl had been given drugs by clients, and had twice worked 24-hour shifts on less than an hour of sleep.
The girl told police she had been employed since 2011 by several brothels and an escort agency.
Two further brothel licensees are facing charges relating to the incident, and will face court in November.
2. Children suffering from syphilis outbreak in the Northern Territory.
New research has uncovered an outbreak of syphilis affecting indigenous children in the Northern Territory.
ABC News reports children as young as 12 are testing positive for the sexually transmitted disease.
According to the Centre for Disease Control, 134 cases have been reported in the region over the past year, mostly infected Indigenous youths aged 15 to 19.
While the disease is mostly transmitted sexually, it can also be passed from mother to child — and three babies have tested positive over the past year.
NT health minister John Elfrink told ABC that his government is cracking down on the issue.
“Any child under the age of consent who develops a sexually transmitted disease is subject to an investigation and prosecutions are launched when we identify the people who rape children,” Mr Elferink said.
“If a person knowingly spreads a sexually transmitted disease then they are also committing a crime.”
3. “Where’s William?” Billboards to be erected in search for William Tyrrell.
Police are trying a new tactic in the search for missing toddler William Tyrrell.
NSW police and child protection advocacy group Bravehearts have sponsored large billboards to be erected along the Pacific Highway along the NSW central coast.
Two billboards will be put up near Taree, just south of Kendall where four-year-old William went missing last year, Nine News reports.
A third sign will be erected around Port Macquarie.
Bravehearts chief executive Hetty Johnston believes “somebody must have seen something”.
“Somebody must know something of William’s disappearance. That somebody can help us find William and bring him home,” she told Channel Nine.
The billboards were funded via donations.
Related: A wish for William Tyrrell’s family on his fourth birthday.
4. Drop in same-sex private schools.
The number of single-sex private schools in NSW has dropped significantly over the past two decades, Fairfax Media reports.
While in 1996 there were 46 single-sex Catholic high schools in the state, this has now fallen to 36. Similarly, Independent single-sex high schools has dropped from 69 in 1997 to 58.
Meanwhile, the number of private co-ed high schools has risen across the board.
The number of co-ed public schools has remained steady, according to Fairfax.
5. Wizard of Oz fan offers $1 million for stolen ruby slippers.
Nearly ten years ago, the famous ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in the Wizard of Oz were stolen from a museum in the United States. Now, Associated Press reports someone is offering $USD 1 million (over $AUD1.3 million) for the location of the shoes and the thief’s identity.
The anonymous donor is reportedly a huge fan of the 1939 film and of Ms Garland who played the lead character.
6. Man arrested for trying to sell baby at shopping centre.
A man in the United Kingdon has been arrested for attempting to sell a three-month-old baby at his local mall.
The man was offering shoppers the chance to buy the baby girl for up to 1,000 British pounds ($2,083).
Daily Mail reports the 28-year-old man approached at least three people at an arcade in Manchester city.
Witnesses alerted police who eventually found the man and charged him with child neglect.
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