1. Three Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan
UPDATE: Australia’s Defence Minister Stephen Smith has released the names of the three Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan. They are Corporal Ashley Birt, 22, Lance-Corporal Luke Gavin, 27, and Captain Bryce Duffey, 26. The injured soldiers are all being transferred to Germany for medical treatment.
Three Australian soldiers have been gunned down by a rogue Afghan soldier in the single worst incident involving Australian troops since a helicopter crashed and killed three diggers last year. The shooter was killed by return fire. Seven other Australians were wounded – some critically – and an Afghan interpreter was killed. The brother of one of the three was serving alongside him and will bring his body home. Prime Minister Julia Gillard described it as a ‘bitter’ day for Australians but asked for the progress in Afghanistan not to be judged on the incident alone. News of the Australian deaths came as a suicide car bomber in the capital Kabul struck a US-run NATO bus travelling through the south-west of the city, killing at least 17 people, including 13 US soldiers. 32 Australians have now died while serving in the war in Afghanistan.
2. Is the world’s 7 billionth baby born in the Philippines?
Danica May Comacho was 2.5kg tiny when she burst into the world shortly before midnight (October 30) in the Philippines and has been declared by the Government there and the United Nations one of several ‘symbolic’ 7 billionth babies around the world. She was born in the nation’s capital in a crowded hospital. The Philippines is the world’s 12th most populated country with more than 91 million citizens. It took thousands of years – from prehistory to 1960 – for humankind to reach 3 billion. But then it took only 39 years – to 1999 – to add the next 3 billion. And now it has taken just 12 more years to move from 6 to 7 billion. Growth has been so rapid that the US Population Reference Bureau estimates that about 5 per cent of all the people who have ever lived are living now.”
3. Industrial umpire ends strikes, orders Qantas to fly
An unprecedented 12-hour session of the Fair Work Australia Tribunal late last night ordered an end to the industrial action of all three unions and Qantas and demanded planes be put back in the air after safety clearances were received. Qantas will fly again sometime afternoon today and CEO Alan Joyce has claimed victory in the dispute. The decision was made shortly after 2am. The unions and Qantas will now be forced into 21 days of negotiations. To find out more about what they’re negotiating, check out the cheat sheet here.
Mia joined Lisa Wilkinson to discuss this and other issues on Today’s Girls on the Grill this morning. Here it is:
4. Heidi Klum: Best Halloween costume?
She really knocked this one out of the park. Supermodel Heidi Klum went as a corpse to Halloween festivities and was wheeled in on an autopsy table. She spent the entire day in make-up and had the body-effects airbrushed on to her. A lot of effort, but she was the host.
5. Commonwealth abandons ‘male only heir’ succession rule
The 16 nations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth voted over the weekend to be done with the tradition of first born male-only heirs to the British throne, in favour of allowing any firstborn (male or female) to stand in line. They also voted to allow the monarchs to marry Catholics. This means the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first born child, if they have any, would become heir regardless of gender. The Queen reigns because she had no brother. The most urgent recommendation – the appointment of a commissioner for human rights, democracy and the rule of law – was rejected because of resistance from nations such as India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.
6. Demi Moore uses leeches to detoxify her blood
So, that’s a bit different. Anyone here tried it? The actress said she discovered the ‘healing’ technique on a trip to Austria in 2008. She apparently bathes in turpentine before letting four leeches latch on to her. She reckons the bites produce an enzyme that helps detoxify the blood, though experts say it only works in the immediate bite area.
7. Is a boob apron at work offensive?
An Executive Director at the New South Wales Director of Public Prosecution gave a fake boob apron to a workmate who described himself as a ‘bit of a girl at heart’ and landed in a bit of trouble when it was brought up by the Opposition in Parliament. The incident leaked because someone at the work function found it offensive and complained. What do you think of all this?
8. Oh, if you missed the Derby Day look, don’t worry, I’ve brought them here:
And then there’s this. How headlines are made according to the different media … sort of. Hilarious.
Top Comments
Leeches Demi? Are you serious? Lyme disease anyone?
Bathing in turpentine sounds like a lot of bollocks to me - Demi, would, at the very least, have mild burns all over her. As for sitting down in a bath of turpentine...yowsa!!! that's gotta sting. Lets hope Ashton doesn't light a match anywhere close to her, she would 'go up' like a firecracker. Leeches can be used in medicine, but not to detoxify - that's the job of your liver primarily. Again, I call bullshit - what beautiful woman wants to subject herself to small itchy welts all over her???
The soldiers - too young, too many, too often. May they rest in peace.