Wednesday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Another man has been arrested in association with the murder of schoolteacher Stephanie Scott.

The second man has been arrested in relation to the death of Leeton teacher Stephanie Scott.

The 24-year-old man – who cannot be identified – was arrested in South Australia earlier today, and appeared in Mount Barker Magistrates’ Court this afternoon, where police sought to have him extradited to NSW to face charges.

According to ABC News, the man told the court he’d never been to Leeton.

“I’ve never been there so I wouldn’t need to return,” he said when the magistrate asked if there was any reason he shouldn’t be extradited.

He will be released into the custody of NSW Police at 7.00am tomorrow.

It is expected he will be charged in relation to the murder with being an accessory after the fact.

Ms Scott, 26, was allegedly murdered in April this year.

Police believe school cleaner, Vincent Stanford, sexually assaulted and then killed Ms Scott, before burning her body in a national park where he went camping.

2. Abbott says domestic violence is a “national priority”.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has said “real men don’t hit”, during a rare speech on violence against women.

“Real men don’t hit, they don’t threaten and they don’t bully women or children,” he said at a domestic violence conference in Sydney.

“Our country must change, the community must change, we all must change.”

According to The Guardian, Abbott referred to domestic violence as a “national priority”. The government has pledged $100 million over the next four years to raise awareness of domestic violence and improve protection services.

Currently, one in three women are affected by physical and/or sexual violence.

Approximately two women have died in violent circumstances each week this year in Australia.

3. Police are desperately searching for a puppy stolen from a Melbourne home.

Victoria Police are desperately searching for an adorable pooch named Ted, who was stolen from his owner’s yard in Windsor on June 4.

The burglars also took off with two laptops and an iPad.

According to police, Ted is a 15-week-old caramel coloured Schnoodle. He is valued at $2,200, but is priceless to his devastated owner.

Investigators are appealing for the offender to hand the puppy into the nearest police station or animal shelter as he is dearly missed by his owner.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au

4. Australian government accused of paying people smugglers to turn back the boats.

Reports have emerged that Australian officials paid the crew members of boats carrying asylum seekers $5,000 USD to turn their boats back.

A boat of 65 asylum seekers was intercepted on its way to New Zealand and eventually made it back to the Indonesian island of Rote.

It was here Indonesian police found six crew members with sums of $5,000 USD (almost $6,500 AUD) — allegedly given to them by Australian officials, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

According to an Indonesian police chief, the captain and crew had been given the money by a customs official named Agus.

“I saw the money, the $5000 was in $100 banknotes,” Police Chief Hidayat said. “The crew had $30,000 in total, which was wrapped in six black plastic bags.”

While Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has denied the claims, the serious allegations mean the government is accused of directly paying people smugglers.

5. Nuns drink their own urine while trapped in an elevator.

Two nuns who were trapped in a broken-down elevator for three days drank their own urine to survive.

The nuns, believed to be from Ireland and New Zealand, were in the elevator when a power outage caused it to stop.

The two weren’t found until Monday.

According to Yahoo, the sisters prayed and drank their own urine to stay conscious.

The elevator in Rome reached up to 30 degrees, and both the nuns were treated for dehydration when they were released.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au.
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