Sunday's news in under 5 minutes.

Toddler killed by reversing car in Sydney

A 20-month old toddler has been tragically killed by a reversing car, in the driveway of his home in Sydney. The boy died at Westmead Children’s hospital from head injuries on Friday afternoon. The child’s parents were not at home at the time.

One child is accidentally run over in their own driveway every week in Australia.

Firefighters in VIC and SA gain upper hand

Firefighters in Victoria and South Australia have managed to gain the upper hand against most of the fires burning throughout their states; and now weather conditions are flaring in NSW. South Australia’s Country Fire Service says at least 15 houses were lost this weekend – although the total damage will not be known for several days. Victoria has been warned to prepare for more fires throughout summer.

Homes are also believed to have been lost near Wagga Wagga, NSW, after lightning sparked dozens of fires in the state last night.

Campbell Newman plans to combat alcohol-fuelled violence

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has said that the State Government is considering tougher penalties to combat alcohol-fuelled violence, instead of relying on limiting opening hours for bars and similar. Mr Newman said, “The Government has no desire to be a bunch of wowzers … [I] believe that we should be fairly relaxed about our drinking hours, our opening hours… It is authoritarian, in my view, to make laws that penalise the many for the sins of the few.”

Meanwhile, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell has been accused of dragging his feet on reforms, after it was revealed that for 16 months he has had in-principle cabinet approval for new liquor licensing laws, which would have forced venues in NSW to address violence.

Royal Australian Naval personnel accused of inappropriate comments about asylum seekers

A member of the Royal Australian Navy has been accused of behaving inappropriately on social media, after allegedly making disparaging comments about asylum seekers – while having his Facebook employment status visible to the public. The man in question posted on a friend’s (who lists themselves as a member of the ‘anti-Islam Australian Defence League’) Facebook page, writing, ”I’m about to head out today to deal with these f—ers.”

A spokeswoman said the Royal Australian Navy said that they had started an internal investigation.

BBC executives allegedly knew about Jimmy Savile child sex abuse

The London Observer’s newspaper on Sunday has reported that executives at the BBC allegedly turned a blind eye to the sexual abuse of hundreds of boys and girls by presenter Jimmy Savile. His behaviour had reportedly been recognised, but senior figures made no move to stop him.

Police reports indicate that Savile – who died in 2011 – abused children for more than 50 years. 450 victims have been identified, but the Smith inquiry suggests that up to 1000 children may have been abused by Savile.

Salvadorean nun gives birth

A Salvadorean nun in Italy has given birth this week – despite saying she had no idea she was pregnant. She felt extreme stomach cramps in her convent and was rushed to hospital, where she gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The 31-year-old new mother told ANSA, “I did not know I was pregnant. I only felt a stomach pain.”

Other nuns in the convent were reportedly “very surprised”.

Wife of Indian minister suffers “unnatural, sudden death”

The wife of an Indian minister, Shashi Tharoor, has been found dead in a hotel room. A doctor who performed an autopsy on Sunanda Pushkar’s body said yesterday that she had suffered an “unnatural, sudden death”.

Her death comes two days after Pushkar accused her husband on Twitter of having an affair with a Pakistani journalist, Mehr Tarar. More tests are required to determine Sunanda Pushkar’s cause of death.