Saturday's news in under two minutes

1. Woman throws newborn baby out window on Christmas Eve

A Spanish woman has been detained after throwing her baby out a window on Christmas Eve after giving birth to him in secret. The baby boy survived the fall, and has been hospitalised in a “serious condition”, according to police.

The 35-year-old woman, who lived with her parents in Madrid, had cut her own umbilical cord and wrapped the baby in a pair of jeans before throwing him. She then suffered heavy bleeding and travelled with her parents to hospital. It was not until the next morning when the woman’s grandmother discovered the baby, unconscious, on the family’s patio that the authorities were alerted.

Police managed to revive the child before taking him to hospital.

2. NSA mass phone tapping is legal, rules US judge

A US judge has ruled that the mass surveillance of civilian telephone calls is legal. Federal judge William Pauley’s decision came as the result of a petition from the American Civil Liberties Union which questioned the legality of NSA surveillance practices. In his ruling, Justice Pauley said that the practice was necessary to prevent future terrorist attacks. It is likely that the decision will be appealed to the Supreme Court.

3. Dozens dead after bus plunges off bridge in Thailand

At least 29 people have died after a bus plunged off one of Thailand’s tallest bridges overnight. It is currently believed that the driver fell asleep at the wheel while travelling across the Phamuang Bridge, in Lom Sak district, Phetchabun province.

4. South Sudan government agrees to ceasefire

South Sudan’s government have finally agreed to a peace deal after two weeks of violence that caused over 120,000 civilians to flee the nation. According to the east African leaders mediating the crisis, while President Salva Klir has committed to stopping the war, his military rival Riek Machar (whom Klir accuses of starting the coup that caused the recent spike in violence) has not made the same commitment.

5. Detained Australian activist heads home

An Australian Greenpeace activist detained by Russian authorities for three months has began his journey home. 59-year-old Colin Russell was one of thirty activists detained in Russia after their boat was intercepted during a protest. Russell was the last activist allowed to return home. He is expected in Tasmania on January 2nd, after a brief stopover in Amsterdam, where Greenpeace International is based.

6. Wild Oats XI set to win the Sydney to Hobart

Wild Oats XI looks set to win its seventh Sydney to Hobart after increasing its lead over Perpetual Loyal to 25 nautical miles overnight. Ragamuffin is currently in third, with New Zealand’s Volvo 70 Giacomo in fourth. Wild Oats is expected at Constitution Dock (the race’s finish line) late tonight or early Sunday morning.