Monday's news in under 5 minutes

UPDATE: The body of five-year old Aymar Ksebe has been found. Our thoughts are with his family.

1. Boy missing

A full-scale search has resumed  this morning for a young boy swept away by a current near Georges River in Sydney’s south yesterday.

Five-year old Aymar Ksebe was swimming with his older brother in shallow water off Sandringham Beach when he fell into a deep water trough just before 4pm.

The search was scaled back during the night but a water police vessel was seen moving up and down the coastline throughout the night.

It is believed Aymar Ksebe did not know how to swim.

2. Kids helpline inundated

A kid’s helpline has revealed that they have been overwhelmed with calls from lonely and unhappy kids.

Kids Helpline revealed it had over 460,000 phone calls a year.

But had been unable to respond to 100,000 of the calls during 2012.

Kids Helpline general manager Wendy Protheroe told News Limited its 130 psychologists and counsellors were dealing with 25 cases of attempted or threatened suicide from children each day.

Some kids called just to have a chat – because no other adults would listen.

3. Croc Baby

A Northern Territory Mum is under fire for posting pics of her nine-month old baby swimming in crocodile infested waters on Facebook.

The Mum, Haley Mackenzie, defended the pics saying said she had complete trust in her partner, who took her baby Dexter out with friends for a spot of fishing.

Cahills Crossing, on the East Alligator River about 200km east of Darwin, is famous for its high-density crocodile population.

4. Chemist refuses epi-pen to teenager

A teenager has died after a Chemist refused to give her an epi-pen because she did not have a prescription. Emma Sloan died on a Dublin street corner.

For more on this read this post here. “Peanut allergy tragedy”

5. Specialist team to investigate Nigella

Nigella Lawson may be facing trouble over her drug use admission. UK Police have said that “a specialist team from the Metropolitan Police Service will examine the evidence emerging as part of a review into this matter”.

Nigella now faces the prospect of being interviewed under caution by officers over evidence she gave  about her drug use at the trial of her former aides, the Grillo sisters.

On Friday, the Grillos were found not guilty of defrauding Miss Lawson and Charles Saatchi.

6. Man charged over McEwan bashing

A man has been charged over a bashing in Sydney’s Bondi last weekend.

Software salesman Michael McEwen, 23, was walking with friends in Bondi when he was punched and kicked to the ground by up to three men.

Yesterday Police arrested a 23-year-old, James Ennis and charged him with affray over the incident.

Ennis was refused bail, with the magistrate telling the court he needed to send a strong community message about alcohol-fuelled violence being wrong.

7. Drug use

A report out today says that amphetamines have surged ahead of alcohol as the main substance addicted Australians seek treatment for.

Odyssey House’s latest annual report found addiction to amphetamines – including ice, speed or ecstasy – was the main substance of concern for a third of people seeking treatment, outstripping alcohol, cannabis and heroin for a second year.

8. Shorts too racy

A Melbourne woman has been embarrassed and upset by being evicted from Moonee Valley’s summer race meeting after dressing in shorts.

Melissa Bedford was reduced to tears after being booted from the Moonee Valley member’s area on Friday night, the Herald Sun reported.

Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell said the guard was out of line and has since extended an apology to Ms Bedford.

9. “Pink Batts” inquiry

A royal commission of inquiry into deaths and injuries linked to the Rudd government’s home insulation scheme is set to begin in Brisbane.

Four men died while working on the roll-out of the so-called “pink batts” scheme, set up in 2009.

According to The Australian, Mr Rudd and former environment minister Peter Garrett could be called as witnesses by the inquiry.

10. Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage advocates have drawn up a hit list of about 70 federal politicians, including Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Treasurer Joe Hockey, Education Minister Christopher Pyne, and Assistant Minister for Education Sussan Ley who they think could be persuaded to change their position on marriage equality in the new year.

Australian Marriage Equality plans to target 50 lower house members in 2014, with a two-thirds bias towards Liberal MPs.

11. 125 000 KJ dinner

A US woman, who has previously stated her intent to become the fattest woman is the world has eaten a 30,000 calorie (125 000 KJ) Christmas dinner to help her reach her goal.

Donna Simpson from New Jersey in the US, who weights 292kg has made headlines for her pay-per view eating site.

In August the Huffington Post reported that she was planning on quitting her goal and trying to lose weight, however the UK Sunday Mirror has reported on her festive feast saying she tucked into two 11kg turkeys, two maple-glazed hams, 6.8kg of potatoes, five loaves of bread, 2.3kg of herb stuffing, three litres of gravy, three litres of cranberry dressing and for something a little healthy – 9kg of vegetables.

Her dessert consisted of a “salad” made of marshmallow, cream cheese, whipped cream and cookies.

12. Women’s sports makes headlines for wrong reasons

A fierce brawl involving members of the Canadian and US women’s ice-hockey team has triggered worldwide headlines, whilst reminding sports fans just how rough women’s sport can be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJmJcHOrwGs

 In Brief:

Environment Minister Greg Hunt announced yesterday that customs and border protection officials will use an Airbus A319 for aerial surveillance on both protesters and whalers.

Santa has reported all is on track for tomorrow night with Rudolph resting up for the big occasion.

 What news are you talking about today?