Thursday's news in under 5 minutes

1. Madeleine McCann investigation

In the UK, detectives have released information about a man who they suspect used to break into properties, around the time Madeleine McCann went missing, and sexually assault young girls.

Five girls aged between seven and 10 were sexually assaulted. These attacks happened between 2004 and 2006, before Madeleine vanished in 2007.

Detective Chief Inspector Andy Redwood said: “I’m sure the public will understand that the significant features of this offending – a man with a vile interest in young, white, female children, who he is attacking in their beds while they are on holiday with their families – has got a very close resonance to some of the features of Madeleine’s disappearance.”

They have issued an appeal to find the man who they said wore a burgundy long-sleeved top.

2. Search for MH370

The relatives of passengers aboard flight MH370 have demonstrated their growing anger and frustration by storming into a press conference in a hotel where media covering the search are staying. The distraught relatives were forcibly taken away by Malaysian authorities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t654E_GrLvU

Meanwhile, in other developments overnight:

• Investigators looking at the flight simulator taken from the home of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah have discovered that some data has been deleted from it.
• Australian searchers have reduced their search area in the southern Indian Ocean by half after examining the plane’s likely fuel consumption.

3. Arthur Sinodinos quits frontbench.

Assistant Treasurer Arthur Sinodinos has stood aside from his frontbench post while the ICAC Corruption Inquiry investigates the dealings of AWH – a company he was connected to before entering the Parliament.

4. Baby graves search

The QLD police have searched a second property in QLD. The property is the current home of the husband and wife whose previous property police have been searching for the past few days.

The Courier Mail reports that the search for physical evidence will be wrapped up today.

5. Asylum seeker inquiry

A PNG inquiry into whether detainees’ human rights are being catered to has heard that asylum seekers were told by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison “to not even dream about coming to Australia”.

The witness, a 25-year-old Iraqi, also spoke of how the bread and cereal they were given was “often infested with worms”.

Meanwhile, The Sydney Morning Herald reports that there have been three apparent suicide attempts on Manus Island over the past few days.

6. Boy dies after living in squalor

The Age has reported on a five-year-old boy who has died after living in conditions described as a ”state of extreme squalor”.

The boy’s mother faced court yesterday and pleaded guilty to two counts of reckless conduct endangering serious injury, a charge that carries a five-year maximum penalty, and failing to register the birth of a child.

The boy died after cutting his foot on the shin-high rubbish.

For more, read this post here “Never immunized, living in squalor. Now a five-year-old boy is dead.” 

7. Rapist father’s sentence overturned

A father who subjected his daughter to years of abuse has had his good behaviour bond overturned and has been jailed for at least five-and-a-half years after intervention from the NSW Attorney General.

8. Oscar Pistorius trial

The trial of Paralympian Oscar Pistorius has heard evidence from a ballistics expert about where Reeva Steenkamp was shot and how she was in a defensive position in the bathroom.

The first shot was to her hip he said, the last to her head.

9. Proposed abortion bill for Victoria

Independent MP Geoff Shaw, who only just resigned from the Liberal Party, is in the final stages of his proposed abortion bill.

Mr Shaw has told News Limited that his bill – which will allow doctors to refuse to refer women on to abortion specialists if they did not perform the procedure themselves – will be introduced in the next few weeks.

10. World’s most expensive puppy

A lion-like Tibetan mastiff puppy has reportedly been sold for US$2 million in China, potentially making it the world’s most expensive dog.

The pup was sold at a premium pet fair in the eastern province of Zhejiang on Tuesday.

11. Sun exposure link to pregnancy complications

A Queensland University of Technology study has found that excessive exposure to the sun may cause complications in childbirth.

The research found a 20 per cent reduction of folate levels in those who regularly spent time outdoors.

The study’s author, Professor Michael Kimlin, has suggested that a further nationwide study could confirm the university’s findings and help find solutions.

12. Big bubba

An eight-month-old baby in Colombia has been taken from his mother voluntarily after she says she could not control his hunger.

Santiago Mendoza weighs 19.7kg. The charity “Chubby Hearts” have stepped in, and hospitalized the boy where his weight will be brought down before he has a series of operations.

The baby’s mother said she fed him whenever he cried.

What news are you talking about today?