Saturday's news in 2 minutes

1. One of the most destructive typhoons on record has hit the Philippines, leaving at least four people dead and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate their homes and move to higher ground. Filipino officials have said that Typhoon Haiyan has sustained winds of 235kph, with gusts of 275kph.

The level of damage caused to the island nation is uncertain due to widespread power outages causing communication problems in the region.

2. Former officer cadet Daniel McDonald has been asked to leave the army due to his role in the ‘Skype scandal.’ After receiving a 12 month good behaviour bond from an ACT court last month, the Australian Army announced that they have asked McDonald to leave his post in a statement released this morning. The statement said that McDonald’s conduct was “inconsistent with the values of the Australian Army.”

3. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced strict new rules for politicians claiming travel expenses after a series of scandals surrounding members of his government claiming expenses for leisure activities. The new regulations will stop politicians from being able to claim expenses for side-trips en route to Canberra, as well as stop politicians employing family members in electoral or parliamentary offices.

4. Governor General Quentin Bryce has spoken out about violence against women in Australia. Delivering the second of her Boyer Lectures, Bryce said: Wherever I go around the country the rape crisis centres and women’s safe houses are full, resources are overstretched and countless more women are awaiting refuge from horrific circumstance.” Bryce spoke particularly about violence against Indigenous women, who are three times more likely to experience domestic violence than non-Indigenous women.

5. An inquiry into horse trainer Gai Waterhouse’s alleged misconduct on Melbourne Cup Day has been adjourned. Waterhouse will face the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board on Friday to answer claims that she used a banned antibiotic cream on Melbourne Cup runner Tres Blue on race day.

6. A ban on trans fats could be on the cards in the US, where the US Food and Drug Administration has admitted that the fats can’t be “generally recognised as safe.” The FDA have said that they are looking to ban the ingredient, which is already being phased out by fast food chains such as McDonald’s, in the next few years.

7. A Channel 7 news crew has halted the murder trial of Simon Gittany in Sydney after ambushing the accused and his girlfriend as they attempted to enter court. When told about the behaviour of the journalists and crew from Today Tonight, the trial judge decided halted the trial and demanded that the show’s producer attended the court. Channel 7 have since announced that their expose on Gittany, the man accused of murdering his girlfriend by throwing her off the balcony of their Sydney unit, will not go to air.