Friday's news in under 5 minutes.

1. Slavery arrests

Three women have been rescued from a south London house as police investigate claims they were held as slaves for 30 years.

A 67-year-old man and a 67-year-old woman were arrested. A Malaysian woman, 69, an Irish woman, 57, and a British woman, 30, were all rescued from the house. The women are said to be “highly traumatised”. It is understood that a charity received a call from a woman saying she had been held against her will for decades and they then contacted police.

2. Zoe’s Law

The controversial bill, Zoe’s Law has been passed in the lower house of the NSW Parliament. The bill for the first time recognises a crime of grievous bodily harm against an unborn child as a person. The bill was put to a conscience vote and carried, 63 votes to 26.

Read more about Zoe’s Law and why it has the potential to cause problems with abortion laws here.

3.  Cyberbullying charges dropped

Charges have been dropped against the two Florida girls who cyberbullied 12 year old Rebecca Sedwick. Sedwick committed suicide in September.

The two accused were identified in the American media and have received counseling so they ‘ will never bully again’ according to the local Sheriff.

4. Youth suicide

An Victorian coroner’s inquest into three youth suicides at a Geelong high school in 2009 has raised questions about the way the media report suicides. One of the mothers has said the media had a role in her daughter’s death.

Jeff Kennett, Chairman of Beyond Blue is calling for the way the media report suicide to change. “I think we need to talk about suicide” he told the ABC”. We’ve got to convey the message that those who are thinking of ending their lives leave those they love behind to grieve for the rest of their lives.”

If you or someone you know needs help you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

5. Indonesian Spying

Indonesian anger about Australian phone-tapping has spread  to the streets with a protest outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta. Protestors burned small Australian and American flags in protest and carried signs including ”Mr Abbott is stupid”.

Indonesia’s Government have called for more than an apology, but for a full explanation of the extent of Australia’s spying and a signed agreement regulating future intelligence gathering.

6. Abortion bill to be challenged

Tasmania’s upper house has approved a bill to de-criminalise abortion allowing women to seek terminations up to 16 weeks on demand and over 16 weeks with the permission of a doctor. Under this new law there will also be a ban on protesting within 150 metres of abortion clinics.

However Christian groups outraged at the restriction on the right to protest told The Australian they would consider a high court legal challenge.

7. Longest married couple

The longest married couple  in the US (and possibly the Western world) celebrate their 81st wedding anniversary on Monday.

They say they key to a good marriage is not a ‘lovely dovey thing’, but to ‘get along and comprise’. To read more of their amazing love story (and to make yourself smile) click through to this post. ” The greatest love story we’ve ever heard”.

8. Typo may have led to boys death

A simple typing error which stopped an ambulance from reaching a toddler  has been blamed for his death. The sick 18-month-old boy was taken to a doctor’s surgery on  September 9 where a call was made  at 9.10am requesting an ambulance. It took one hour and another call before paramedics arrived.

By that time the boy had entered into cardiac arrest. Fairfax Media reports that an extra keystroke changed a booking request entered for 9:14 to 19:14 in the system’s 24-hour clock. The calls were made through a system where operators type in times manually.

9. Sex workers in Kenya

There is a report out today that prostitutes in Kenya are having unprotected sex, and taking antiretroviral drugs – intended only for emergencies – afterwards to cut the infection risk. Kenya has 1.5 million people living with HIV, and there are about 100,000 new infections every year.

10. Kit Willow ‘pushed’

Reports today that Fashion designer Kit Willow did not walked away from the Willow label as had been reported but was “dismissed in a horrible way” . The circumstances surrounding her departure from the brand she launched a decade ago have been described as “disgraceful.”

11. Uglies – Uncle Sam wants you!

A US Army Colonel, who is on a panel trying to entice more women into combat roles, has called for pretty girls not to be used to promote the Army because they look like they wouldn’t want to “break a nail.”

“In general, ugly women are perceived as competent while pretty women are perceived as having used their looks to get ahead,” the colonel wrote.

In Brief:

Health experts fear the next generation could be the first to live shorter lives than their parents if nothing is done about Australia’s obesity problem.

A 15 year old girl has discovered a ‘slur’ in the Apple Macbook’s dictionary with its definfition of the word ‘ gay’ being “foolish, stupid or unimpressive.

In the cricket, England took the honours yesterday but the Aussies will resume this morning on 8/273.

What news are you talking about today?