Friday afternoon's news in under 5 minutes.

We’ve rounded up all the latest stories from Australia and around the world – so you don’t have to go searching.

1. Cyclone Marcia continues to wreak havoc along the Queensland coast.

Tropical Cyclone Marcia has been downgraded to a category three as it hits Rockhampton.

#Rockhampton is being battered by #TCMarcia, resident Luke told me he saw his goldfish being blown out of his pond. pic.twitter.com/sx1J7rLogf

— Lucinda Kent (@LucindaKent) February 20, 2015

The cyclone swept through Yeppoon earlier today, damaging property and causing power outages, ABC News reports. The storm continues along the Queensland coast, with flooding in areas.

Fields and roads flooded, beaches closed on the Gold Coast @abcnews @abcgoldcoast #TCMarcia pic.twitter.com/1vRngXkKIs — Alyse Edwards (@Alyse_Edwards) February 20, 2015

More photos from Great Keppel island residents as #TCMarcia rolls in. Stay safe! @ACurrentAffair9 @9NewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/O5bM9husu6

— Jenna Hudson (@JennaHudson9) February 20, 2015

North-eastern NSW remains on flood watch, as heavy rains continue to batter the coast. Related content: Click here to read the full story.

2. Oscar Pistorius could be released from prison this year.

Oscar Pistorius could be released from prison after serving only a year of his five-year sentence, The Australian reports. Legal experts suggest Mr Pistorius could be released from prison this year, thanks to his ongoing good behaviour, after which he could serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.  Mr Pistorius was convicted of killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.

Mr Pistorius has had his prisoner status upgraded after Pretoria Central Prison decided he was not a security risk. According to The Australian, the change allows Pistorius to make physical contact with the people who come to visit him, four times the regular number of phone calls, and extra pocket money. He can also wear jewellery and have a radio in his cell.

Ms Steenkamp’s family are enraged by this news. “Clearly, the correctional services department has a short memory. If they grant these things they must think he is a model prisoner,” Mike Steenkamp, Reeva’s uncle, said. The Steenkamp family were notably disappointed when the courts found Mr Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide (equivalent to manslaughter), instead of the more serious charge of murder.

3. “Hot little girls” should carry guns to protect themselves from rapists, US politician says.

An American politician has outrageously suggested that “hot little girls” can avoid being raped by carrying guns.

Republican Michele Fiore told the New York Times: “If these young, hot little girls on campus have a firearm, I wonder how many men will want to assault them.” She added: “The sexual assaults that are occurring would go down once these sexual predators get a bullet in their head.” Naturally, Twitter went into uproar.

“If these young, hot little girls on campus have a firearm…how many men will want to assault them.” Michele Fiore, this isn’t ‘Kill Bill.” — Michele Mitchell (@michelefilmat11) February 18, 2015

FFS USA, it’s like (some of) you think if only you can get enough damn guns on the continent the place’ll be paradise http://t.co/xdvyCWpQRK

— Lucy Wainwright (@Whoozley) February 20, 2015