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Friday's news in under 2 minutes.

Fire map from RFS website

 

UPDATE: Thousands of NSW residents are dealing with destruction this morning as fires continue to burn throughout NSW. Over 90 blazes across the state, 20 still out of control.  More than 200 homes have been lost. Two thousand firefighters worked overnight. Authorities are saying they are the worst fires in NSW for a decade. The fire near Nords Wharf area in the NSW Central Coast  is still the main threat . Springwood, in the Blue Mountains was devastated with the number of homes lost expected to be in the hundreds. An emergency warning is in place for the fire in Wyong. Fire authorities expect some fires not to be put out for weeks.

NSW Health has issued a bushfire air pollution health warning, with air quality in many areas likely to be reduced due to smoke particles.

The Salvation Army has launched an appeal.

Several schools will be closed today due to fires burning in the Blue Mountains. The Rural Fire Service has confirmed that the following schools will not be open on Friday:

St Columba’s
; St Thomas Aquinas; Winmalee Public School; Winmalee High School
; Ellison Primary School;
Bunya Pre-school;
Rainbow Childcare Centre;
Zig Zag Public School
; Yanderra Public School

For immediate fire information see http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/

2. Bill Shorten will today announce the line up of the shadow cabinet. The 30-strong shadow ministry was unveiled on Monday,with former health minister Tanya Plibersek confirmed as deputy leader. All cabinet members were elected by the Caucus, who nominated 11 women to the frontbench including Penny Wong who was re-elected as Labor’s leader in the Senate.

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Tanya Plibersek announced as Deputy Opposition Leader

Meanwhile Labor frontbencher Chris Bowen has weighed in on the Kevin Rudd “issue” and called for his colleagues to treat Kevin Rudd with respect, following a hammering from former attorney-general Nicola Roxon in which she slammed the former prime minister as a rude ”bastard” who should quit politics.

3. In QLD a judge is being criticized after an accused rapist was set free and allegedly raped and stabbed the same woman. Judge Sarah Bradley refused to adjourn the man’s trial for a night after his alleged victim left court in the middle of giving evidence and said she couldn’t go on. The woman was allegedly stabbed then raped and sodomised at knifepoint. The charges were withdrawn and the accused rapist was freed from custody. Days later police claim he allegedly tortured and raped the woman in an attack in which she was again stabbed multiple times.

4. It’s an age-old tradition to give up your seat for a pregnant woman, but in the UK some are saying it’s outdated, and sexist. The furor started in Parliament when 7 month pregnant British Minister Jo Swinson was forced to stand, as there were no seats left available during question time.

Pregnant MP Jo Swinson

The British PM David Cameron weighed into the debate saying it was a decent thing to do but a spokesperson for the pregnant MP left standing said: ‘The suggestion somehow that people should be outraged on her behalf is ridiculous. The idea that just because she is seven months pregnant she has lost all ability to stand on her two feet or fend for herself is quite sexist.”

5. An interactive website from Finland is receiving praise for its pull no punches images of what smoking does to your body. The interactive Tobacco Body website has been created in conjunction with the Cancer Society of Finland. Its disturbing viewing, with one of the most confronting side effects for women the increased facial hair that sprouts. From spots, to an increased risk of stomach ulcers, the web site catalogues all side-effects right down to the grey, mottled skin of the smoker with just one flick of your mouse.

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She can’t stop playing candy crush

6. Addicted to Candy Crush? It seems you are not alone. 700 million games of Candy Crush are played every day on mobile devices alone but unusually it’s not attracting the blokes, but women aged 25 – 55. The makers feel it’s because of the game’s neutral persona. The creator told a UK newspaper “Unlike so many online games, it doesn’t involve killing, fighting or strong male characters or highly-sexualised female characters. “Candy Crush makes nearly $700 000 a DAY!  And in the UK the Office of Fair Trading has voiced concern that guidelines are needed to stop exploitation of young users.

7. Reading this as you just wake up? Well we hope you had a great night sleep. And for those of you in woolly PJs…we just bet you did! A new study from the University of Sydney has found that woolen pajamas are better than cotton for a good night’ sleep. Light woolen PJs work better regardless of bedding textile. A previous study had shown that said 1/3 prefer cotton, 1/3 sleep in synthetic material and 1/3 in the nude. An ambient temperature of 17 degrees is the ideal sleeping environment but temperature has no effect on how quickly you fall asleep.

She’s wearing wooly Pj’s for sure!

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