7 Wednesday news bites (Oct 5).

1. Apple releases new iPhone and it’s not what everyone expected

Forget the iPhone 5, Apple have instead unveiled a faster, more powerful iPhone 4S. The upgraded model, which comes in black and white, has a faster processor, an upgraded 8-megapixel camera and a voice activated feature that will answer questions like ‘what time is it?’. Australia will be one of the first countries to have the iPhone 4S, which will be in shops from October 14. Were you waiting for an iPhone 5? Are you disappointed?

2. Channel Nine told rugby commentators to criticise poker machine reform.

The Australian communications watchdog will launch an investigation into Channel Nine after rugby league commentators made an attack against the Federal Government’s proposed pokie reforms. During a semi-final between Manly and the Brisbane Broncos, commentators Ray Warren and Phil Gould criticised the the proposed changes, labeling them  a “rubbish policy”. Warren has since said they were directed by the network to say the comments. “Now the choice is there for me to read it or not read it. But it so happens that I agree with it, so I read it and it was a directive from up top that it be read by at least somebody,” he said. The NRL and Clubs Australia have said did not pay for the air time.

3. Aussie wins a Nobel Prize.

Australian astronomer Brian Schmidt was presented as a joint winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics. He was one of three scientists to win the award for their work in revealing that the universe’s expansion is accelerating. The prize in physics is worth about US$1.44 million.

4. Kylie Minogue gets an honorary degree.

A British university will present Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue with an honorary degree on account of her work in raising awareness about breast cancer. Minogue was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and has worked tirelessly to promote breast cancer awareness. This week she will be made a doctor of health sciences by staff at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford.

5. Sea Shepherd will take on Japanese whaling fleet for another season.

Japan has confirmed it will dispatch its whaling fleet to the Southern Ocean for another season. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said he was disappointed by Japan’s announcement, after speculation Japan would cut some of its programs to help pay for the tsunami and nuclear disasters. Anti-whaling operation Sea Shepherd has announced a “Operation Divine Wind” against the Japanese whalers and have indicated they’re willing to die for the cause. Last year the crew obstructed the Japanese fleet’s hunt, leaving it with just a fifth of its annual quota.

6. Martha Stewart perfect mother? Maybe not.

She may the ultimate homemaker, but Martha Stewart’s daughter says her mother was not as perfect as everyone might think. ‘Martha does everything better! You can’t win!’ Alexis Stewart says in her new book which paints a picture of her childhood. She says her mother was a practical parent with a “hands-off” approach to raising children.  And as for food and cooking? She says: “there was never anything to eat at my house,” she said.

7. QLD Premier Anna Bligh show her support for the It Gets Better Campaign.

Anna Bligh has joined the likes of Barack Obama and David Cameron by showing her support of the It Gets Better Campaign. In a YouTube video targeted at youths bullied about their sexuality, Premier Bligh tells young people “you’re not alone” and encourages them to reach out to talk to people about how they’re feeling. Have a look –

News today brought to you by Lucy