Thursday 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. Anti-abortion campaigners are also sexist.

A new study has confirmed the link between sexism and anti-abortion views.

A study published in the Journal of Women and Social Work gathered data from 651 undergraduate students at six American universities, 70 per cent of whom were female and 30 per cent male.

Researcher Stephanie Begun divided anti-abortion views into three groups: hostile sexism, benevolent sexism and combined benevolent-hostile sexism.

Survey participants were then asked to rank how much they agreed with benevolent statements like, “a good woman should be set on a pedestal by her man,” and more hostile statements such as, “feminists are seeking for women to have more power over men.”

Related content: She’s 10-years-old and pregnant, and she’s being denied an abortion.

“The results showed that as people increasingly endorsed hostile sexist views, they were statistically significantly more likely to hold anti-choice abortion attitudes,” Begun told The Huffington Post.

Those who highly endorsed benevolent, hostile and a combination of benevolent/hostile comments were highly likely to be against abortions.

2. Breastfeeding mothers slam government’s changes to paid parental leave.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association is concerned the government’s changes to paid parental leave will encourage mothers to stop breastfeeding earlier.

According to a statement released by the ABA, returning to work is one of the key reasons women cease breastfeeding.

“Not only do Australian mums need support to establish breastfeeding, they also require breastfeeding friendly policies and practices that enable continued breastfeeding in the workplace, childcare and the community,” CEO Rebecca Naylor said.

“Supporting women to achieve these targets is important to the long term physical and emotional wellbeing of women and children.”

Related content: “Why I shared a picture of me breastfeeding on the toilet.”

The organisation “strongly urges” the government to reverse its proposed any changes that may force mothers to return to work early.

Current Australian infant feeding guidelines recommend that babies are exclusively breastfed to around 6 months, and that breastfeeding be continued until 12 months of age and beyond.

3. Defence force joins search for missing Townsville woman.

Australian army personnel are assisting Queensland police in the search for a woman believed to be murdered by her husband.

Julie Hutchinson, 48, was last seen in early March, and her husband was arrested and charged with her murder last month.

The search for evidence regarding Ms Hutchinson’s disappearance will now include an area adjoining a military base near Townsville.

Police will also conduct interviews with property owners in the Hervey Range area.

4.  Sydney Olympic rings sell for large sum on eBay.

The Olympic rings that adorned Sydney’s Opera House in 2000 have sold for a whopping sum on eBay.

A bidder from Sydney bought the rings for a total of $21,000.

According to ABC News, the seller came across the rings when he bought a shed from their manufacturer. The rings were left in the shed, so the opportunistic new owned advertised them for sale online.

The rings are so massive they will have to be loaded on to a truck by crane.

5. Pakistani gunmen claim at least 43 lives.

The second deadliest massacre in Pakistan this year has claimed at least 43 lives after gunmen opened fire on a bus in Karachi.

The gunmen rode up to the bus on motorcycles before boarding and randomly shooting commuters.

Policemen told Reuters there were six gunmen, and all the victims were Ismailis — a minority shiite muslim sect. The majority of Pakistan is Sunni muslim.

At least 13 people were injured in the attack.

A group associated with the Islamic State later claimed responsibility for the attack via Twitter.

Gunmen kill 43 on a bus in Pakistan: http://t.co/BZQ8xeVZh2 via @ReutersTV

— Reuters TV (@ReutersTV) May 13, 2015

6. A woman stabbed in Melbourne was due to give evidence in court.

A teacher from Collingwood stabbed in the leg this morning was due to provide evidence in a domestic violence inquiry.

Jenny Occleshaw was approached from behind and stabbed as she got out of her car on Cromwell street around 7.30am, the Herald Sun reports.

Ms Occleshaw said she was giving evidence at the hearing because she is passionate about women’s safety.

“I can’t do that now and that really upsets me,” Ms Occleshaw said.

Police believe the attack was a bungled burglary and the assailant intended to steal Ms Occleshaw’s laptop.

7. Family seek $80,000 to save their boy’s life.

The family of a four-year-old boy from Bathurst, Victoria has been given just four days to raise $80,000 that could potentially save his life.

Braiden Peters-Whitwell’s parents have been told their son has a brain tumour “the size of a mandarin” at the base of his neck and that without radiation treatment, he may only have weeks to live.

Even with radiation treatment, the prognosis is bleak — so the family now believes surgery is Braiden’s only hope.

They are now seeking to raise $80,000 by Monday for renowned neurosurgeon Charlie Teo, of the Children’s Hospital Westmead, to operate on the little boy, the Western Advocate reports.

The sum covers the cost of the operation, anaesthetist and surgical team.

You can support Braiden at his GoFundMe page.

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us at news@mamamia.com.au.
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