Monday's news in under 5 minutes.

1. WA Bushfires

Bushfires across Western Australia have killed a 62 year old man and destroyed at least 27 homes.

The man from Hovea has reportedly died after he lost consciousness on the roof of his house while defending it.

Dozens of families were evacuated to two makeshift centres overnight with more than 100 firefighters battling the blaze.

The fire started on Sunday morning in Parkerville and moved rapidly to surrounding areas, including Stoneville and Mount Helena.

Last night, the fire alert had been downgraded to a watch and act level, with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services saying the blaze was contained, but not under control.

For up to the minute fire warnings go to the DFES page.

2. Australian woman killed in Syria

The first Australian woman to die in the Syrian conflict has been killed over the weekend.

22-year old Amira Karroum and her husband, Yousef Ali are being mourned by Sydney’s Muslim community, as their reported deaths bring the number of Australians believed killed in the Syrian conflict to seven.

The married couple formerly of Granville, NSW and QLD were in their house in Syria and ‘the FSA [Free Syrian Army] attacked and killed them’, Amira’s sister Rose posted on Facebook on Saturday.

3. Gang rape

Footage from a graphic gang rape in which two teenage girls were allegedly the perpetrators was released in the US over the weekend.

The girls, aged 15 and 16 are accused of holding their friend down while she was raped.

For more read this post here. “Teenage girls accused of being part of ‘depraved rape gang’.

4. Vaccination objectors

Parents are increasingly using the ‘get out’ clause available with the new ‘no jab no play’ laws.

From January 1, children who have not been vaccinated cannot be enrolled in a childcare centre unless their parents lodge documents claiming they object on philosophical or moral grounds or giving medical reasons for their failure to immunise.

The SMH have reported that 3910 parents across Australia lodged a conscientious objection form last year, the highest number recorded by the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register since 1999.

Childcare centre operators face fines of up to $4000 if they do not keep immunisation records up to date.

5. Missing girl and father

Police are holding concerns for a missing four-year old girl and her father in QLD.

Four-year-old Eeva Dorendahl mostly lives with her mother at Kin Kin in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.

She had been staying with her father Greg Hutchings at Pottsville when they set off for a walk to meet her mother, but they never showed up.

Eeva Dorendahl is thin with long blonde hair. She was last seen wearing an oversized blue and white shirt and multi-coloured shorts. Her father is 35, also thin and about 175 centimetres tall with short brown curly hair.

 Police urge anyone with information to call Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.

6. Tonga Cyclone

One person is confirmed to have died as a category five storm hit Tonga on the weekend. Tonga’s director of emergencies, Leveni Aho, told the ABC there is still no communication with 80 per cent of the worst-hit Ha’apai island group, including Lifuka which bore the brunt of the storm.

6. Childcare sexual assault

A child attending a family day care centre has been sexually assaulted by the husband of the woman running the centre at the couple’s Sydney home, police allege.

The 59-year-old alleged attacker was arrested on Christmas Eve and charged with the aggravated sexual assault of a child under 10 years of age.

The service, which has now closed down was registered with the local council at the time.

6. Controversy over male studies course

A world-first male studies course at the University of South Australia has been linked to extreme views on men’s rights and anti-feminist websites.

Two lecturers from the course have been published by US anti-feminist site ‘A Voice for Men’, a site which regularly refers to women as “bitches” and “whores”.

One of the lecturers, Den Hollander blames feminists for oppressing men.

According to The Advertiser, the course founder says they were “not anti-women” and that lecturers were associated with a range of groups.

7. Pool chemicals accident

Mixing simple swimming pool chemicals incorrectly has nearly cost a man his life.

Clinton Maynard has told the SMH that he measured the stabilised chlorine granules into a bucket to which he added water, but it exploded throwing him to the ground. He was left in a critical condition in intensive care. He is now calling for a verbal warning to be given about how to mix the chemicals correctly when they are purchased.

8. Baby Pancake perhaps?

A man and his wife have decided to let users of the online site Reddit help name their daughter, who is expected to enter the world on April 2.

There is a built in safety net though.

“Unfortunately Internet I know better that to trust you,” he writes on a website dedicated to the name selection. “We will ultimately be making the final decision, alas my daughter shall not be named WackyTaco692. Sorry guys the wife wouldn’t go for a free for all.”

“Pancake” has come in at number 22.

9. Birth pics banned

A California writer, Ruth Fowler has had her Facebook account temporarily suspended after she broadcast her homebirth pics on the site.

Ruth Fowler, the new mother of a healthy son named Rye is angry that Facebook banned her photos.

10. Could be the job for you?

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are searching for a new nanny to take on their tour of New Zealand and Australia.

Their current nanny, Jessie Webb – who looked after Prince William when he was a child – has reached the end of her contract.

In Brief:

Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter has emerged from retirement to accept a wildcard into the Australian Open doubles with Lleyton Hewitt.

The French First Lady Valerie Trierweiler has been admitted to hospital after media reports of an alleged affair involving her partner, Francois Hollande and a film star.

 What news are you talking about today?