Cheat Sheet: Today's news in 60 seconds

Your speedy update on all the day’s big stories Tuesday, April 1 2014

Paralysed league star’s family stay by his bedside.

Newcastle Knights back-rower, Alex McKinnon, was reportedly told this morning by doctors that he may never walk again and will live the rest of his life as a quadriplegic. The 22-year-old was injured eight days ago in a game against Melbourne Storm, where a tackle broke two of his vertebrae. While his parents, Kate and Scott, continue to sit beside his hospital bed, McKinnon’s girlfriend Teigan Power has apparently returned to Newcastle. Nine have reported that Alex’s first words to his parents when he woke from his coma were “Can I have a lemonade? I’m dry.” Despite being unable to drink, the lemonade was dabbed onto his lips. McKinnon’s parents have so far released a statement saying: “We wish to thank the public and the media for the tremendous support and words of concern we have already received for our son and partner.”

Students’ April Fool goes too far

Over 1000 parents were woken up at 2:30 am by a shocking text (right) telling them that Castle Hill High School would be closed for the day because of a fire which caused 'malicious' damage. Confused parents began making new arrangements for their children and calling the school after receiving the emergency text.  Principle Vick Brewer was forced to send an apology email which assured everyone that the text was a lie and the school was fine. Though many students found the prank amusing, the Department of Education was not impressed, especially considering whoever hacked into the school's database to send the text did so illegally.

'Cinderella Law' will see unloving parents jailed

Parents in Britain could face jail time under new child neglect laws if they deny their children love and/or affection. 'Emotional cruelty' will be deemed a crime, just as physical and sexual abuse are, according to the London Telegraph. Anyone charged under the new 'Cinderella Law' could face up to ten years behind bars. It will be put into action in Britain in June as part of the Queen's Speech. Previously, parents could only be prosecuted for assaulting, abandoning or exposing a child to suffering or injury. The 'Cinderella Law' means that anything that harms a child's 'physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development' will be punishable.

Mothers 'make the best spies'.

A top British spy has revealed in an interview with The Times that women, especially mothers, make the best spies because they are great multi-taskers and have the ability to understand emotions. The spy, who wishes to remain unnamed, said that many people are sympathetic towards mums who are therefore viewed as "less of a threat than a single female." The spy, who is herself a mother, has expressed how female spies are portrayed unfairly in film and TV series, such as Claire Danes in Homeland (right) and often have some form of a personality disorder.

Shock discovery: Lamingtons are NOT Australian.

New research by the University of Auckland has confirmed 'beyond doubt' that Australia's much-loved dessert, the Lamington, was invented in New Zealand and is actually called a Wellington. Analysis of a watercolour painting by New Zealander JR Smythe from 1888, named 'Summer Pantry', (left) reveals an uneaten Lamington on the counter in a room looking out onto Wellington Harbour. Previously, the first known Lamington reference was a recipe from 1902 from the Queensland Country Life newspaper.