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Monday 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. Girl viciously bashed by gang of men in parking lot.

A teenage girl has lost several teeth after being attacked by a gang outside a US convenience store.

According to The Mirror UK, a group of men started verbally harassing 18-year-old  Jessica Byrnes-Laird for wearing a bikini — sparking a fight with her boyfriend.

While her boyfriend managed to escape the assault, Jessica was allegedly hit in the face with a metal pipe during the attack.

Jessica Byrnes-Laird (Images: GoFundMe.)

“While sitting in her boyfriend’s car, with the window down at a convenience store in Blanchard, Louisiana, Jessica and her boyfriend were harassed and attacked by four-five males,” a crowdfunding page claims.

“After her boyfriend was able to escape their attack, the [gang member] wearing the red t-shirt threw a brass pipe through the passenger’s window. It flew across the front of Jessica face,” the page says.

The young woman lost 12 teeth and her top lip was “ripped from her face” during the horrifying encounter.

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Jessica, 18. Image: GoFundMe.
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Police are still searching for the four or five men involved in the attack.

GoFundMe crowdfunding page was established to assist Jessica and her family with health and dental bills.

According to the page, Jessica — “a very bright, sweet, kind-hearted 18-year-old woman” — will need at least four tooth implants, costing $US2,000 ($2,735) each. She will also be forced to take leave from work.

More than $17,000 has been raised for Jessica so far.

2. Adam Goodes to return to training.

Sydney Swans AFL star Adam Goodes is set to return to training this week after taking leave from the game.

According to The Age, Goodes told coach John Longmire he would return to training on Tuesday morning.

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Adam Goodes to return. Image: Getty.
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The Indigenous star and Brownlow medalist recently announced he would take some time off due to being incessantly booed — in an apparently racially motivated verbal attack — by AFL spectators.

While he recently missed the Swans’ winning game against the Crows, Goodes will return for the club’s upcoming game against Geelong.

“He was humbled by the support he had over the weekend and he is grateful for the support from the football community,” Mr Longmire told The Australian.

“Adam wants to get back to training and playing, the things he really enjoys doing. Obviously he has played 18 years and he just wants to enjoy playing his footy again.”

The coach said Goodes appeared to be in a good frame of mind and ready to come back to training after the support he received at the Swans game on Saturday.

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“It was a special day on Saturday,” Mr Longmire said.

“Our club has appreciated all the support from our supporters, players and other codes.”

3. Women urged not to treat menopause with alternative therapies.

A new study has recommended women stop using alternative and complementary medicines to treat symptoms of menopause.

The Guardian reports 500,000 Australian women between the ages of 45-60 are using alternative therapies to this end — often on the advice of their doctors.

Stock image.

However, new research published in the Medical Journal of Australia has encouraged doctors to recommend medical treatments like hormone replacement therapy.

Currently, women are using treatments like soy products, primrose oil and ginseng to aid symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats.

However, researchers from Melbourne’s Monash University believe these medicines not only don’t work, but can cause adverse affects.

“The effects are not always desirable, with the known side-effects of ginseng including hypertension, diarrhoea, sleeplessness, skin eruptions and vaginal bleeding,” the study reports.

“A national survey found that about a third of Australian general practitioners self-identified as practising complementary therapy. It is a cause for concern that a sizeable portion of Australian practitioners are recommending ineffective therapies.”

4. Mick Fanning donates $75,000 to shark attack victim.

Last month, champion surfer Mick Fanning narrowly escaped a shark attack while competing in South Africa.

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Now, he has donated $75,000 to Matthew Lee, who was attacked by a shark in Ballina, NSW last month.

Australian surfer Mick Fanning speaks to the media during a press conference at All Sorts Sports Factory on July 21, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. Fanning escaped a shark attack in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa during the 2015 J-Bay Open.
Mick Fanning. Image: Getty.

According to surfing publication Tracksmag, Fanning donated the $75,000 fee he was granted for his exclusive Sunday night interview with 60 Minutes.

Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell also donated $25,000 to Lee, who is still in hospital on the Gold Coast.

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