Wednesday'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. Hundreds more baby deaths in Victorian hospitals.

A Victorian state government report has found that the Bacchus Marsh Hospital baby deaths were just the tip of the iceberg with hundreds more deaths in other hospitals due to inadequate medical care, hospital delays and poor resuscitation procedures.

Between 2008 and 2013 there were 281 deaths in Victorian hospitals that involved “contributing factors” including inadequate clinical monitoring, misinterpretation of tests and delayed caesarean procedures.

The report, “Victoria’s Mothers, Babies and Children 2012 and 2013”, found that insufficient care during pregnancy, inadequate management of specific conditions, and “resuscitation factors” also led to the deaths.

Professor Jeremy Oats, who was chair of the state government committee that produced the report, noted that the contributing factors did not necessarily cause the deaths. About one in 10 deaths involved “significant preventable” factors on a par with those found responsible for the 11 avoidable deaths at Bacchus Marsh hospital between 2000 and 2014.

The Age reports that, unlike Baccus Marsh, “significant clusters” of deaths at other hospitals had not been found.

Between 2009 and 2013 babies were more likely to die at Bacchus Marsh, Casey Hospital in Berwick, Frankston Hospital, the Northern Hospital in Epping and Sunshine Hospital.

It also looked at how many babies without congenital anomalies fell ill within five minutes of birth, finding the “least favourable” hospitals were Yarrawonga, Mildura, Warrnambool, Ararat, Geelong, Bendigo, Box Hill, Colac, Wonthaggi, Kerang, Echuca and Traralgon.

Kathryn Booth, head of medical negligence at Maurice Blackburn Lawyers told The Age the data was “very alarming”

“Many of these deaths could have and should have been avoided. Similar issues were identified among the catastrophic failures at Bacchus Marsh Hospital that resulted in multiple babies dying or sustaining lifelong injuries,” she said.

2. Eddie Obeid found guilty of misconduct.

Former NSW minister, and Labor powerbroker, Eddie Obeid faces jail time after being found guilty of wilful misconduct in public office.

The 72-year-old was found guilty and could face 14 years jail after he lobbied then-Maritime Authority deputy chief executive Steve Dunn about a long-running dispute over lease renewals at the prized foreshore strip in 2007.

He was found to be involved through a trust in a company called Circular Quay Restaurants, which owned two businesses on wharves four and five.

But he failed to disclose this when he rang Mr Dunn and asked him to meet a negotiator acting on behalf of leaseholders.

Obeid did not give evidence in his defence during his trial at Sydney’s Darlinghurst courthouse.

3. Same-sex marriage Shorten’s first bill.

Bill Shorten has promised legalising same-sex marriage would be his government’s first priority in Parliament.

In a speech at the National Press Club he said that introducing the same-sex marriage bill will be his first act in parliament should he win this weekend’s election.

“The first piece of legislation I introduce into the 45th Parliament will be a bill to amend the marriage act, a simple change. “ Mr Shorten said.

“The words “a man and a woman” are replaced with “two people”, no $160 million plebiscite, no hurtful, hateful government-sponsored advertising campaign for us,” he said.

“I don’t accept the proposition we’ll run an honourable second in this election … what happens after the election [with the plebiscite] if we don’t win, we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

4. Texas mum got her daughters together to kill them.

Police said that Christy Sheats, the Texas woman who killed her daughters called a family meeting before the shooting began.

Fort Bend County Sheriff Troy Nehls said a family argument led to the shooting Friday evening.

Christy Sheats, 42, called the meeting in the living room of the home with her husband Jason Sheats, and her daughters, Taylor Sheats, 22, and Madison Sheats, 17.

“During that meeting, Christy Sheats held up a gun and shot both girls,” the sheriff’s office said.

Jason Sheats and the daughters ran outside where Madison Sheats collapsed and died. Jason Sheats ran to the end of the cul-de-sac.

Christy Sheats shot Taylor Sheats one more time on the street. A witness told investigators Christy Sheats then went back into the home, reloaded her gun and shot Taylor once more.

Madison Davey, a friend of the Sheats daughters, told KTRK-TV that Jason Sheats told her that Christy Sheats shot her daughters because she wanted him to suffer.

5. Ikea to recall 29 million chests of drawers after 6 kids die, but not in Australia.

Ikea has announced a recall in North America of more than 29 million chests of drawers but the recall will not extend to Australia.

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission said that the ‘Malm’ chests and dressers are unstable if they are not secured to a wall.

The recall was announced in response to the death of a toddler who was found under a fallen “Malm” six-drawer unit at his Minnesota home in the US in February.

Ikea said the units under the recall are children’s chests and drawers taller than 23.5 inches (60cms) and adult chests and dressers taller than 29.5 inches.

But Ikea in Australia will not recall the product, instead it will continue with its safety campaign about anchoring the chest to a wall.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission told Fairfax Media it is aware of 14 deaths of children under nine years old between 2000 and 2015 as a result of falling furniture.

Gail Greatorex, a product safety consultant from Melbourne said more than 300 children sustain injuries from tip-overs in Australia each year.

The best remedy is for all susceptible furniture to be sold with a tethering kit and clear warnings and instructions and for parents and carers to make sure they secure all such items to the wall. TVs are also a tip-over hazard” she said.

6. Girl, 10, assaulted at bus stop in Wollongong.

A 10-year-old girl has been indecently assaulted while waiting for a bus alongside her brother in Wollongong.

Police say the girl was standing at a bus stop on Burelli Street about 7.15am when a stranger hugged her tightly and indecently assaulted her.

The girl’s brother intervened but the man walked away and got onto a bus.

He is described as being in his 40s or 50s, about 155cm tall, with a chubby build and dark hair.

He was wearing work boots and grey, full-length overalls over a green shirt.

7. ‘Scotland’s voice will be heard’ – First Minister vows to fight to maintain EU ties.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she would travel to Brussels for talks to defend Scotland’s place in the European Union.

“Tomorrow I will make an initial visit to Brussels to set out Scotland’s position and interests to European Parliament leaders” Sturgeon said.

Continued membership of the EU was one of the deciding factors for many Scots who voted to remain part of the UK in Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum, Sturgeon said, but this is no longer the reality. Therefore, leaving the EU is “against the will of the people and is democratically unacceptable.”

“Through all of this I am determined, utterly determined, to preserve Scotland’s relationship and place within the EU,” said Sturgeon, head of the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP).

Britain as a whole voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU but Scotland voted strongly for Britain to remain — by 62 percent to 38 percent.

8. Istanbul airport attack: 10 dead.

Istanbul’s busiest airport has been targeted by terrorists when two attackers opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle.

They then blew themselves up before going through the X-ray machines at the airport.

At least 10 people have died and multiple others injured

The US department of state had issued a warning to American citizens about “increased threats from terrorist groups throughout Turkey” only on Monday.

9. Ex-model demanding $355 million in divorce breaks down in court “I was a top international model. This is what I am accustomed to.”

A former supermodel who is suing her Saudi billionaire ex-husband for $355 million, broke down in court as she was grilled over her “excessive and exaggerated” demands including $100,000 a year on shoes and boots and $50,000 for Wimbledon tickets.

Christina Estrada, a former Pirelli calendar girl is demanding one of the biggest ever divorce payments in British legal history from her former husband Dr Walid Juffali.

She told the court at one stage:

“I am Christina Estrada. I was a top, international model. I have lived this life. This is what I am accustomed to.”

She claimed she was filing for divorce to “stand up for women” and said that although her lifestyle was perceived as “extraordinary, wonderful, magical”, that it was a “hard life full of responsibilities”.

Her former husband’s lawyer said,  “You are claiming for 55 pairs of boots and shoes, at a cost of £58,000 (A$100,000) every year. Can you not see that that is a lot of money?”

Ms Estrada answered “Not really. That is what they cost. That is the standard I am used to.”

She said that she needed £78,000  (A$141,000) to buy two new watches every year, to add to her “collection” of 35 watches and she needed them because “it depends what I am wearing and needs to go with my outfit”.

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