Monday's news in under 5 minutes

1. Charlotte Dawson

The Daily Telegraph report that Charlotte Dawson was focused upon her lost love with Olympian Scott Miller on the day that she died.

In a bittersweet tribute television presenter Richard Wilkins has written of his great friendship with Charlotte Dawson and of their last conversation.

For more read this post here.”Charlotte Dawson’s last conversations”.

2. Madeline McCann investigation

Scotland Yard have been given access to a secret confidential file by Portuguese police which details a spate of break-ins in and around Praia da Luz, the resort from where Madeleine disappeared when she was three in May 2007, and the abuse of some children during some burglaries.

According to London’s Sunday Express Scotland Yard detectives are reported to be focusing on three burglars who targeted people in the area.

3. Murder of Mum Maddie Murphy-West

The Herald Sun has revealed disturbing SMSs at the centre of an investigation into the murder of a young Melbourne mother Maddison Murphy-West.

Maddison was allegedly killed last year whilst at home with her 20-month old son.

Police are investigating whether the scene was made to look like murder.

The SMSs show the young Mum feared for her life.

“So now he’s going to kill me” read one. And another said “He bashed me, choked me today. I can’t have that in front of my son.”

4. One punch death

A 21-year-old Caloundra man will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court this morning charged with the one punch murder of Bruce Steensen, 53 on Saturday night.

The Courier Mail report that Bruce Steensen was a football veteran, who’s last words were “Just let it go, mate” as he tried to quell an argument.

5. 14-year old boy attacked

Police are hunting for a gang of teenagers who attacked a 14-year old boy in Melbourne on Saturday night.

The group of men are said to be of Sudanese or African descent.

They stabbed 14-year old Ben Phillips four times in his back, as he walked a girl home from a party in Cranbourne.

Police are appealing for witnesses to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

6. Australia asks Cambodia to take asylum seekers

Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop has asked Cambodia to take a small group of asylum seekers.

However there are concerns from groups such as Human Rights Watch that the country is in too much turmoil.

“Basic rights, such as freedom of expression, assembly and association, are under regular attack, while corruption is rampant, severely affecting the enjoyment of basic economic and social rights by a very poor citizenry”. Human Rights Watch has said.

7. Sochi Games Closing Ceremony

The controversial Winter Olympics in Sochi have come to a close with Australia departing without a single gold medal for the first time since the Nagano Games in 1998.

IOC President Thomas Bach, at the Closing Ceremony, declared the games over saying “Through you, everybody with an open mind could see the face of a new Russia: efficient and friendly, patriotic and open to the world.

8. Call to change age for P-Plates

A peak motoring body has called for the minimum age to obtain P-Plates in South Australia to be raised to 18.

The Centre for Automotive Safety Research told The Advertiser that adding an extra year reduces the risk of accidents because it gives young drivers more time behind the wheel with a supervising driver and means they are more mature and responsible.

Currently Vic has a minimum age of 18. SA, NSW, QLD, TAS and WA all have 17 as the age you can obtain your P-Plates. In NT it is 16yrs 9 months.

9.Wedding disaster

It was meant to be the most memorable and meaningful day of his life.

It turned out to certainly be memorable.

A South Australian minister has refused to conduct a wedding ceremony as he felt the groom was drunk.

The Adelaide man, Jacob Brookes has spoken of his heartache after the minister refused to marry him, as he was so drunk the Minister felt it would be ‘unethical’.

Reverend Ian Hunter told Ten news it was the “hardest decision” of his ministry to abandon the wedding -but he felt it was the right decision.

An altercation broke out and the man, Jacob Brookes was arrested and bailed to appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court at a later date.

10. Oscar Pistorius

Reports in South Africa that Oscar Pistorius was accessing pornographic material on his mobile phone the night he allegedly shot his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp are thought to be a part of the evidence that will show the couple were in a stormy relationship.

The leaked court document, states that this (his accessing pornography) is in ‘direct contrast to that of a loving couple spending their time together’.

His trial starts March 3.

11. Ukraine president flees

In the Ukraine Parliament has voted to transfer presidential duties to speaker, Oleksander Turchinov, after president Viktor Yanukovych fled Kiev.

Turchinov has ordered a new government be formed by Tuesday.

12. Grumpy old man

The age at which men are at their grumpiest has been revealed.

A study published in Psychology and Aging has found that men begin the unhappiest period in their lives when they hit 70, with complaints that they feel more ‘hassled’ and depressed even though they supposedly have fewer troubles.

In Brief:

11 people have been killed and two others are missing after landslides in Indonesia’s remote eastern Papua province.

In Thailand least two people have been killed and 22 people injured in a blast in a central Bangkok shopping district. A 12-year old boy was amoungst the dead. On Saturday a five-year old girl was killed in a drive-by shooting at a rally.

What news are you talking about today?