Saturday's news in under five minutes.

1. NRL investigating text messages related to Mitchell Pearce video. 

The NRL has confirmed it is investigating alleged text messages from a fellow partygoer, as Mitchell Pearce enters an overseas rehabilitation centre.

Screenshots of the messages were uploaded onto social media on Friday, detailing Pearce’s actions at the party where he disgraced himself. The text messages allegedly reference “liney lineys”, as well as a “whaled” Pearce who had been “humping Bella”. The messages also reference a possible approach to the Daily Mail to buy the footage.

The messages emerged on social media shortly after Mitchell Pearce read out a statement to the media, in which he expressed embarrassment and an alcohol problem.

This was Pearce’s second alcohol related incident in just two years. He was previously arrested outside a Kings Cross nightclub on the eve of the 2014 season.

2. Man killed in severe storms. 

Police say a 68 year old Queensland man was struck by a tree branch during last night’s severe thunderstorms.

More than 60,000 people were left without power last night in QLD and NSW following the wild weather.

Sydney can expect a sunny start to the weekend, but should brace for more severe storms over the weekend. Overnight, temperatures dropped to 20 in the city, but will rise to 29 today. Today’s storms are also expected to bring hail, heavy rainfall and damaging winds.

3. WA cyclone warning.

Tropical cyclone Stan is expected to be upgraded to a category three as it makes landfall near Port Hedland later today.

As the system continues to move southwards, heavy rainfall and strong winds are expected to develop over the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

Parts of WA’s north west coast have also been put on red alert by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, while coastal communities between Pardoo and Mardie have also been issued alerts, and residents have been told to get ready to shelter.

4. Miners rescued in China after 36 days trapped underground. 

Four miners who had been trapped 200 metres underground in a collapsed gypsum mine in China have been rescued.

The operation took two hours, as each man were brought to the surface in small capsules, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

No one is suffering from major injuries and will soon be able to return home.

29 miners were trapped when the min collapsed on Christmas Day. While 11 were rescued the following day, one was pronounced dead and 13 were unaccounted for. The first signs of life were detected on December 30.

5. Wanted Italian mafia bosses found.

Two of Italy’s most wanted mafia figures have been found living in a mountain hideout more than a decade after they disappeared.

Giuseppe Ferraro, 47, has been on the run for 18 years, after being found guilty of a string of brutal murders. Giuseppe Crea, 37, disappeared 10 years ago  after being suspected of gunning down a rival’s son. He was also wanted for mafia association and extortion.

The men were found living in a concrete bunker, and in the possession of a submachine gun, rifles and pistols, under the safety of dense bushes in southern Italy.

6. Army veterans call for the resignation of Australian of the Year. 

An online petition has emerged calling for David Morrison to resign as the Australian of the Year, claiming he turned his back on war veterans.

A former Australian Army soldier has started the petition, saying the former Army chief failed “to publicly champion the cause of physically and mentally disabled ADF personnel”.

Hundreds have already signed the petition. The petition says that General Morrison did not use his Australia Day speech to highlight the plight of many Australian soldiers, demonstrating that he is “at the least naive and ignorant to their plight, but given your position in the ADF it seems perhaps more evident you are lacking in courage, initiative, respect and teamwork.”

7. Organs of one-punch victim donated to six people. 

Cole Miller, the promising young man who was tragically killed after a one-punch attack, lives on inside the bodies of six different people.

His lungs, heart, liver and kidneys were donated to young children and adults.

In an interview with The Courier Mail, Cole’s older brother Billy said that it was an easy decision for the family.

“To think that at the age of 18, he could save someone else’s life — even though we were going through this tragedy with our own family, the fact that we could help someone else was amazing.”

8. Australian Open Grand Final: Djokovic vs. Murray.

Andy Murray is through to the grand final of the Australian Open after beating Milos Raonic  4-6 7-5 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2.

Murray entered the semi final match as the strong favourite, while Raonic was the first Canadian to reach the semis at Rod Laver Arena.

Murray’s victory has also entered him into the history books, as he and his brother are the first brothers to reach simultaneous Grand Slam doubles and singles finals.

Jamie Murray will play alongside Brazilian Bruno Soares for the men’s doubles final.