8 news bites for Wednesday, June 22

Good morning Hump Day! There’s a lot happening out there – that ash cloud might finally clear enough today to get flights back in the air, but not after it causes some $100 million in damage to the Aussie airline industry. Volcanoes are awful.

If you don’t have time to read 500 pages of the newspapers this morning, don’t fear. Here’s the stuff you’ll need – and want – to know about.

1. Shane Warne is our least trusted person.

So, turns out former cricketing spin king Warnie is the least trusted person in Australia. He beat out 99 others to the dubious title, including our political leaders Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott who ranked 97th and 98th respectively. Mel Gibson and former AFL star Brendan Fevola also featured in the top ten. The least trusted professions were also ranked. Journalists featured behind sex workers, lawyers, bankers and tow truck drivers. Ouch.

2. Defence Force facing 1000 abuse allegations.

The Government ordered an inquiry into the actions of the defence force and the legal company charged with doing the digging – DLA Piper – says it now has more than 1000 claims of abuse. That’s sexual and other kinds of abuse, ranging from minor to really serious. They’re only claims at this stage and still need to be investigated, but it’s a troubling indication of the state of affairs in the Defence Force. What comes of the inquiry is, well, yet to be determined.

3. Finger printing could soon be required of those behind veils

Following the news yesterday that a Muslim woman escaped jail time because a Judge said it was never certain she was the one wearing a burqa on tape making false allegations about racial abuse, authorities are looking at ways around the issue. One such way is requiring those who are covered up – for whatever reason – to provide their ‘personal particulars’ such as finger prints. Good solution?

4. Bob Hawke in hospital.

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke is in a private hospital in Sydney with a bad case of pneumonia. News is conflicting about how serious the case is.

5. Japan takes back the lead for world’s fastest super computer.

A supercomputer in Japan has become the world’s fastest – the strength of 1 million PCs all chained together and capable of making 1 000, 000, 000, 000, 000 (one quadrillion) calculations per second. Just thought you’d like to know.

6. Shock, gasp: Hugh Hefner had another woman

It probably won’t surprise anyone but during his six month engagement to Playmate Crystal Harris, Hugh Hefner was having, err, relations with Miss Playmate January 2011. Apparently Harris knew of the love triangle and this was one of the reasons she called off the wedding. It’s certainly not a bad reason…

7. Labor is ‘close’ to a deal on what a carbon tax may look like.

This has been a long time coming. Announce there will be a climate tax … wait for any details about what that will involve. Australia’s Chief Scientist Professor Ian Chubb indicated yesterday this deal between the Government and the Greens is close, which means we might be able to start debating the merits (or not) of the policy.

8. This is Sampson. Is he Australia’s most overweight pet?

Sampson is a labrador with a weight problem, weighing in at 85kg which is almost double his ideal weight. It’s no laughing matter either: it could be deadly. Vets and animal doctors say obese pets in Australia are becoming an increasing problem because, well, it’s hard to resist giving in to those puppy dog eyes isn’t it? You know what pets are never obese? Hermit crabs.