Friday's news in under 5 minutes.

1. IS Militants plot imminent attack on New York and Paris subways

Iraq’s prime minister has said that Islamic State militants told his intelligence agents of an alleged plot to attack subways in the United States and Paris.

Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi made the remarks at a press conference on the sidelines of a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly which Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is also attending.

He said he was told of the purported plot by officials in Baghdad, and that it was the work of foreign fighters who had joined the Islamic State group in Iraqi, including French and U.S. nationals.

When asked if the attacks were imminent, he said, “I’m not sure.”

When asked if the attacks had been thwarted, he said, “No, it has not been disrupted yet… this is a network.”

“Today, while I’m here I’m receiving accurate reports from Baghdad that there were arrests of a few elements and there were networks from inside Iraq to have attacks … on metros of Paris and U.S.,”

“They are not Iraqis. Some of them are French, some of them are Americans. But they are in Iraq.”

The U.S. National Security Council has said there was no evidence to suggest such a plot exists but that it would look into any evidence.

2. ADF member attacked

Update: 

A member of the Australian Defence Force who said he was attacked by two men of Middle Eastern appearance outside his north-western Sydney home has withdrawn his complaint to police.

Fairfax Media reports NSW Police issued a statement on Friday announcing the “allegation of assault has now been withdrawn”.

“NSW Police will continue to examine the circumstances that led to the allegation being brought to their attention,” it said.

Previously, Mamamia wrote…

Police are investigating an assault on a member of the Australian Defence Force outside his home in Sydney yesterday.

The man was wearing his full uniform and said he was threatened and assaulted by two men who he said were of Middle Eastern appearance.

The man suffered minor bruising.

The Department of Defence recently advised members not to wear uniform in public.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the ADF member had been sick and had not been informed of the advice.

3. Threats of Terror at Islamic School

There are reports that a man with a knife threatened students at an Islamic school in Sydney yesterday. Fairfax Media reports that the man brandished a “forearm-length” blade at Al-Faisal College in Campbelltown, and threatened to kill a teacher and pupil.

One mother said that primary school students were forced to hide under their desks.

“I am still pretty much in shock,” she said. “I am keeping my younger two [children] home tomorrow, one doesn’t want to go back there.”

4.  Terror laws pass Senate

Senate passed new terror laws last night. The laws mean that anyone, including journalists, whistleblowers and bloggers, who “recklessly” disclose “information which relates to a special intelligence operations” face up to 10 years’ jail.

Fairfax Media reports that any operation can be declared “special” and that under these laws ASIO gets both criminal and civil immunity.

Legal experts have told Fairfax Media that they fear the agency will abuse this power.

The bill, the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014, will now be sent to the House of Representatives.

5. “Jihadi John” identified

The IS terrorist who was responsible for the beheading of several hostages, including U.S. journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and UK aid worker David Haines, has been identified.

He had previously been known as “Jihadi John.”

He was known to intelligence officials as a hostage negotiator for a group of British ISIS fighters in Syria.

The FBI have now announced they have identified him, but would not make his name public reports The Wire.

6. Chloe Valentine inquest

The inquest into the death of Chloe Valentine has heard from a Families SA worker who gave evidence that Chloe’s mother Ashlee Polkinghorne told newborn Chloe, “Shush, you bitch”.

The Coroner is investigating Families SA’s handling of 21 abuse notifications the agency received about Chloe, beginning from her birth and stretching to her death in January 2012.

The Advertiser reports that the agency felt that there was no ”imminent risk” and that “it appeared Chloe was being cared for”.

Chloe died after being repeatedly forced to ride a motorbike by her mother and her mother’s partner while they filmed it.

Polkinghorne and her partner Benjamin McPartland are serving four-year minimum jail terms over Chloe’s death.

7. Temporary Protection Visas

The Federal Government has struck a deal with the Palmer United Party that will allow them to bring back temporary visas for refugees.

The visa – initially introduced by the Howard Government but abolished under Kevin Rudd will allow refugees granted a TVP to work, receive social security and Medicare benefits.

“TPVs will provide refugees with stability and a chance to get on with their lives, while at the same time guaranteeing that people smugglers do not have a ‘permanent protection visa product’ to sell to those who are thinking of travelling illegally to Australia,” Immigration Minister Scott Morrison told the ABC.

But refugee advocate David Manne told the ABC the visa will only “re-traumatise”.

“It was in fact a major block and major impediment in terms of them being able to rebuild their lives fully and fully participate and contribute in this country,” he said.

8. Actress horror movie moment

A young actress has experienced something from a horror movie when her home in LA was broken into and she fled to the rooftop.

The moment the intruder followed her and appeared behind her was captured on camera and has gone viral.

For more – and to see the pic – read this post here.

9. Autism chance rises if babies born too close together

A study has shown that children born too close to their siblings have a greater chance of having an autism diagnosis.

The study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry showed that children were 150% more likely to be diagnosed with autism if they were conceived less than a year after their mothers had given birth compared with those born later.

Dr Alan Brown of Columbia University said that the safest period of conception was between two and five years where there was no risk.

After a five-year gap the chance of autism rose again by 30 per cent and a ten-year gap increased the risk by 40 per cent.

“This study provides further evidence that environmental factors occurring during or near the prenatal period play a role in autism, a serious and disabling condition that afflicts millions of individuals and that is increasing in prevalence.”

10. Laser Tattoo Removal

A Gold Coast surgeon has issued a stark warning about tattoo laser removal saying it is more dangerous than UV tanning beds and can cause cancer.

Gold Coast surgeon Dr Ian McDougall told AAP “It’s an invasive procedure that can cause problems and I’m not sure that patients are aware of the problems associated with it”.

He says that the lasers which break up embedded ink pigments in skin have a considerable cancer risk.

Tattoo removal uses lasers to break up embedded ink pigments in skin, posing a considerable cancer risk. “I’m thinking it’s going to be higher,” he said.

11.  Nigerian School girl freed

A 20-year old Nigerian girl kidnapped by Boko Haram in April has been found after being freed by the rebels.

The ABC reports that the girl was found running in a village after being in the bush for four days.

Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu said the 20-year-old was “dropped off by suspected Boko Haram militants”.

12. Victoria Beckham powerful speech

Victoria Beckham has made a passionate address to the UN having been appointed a Goodwill Ambassador.

The fashion designer described how she felt an obligation “as a woman… a mother” and someone “people will listen to” to assist the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

“This is the beginning of an incredible journey for me.” she said “I am proud and honoured to be working with UNAIDS in this new role to help to raise resources and awareness to support and empower women and children affected by HIV.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PIa__p18rY

13. Study shows women more interested than shoes than contraception

A study has shown that women are more interested in where to go for a holiday or buying new shoes than in what form of contraception is right for them.

The News Poll revealed by The Herald Sun says that half of the 3,300 women surveyed said they put more thought into choosing their last holiday destination.

Dr Gino Pecoraro who is on the Australian Medical Association Federal Council told The Herald Sun that Australian women have a poor take up of long term removable contraceptives, like implants and IUDs.

“It amazes me sometimes how poorly informed women are, especially around their contraceptive choices, they tend to use what their friends do, or what they have read about in magazines, rather than seeing a GP, a gynaecologists or a sexual health practitioner.”

14. Australia Ebola fears

A 57-year-old nurse from Cairns is in isolation waiting for test results to determine whether she has the deadly Ebola virus, the ABC reports.

Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the woman is a Red Cross volunteer who was working in Sierra Leone, caring for Ebola victims.

She returned to Australia in Saturday and placed herself in quarantine after recording her own temperature and finding an increase.

15. Air strikes on Iraq

A Super Hornet fighter jet has carried out Australia’s first bombing raid in the fight against the Islamic State.

“Overnight the Australian air task group operating in the Middle East attacked its first target in Iraq,” the Australian defence force said in a statement.

“Two bombs were dropped from an F/A-18F Super Hornet on to an ISIL facility. All aircraft exited the target area safely and returned to base.”

Australia is part of an international coalition led by the US and conducting an air campaign against the IS.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said at a media conference in Sydney that the Super Hornets were “doing the job that they were sent to Iraq to do”.

He would not disclose further operational details of the strike mission, The Guardian reports.

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