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Monday afternoon'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. Up to 20 new victims come forward with allegations against Rolf Harris.

Convicted paedophile Rolf Harris has been accused of 20 new incidents of sexual assault.

The 85-year-old former Australian icon is currently severing a five-year sentence for the molestation of four girls between 1968 to 1986.

The prosecution will be carried out by Slater & Gordon — the same law practice that oversaw damages paid to 167 of Jimmy Savile’s victims.

Artist and entertainer Rolf Harris is facing 20 new allegations of sexual abuse.

“We are currently dealing with civil compensation claimants who are all represented by Slater & Gordon,” said Rolf Harris’ daughter Bindi, according to Express.

The cases could impact heavily on Harris’ £15 million estate (AUD$29,311,510).

2. Melbourne teen faces court accused of terror plot.

A Melbourne teenager has been remanded in custody after facing the children’s court charged over an alleged terrorism plot.

The 17-year-old was arrested in a raid on his home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs on Friday.

He did not apply for bail and was ordered to return to court on May 26.

According to ABC News, police will allege they found three homemade explosive devices at the boy’s home, and that he planned to detonate them at a public event in Melbourne.

The boy’s name has been suppressed for legal reasons.

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3. Sport in Australia “not safe” for young homosexuals. 

An overwhelming majority of Australians feel that youth sport in Australia is “not safe” for homosexuals, a new study has revealed.

The Out on the Fields study of homophobia in sport has found 70 per cent of Australians felt that sport was not safe or support of gay, lesbian and bisexual youths.

 

Many believe that team based sport is unwelcoming and unsafe for LGBT youth.

 

According to The Guardian, the worldwide study found that Australian men were the second most likely to participate in sport, second to New Zealand.

Similarly, and ironically, it also found that Australian sport persons were the second most likely to remain in the closet, with New Zealand placing first.

The study surveyed more than 3,000 people in Australia, over 1,300 of which identified as straight, SBS reports.

4. Passenger supports removal of girl with autism from flight.

A fellow passenger from the United Airlines flight that removed a girl with autism and her family from the plane has said she supports the airline’s decision.

Passenger Marilyn Hedlund said the girls’ behaviour was a threat to fellow passengers’ safety.

“She wasn’t put off the plane because she had autism, she was put off the plane because she was maybe proposing some kind of a threat, to (about) 170 other people at 36,000 feet, which doesn’t make anyone feel safe,” she told KOIN6.

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The Beegle family were evicted from the flight because their daughter was being ‘disruptive’.

The 15-year-old girl, as well as her mother, father and brother were all evicted from the flight during an emergency stop in Salt Lake City on May 5.

The airline has since refused to apologise for their actions, and the Beegle family are believed to be pursuing legal action on the basis on discrimination.

One passenger, Chris Hall,  who filmed the ordeal, said that the airline overreacted.

“The child would make noise every now and then, no louder than, say, a baby crying …I don’t think they should have landed a plane for her being fussy,” Hall told the Daily Mail. 

5. Student group gives Zambian girls hygiene kits so they can stay in school.

A student group from Gonzaga University in Zambia is going to regional communities and handing out feminine hygiene kits that will enable young girls to stay in school.

Feminine hygiene packs are being given out to Zambian girls to keep them in school.

Feminine hygiene products are limited in Zambia and women are routinely shunned during periods of menstruation.

This interferes with young women’s access to education.

Often women have to make pads out rocks and leaves.

According to Jezebel, the Zambian women “stood up and started singing and dancing”  when they were given their kits.

Do you have a news tip? Email news@mamamia.com.au

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