Tuesday's news in under 5 minutes

1. Gittany sentenced

Simon Gittany has been sentenced to 26 years in jail, with a non-parole period of 18 years, for the murder of his fiancée Lisa Harnum by throwing her off a balcony in July 2011.

NSW Supreme Court Justice Lucy McCallum said that jailing Gittany has ‘no prospects of rehabilitation.’

His lawyer has said he maintains his innocence and will appeal the sentence.

For more read this post here.

2. Bushfires

In Victoria at least 20 fires are still burning out of control as crews on the ground battle the bushfires for a second night.

Authorities say Victoria’s fire threat is still serious, with a 16,000-hectare blaze continuing to threaten communities around Wallan, Bylands, Kilmore and Romsey.

Two emergency warnings remain in place this morning – more than 20 properties and 16,000 hectares have been destroyed.

For updates visit: http://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/map#now

3. Schapelle Corby’s first night in luxury

Schapelle Corby has spent her first night of freedom in a luxury resort paid for by Channel 7 who have stitched up a deal with the accused drug smuggler for what is reported to be worth nearly $3m.

It had been reported that she will live with her sister Mercedes and her husband Wayan – but it was revealed yesterday that Corby’s sister Mercedes has separated from her husband.

Wayan Widyartha has signed documents with the Bali corrections authorities saying he will be responsible for any problems she causes while she is on parole. Authorities have indicated that despite the couple’s separation he can still act as Schapelle Corby’s guarantor.

4. Parents facing their darkest day

Daniel Morecombe’s parents have faced the man accused of murdering their son in a Brisbane courtroom.

As the trial for Brett Peter Cowan, got underway yesterday jurors were chosen and warned not to investigate the case themselves and to stay off Facebook.

The parents of Daniel, who went missing in 2003 sat just metres away from the accused who now calls himself Shaddo N-Unyah Hunter. They listened to him plead not guilty.

The opening address from Crown prosecutor Michael Byrne, QC, will commence today, followed by an opening from barrister Angus Edwards on behalf of Cowan.

5. Police hunt gang rapists

Police are still searching for five men who gang raped a 14-year-old girl on Saturday night in a park in Sydney’s west.

The attack has been described as one of the most ”horrendous” sexual assaults in recent years.

The SMH report that the victim was walking home from a friend’s house when she was raped by six men at Doonside, in Sydney’s west. The attack was completely random and lasted about 30 minutes, police said.

Those with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

6. Toyota leaves Australia

Toyota has declared an end to Australia’s 66-year-old domestic car manufacturing industry.

The company announced late yesterday it will close its Melbourne manufacturing operations from 2017. Around 2,500 Victorian Toyota workers will lose their jobs with a further 44,000 jobs at risk over the next three years. Victorian Premier Denis Napthine released a statement saying he was “extremely disappointed” by Toyota’s “sudden decision.”

The Prime Minister, Tony Abbott and Denis Napthine will meet today to discuss help for retrenched Toyota workers.

7. Shark victim ‘s family speaks

The family of a high school teacher who was killed by a great white shark on South Australia’s Yorke Peninsula have released a statement saying he didn’t support the Western Australian shark cull.

The much loved teacher was killed on Saturday. For more read this post here. “ A day in the ocean turned deadly”.

8. Pregnancy and breastfeeding discrimination at work

An inquiry has heard about difficulties women face when returning to work whilst still breastfeeding. The Human Rights Commission’s pregnancy and return to work national review heard evidence yesterday of women forced to express milk in toilets, women discriminated against for needing to express breast milk and one union member who was forced to wait to express until another staff member could relieve her – thus increasing her chances of mastitis.

As reported in the SMH Jenny Singleton, from the NSW Public Service Association, told the Inquiry that one woman had been forced to express milk in a toilet which had a faulty lock. An employee walked in on her and then told colleagues that it was ”gross when women express milk”.

A draft submission by the Australian Council of Trade Unions said many women were forced to leave work after they had a baby because of limited access to unpaid leave and inflexible return to work options.

9. Torture charges

A 17 and 18 year old will appear in a QLD court today charged with sexually assaulting and torturing a man on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Two other men made court appearances yesterday over the allegations.

Police say the offences against an 18-year-old Kingston man took place over a nine-hour period at a Southport address last Friday.

The Southport Magistrates Court heard the victim was burnt with a cigarette and threats were made to wrench out his teeth.

10. WA schools tackle homophobia

Draft guidelines to tackle homophobia in WA schools have been obtained by News Limited.

The recommendations include encouraging teachers with same sex partners to bring them to school social events and posters with slogans such as “Some boys like boys, and some girls like girls. Some like both.” To be placed around schools.

Other initiatives include stocking the library with books with gay and lesbian characters.

The guidelines are reported just days after a study showed that two-thirds of non-heterosexual Australian young people have been bullied because of their sexuality and 16 per cent had attempted suicide.

11. Neknominate death

A man in the UK has died from a social media drinking craze known as “Neknomination”. The twenty-year old collapsed minutes after he drank a litre and a half of a mixture including vodka, whisky, white wine and lager. He died shortly afterwards.

Before his death he boasted to a friend that he was going to “outdo” others who had been challenged in the game, which involves rapidly drinking alcohol and then posting a video of the event on to Facebook or other social media sites.

He is the third man to die from the craze.

In brief:

Dale Begg-Smith has crashed out of the men’s freestyle skiing moguls in the Olympics failing to qualify.

In the UK thousands of homes in southern England are bracing for flooding after the River Thames burst its banks.

 What news are you talking about today?