Tuesday'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. Teenage father jailed for 10 years after killing newborn son.

A teenage father who was 16 when he brutally killed his newborn baby has been sentenced to 10 years jail – but may be freed after five years.

The court heard that the teenager inflicted “the most severe head and brain injuries” a doctor has seen on his infant son, when the perpetrator struck the baby’s head against an unknown surface.

The teenager’s family appeared outside court blaming the Department of Child Protection for the incident. The killer had been in their care since he was 12.

The boy’s mother said her son should never have been  “left alone with a premature baby’’.

PerthNow reports that the 16-year-old had a “troubled upbringing”, and had developed an  “insular and intense” relationship with his partner.

The baby who was born premature died at just 25-days-old after the 16-year-old applied such blunt force that the newborn had two separate fractures to his skull.

Judge Reynolds said the teenager had demonstrated some remorse by pleading guilty to manslaughter, but “you were really only concerned for yourself and the predicament you were in,” he said.

 2. Police say the “focus on what the victim should do is flawed.”

Victoria’s police chief has acknowledged that work needs to be done to “turn around” the focus of police on the behaviour of victims of crime in the wake of Masa Vukotic’s murder.

Acting Chief Commissioner Tim Cartwright has written an opinion piece for The Age saying, “too often the first questions asked are about the behaviour of the victim. Victoria Police has acknowledged this as an organisation and we are taking steps to ensure everything we do is focused on turning this around.”

3. Ben Cousins can beat his ice addiction, fellow sportsman said.

Ben Cousins, the Brownlow Medallist, who has previously admitted to using drugs including ice and cocaine, has been arrested and admitted to hospital for the third time in as many weeks.

The 36-year-old was taken to hospital for a health assessment after he was seen driving erratically at about 11am yesterday.

Collingwood premiership player Gavin Crosisca has told News Limited that Cousins can beat his demons.

“I am really sad for Ben because I know there is a way out,’’ he said.

4. 29-year-old woman dies after simple medical procedure.

A 29-year-old woman from the Gold Coast has died after undergoing cosmetic surgery in Mexico.

Evita Nicole Sarmonikas had travelled to the Mexican city of Mexicali with her boyfriend to undergo what her sister says was a minor procedure.

Her family are now desperately trying to find out what took place in the Mexican hospital.

Eva, as she was known, died on March 20 from a cardiac arrest – the same day she was admitted for the surgery.

For more read this post here.

 5. Five-year-old boy to speak at Melbourne conference linked to jihadis.

A conference organised by the Islamic Research and Educational Academy, to be held this weekend at the Melbourne Convention Centre, will feature a five-year-old as one of eight child headline speakers.

The Australian reports the conference is organised by a fundamentalist Islamic group that has espoused violent jihadi and anti-Semitic ideas.

It will also feature prominent sheikh, Isa Graham, connected with the Hume Islamic Youth Centre, which has been linked to the radicalisation of several Islamic State fighters.

The five-year-old is being billed as “the youngest Daee (reciter of the Koran) of Australia”.

The Australian reports that past events held by the same organisers has featured speakers whose opinions on Jews, homosexuals and women have led to them being denied visas in many Western countries.

6. Newspoll results good for the PM.

A Newspoll released today by News Limited shows the Abbott Government is at its best position in three months.

The poll shows that the coalition’s support has increased by three points over the past fortnight, and is now sitting at 41 per cent.

Labor’s primary vote fell two points to 37 per cent.

Labor still leads the government on two-party-preferred terms, now with a two-point margin of 51 to 49 per cent.

 7. Boy that underwent controversial brain tumour treatment has made a full recovery.

The young British boy with a brain tumour whose mother and father were arrested after they took him out of Britain for a type of proton therapy has made a recovery, The Sun newspaper reports.

Ashya King’s family said the centre in Prague where he was given the therapy had declared him cancer-free.

“It has justified everything we have gone through because things are working out for Ashya.”

The BBC reports that experts have said had Ashya stayed in the UK and received orthodox X-ray radiotherapy there is a good chance he would have made a full recovery from that treatment.

8. South Africa convicts Aussie tennis star of rape.

Australian Grand Slam champion Bob Hewitt has been found guilty by a South African court of raping underage girls.

75-year old Hewitt had pleaded not guilty to two charges of rape and a third charge of sexual assault.

The attacks took place in the 1980s and 1990s while Hewitt was a coach to the young victims – one who was aged just 12-years old in South Africa.

During the trial, one woman said Hewitt had told her “rape is enjoyable” as he assaulted her.

Judge Bert Bam in Johannesburg said “Time did not erase the crimes. A guilty person should not go unpunished.”

Hewitt was remanded in custody following the guilty verdicts.

9. Afghanistan arrests 26 people over woman’s violent murder.

Twenty-six people have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing of a woman in Afghanistan. The woman, Farkhunda was wrongly accused of burning the Koran.

Al Jazeera reports “video clips taken by mobile phones show her pleading with her assailants, saying that the accusation was a lie and that she did not burn the holy book. Nevertheless, she was beaten to death and her bloodied body was set on fire.”

 10. Concerns over artificial turf.

With a growing number of councils turning to artificial turf for sporting grounds in order to meet water saving requirements there are concerns today out of the US over the safety of the surfacing.

USA Today reports that lead levels high enough to harm children have been found in artificial turf in the US used at thousands of schools, playgrounds and day-care centers.

The Environmental Protection Agency has told the newspaper that “more testing needed to be done” to determine the materials’ safety.

The concerns are over the lead levels in the rubber crumbs often made from old car tyres in the artificial turf.

USA Today writes “the health threat is substantial enough that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists artificial turf as one of seven sources of children’s lead exposure along with well-known items such as paint, water and toys.”

In 2012 Australian Childcare centres KU said they were “looking further into the safety of artificial grass to either ensure it is safe or investigate alternative options.”

 11. Barbados to become a republic.

The prime minister of Barbados has said that the country will look to become a republic, replacing the Queen as head of state with a ceremonial president.

Barbados has been an independent nation since 1966 but will now look at having an elected president to coincide with the 50th anniversary of independence in 2016.

“We respect (the Queen) very highly as head of the Commonwealth and accept that she and all of her successors will continue to be at the apex of our political understanding,” Prime Minister Stuart said according to the Jamaica Observer.

“This will move the country through to the next major step in the process of nationhood. (The prime minister) said he found it awkward in the year 2015 to have to stand up and pledge allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen.”

If successful – and there is not expected to be an opposition – it will reduce the number of countries in which the Queen is head of state to 15, including Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

12. Julie Bishop assured by Joe Hockey and Mathias Cormann that foreign aid budget will not be slashed.

By Anna Henderson

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says she has been assured by the Treasurer and the Finance Minister that the foreign aid budget will not be slashed in May.

A news report on Monday said there would be small cut to the aid budget in May, following previous multi-billion-dollar reductions under the Coalition.

Finance Minister Mathias Cormann later indicated the foreign aid budget would not be targeted for savings.

“I understand from Mathias Cormanns’ comments … that there will not be any cuts to the aid budget so I welcome that news,” Ms Bishop told reporters in Canberra.

“We have a significant challenge in front of us to ensure our aid budget is delivered effectively and efficiently, so I am pleased that there will not be any uncertainty surrounding that.”

Mr Cormann had told Sky News he was shocked by the report that aid could be reduced.

“I’ve got to say it came as a surprise to me,” Mr Cormann said.

He says in terms of cutting aid “we’ve done as much as we can”.

The Coalition has already reduced the foreign aid budget by $11 billion.

“And if it came as a surprise to Julie Bishop [and] it came as a surprise to me, I think that probably gives you as much as you need to know about that particular proposition.”

He hinted foreign aid could be immune from cuts altogether.

Ms Bishop provided an explanation for her frustrated reaction in parliament to the Treasurer, Joe Hockey, during his comments on the budget.

She was caught on camera rolling her eyes before burying her face in her hands while Treasurer Joe Hockey spoke about the budget.

The reaction came as the Treasurer mentioned the Government’s so-called budget razor-gang in a condolence speech for former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

“The mention of the Expenditure Review Committee can have a different impact on different people at various times,” Ms Bishop said.

“I just responded to the mention of the Expenditure Review Committee, that’s all,” she said.

A version of this story was originally published on ABC and has been republished with full permission.

 13. Dads call for change room revolution.

Following on from US TV and movie star Ashton Kucher’s call to improve nappy change facilities for dads a group of Melbourne men are saying Australia needs more dad friendly change rooms too.

The Daily Mail reports that the “Dads of Newport and Surrounds” have said there are simply not enough nappy change tables in men’s bathrooms – or family designated change areas.

Jason Cranage a father of three said that he had resorted to changing his children “Anywhere from the backs of cars to under trees, anywhere you can create a soft environment,”

“Re-configuring the inside of your car, or even laying down the front seat.

“I’ve had to take my jumper off and use it as a pillow.”

The group are calling for both male and female public restrooms to have a nappy changing facility.

 What news are you talking about today?