Two lawyers from Carroll & O’Dea have been subpoenaed in an Australian civil case involving alleged abuse by Marist Brother Kostka Chute. The subpoenas concern a 2009 letter in which the firm advised the Marist Brothers to keep Chute away from legal processes; Carroll & O’Dea said it would have to stop representing the order, halting the trial.
Key Facts
The survivor, identified as CQ, alleges Chute abused him at Marist College Canberra in 1985 and 1986.
CQ alleges the Marist Brothers knew of complaints against Chute and concealed them; the order denies the allegation.
Chute was in jail in 2009 for abusing six children, according to the article.
In a 2009 letter, Carroll & O’Dea described Chute as honest and said he was candid about discussions with senior Marist leaders.
The letter warned that Chute could create problems for the order’s insurance indemnity and advised keeping him away from legal processes after his release.
CQ’s lawyers subpoenaed two Carroll & O’Dea lawyers to give evidence about the letter.
The court heard the subpoenas could raise issues involving possible professional misconduct; no finding of misconduct is reported.
Carroll & O’Dea told the court it would have to stop representing the Marist Brothers, bringing the trial to a halt.
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Victoria’s Court of Appeal is due to rule on Erin Patterson’s challenge to her convictions for murdering three people and attempting to murder a fourth. Prosecutors have separately appealed her life sentence, seeking a longer period before she can apply for parole; the court’s decision could also lead to a retrial or an acquittal.
Key Facts
Patterson was sentenced to life in prison with a 33-year non-parole period for three murders.
The victims were Don and Gail Patterson and Heather Wilkinson, who ate a mushroom-laced beef Wellington at Patterson’s lunch.
Patterson was also convicted of attempting to murder Ian Wilkinson, Heather Wilkinson’s husband, who survived.
Patterson has appealed her convictions on seven grounds, including arguments about how jurors were housed during deliberations.
Her lawyers also argued that the trial judge wrongly excluded photos and videos related to mushrooms found on an SD card in her home.
The director of public prosecutions appealed the sentence, arguing it was too lenient and seeking a longer non-parole period.
Possible outcomes include dismissal of Patterson’s appeal, a retrial, an acquittal, or resentencing by the Court of Appeal.
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A UK ban on social media use by children under 16 is expected to begin next spring. Ofcom says about 150,000 people aged 16 to 17 lack a passport or driving licence and could face difficulty proving their age to access restricted platforms.
Key Facts
Ofcom identified four age-check methods: matching official ID to a live selfie, bank age verification, an official digital ID service, and estimating age from a selfie.
Ofcom said official photo ID may be needed as a backup for other age checks.
The UK government has not confirmed which platforms the ban will cover; it is expected to include the services named in Australia’s ban.
Ofcom chief executive Dame Melanie Dawes said some children are likely to try to bypass the restrictions.
The government is expected to introduce regulations confirming the ban by the end of the year.
Ofcom has opened a consultation on age verification methods and plans to issue guidance on which measures platforms should use.
In a survey of 900 Australian parents, about one-third said their children still had at least one social media account after the ban, compared with 49% before it.
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Jordan said its air force struck targets in southern Syria in response to a deadly church attack in Jordan, and said the strikes killed more than 20 ISIL fighters. Damascus denied prior coordination, while Syrian authorities reported civilian deaths, including a grandmother and three children, and called for answers.
Key Facts
A Greek Orthodox church attack in Hamoud, Jordan, killed nine people and wounded at least 34.
Jordanian authorities arrested three men connected to the church attack.
Jordan said its air strikes in Syria targeted suspected members of terrorist groups linked to the church attack.
Syria’s Foreign Ministry said Jordan acted without prior coordination or notice and reported that Damascus had objected to the strikes.
Syrian civil defence said a strike on a tent in al-Taff killed a grandmother and her three grandchildren and wounded three other family members.
Syrian reports also said strikes killed an 80-year-old man near Nassib and a 60-year-old man in Suwayda province.
Syrian customs authorities temporarily closed the Nassib border crossing with Jordan before reopening it to passenger and commercial traffic.
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Local media report that at least two people were killed when a rock formation collapsed at Göreme Open Air Museum in Turkey’s Cappadocia region. Rescue teams are searching the site; the cause was not immediately known, though local reports said the region had seen heavy rain.
Key Facts
The collapse happened at Göreme Open Air Museum, a tourist site in Cappadocia.
The collapsed formation was described as a fairy chimney.
Local media reported at least two deaths.
Ambulances and rescue teams were sent to the area.
A search-and-rescue operation was under way.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known.
Local media reports said the region had experienced heavy rain.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted dozens of African leaders at a Russia-Africa summit on Wednesday. Moscow is seeking to expand its influence and strengthen ties with African countries.
Key Facts
The summit took place in Moscow.
Dozens of African leaders attended.
The summit is part of Moscow’s effort to bolster ties across Africa.
Africa has nearly 1.6 billion people.
The article describes African countries as increasingly assertive on the global stage.
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Months of forest fires and toxic haze have disrupted daily life in Indonesia. The haze has caused widespread health problems, forced schools to close, and hurt businesses.
Key Facts
Forest fires and toxic haze have affected Indonesia for months.
The crisis has severely disrupted daily life.
The haze has caused widespread health problems.
Schools have been forced to close.
Businesses across the country are struggling.
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The Democratic Republic of Congo’s main opposition coalition, C64, met in Rome on Tuesday to discuss the situation in the country. Its leaders condemned taking power by force and called for inclusive dialogue amid pressure to respond to Joseph Kabila’s rebellion.
Key Facts
C64 is described as the DRC’s main opposition coalition.
The coalition met in Rome on Tuesday.
Five C64 leaders addressed the situation in the DRC.
The meeting took place as C64 faced pressure to respond to Joseph Kabila’s rebellion.
The leaders condemned any seizure of power by force.
The coalition called for inclusive dialogue.
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Philippine police have obtained a court warrant to examine devices and other material handed over by Thomas Markle Jr. The material was seized from the former home of his father, Thomas Markle Sr., who denies allegations that it contained images of child sexual abuse; police say they must determine how the material was obtained before considering charges.
Key Facts
Thomas Markle Jr. gave police four boxes containing computers, phones, hard drives and videotapes last week.
Police in Cebu said they needed a court warrant before examining the items.
Thomas Markle Sr. strongly denied the allegations, calling them “sick lies.”
Cebu Regional Prosecutor Graeme Elmido said Thomas Markle Jr. wanted the case investigated.
Police said they must establish how the material was obtained before considering criminal charges.
Meghan Markle confirmed that a letter about earlier allegations existed and said she was distressed.
Thomas Markle Sr. is now in the United States, according to the article.
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The suspect in the racist attack in Trappes, France, was brought before a French court, anti-terrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen said. The attack killed one person and injured five others.
Key Facts
The attack took place in Trappes, France.
One person was killed in the attack.
Five people were injured.
The suspect was brought before a French court.
French anti-terrorism prosecutor Olivier Christen announced the court appearance.
The report was issued on October 29, 2026.
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Thirty-three detainees died last month in a detention cell in Niger after guards reportedly ignored their cries for help. Reports say 72 people were held in a poorly ventilated, 20-square-metre cell, where dozens suffocated over 11 hours. The cell may have been cleaned and disinfected before investigators could examine it.
Key Facts
Thirty-three detainees died in a detention cell in Niger last month.
Reports say 72 people were crowded into a 20-square-metre cell.
The cell was poorly ventilated.
Dozens reportedly suffocated over 11 hours.
Guards were accused of ignoring detainees’ cries for help.
The cell may have been cleaned and disinfected before it could be investigated.
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Rescuers pulled several men from a vehicle stranded by flash floods in Deir Az Zor, Syria. Heavy rains also cut off roads between Raqqa and Aleppo, according to videos described in the report.
Key Facts
Several men were rescued from a stranded vehicle in Deir Az Zor.
Flash floods trapped the men in their vehicle.
Heavy rains triggered the floods.
Videos showed roads cut off between Raqqa and Aleppo.
The report described multiple videos of flooding in Syria.
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Laura Brand testified at Russell Brand’s rape trial that they split in 2007 because he found monogamy difficult, then reunited years later and married. She described him as a caring father and attentive husband, while saying she loved him and considered their marriage honest. Brand denies seven charges involving six women, including rape and sexual assault.
Key Facts
Laura Brand said she met Russell Brand at the Edinburgh festival in 2006.
She said they began dating in September 2006 and that he respected her sexual boundaries.
Laura said they broke up in February 2007 because of his infidelity and difficulty with monogamy.
She said they reconnected after his marriage to Katy Perry ended, revived their romance in 2015, and married in 2017.
The couple have three children together, according to the article.
Laura described Brand as a wonderful father and an amazingly attentive husband.
Brand faces seven charges, including rape and sexual assault, relating to allegations by six women over a 10-year period beginning in 1999; he denies all the charges.
The judge and prosecutor objected when Brand’s barrister asked Laura whether she believed the allegations were true.
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A man suspected of a shooting in Trappes, in the Paris suburbs, admitted targeting people he believed were Muslim, African, or North African, prosecutors said Thursday. The attack last week killed one person and wounded five others, including a child.
Key Facts
Prosecutors said the suspect admitted targeting victims based on their perceived race or religion.
The shooting took place in Trappes, in the Paris suburbs.
The attack happened the week before the report was published.
One person was killed.
Five people were wounded, including a child.
French prosecutors described the incident as a racist attack.
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Israel’s election produced no clear winner, leaving the country facing political uncertainty. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that Arab minority voters had stolen the election, as the race appeared headed for a stalemate.
Key Facts
Israel’s election had no clear winner.
The result left political uncertainty in Israel.
The race appeared to be heading toward a stalemate.
Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Arab minority voters had stolen the election.
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Spain began three days of national mourning after a train crash killed 69 people. The collision, in which one train struck another from behind, has renewed concerns about rail safety ahead of a national election.
Key Facts
The crash killed 69 people.
One train struck another from behind.
Spain began three days of mourning on October 29, 2026.
The crash is Spain’s second high-speed rail disaster this year.
The disaster has prompted fresh concerns about the safety of Spain’s rail network.
The safety concerns arise ahead of a national election.
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A high-speed train collision in Spain killed at least 69 people, and rescuers searched for survivors trapped in the wreckage. An official said an “inexplicable” decision by a train controller preceded the crash.
Key Facts
The collision involved high-speed trains in Spain.
At least 69 people died.
Rescuers searched for survivors trapped after the collision.
An official described a controller’s decision as “inexplicable.”
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Israelis awaited final election results on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Early indications suggested that neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor the parties seeking to replace him would win a parliamentary majority.
Key Facts
Final election results were still pending on Thursday.
The apparent results did not show a likely parliamentary majority for Netanyahu and his allies.
The parties seeking to oust Netanyahu also appeared unlikely to secure a majority.
The report was filed from Jerusalem by France 24 correspondent Clovis Casali.
The report described the choices ahead as difficult.
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Finland’s president and Norway’s prime minister spoke by phone with Vladimir Putin, prompting criticism from Denmark and Sweden over the lack of coordination. The dispute reflects broader European divisions over whether and how to engage Moscow as governments seek a role in possible negotiations over the war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Alexander Stubb and Jonas Gahr Støre held a 90-minute call with Putin on Tuesday.
The Finnish and Norwegian leaders said they had informed allies in advance and that the call was conducted on Ukraine’s behalf.
Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, said she was skeptical of the initiative and complained that Copenhagen had not coordinated it.
Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, said he had not been informed before the call.
European leaders have discussed appointing a representative to negotiate directly with Moscow, but have made little progress.
The article says a new round of peace talks is expected in Abu Dhabi next month, raising European concerns about being sidelined.
Støre cited shared fish stocks in the Barents Sea and border security as reasons for Norway to engage with Russia; Stubb said the call could help prevent misunderstandings.
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