16 October 2026Cocaine arrests in Sydney and Chile, the Digital Duty of Care bill, and a roof collapse at a school in Pakistan.
Featured image: Sydney container port. Photo: Aaron Jacobs, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
In brief
- Arrests in Sydney and Chile over alleged cocaine plot
- Greens investigate allegations against senator
- Coalition continues to oppose Digital Duty of Care bill
- Wong criticises Israel’s decision on drone-strike audio
- Roof collapse at a school in Peshawar
- Saudi coalition reports Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport
Top story: Four people were arrested in Australia and Chile over an alleged plot to smuggle $17 million of cocaine into Australia.
Australia
1. Arrests in Sydney and Chile over alleged cocaine plot
Two 33-year-old men were arrested in a Port Botany car park in Sydney, and two others were taken into custody in Chile. The AFP and Chilean authorities seized 23 kilograms of cocaine allegedly bound for Australia on a commercial flight. AFP Detective Superintendent Morgen Blunden said officers placed an inert substance in the luggage and the two men approached the vehicle to collect it.
2. Greens investigate allegations against senator
Seven current and former Greens members wrote to leader David Shoebridge about alleged conduct between 2017 and 2025 involving Senator Jordon Steele-John. The senator denies making inappropriate comments towards women. Shoebridge called for a fair, independent and timely process and said he learned of the concerns only after becoming leader two weeks earlier.
3. Coalition continues to oppose Digital Duty of Care bill
The bill would require platforms to protect under-18s from harmful content and allow users to opt out of algorithm-driven feeds. The Coalition argues it gives the eSafety Commissioner unreasonable powers. Opposition spokesperson Sarah Henderson said the minister was not transparent about other powers in the bill. The government has agreed to some amendments.
4. Wong criticises Israel’s decision on drone-strike audio
Israel confirmed it will not allow the release of audio from a 2024 drone strike that killed an Australian aid worker. Foreign Minister Penny Wong called the decision insulting and said the government will consider next steps after speaking with the family. Israel’s ambassador Hillel Newman said the audio is of low quality.
Around the World
5. Roof collapse at a school in Peshawar
A roof collapsed at the privately run Al-Khair Education Center in Peshawar, in north-west Pakistan. At least 30 people, most of them children, and a teacher died. Police arrested the school’s owner, and questions remain over why the school was not inspected after receiving permission to operate.
6. Saudi coalition reports Houthi attacks on Riyadh airport
A Saudi-led coalition spokesman said there were 20 attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh between 1 and 11 October, involving drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Saudi Arabia said the attacks killed 17 people and injured 333, as reported by SBS.
