Thursday'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. Lionel Patea makes his first appearance in court.

The man accused of murdering 24-year old mother of one, Tara Brown by running her off the road and beating her to death has made his first appearance in court.

Ex-bikie Lionel Patea appeared in Queensland’s only specialised domestic violence court via video link where he was asked if he understood his charges had been upgraded to murder.

He answered “Yes Sir.”

Fairfax Media reports that while in custody he is undergoing the treatment of a psychiatrist.

He remanded in custody to reappear via videolink on November 11.

Meanwhile family and friends of Tara Brown will gather today for her funeral.

 For support 24/7, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). 

2.  Children injured as tear gas fired at migrants.

Hungary closed its entire border with Serbia on Tuesday after making it illegal to enter the country or damage a new razor-wire border fence they hurriedly built.

There are reports that Hungarian police have injured children in the chaos. 20 Hungarian police officers were also injured.

Migrant Amir Hassan, from Iraq told the BBC: “We fled wars and violence and did not expect such brutality and inhumane treatment in Europe.”

Serbian minister Aleksandar Vulin said the migrants’ frustration was understandable after Hungary closed the border.

“Hungary must show it is ready and capable to accept these people,” he said.

Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs fired back accusing members of “armed mobs…” of using “kids as human shields”.

Hungarian authorities also said that they have arrested a total of 519 migrants who tried to cross the border since tough new laws went into effect on Tuesday that make it a crime to cross from Serbia anywhere other than at legal checkpoints.

Some 1,500 refugees who had been hoping to travel through Hungary are now blocked by a 3.5m-high fence.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, called on the Hungarian authorities to ensure “unimpeded access” for people fleeing wars and persecution.

“UNHCR was especially shocked and saddened to witness Syrian refugees, including families with children who have already suffered so much, being prevented from entering the EU with water cannon and tear gas,” a statement said.

2. Girl who allegedly underwent genital mutilation gives evidence in court.

A young Sydney girl, now aged 11 has given evidence over allegedly undergoing genital mutilation at the age of seven.

The girl’s mother and a nurse have pleaded not guilty to the sisters’ genital mutilation, which allegedly took place in separate ceremonies in NSW between 2009 and 2012.

The unidentified girl told the court that the pain she felt from the procedure didn’t last long.

“I felt something touch it and then a bit of pain and then nothing at all, then a weird sort of feeling,” the girl, known as C1 said.

“It was like a pinching or a cutting.”

The girl said he saw the retired nurse who ‘cut’ her, holding a silver tool, which she said “looked a bit like a scissor”.

Sky News reports that the defence has argued that the procedure was “symbolic” as there was no evidence of any scarring, with the girl’s clitoris appearing normal.

3. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott to stay in parliament.

Despite being missing from his seat on the backbenches for the last two days running for question time it has been reported that Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has indicated he will not quit politics.

The Australian reports that the former PM has said he is spending time with his family for now but has no plans to quit parliament.

“It’s been a tumultuous week and I now intend to spend some time with my family to think about the future”.

4. Baby girl dies after allegedly being assaulted by father.

The girl, Lillian Angelique Cosgrove was taken to Swan District Hospital on Monday before being transferred to Princess Margaret Hospital.

Her 23-year-old father, Paul James Cosgrove, was yesterday remanded in custody after facing court charged with aggravated grievous bodily harm reports the ABC.

For more read this post here. 

5. Family of elderly man found dead in his home plead for assistance.

A community is on edge after police reveal that they believe the killer of a 90-year old man may be known to them.

90-year-old Ken Handford was found dead in his home east of Ballarat, on his 90th birthday.

Nine News reports that Mr Handford had been tied with cords in a bedroom in the home.

Det. Insp. Hughes said he believed someone in the small local community knows something.

“Springbank is a tight-knit farming community and I am asking the local residents for their assistance,” he said.

“It’s not an easy property to find,” he said.

“There probably is some local knowledge (involved).”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

6. The age Australians are happiest.

A study has revealed the age that Australians are the happiest and its results are surprising.

The data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies shows that our satisfaction with life dips and soars during major transitions as we age.

Fairfax Media reports that for around six years when you first move in with your partner your happiness increases, but then when you begin a family it dips a little until your child heads off to school. At retirement happiness increases again but it doesn’t peak until you are 80.

80 – the age that Australians are happiest.

We have a lot to look forward to.

7. US Comedian lied about being in World Trade Center on 9/11.

Steve Rannazzisi best known for his role as Kevin on The League, built his career on being a 9/ 11 survivor.

He had claimed that he worked for Merrill Lynch on the 54th floor of the South Tower and fled just minutes before the second plane hit his building. He told anecdotes of how he was forced to leave the building, and his shock and fear.

He said he decided then to abandon his desk job in the city and to pursue his dream of becoming an entertainer after he moved to LA following the attacks.

After being caught out by a newspaper report Rannazzisi admitted to the New York Times that he “was not at the Trade Center on that day” and that he doesn’t know why he ever claimed he was.

He went on to tell the paper that “this was inexcusable” and that he is “truly, truly sorry.”

Rannazzisi released a statement saying, “For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man. It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest when I hadn’t come clean about this?”

He continued, saying, “It was profoundly disrespectful to those who perished and those who lost loved ones. The stupidity and guilt I have felt for many years has not abated. It was an early taste of having a public persona, and I made a terrible mistake. All I can ask is for forgiveness.”

8. Parents arrested after son dies from alcohol poisoning. They were trying to teach him a lesson about drinking.

The parents of a teenager who died from alcohol poisoning say they were trying to teach him a lesson about drinking, but tragically it led to his death.

A coupe from Wyoming in the US have been arrested after they allegedly provided their 16-year-old son alcohol – and he died from alcohol poisoning.

The mother and stepfather of Kendal Ball told police that they “wanted to teach him a lesson,” because for the past three years, the teenager had expressed his desire to drink.”

Ball had been wanting to drink more and more stepfather Joseph Richardson told police and he “was trying to go along with what he had been told and teach a lesson about alcohol and get him (Ball) sick.”

His mother, Paulette Richardson told police Ball’s biological father is an alcoholic and she did not want her son to turn out like him.

Uinta County Attorney Loretta Gerrard said such lessons can be dangerous.

“I am not here to make parenting decisions for people,” she said “What I hope people understand, however, is that some traditional parenting lore, wives tales or theories don’t apply in an age where we have refined products that accelerate the effect of chemicals on the human body.”

9. Antibacterial handwash no better than soap.

Scientists have shown that instead of using those expensive ani bacterial handwashes you are better off with soap.

Korea University scientists investigated the effect of triclosan, the most commonly used active antiseptic ingredient used in many 99.9% effective antibacterial handwashes and found that “there was no significant difference in bactericidal activity between plain soap and antibacterial soap.”

The only difference was after nine hours.

“These results suggest that although triclosan-containing soap does have antibacterial activity, the effects are not apparent during the short time required for hand washing.”

Do you have a story to share with Mamamia? Email us news@mamamia.com.au
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