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Nala was eight when her father, Robert Pether, was detained in Iraq. Now, she's 12 and worried her one Christmas wish won't come true — to see her father again. This year will mark the fourth Christmas the father of four has been separated from his family. Pether and his Egyptian colleague Khaled Zaghloul were sentenced to five years in jail in Iraq in 2021 and fined US$12 million ($19 million) on fraud charges. The charges stemmed from allegations that the company they worked for defrauded the Iraqi government during a project to build the new headquarters of the country's central bank. Pether and his family have vehemently denied the charges. Instead, they say he's being held "hostage". Robert was jailed in Iraq two years ago. His Australian family say they're at 'breaking point' Pether's wife, Desree, told SBS News Christmas isn't the same with her husband locked up. "Nala is 12 now and doesn't believe in Santa any more because she's written so many letters asking Santa to drop by over the last three Christmases and to pick up daddy on the way home," she said. "That was her only Christmas wish. "She stopped believing, which is really sad." Source: Supplied / Desree Pether Desree said Christmas was always a "big thing" in their family, but traditions have been forced to change in her husband's absence. "We race through opening the presents and then get on with our day. We haven't done the traditional Christmas dinner in three years without him. It's really, really hard," she said. "We were hoping that he would be getting out very soon, and it doesn't look like that's going to be the case." Source: Supplied / Desree Pether "If Robert's still there by next Christmas, that means they've nailed him with another fabricated case and 15 more years," Desree said. She worries about his deteriorating health conditions, including the lack of care for a suspected melanoma. If his conditions continue as they do, she said Robert "won't be around for next Christmas". "He's not well. He's skin and bone. A bad flu would take him out. "At this point, we just don't think he's going to be around to see next Christmas, let alone this one, if they put another fabricated case against him." Christmas in a cell: what it's really like British-Australian academic Kylie Moore-Gilbert was wrongfully imprisoned in Iran for 804 days and sentenced to 10 years on charges of espionage. She was released in late 2020. She said when you're in these overseas prisons, special events like Christmas can be some of the most vulnerable times. "I would block it out and try not to think about it because those are moments in which you most miss having [loved ones] in your life and when you most feel alone," Moore-Gilbert told SBS News. "The first holiday period I spent behind bars, I didn't even know what day or month it was ... everything is erased. Your entire self is erased. Your entire identity is erased. You get a number and they call you by that number." Conditions in overseas prisons can also feature "grievous human rights abuses", said Moore-Gilbert as she spoke about the Australians in overseas jails. "I think the prison systems leave a lot to be desired ... it's really bleak," she said. "I believe the conditions are terrible in a lot of these prisons these Aussies are involved in." "How do you even celebrate in such a place?" Pether not the only Australian spending Christmas in an overseas jail In June, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was released after five years in a British prison. But there are many Australians who will remain in overseas detainment this festive season. There are no concrete figures out there on how many Australians are wrongfully imprisoned overseas. Moore-Gilbert said this is because there is "no legal definition of wrongful detention" in Australia. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the Australians legitimately and wrongfully imprisoned overseas, as factors like political activity, freedom of expression or journalistic enquiry could also be behind their arrest. Although there are no official figures, Moore-Gilbert estimates between 10 and 30 Australians would remain wrongfully detained in overseas jails this Christmas. While several of these cases remain private, some of the well-known include: Believed to still be languishing in a Syrian prison dubbed "the human slaughterhouse," Adel Al Deeb was 36 when he went missing . His sister, Jamal Al Deeb, told SBS News her brother was kidnapped after returning to Lebanon from Australia in 1977 during the Lebanese civil war. He had moved back to Lebanon after a family emergency but was "tricked into being abducted by Syrian forces in 1984", according to his family. Despite the toppling of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's decades-old regime and the release of thousands of prisoners, Al Deeb's family has still not heard from him. Jamal said she wants the Australian government to look for her brother. "Because he is an Australian citizen. All his kids are here. He's still there, 100 per cent he's still there. He's still alive." Hong Kong jails 45 democracy activists in landmark national security trial Australian citizen Gordon Ng was one of the 47 pro-democracy activists to be jailed for up to 10 years in Hong Kong. They were arrested and charged in 2021 with conspiracy to commit subversion under a Beijing-imposed national security law. In a statement, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the government was gravely concerned by the sentencing in November. "The Australian government has advocated at senior levels in support of Mr Ng’s best interests and welfare and has sought consular access to Mr Ng. We will continue to do so," the statement read. "Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation, including in application to Australian citizens. "We call for China to cease suppression of freedoms of expression, assembly, media and civil society, consistent with the Human Rights Committee and Special Procedure recommendations, including the repeal of the National Security Law in Hong Kong." Detained Australian writer Yang Hengjun handed suspended death sentence by Chinese court In February this year, writer and democracy activist Yang Hengjun was given a suspended death sentence in China for espionage, something Hengjun and the Australian government have denied. His condition has worsened during his time in detention, and in August, he was told by medical authorities they had discovered a 10cm cyst on his kidney. But despite his deteriorating health conditions combined with harsh conditions in the detention centre, Hengjun and his family have decided not to launch an appeal for fear it may delay much-needed medical relief. Robert has been jailed in Iraq for over a year. His wife fears she's watching him 'die slowly' Call for action to free jailed Australians Moore-Gilbert said more needs to be done about the imprisonments, especially at a time like Christmas. "It's pretty obvious that Robert Pether is a hostage in a financial dispute. You can't really deny that he's wrongfully or arbitrarily detained. "Gordon Ng and Yang Hengjun have been advocating for democracy, and they've been thrown in prison because of their political beliefs. "I think especially around Christmas, we should be thinking about the impact on the family as well ... the ripple effect of these imprisonments on the family, particularly during these holidays — New Year, Christmas, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, it's really traumatic and deep-rooted, and it continues even after the person comes home." SBS News has contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for comment.
When Nebraska meets Oregon State on Wednesday in Honolulu in the championship game of the Diamond Head Classic, it will have a chance to win its first tournament since the San Juan Shootout in 2000. If the Cornhuskers (9-2) pull it off, there's a good chance Juwan Gary will have something to do with it -- on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-6, sixth-year senior averages 11.7 points per game and is coming off a 21-point outing in Monday night's 69-55 semifinal win over Hawaii. Gary is also an elite defender whose ability to guard multiple positions has Nebraska playing the best defense in coach Fred Hoiberg's six seasons. The Cornhuskers, who have allowed an average of 52.0 points per game in victories over Murray State and Hawaii at the tournament, are limiting the opposition to 36.3 percent field-goal shooting. "He can guard anybody one through five," Hoiberg said of Gary. "He does so many little things for his team and he's one of the elite offensive rebounders in the country." Fellow sixth-year senior Brice Williams (19.2 points) is coming off a 32-point outing Monday night for Nebraska, which is on a three-game winning streak. The Beavers (10-2) rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit in Monday's first semifinal to topple Oakland 80-74. Liutauras Lelevicius led a balanced attack with 17 points, producing a three-point play with 12 seconds left in regulation that forced overtime. Reigning West Coast Conference Player of the Week Michael Rataj added 13 points and seven rebounds one day after putting up 16 and 12, respectively, in a win over the College of Charleston. Winners of six in a row, Oregon State's hot start might surprise some, given the losses it incurred to the transfer portal after the program fell from Power 5 status. The departures included Jordan Pope (Texas) and Tyler Bilodeau (UCLA). But coach Wayne Tinkle felt the Beavers got deeper via their portal additions. "They're excited to be wearing the Oregon State uniform," he said. "Our balance of youth brings some real enthusiasm among with a good balance of mature guys." --Field Level MediaNEW YORK (AP) — A gunman killed UnitedHealthcare’s CEO on Wednesday in a “brazen, targeted attack” outside a Manhattan hotel where the health insurer was holding its investor conference, police said, setting off a massive search for the fleeing assailant hours before the annual Rockefeller Center Christmas tree lighting nearby. Brian Thompson, 50, was shot around 6:45 a.m. as he walked alone to the New York Hilton Midtown from a nearby hotel, police said. The shooter appeared to be “lying in wait for several minutes” before approaching Thompson from behind and opening fire , New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. Police had not yet established a motive. “Many people passed the suspect, but he appeared to wait for his intended target,” Tisch said, adding that the shooting "does not appear to be a random act of violence.” Surveillance video reviewed by investigators shows someone emerging from behind a parked car, pointing a gun at Thompson’s back, then firing multiple times from several feet away. The gunman continues firing, interrupted by a brief gun jam, as Thompson stumbles forward and falls to the sidewalk. He then walks past Thompson and out of the frame. “From watching the video, it does seem that he’s proficient in the use of firearms as he was able to clear the malfunctions pretty quickly,” NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Thompson was shot at least once in the back and once in the calf, Tisch said. The shooter, who wore a jacket, face mask and large backpack, fled through Midtown on foot before pedaling an electric bike into Central Park a few blocks away, police said. The assailant remained at large Wednesday afternoon, sparking a search that included police drones, helicopters and dogs. “Brian was a highly respected colleague and friend to all who worked with him,” the insurer’s Minnetonka, Minnesota-based parent company, UnitedHealth Group Inc., said in a statement. "We are working closely with the New York Police Department and ask for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.” Police issued a poster showing a surveillance image of the man pointing what appeared to be a gun and another image that appeared to show the same person on a bicycle. Minutes before the shooting, he stopped at a nearby Starbucks, according to additional surveillance photos released by police on Wednesday afternoon. They offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Thompson’s wife, Paulette Thompson, told NBC News that he told her “there were some people that had been threatening him.” She didn’t have details but suggested the threats may have involved issues with insurance coverage. Eric Werner, the police chief in the Minneapolis suburb where Thompson lived, said his department had not received any reports of threats against the executive. The killing shook a part of New York City that's normally quiet at that hour, happening about four blocks from where tens of thousands of people were set to gather for Wednesday night’s tree lighting. Police promised extra security for the event. The hotel is also a short walk from other tourist sites, including the Museum of Modern Art and Radio City Music Hall, and is often dense with office workers and visitors on weekday mornings. Many security cameras are nearby. “We’re encouraging New Yorkers to go about their daily lives and their daily business but to be alert,” NYPD Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said. Investigators recovered several 9 mm shell casings from outside the hotel and a cellphone from the alleyway through which the shooter fled. They were also searching Thompson's hotel room, interviewing his UnitedHealthcare colleagues and reviewing his social media, Kenny said. Police initially said the shooter rode into Central Park on a bicycle from the city’s bike-share program, CitiBike. But a spokesperson for the program’s operator, Lyft, said police officials informed the company Wednesday afternoon that the bike was not from the CitiBike fleet. Health care giant UnitedHealth Group was holding its annual meeting with investors to update Wall Street on the company's direction and expectations for the coming year. The company ended the conference early in the wake of Thompson's death. “I’m afraid that we — some of you may know we’re dealing with a very serious medical situation with one of our team members,” a company official told attendees, according to a transcript. “And as a result, I’m afraid we’re going to have to bring to a close the event today. ... I’m sure you’ll understand.” Thompson, a father of two sons, had been with the company since 2004 and served as CEO for more than three years. UnitedHealthcare is the largest provider of Medicare Advantage plans in the U.S. and manages health insurance coverage for employers and state-and federally funded Medicaid programs. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz posted on the social platform X that the state is “sending our prayers to Brian’s family and the UnitedHealthcare team.” “This is horrifying news and a terrible loss for the business and health care community in Minnesota,” the Democrat wrote. Associated Press writers Tom Murphy in Indianapolis, Steve Karnowski in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Anthony Izaguirre in Albany, New York, contributed to this story.
A proposal to honor vice president-elect J.D. Vance at a city council meeting in tiny Middleton, Ohio, was disrupted when a dispute broke out this week after his mother made a plea to the city fathers to acknowledge his part in Donald Trump's 2024 election win. According to a report from WCOP, a local ABNC affiliate, Beverly Aikins, Vance’s mother, spoke to the city council on Thursday to request that her son get some type of honor for becoming vice president. The report notes she explained, "I am just here because I am JD Vance’s mother and as you know he is our new vice president-elect and he thinks of Middletown as his home. I still live here and his sister still lives in Middletown. He’s got two nieces who live here and I just think it would be nice if we could acknowledge that this is his hometown and put up some signs." ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Dems consider whether Biden should ‘clear the slate’ and pardon Trump She then added, "He graduated from Middletown High School, he comes back here frequently to visit me and take me to dinner, and I humbly request that.” That, in turn, led to a debate, where, reportedly, her plea was not greeted with unanimous enthusiasm. As Lauren Pack of the Journal-News reported, "Councilman Paul Lolli said there are two issues concerning the JD Vance recognition — what wasn’t done by the city after the election through social media and what is going to be done going forward." Lolli proposed, "To me, our communication department should have done this weeks ago. I would like to ask the communications department to get something out by the end of the week. That is what a lot of people in Middletown are extremely upset about." That received pushback from Councilwoman Jennifer Carter who claimed, “I would think that we would wait and see what happens. (Kayla Harrison, Kyle Schwarber, etc.) proved themselves before we put those signs up.” After Lolli replied, "JD won,” Carter parried, "Let’s see what he does ... what’s the rush.” “What we are saying is the fact that the city won’t even recognize that a Middletonian has been elected as vice president that is a problem. I would say the same thing if it were an independent or a Democrat. We should be proud," Councilman Steve West II, offered to which Mayor Elizabeth Slamka added, “It is fair to recognize. That is in the works. I am not a political person. It can be very polarizing. But I think we can recognize.” You can read more here.
South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law
ATLANTA — On Jan. 18 and 19 the AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! will be held at State Farm Arena in advance of the College Football Playoff national championship on Jan. 20. The star-studded lineup was announced Thursday at a news conference at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Performances will include Lil Wayne and GloRilla on Saturday; and Camila Cabello, Myles Smith and Knox on Sunday. On game day, the Allstate Championship Tailgate, taking place just outside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Home Depot Backyard, will feature country acts on the Capital One Music Stage, including global superstar Kane Brown and iHeartCountry “On The Verge” artist Ashley Cooke. The concerts are just two of the festivities visiting fans can enjoy in the days leading up to the big game. The fan experience for both ticket holders and the general public has been a focus for event planners. All weekend long, an estimated 100,000 people from across the country are expected to attend fan events preceding kickoff. “It will be an opportunity for fans of all ages to come together to sample what college football is all about, and you don’t have to have a ticket to the game to be a part of it,” said Bill Hancock, executive director of the CFP in a press release. “We’ve worked closely with the Atlanta Football Host Committee to develop fan-friendly events that thousands will enjoy come January.” On Saturday, Jan. 18, Playoff Fan Central will open at the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. The free, family-friendly experience will include games, clinics, pep rallies, special guest appearances, autograph signings and exhibits celebrating college football and its history. That day, fans can also attend Media Day, presented by Great Clips, which will feature one-hour sessions with student-athletes and coaches from each of the College Football Playoff national championship participating teams. ESPN and social media giants X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok will be taping live broadcasts from the event. On Sunday, Jan. 19, the Trophy Trot, both a 5K and 10K race, will wind its way through the streets of downtown Atlanta. Each Trophy Trot participant will receive a T-shirt and finisher’s medal. Participants can register at atlantatrackclub.org . On Sunday evening, the Georgia Aquarium will host the Taste of the Championship dining event, which offers attendees the opportunity to indulge in food and drink prepared by local Atlanta chefs. This premium experience serves as an elevated exploration of local cuisine on the eve of the national championship. Tickets to the Taste of the Championship event are available on etix.com . Atlanta is the first city ever to repeat as host for the CFP national championship. The playoff was previously held in Atlanta in 2018. “We are honored to be the first city to repeat as host for the CFP national championship and look forward to welcoming college football fans from around the country in January,” said Dan Corso, president of the Atlanta Sports Council and Atlanta Football Host Committee. “This event gives us another opportunity to showcase our incredible city.” The College Football Playoff is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The quarterfinals and semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games — the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This year’s quarterfinals will take place on Dec. 31, 2024 and Jan. 1, 2025, while the semifinals will be Jan. 9-10, 2025. The CFP national championship will be Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com . Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Rejoining Hockey Canada not a discussion point at BCHL board meetingHANSON: What Trump nominees have not done — and will not doAP Trending SummaryBrief at 7:10 a.m. EST
Kendal Lamm is questionable about starting at Right Tackle Sunday when the Miami Dolphins play the New York Jets with an elbow injury. Terron Armstead is questionable to start at Left Tackle as he is working through a knee injury, but he most likely will play. I think the Dolphins should start rookie Tackle Patrick Paul on Sunday against the Jets. Paul is potentially considered Armstead’s replacement, but he also needs to work on his game and gain some experience. Paul is starting to cross-train at right tackle, so it seems like the perfect spot for him to start on Sunday. The Dolphins need to see what they have with him moving forward. Paul has all of the physical tools to play, but he also needs to work on some of his weaknesses, such as his footwork or going against speedy edge rushers. I feel the Dolphins have nothing to lose and everything to gain by doing. Giving him playing time now and potentially the rest of the season will also show the front office and coaching staff if they have a potential starter and if they need to find someone else, just in case. The Dolphins also have at least a handful of offensive line players who aren’t under contract next year. Lamm has already said that this will be his last season, and Armstead contemplated retiring last year, which is why the Dolphins invested a second-round pick in Paul. Paul has had a lot of work practicing as he worked a lot with the first team at left tackle, which the team was basically doing a load management workload with Armstead considering his durability concerns. He also played in all of the preseason games and played almost the whole game in all of them. The question now is can he do it in regular season games? He started in the 4th game filling in for Armstead and I thought he did a decent job. With the Dolphins all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, they really should start considering playing some of their younger players, such as Paul, to see what they have and if they have a future with this team. The Dolphins can’t assume that going into next year, he is going to continue to develop and be fine. They were in denial about the backup quarterback with Skylar Thompson , so look where that got them when Tua Tagovailoa got hurt. I think if Paul plays down the stretch, he will be fine because he has Armstead and Lamm to help him out, just like they did in training camp and the preseason. He also has a good offensive line coach in Butch Berry. The Dolphins have major questions on the offensive line next year especially at the guard position because nobody on the roster at those positions is under contract. The Dolphins can’t afford to have those same questions at tackle if Paul doesn’t get some experience to see what they have in him. This article first appeared on Dolphins Talk and was syndicated with permission.
The National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of Ramaiah Institute of Technology (RIT) organised the 26th annual blood donation camp on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Sajeeth V.J., Deputy Commissioner of Police, North East, Bengaluru City, emphasised the significance of the blood donation camp. M.R. Seetharam, Vice Chairman of Gokula Education Foundation, highlighted the role played by volunteers in fostering a culture of empathy and service. A total of 1007 units of blood were collected from donors during the camp, with 13 blood banks participating in the event. Published - December 24, 2024 11:59 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit healthWales head coach Warren Gatland says he remains "motivated" to lead the team despite a devastating 12th consecutive Test match loss. The dismal 45-12 defeat against South Africa in Cardiff consigned the Welsh side to their first calendar year without victory since 1937. With a formidable Six Nations challenge looming, particularly with an opener against France in Paris on January 31, serious questions hover over Gatland's future after losing 18 out of 24 Tests during his second tenure. Gatland expressed his willingness to discuss his position with the "powers that be", suggesting critical talks will be held over "the next few days". Regardless of the turmoil, Gatland finds solace in Wales’ spirited display: "Look, I am motivated to want to be here." He plans to consult those at the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and said: "We will just wait and see what happens in the next couple of days. "I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t say the last few weeks haven’t been challenging and tough. We’ve questioned ourselves after each game, what could we have done better, what could I have done better in the week with preparation." The boss added: "That is no different to when you are winning, too. You will still ask yourself the same questions. It is seeing what happens over the next few days, go and chat with the powers that be and also talk to family, too. "Like I said, the last couple of weeks have been challenging in terms of the amount of negativity. You are only human, and that has a little bit of an impact on you. "You have got to assess what has happened in the last few weeks and talk to the right people. For a long time, I think there have been issues within the game. The success we’ve had in the past has probably papered over some of those cracks. "We have talked about the dam bursting, and it has. It’s going to take a little time to fix it and get back on track." However, he sees a silver lining in the team's potential: "What I saw today from this group of young men and players, it gave me a lot of positive hope that there is an opportunity for us to improve and get better for the Six Nations in terms of the learnings from this campaign." The match report detailed the Springboks' dominant performance, with seven tries scored by Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Elrigh Louw, Jordan Hendrikse and Gerhard Steenekamp, while Hendrikse also contributed five conversions. Despite the defeat, Wales managed to score through wing Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham, with Ben Thomas adding a conversion. However, the damage was done early on as South Africa secured three tries in the opening quarter, leaving Wales to contemplate a third autumn loss after previous defeats by Fiji and Australia. Gatland reflected: "It was a tough game. A really tough game. But I cannot question how hard our players tried out there – I thought they gave absolutely everything. "When you play the world champions, you know how clinical they are, how effective they are, the power they can bring off the bench with the 6-2 split. "For us, it’s going away from this campaign with a few players – not everyone – aware there is some conditioning work to do so they are in better shape for the next campaign."
