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- Australians concerned for family stuck in Aleppo
- Disability leadership recognised on the International Day of People with Disability
- Wallabies player Jordan Petaia announces his plan to pursue his American Football dream from next year
Australians with family members in Aleppo say they're concerned about the sudden escalation in danger, following the offensive launched by rebel forces in Syria in recent days.
They were able to advance in Aleppo while controlling dozens of towns and villages in neighbouring provinces such as Idlib and Hama.
The reignited war in Syria is the latest fallout from the turmoil that has gripped the Middle East since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.
In Adelaide, Abdul Ghani Rahmo, told SBS Arabic he is concerned about the safety of his family members in Aleppo, particularly after losing all communication contact with them yesterday.
"In fact, the situation is very difficult. We try our best to watch the news on TV and we keep track of the latest developments to stay informed of what is happening and to talk to our relatives there. The situation is tragic, really tragic. There is no food and no sleep there. They can't sleep there and we cannot sleep here."
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Harm reduction advocates hope a drug summit in New South Wales can deliver health-focused reforms after they say recent inquiries delivered little more than incremental change.
The state government is considering different approaches to drug policy - those from a health perspective, and also a law-and-order lens.
The CEO of the New South Wales Council of Social Service, Cara Varian, says she is calling for a whole-of-government strategy.
"So that we can bring together health, community services, housing, education, the legal system and the police to make sure people stop falling through the gaps. We have over 100,000 people who did not receive treatment this year because of a lack of funding. The 2024 Drug Summit is our chance to fix that."
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The United Nations has added its voice to the chorus of criticisms levelled against new laws in Queensland, saying the legislation shows a "flagrant disregard" for children's rights.
Controversial youth justice legislation was introduced by the Queensland government to the state parliament in late November.
Kids as young as 10 will face the same maximum sentence as adults for 13 offences and the laws also include scrapping the capability to wipe a youth offender's record when they turn 18.
Ann Skelton, chair of the U-N Committee on the Rights of the Child, released a video saying they agreed with the Queensland Attorney-General's admission that the laws violate the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"We do not agree that the so-called exceptional circumstances warrant what will be a flagrant disregard for children's rights under international law. We also don't agree that it will make Queensland safer. We urge the government of Queensland to stand firm with the principle that children should be treated differently from adults in the criminal justice system."
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The leadership contributions of Australians living with disability have been recognised with the winners of this year's National Awards for Disability Leadership.
The Disability Leadership Institute organises the awards across seven categories, including social impact, innovation and change making.
Emma Bennison was given the lifetime achievement award for her work reforming and modernising organisations including Blind Citizens Australia and Vision Australia.
The winners were announced today, on the International Day of People with Disability.
In a video marking the day, advocate Cameron Bloomfield says it is an important moment for him.
"Just to be recognised that we have a disability and the accomplishments that some people with disabilities give to the community is like a role model for other people with disabilities."
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The US Justice Department special counsel who successfully prosecuted Hunter Biden on fraud and gun charges has rejected Joe Biden’s assertion that his son has been unfairly prosecuted.
Mr Biden is facing criticism after he reversed his position to avoid using presidential powers to pardon his son.
He claims raw politics "infected" his son's case.
In documents filed opposing the dismissal of Hunter Biden’s tax fraud case in California, David Weiss, says there is no evidence of vindictive or selective prosecution in this case.
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In sport, two-time World Cup Wallaby Jordan Petaia has confirmed he will be switching sporting codes to join the NFL.
The 24-year-old Samoan-Australian became the youngest Wallaby to play at a World Cup in 2019.
In a statement on social media, he says after a great deal of consideration, he has decided to join the NFL international pathway program early next year.
The program aided Sydney-born Samoan star Jordan Maliata in his switch from rugby to the NFL - where he has gone on to help the Philadelphia Eagles reach the Super Bowl in 2022-23.
