When Najat Janabi arrived in Australia with her 16-year-old son Ahmed Shalikhan in 2013, she thought they'd finally made it to safety. Their boat from Indonesia was the final leg in a decades-long journey, which included escaping persecution in Iraq under Saddam Hussein's regime and being stateless in Iran. In reality, it was the beginning of another nightmare. Nine years later, Ahmed is still locked in immigration detention — and there's no end in sight. "I lost hope, I lost my childhood, I lost my education. I always wanted to have a better life. This government. This department took everything from me," he told the ABC. Ahmed's case is complex. He last week returned to Sydney's Villawood detention centre after spending five months in the Mid North Coast Correctional Centre because he was charged with assaulting an officer in detention. He pleaded not guilty under the Mental Health Act, and the charge against him was dismissed. Body-worn camera footage from inside … [Read more...] about When Ahmed arrived in Australia he thought he was safe — he actually ‘lost his childhood’
Australia
Nine more golds for Australia on ninth day of Commonwealth Games
The ninth day of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham has ended with another nine gold medals for Australia, strengthening the nation's lead in the overall tally. Two Australians made it to the final in the table tennis women's singles classes 6-10, ensuring two medals for the nation. Qian Yang won gold and Li Na Lei took home the silver medal. Australia also won gold in athletics, lawn bowls, diving and gymnastics. You can check out how the latest batch of medals were won in our Commonwealth Games blog , or have a look at the medal winners and the top 10 medal standings by country below: Day nine medal results: Gold: Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva, gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics Jemima Montag, athletics, 10,000 metre race walking Oliver Hoare, athletics, 1,500 metre run Maddison Keeney and Anabelle Luce Smith, diving, 3-metre synchronised springboard Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic, lawn bowls, pairs Aaron Wilson, lawn bowls, singles … [Read more...] about Nine more golds for Australia on ninth day of Commonwealth Games
Australia still tops the Commonwealth Games medal tally with day eight’s silver and bronze haul
There were no gold medals for Australia on the eighth day of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, but two silvers and seven bronze medals kept the nation at the top of the leader board. There were podium finishes for Australian athletes in diving, wrestling, gymnastics and athletics. You can check out how the latest batch of medals were won in our Commonwealth Games blog , or have a look at the medal winners and the top 10 medal standings by country below: Day 8 medal results: Silver: Brittany O'Brien, diving, 1 metre springboard Daniel Golubovic, athletics, decathlon Bronze: Sam Fricker and Shixin Li, diving, synchronised 3 metre springboard Esther Qin, diving, 1 metre springboard Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva, gymnastics, rhythmic individual all-around Jayden Lawrence, wrestling, 86 kilogram freestyle wrestling Sam Carter, ahtletics, T53/54 1,500 metre Domonic Bedggood and Cassiel Rousseau, diving, 10 metre synchronised platform … [Read more...] about Australia still tops the Commonwealth Games medal tally with day eight’s silver and bronze haul
Australia’s gold haul continues with a double cycling gold and medals in athletics
Australia has taken out gold in both the men's and women's cycling time trials on day seven of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. The gold haul continues in athletics, with other medals won in gymnastics, weightlifting and diving. You can check out how the latest batch of medals were won in our Commonwealth Games blog , or have a look at the medal winners and the top 10 medal standings by country below: Day 7 medal results: Gold: Matthew Denny, athletics, discus Madison de Rozario, athletics, T53/54 1,500m Rohan Dennis, cycling, time trial Grace Brown, cycling, time trial Silver: Ashari Jesse Gill, Lidiia Iakovleva and Alexandra Kiroi-Bogatyreva, gymnastics, team rhythmic gymnastics Sarah Edmiston, athletics, F42-44/61-64 discus Shixin Li, diving, 1m springboard Bronze: Hani Watson, weightlifting, women's heavyweight Angela Ballard, athletics, T53/54 1,500m Birmingham 2022 medal standings: POSITION … [Read more...] about Australia’s gold haul continues with a double cycling gold and medals in athletics
Anupam Kher lands role in Robert De Niro film
W hile Amitabh Bachchan is shooting for his first Hollywood project The Great Gatsby in Australia, veteran actor Anupam Kher announced this morning that he will be sharing screen space with Hollywood legend Robert De Niro in his next film. "Dream finally coming true," Kher tweeted. "Will be acting with Robert De Niro in David O Russell's (The Fighter)'The Silver Linings Playbook' next week." Russel's The Silver Linings Playbook is based on Matthew Quick's book of the same name, and tells the story of a former teacher who moves back with his mother and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife after having spent four years in a mental institution. Kher claimed he hadn't read the book yet, as it is not available in India. "At this moment, I am under contract so I won't be able to talk much about it," Kher says excitedly. "It is like a dream come true. It's a mainstream Hollywood film and I am looking forward to shoot with Robert De Niro who all of us have idolised." The cast … [Read more...] about Anupam Kher lands role in Robert De Niro film
PIX: Stars at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s baby shower
Image: Abhishek Bachchan Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar F ilmi folks attended Aishwarya Rai Bachchan 's baby shower that took places yesterday at Jalsa, the Bachchan residence in a plush part of Juhu, a western Mumbai suburb. Dressed in Indian finery, friends and colleagues of the family poured in bearing gifts for the expecting mum. Father-to-be Abhishek Bachchan was seen at the entrance, right before the ceremony started. The actor, who was busy shooting for Bol Bachchan in Jaipur, took a day off for the ceremony. Dad Amitabh was missing as he's in Australia, busy shooting for Hollywood film The Great Gatsby. Karan Johar and Bipasha Basu Image: Karan Johar and Bipasha Basu Photographs: Pradeep Bandekar F ilmmaker Karan Johar poses for pictures with actress Bipasha Basu . Dhoom 3 and will be seen with Abhishek again in Abbas Mustan's soon-to-release film Players . Shweta Bachchan Nanda … [Read more...] about PIX: Stars at Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s baby shower