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Australia lends a helping hand to fleeing Afghan para-athletes

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Australia steps up in solidarity as Afghan paralympians Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli are invited to seek refuge in the country.

Afghanistan flag at 2020 Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony

There are reports that two afghan paralympians who have landed in Tokyo to compete in the 2020 Paralympics, will soon resettle in Australia.

Afghanistan athletes Zakia Khudadadi and Hossain Rasouli have received humanitarian visas to stay in Australia, after fleeing Kabul following the Taliban takeover. 

Former Socceroo and refugee advocate Craig Foster told the Nine Network on Sunday that efforts were made to grant both athletes safe asylum. 

https://twitter.com/wwos/status/1431797645014564867

He thanked all those involved which included Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke and Independent MP Zali Steggall.

“We must stand up for all the humane treatment of all refugees, all people, especially and immediately, but not only Afghanistan.”

Foster said on Twitter. 

It comes as welcome news to many advocates who worked tirelessly to help both paralympians flee the country. 

Human Rights for All lawyer Alison Battisson was involved in the efforts to evacuate scores of Afghan athletes out of the war-torn country.

She told SBS news that it was the efforts of a mainly female-dominated team of lawyers and an intern which helped the Paralympian pair escape.

“I have this amazing legal intern … Eric Zhang, [who] did [Zakia’s] application,” Battisson says.

“[He] stayed with those two for days, translating and pushing for their evacuation. He risked his life to get them over the line.”

Uncertainty surrounded the team’s attendance

Many didn’t think the Afghan paralympian team would make the games due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Consequently, the team wasn’t at the opening ceremony to carry their flag, with an Olympic volunteer carrying out it on their behalf as a way of representing solidarity. 

“Twelve days ago we were informed that the Afghan Paralympic Team could not travel to Tokyo, a move that broke the hearts of all involved in the Paralympic movement and left both athletes devastated,” IPC president Andrew Parsons said. 

“That announcement kick-started a major global operation that led to their safe evacuation from Afghanistan, their recuperation by France, and now their safe arrival in Tokyo.” 

The first female Afghan athlete since 2005

Zakia will be the first female Afghan to compete at the Olympics in 17 years, taking part in the women’s taekwondo K44-49kg category on Thursday. 

The Australian Government and Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne are yet to comment on the situation.

Written by Rebecca Borg

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LIVE: Record early turnout marks Election Day 2024

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Millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, with battleground states seeing record numbers; minor disruptions are met with resilience as officials prepare for Election Day.

Election Day 2024 has arrived, and tens of millions of Americans have already cast their ballots, with a significant surge in early voting across key battleground states.

Georgia, a pivotal swing state in recent elections, saw over 4 million voters participate early, prompting state officials to suggest that traditional polling locations might feel like “ghost towns” on Election Day itself.

North Carolina also saw impressive numbers, with 4.4 million voters—nearly 57% of registered voters—casting ballots early, including in areas still recovering from Hurricane Helene.

Early voting

Nationwide, early voting surpassed 82 million ballots as of Monday, a number already exceeding half the total ballots cast in 2020.

A notable shift this election season is the increased early turnout among Republicans, spurred by campaigns from former President Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee to counter Democratic dominance in early voting.

Despite long lines and minor disruptions, early voting has proceeded without major issues.

Local officials in hurricane-affected regions of North Carolina executed remarkable efforts to facilitate voting, even amid power outages and damaged infrastructure.

Additionally, while isolated arson incidents in Oregon damaged drop boxes, authorities swiftly responded to minimize the impact.

Trump and the RNC, however, continue to raise concerns over election security, citing instances like an investigation in Pennsylvania into potential fraudulent voter registrations.

These claims, often unsubstantiated, may signal upcoming challenges as the nation awaits the final results.

Controversy Over Elon Musk’s $1 Million-a-Day Sweepstakes Sparks Legal Battle in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia DA claims Musk’s political action committee misled the public, while Musk’s lawyer argues winners were chosen as “spokespeople,” not by chance.

A legal dispute erupted in Philadelphia on Monday over Elon Musk’s $1 million-a-day voter sweepstakes, as a lawyer for Musk’s political action committee (PAC), America PAC, clarified that recipients are selected deliberately—not by chance as originally claimed.

GOP attorney Chris Gober stated that winners of the giveaway, which targets key swing states, were handpicked based on personal stories and signed contracts to act as “spokespeople” for the PAC, challenging initial promises of a “random” selection process.

The giveaway, announced on October 19 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, at an event alongside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, was pitched by Musk as a daily, random $1 million award to petition signers.

Violates the law

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner contends that Musk’s approach may violate Pennsylvania election law, arguing the selective process contradicts the terms Musk publicly stated.

On Monday, Krasner’s lawyer scrutinized a PAC official over the language used to promote the giveaway, particularly Musk’s repeated use of “chance” and “randomly” when describing the selection.

Gober, however, defended the PAC’s approach, stating, “The $1 million recipients are not chosen by chance. We know exactly who will be announced as the $1 million recipient today and tomorrow.”

As recipients in Arizona and Michigan await their awards, the legal argument over Musk’s promises and the selection process could intensify, especially as Election Day draws near in Pennsylvania.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump Make Final Appeals in Pennsylvania as Polls Show a Dead Heat

With record-breaking early voting and razor-thin polling margins, both candidates make last-minute pushes in battleground Pennsylvania.

In the final hours before Election Day, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump each delivered their closing pitches in must-win Pennsylvania, a state that could decide one of the closest races in recent history.

With most pundits calling the race too close to predict, both candidates focused on rallying support in key counties to secure an edge.

Polls and betting markets reflect the tight nature of the contest, with Harris holding a slight late surge after out-fundraising Trump nearly five to one throughout her campaign.

The latest projections from prominent statistician Nate Silver point to a razor-thin advantage for Harris. In his simulation models, Harris emerged as the likely victor in 40,012 of 80,000 simulations.

However, a few hundred votes in key battleground counties could easily swing the result in Trump’s favour, especially amid expectations of close tallies and potential disputes over ballot integrity.

Unprecedented outcomes

This election could bring unprecedented outcomes.

A Harris win would make her the first female president and the first woman of South Asian and African-American descent in the Oval Office.

For Trump, a victory would mean a non-consecutive second term, making him only the second president in U.S. history to achieve this feat.

Harris has focused on energizing young and female voters, centering her platform on generational change and reproductive rights.

Meanwhile, Trump has attracted support among men and white women by addressing concerns over inflation, immigration, crime, and limiting U.S. military interventions abroad.

With around 78 million Americans having already cast early votes, all eyes are on Pennsylvania as the nation braces for a potentially historic and hard-fought election outcome.

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It’s Election Eve in the race for the White House

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It’s Election Eve in the United States and the 2024 Presidential race is neck-and-neck.

The 2024 Presidential Race is proving to be one of the closest and most contentious in recent history, with the candidates seemingly neck and neck in key battleground states.

But, the big question is whether or not these polls are accurate?

Will the election results be a story of former President Donald Trump pulling off the greatest comeback in American political history or will Vice-President Kamala Harris deliver an unprecedented victory after her late entrance into the race?

Oz Sultan, the Chief Strategist with the Sultan Interactive Group joins Veronica Dudo to discuss.

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POLLS: presidential race is neck-and-neck

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Both candidates rally in Pennsylvania as over 77 million Americans have already cast their votes.

On the eve of Election Day, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris are making their final campaign stops in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania.

With over 77 million Americans already casting ballots, both candidates are seizing their last opportunity to appeal to undecided voters in a state that could sway the 2024 election outcome.

Trump, the Republican candidate, is holding rallies in Reading and Pittsburgh, focusing on issues like the economy, job growth, and border security.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate, is also dedicating her last campaign day to Pennsylvania, underscoring the state’s critical role in securing a path to victory.

Harris’s events span from Allentown to Pittsburgh and include a high-energy concert in Philadelphia with celebrity appearances aimed at mobilizing young voters.

Both candidates are delivering messages that underscore their visions for the future, hoping to capture last-minute support in the final hours.

With both campaigns converging in Pennsylvania, all eyes are on the state as the nation awaits the results of one of the most pivotal elections in recent history.

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