TRANSCRIPT
- The family of Daniel Duggan says he has been abandoned by the Australian government.
- Former soldier says video of Australian captured in Ukraine is tool of Russian propaganda.
- And in cricket, Sam Konstas poised to make Test debut for Australia on Boxing Day.
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The family of former US fighter pilot Dan Duggan says he's been abandoned by the Australian government as he faces extradition to the US.
The Australian citizen, and father of six, has already spent two years in jail over allegations he unlawfully trained Chinese military personnel in South Africa over a decade ago.
He made a last-ditch attempt to avoid prosecution in August after a court ruled he was eligible for extradition in May.
Saffrine Duggan, Dan's wife, says the government has completely failed in its duty to protect an Australian citizen.
"We are shocked and absolutely heartbroken by this by this callous and inhumane decision which has been delivered just before Christmas with no explanation or justification from the government. We feel abandoned by the Australian government and deeply disappointed that they have completely failed in their duty to protect an Australian family."
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus confirmed he approved the extradition last week.
Mr Duggan could still appeal the decision.
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A disturbing video reportedly showing an Australian captured by Russian-aligned forces while fighting in Ukraine has been described by a former Australian soldier as part of Russia's propaganda strategy.
If confirmed, Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins would be the first Australian prisoner of war in the conflict.
The video circulating on social media shows Jenkins, visibly shaken and bruised, being interrogated by his captors, who are speaking in Russian.
It's believed the former biology teacher was captured in Kramatorsk in the Donbas region, some 700 kilometres from Kyiv.
Lawyer and former Australian soldier Glenn Kolomeitz told SBS News the video is part of Russia's propaganda machine.
"It's a big part of their order of battle, the way they conduct warfare which is why they've put his face out there and put out his message very quickly that they've captured him. It's propaganda to Australia particularly and to leverage something against the Australian government. They're fully aware that Australia have been supporting Ukraine since day one so a bit of propaganda there, a bit of information operations."
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Germans are still searching for answers after a man drove his car into a Christmas market in Magdeburg, killing at least five people and injuring around 200 others.
Authorities are still investigating the possible motive of the arrested suspect, a 50-year-old psychiatrist from Saudi Arabia with a history of Islamophobic rhetoric and a sympathy for the far-right party Alternative for Germany.
The party has used the case as an opportunity to campaign for their anti-migrant agenda, holding an evening rally near the site of the car-ramming.
One Magdeburg local, Sabrina Gille, says she can't believe the party would use the tragedy for political purposes.
“Actually, the AfD does not belong here, honestly. Politics should stay out of it completely because they have made so many mistakes. Without them, this would never have happened.”
The incident is expected to intensify debate in Germany over security and immigration ahead of a national election in February.
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The United States House Ethics Committee has found that former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for drugs and sex during his time in office, including with a 17-year-old girl.
Mr Gaetz, who has denied wrongdoing, resigned from the House of Representatives last month after he was selected by President-elect Donald Trump to be attorney general.
He withdrew from consideration in the face of an uphill confirmation battle in the Senate.
U-S media have reported the claims from a final draft of the panel's report after Mr Gaetz filed a lawsuit to block its release, arguing the Ethics panel no longer had jurisdiction since he has now resigned from the House.
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In cricket,
Regardless of the occasion and opposition, Sam Konstas is poised to make his Test debut for Australia in the Boxing Day Test.
The 19-year-old will possibly open the batting against India great Jasprit Bumrah and the rest of their vaunted attack in the forecast 40-degree conditions.
Konstas has been one of the stories of this summer with his rapid rise.
Recognising how big a Test debut this week would be for him, he says the opportunity is a huge honour and a dream come true.
"I think for me, what an amazing opportunity at my age. Pat Cummins and the group and welcomed me in so I feel like a family. It's been awesome, a dream come true and hopefully get to represent my country."
