The government offers support to an Australian man captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine, Daniel Duggan to be extradited to US over alleged training of Chinese fighter pilots, Ash Gardner hits a new career-high ODI score in the Rose Bowl series-final.
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TRANSCRIPT
- The government offers support to an Australian man captured by Russia while fighting for Ukraine
- Daniel Duggan to be extradited to US over alleged training of Chinese fighter pilots
- Ash Gardner hits a new career-high ODI score in the Rose Bowl series-final.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is urging Russia to adhere to international law, after a disturbing video reportedly showing an Australian captured by Russian-aligned forces while fighting in Ukraine surfaced online.
If confirmed, Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins would be the first Australian prisoner of war in the conflict.
A video circulating on social media shows Jenkins, visibly shaken and bruised, being interrogated by his captors, who are speaking in Russian.
While urging Russia to adhere to laws governing the treatment of prisoners of war, Mr Dreyfus says the government is working to determine the facts.
"The Australian government is making representations to the Russian government. We urge the Russian government to fully adhere to its obligations under international humanitarian law, including with respect to prisoners of war. Our immediate priority is understanding where Mr Jenkins is, and confirming his well-being."
An Australian man who served as a US fighter pilot is set to face court in the US after his extradition was approved by federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus.
56-year old Daniel Duggan has already spent two years behind bars over allegations he unlawfully trained Chinese military personnel.
The father of six made a last-ditch attempt to avoid prosecution in the US, sending an 89-page submission to Mr Dreyfus after a NSW magistrate ruled in May he was eligible for extradition.
Mr Dreyfus confirmed on Monday he had given Duggan's extradition the green light, but would not reveal when Duggan would be transferred to the US.
More than 100 personnel will be sent from NSW, the ACT, Queensland and Tasmania to help fight fires burning out of control in Victoria's west.
The support includes two incident management teams and four specialised firefighting taskforces.
It comes as conditions are forecast to worsen later this week.
Of greatest concern are fire fronts in the Grampians National Park, where 41,000 hectares are burning today.
Evacuation orders remain in force for several communties surrounding the national park.
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan told the ABC that temperatures in the mid-40s are expected to wreak havoc on Boxing Day.
A young boy has died following a house fire, which left two other children in hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Emergency services were called following reports of a house fire in Meadow Springs – about 70 kilometres south of Perth – yesterday afternoon.
A four-year-old was found unresponsive at the property, and later died in Peel Health Campus.
Two other children remain in hospital for treatment relating to smoke inhalation.
Detective First Class Constable Tiarna Eades says the fire is not being treated as suspicious, but an arson squad are investigating.
"It is a hard task obviously given the tragic circumstances of a four-year-old child, we believe is four years old, has lost their life due to this. The Arson Squad are very professional and we believe that they'll be able to investigate it to its full potential and get the answers, hopefully, that we can."
US president-elect Donald Trump says Elon Musk is not going to be president, in response to online commentary suggesting the world's richest man is actually running the country.
The growing Musk influence has been the latest attack point for Democrats after the pair defeated an initial bipartisan funding bill, throwing Congress into turmoil.
Congress passed spending legislation early on Saturday to avert a destabilising government shutdown ahead of the busy holiday travel season.
While Trump has tasked Musk with heading a budget-cutting task force, and says it's nice to have "smart people" to rely on, he will hold no official position in Washington.
"President Trump has ceded the presidency to Elon Musk. No, no, that's not happening. But Elon’s done an amazing job. Isn't it nice to have smart people that we can rely on? Don't we want that? He’s done a great job"
Australian cricketer Ashleigh Gardner has continued her resounding return to form with the bat, hitting 74 from 62 balls to help Australia to 290 in their ODI against New Zealand.
Out of runs through the Women's Big Bash League and after a period of poor performance for Australia, Gardner hit her second half-century in three innings in Wellington.
It was the 27-year-old's highest score in an ODI for Australia, helping carry the side out of a mid-innings stumble of 4-39 that left them at 4-127.
Gardner hit nine boundaries and one big six over in her knock, as Australia aim to claim the three-match series 2-0 after the first game was washed out.
The allrounder had endured a tough trot with the bat before today's runs after an underwhelming W-BBL where she averaged only 12.87 for the Sydney Sixers.
