Julian Assange is now free to do or say whatever he likes. What does his future hold?

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — He has run for office, published hundreds of thousands of leaked government documents online, and once lobbied to save his local swimming pool. One of the most polarizing and influential figures of the information age, Julian Assange is now free after five years in...

Stella Assange thanks Australian lawmakers for WikiLeaks founder's freedom

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Stella Assange thanked the spectrum of lawmakers who campaigned for her husband, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, to be freed during her visit Thursday to Australia’s Parliament House, where political leaders differed over how welcome the convicted felon was in his...

Australian leaders cautiously welcome expected plea that could bring WikiLeaks founder Assange home

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australian leaders cautiously welcomed an expected plea agreement that could set free Julian Assange, who was pursued for years over WikiLeaks' publication of a trove of classified documents. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday there was...

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returns to Australia a free man after US legal battle ends

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange returned to his homeland Australia aboard a charter jet and raised a celebratory clenched fist as his supporters cheered Wednesday after he pleaded guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets in a deal with Justice...

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange lands in Australian capital Canberra after US legal battle ends

Solomon Islands prime minister says his visits to Australia and China focus on creating jobs

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — The new prime minister of the Solomon Islands said Wednesday that his visits to Australia and China are focussed on creating jobs in the developing South Pacific island nation. Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele met his counterpart Anthony Albanese in the...

Australia plans to restrict vape sales to pharmacies from next week

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia plans to outlaw the sale of vapes outside pharmacies from next week under some of the world’s toughest restrictions on electronic cigarettes, the health minister said on Monday. The government had reached a compromise with the minor Greens...

Australia boosting aid to Papua New Guinea for landslide recovery and security

NEWCASTLE, Australia (AP) — Australia will provide a further 2 million Australian dollars ($1.3 million) to support reconstruction efforts in Papua New Guinea after last month's deadly landslide, the government said Thursday. The South Pacific island nation off Australia's northern...

Australian opposition puts nation's first nuclear power plants in its energy plan ahead of elections

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia’s main opposition party on Wednesday announced plans to build Australia’s first nuclear power plants as early as 2035, arguing the government’s policies for decarbonizing the economy with renewable energy sources including solar, wind turbines and green...

China's premier gets a red-carpet welcome as he begins visit in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — China's premier received a red-carpet welcome as he arrived Tuesday in Malaysia, the last leg of a regional tour, to celebrate a half-century of diplomatic ties between the two nations. Li Qiang is the first Chinese premier to visit Malaysia since...