Julian Assange spent his first night in 14 years as a free man back at home in Australia as the conservative opposition on Thursday cautioned the government against hailing the WikiLeaks founder as a hero.

Canberra

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange walked free from a court on the U.S. Pacific island territory of Saipan after pleading guilty to violating U.S. espionage law in a deal that allowed him to head straight home to Australia.

Julian Assange freed

Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, recently returned to his home in Australia after spending 14 years detained abroad. The return has sparked controversy, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasising the government's role in securing Assange's release. Albanese mentioned that he discussed the case with U.S. President Joe Biden and called Assange upon his arrival in Canberra, posting about the call on social media. 

However, shadow foreign affairs minister Simon Birmingham criticised Albanese's actions, arguing that it was improper to welcome Assange back on the day he pleaded guilty to U.S. espionage charges. Birmingham stated that Assange was not wrongfully detained and that the government's reception was inappropriate. Despite the Prime Minister's public acknowledgment, there was no further meeting scheduled between Albanese and Assange.

Assange's return also saw limited formal recognition in Parliament. His wife, Stella, and lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, were present at Parliament House but were not formally acknowledged in the usual custom for VIP guests. There were no pre-prepared questions about Assange during Parliament’s question time, indicating a shift in the government's approach possibly influenced by opposition and international feedback.

Labor MPs, as well as members of the Greens, Independents, and other crossbench members, continue to celebrate Assange's return on social media. The future actions of Julian Assange remain uncertain.



Assange not 'a hero', says Opposition

What a difference 24 hours makes. Yesterday, the Prime Minister was trumpeting his government's involvement in securing the release of Julian Assange. Anthony Albanese did not give away any detail about what had been done behind the scenes. We do know that he raised it with the United States President Joe Biden in a face-to-face meeting. The Prime Minister called Julian Assange as soon as he touched down in Canberra and posted a photo that he did so on social media. The Prime Minister then held a press conference. But the shadow foreign affairs minister, Simon Birmingham, quickly criticised the call, claiming that it was not necessary nor appropriate, saying Mr Assange was not wrongfully detained. And it sparked a debate about the so-called hero's welcome home. Irresponsible and inappropriate of Anthony Albanese to welcome home Julian Assange on the same day he's pleaded guilty to US charges related to espionage. The Prime Minister has been very clear that this has dragged on too long. He has led the advocacy. I have made representations, as has the Attorney General. We're really pleased that Mr Assange has been reunited with his family. Apart from ministers defending the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, out making some comments, there was little else coming from the Prime Minister on Julian Assange today. There was no meeting with him or talk of a scheduling of a meeting. His wife, Stella, and lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, were at Parliament House. They also had front row seats during question time. But curiously, they weren't formally acknowledged, which is usually the custom for VIPs sitting in that spot. There were also no pre-prepared questions, no one as Dixit, so the government could talk about Julian Assange during question time in Parliament. So there was a shift in approach, which put a bit of distance between the government and Assange. Maybe it was spooked by the opposition and some chatter internationally, so just called it. And it's also unclear what Julian Assange will do next. But there were still some individual Labor MPs posting on social media and celebrating the result, and that extended to other parliamentarians, Greens, and Independents, and other crossbench members as well.

Voter turnout in France's first round of voting in the 2024 general elections stood at 59.39 percent by 5pm according to the interior ministry, around 20 percent higher compared to the same time in the 2022 elections.

Paris

France snap election

Evening voter turnout in French elections at almost 60%

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London

Main opposition Labour party tipped to win upcoming UK elections

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Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia claims two more villages in east Ukraine

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Tenerife

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Gumlu

Three dead, dozens injured in tour bus crash

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Washington

U.S. Presidential Election

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Kathmandu

Severe flooding in Afghanistan and landslides in Nepal

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Siberia

Scientists discover intact 44,000-year-old wolf carcass

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Tehran

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Mascot

Man arrested over fake airport wifi scam

Israeli forces pressed their incursion deeper into two northern and southern areas of the Gaza Strip on Friday (June 28), and Palestinian health officials said tank shelling in Rafah killed at least 11 people.

Jerusalem

Israel-Gaza War

Israeli forces push deeper into southern, northern Gaza

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a 10-year security pact with the European Union in Brussels, the latest deal aimed at shoring up long-term support for Kyiv in its fight with Russia.

Brussels

Zelenskyy signs Ukraine security accord with E.U.

European Union leaders agreed to nominate Ursula von der Leyen of Germany for a second five-year term as president of the European Commission, the EU's powerful executive body. At a summit in Brussels, the bloc's 27 national leaders also picked former Portuguese premier Antonio Costa as the future chair of their European Council meetings.

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Idaho

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Biden-Trump debate

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Sucre

Bolivian army chief arrested for alleged coup

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Nairobi

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La Paz

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Sderot

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British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak take part in BBC’s Prime Ministerial Debate, in Nottingham, Britain.

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