TRANSCRIPT
- Julian Assange freed after judge approves plea deal with United States prosecutors
- Australia to support Solomon Islands police force in a bid to strengthen security ties
- Argentina becomes the first team to make it to the Copa America quarter-finals
A judge has approved a plea deal between Julian Assange and United States prosecutors, ending the Wikileaks founders 14-year legal ordeal.
The plea deal resolves a criminal case involving the dissemination of classified U-S documents including war logs and diplomatic cables that detailed U-S wrongdoings in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The 52-year-old Australian journalist was flown to Saipan in the northern Mariana Islands before entering the plea deal on Wednesday morning.
Addressing the court, Mr Assange says he believes the Espionage Act, under which he was charged, contradicts first amendments rights but accepts that encouraging sources to provide classified information for publication can be unlawful.
Mr Assange's U-S lawyer Barry Pollack spoke outside of court after the sentencing.
"He has, I think, spurred an important discussion in the United States about how to balance national security and freedom of the press. He has standing by his principles, putting up with detention in the embassy, incarceration in a high-security prison. I hope that every one of us would have the courage to stand by our ideals the way Mr. Assange has and so I certainly hope he feels that he has left a powerful legacy."
The coalition says the higher than expected increases to inflation is proof of the Labor Party's failings.
The Consumer Price Index increased by four per cent in the last 12 months, up from 3.6 per cent in April.
Spending on housing, food, non-alcoholic beverages, transport, alcohol, and tobacco were the biggest contributors to this figure.
Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor says the latest figures are an indictment on both the Prime Minister and the Treasurer.
"Labor is hurting Australians. Labor is failing Australians. These numbers tell the story of a government that simply doesn't understand what causes inflation and what to do about it. And it's worth highlighting what we've seen and the numbers that came out today with core inflation sitting on 4.4% in the last twelve months, up 4.1%. That's inflation going up, not just prices going up, inflation going up"
Australia is going to help prop up the Solomon Islands police force as a first step in the strengthening of security and stability.
During a meeting with both the Solomons delegation and the Australian Federal Police commissioner, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Mr Manele raised expanding the police force to 3000 officers.
The Australian government is keen to charm the Solomon Islands following former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare's security pact with China.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Australia has historically played a role in training and delivering support for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
"Australian and Pacific nations are well placed to meet the security needs of our region. We regard security as the job of our Pacific family, as we demonstrated during the Solomon Islands historic joint elections in April, when Australia worked with Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji to assist the Royal Solomon Islands police force with election related security and logistics."
A contentious ban on live sheep exports has passed the lower house and is now set for a showdown in the Senate.
The proposal, which will see live sheep exports in Australia brought to an end by May 2028, has sparked anger from farmers who say their lives will be seriously impacted by the changes.
The coalition is accusing the government of racing through the proposals without consultation and pledges to reinstate the industry if it is elected.
The Labor government made a pledge to end the live sheep export industry in Australia following concerns about animals rights after thousands of sheep died from heat stress while traveling to the middle east.
Argentina has become the first team to make it to the Copa America quarter-finals after a late-game strike from Lautaro Martinez earned them a 1-0 Group A victory over Chile.
After a cautious opening, Argentina took the reigns but managed to miss several opportunities to score.
As the game drew to a close, Argentina made up for their missed chances as substitute Martinez jumped on a rebound from the corner and scored in the 88th minute.
Argentina have now secured a top-two spot in the group and are up for the position of defending champions.
