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Biden considers Australia’s request to drop Assange case

The 52-year-old is currently in Britain awaiting extradition to the US. It has been five years since he was incarcerated in the Belmarsh prison…reports Asian Lite News

The US is “considering” Australia’s request to drop its persecution push against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, said President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

Assange is wanted in the US on criminal charges over the release of confidential US military and diplomatic records in 2010. He has been indicted on 17 espionage charges and one charge of computer misuse.

The 52-year-old is currently in Britain awaiting extradition to the US. It has been five years since he was incarcerated in the Belmarsh prison.

If convicted, he could face up to 175 years in prison.

He was supposed to be extradited in March, but it was put on hold after the UK High Court said the US must assure he would not face the death penalty.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been supportive of Assange’s release and said the issue had been raised with the US government at all levels. He said the comment from Biden was “encouraging.”

“I believe this must be brought to a conclusion and that Mr Assange has already paid a significant price, and enough is enough. There’s nothing to be gained by Mr Assange’s continued incarceration, in my very strong view. And I’ve put that as the view of the Australian government,” Albanese said.

Australia argues there are discrepancies between the treatment of Assange and US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of stealing diplomatic cables and military files that WikiLeaks published.

Manning’s 35-year sentence was commuted to seven years by former US President Barack Obama, and she was released in 2017.

One of Assange’s lawyers, Barry Pollack, said also Biden’s remarks were encouraging.

Supporters of Assange say he is being persecuted as his work revealed US wrongdoing, especially in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. They argue he is an anti-establishment journalist, who remains protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

Several rights groups and countries such as Germany, Mexico and Brazil have also opposed his extradition to the US.

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Australian PM Backs US Review on WikiLeaks Founder

Albanese expressed encouragement after Biden’s remark in Washington that the US is mulling over Australia’s request to drop the charges against Assange…reports Asian Lite News

 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday welcomed news that US President Joe Biden is considering a request to drop the prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Albanese expressed encouragement after Biden’s remark in Washington that the US is mulling over Australia’s request to drop the charges against Assange for the release of confidential records in 2010, Xinhua news agency reported.

“I believe this must be brought to a conclusion and that Mr. Assange has already paid a significant price and enough is enough,” Albanese told state media Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) television.

“There’s nothing to be gained by Mr. Assange’s continued incarceration, in my very strong view.”

An Australian citizen who founded WikiLeaks in Australia in 2006, Assange is currently trying to appeal his extradition from the UK to the US to face trial for the 2010 leaks.

The UK High Court in March asked the US for assurances that Assange would have a fair trial and not face the death penalty if convicted before making a final decision in May on whether he can appeal the extradition order.

Albanese in February supported a motion raised in the federal parliament by independent MP Andrew Wilkie calling for Assange’s return to Australia.

Wilkie was among a delegation of MPs who in September traveled to Washington where they urged politicians and officials to abandon extradition efforts for Assange.

On Thursday, Wilkie told ABC radio that Biden’s comment was very encouraging.

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Australia Taps Special Advisor for Israeli Airstrike Probe

Australia has made clear to the Israeli government our expectation and trust that this engagement will be facilitated…reports Asian Lite News

A former head of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has been appointed as the country’s special advisor on Israel’s response to strikes that killed aid workers in Gaza.

Penny Wong, Australian minister for foreign affairs, on Monday announced that retired Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Mark Binskin will oversee official investigations into the strikes that killed seven World Central Kitchen (WCK) staff in Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported.

Australian citizen Zomi Frankcom was among the WCK humanitarian workers who were killed when the convoy they were travelling in was hit by an Israel Defense Force (IDF) airstrike in central Gaza on April 1 local time.

Wong said on Monday that Binskin was eminently qualified to advise the government on the sufficiency and appropriateness of the steps taken by Israel and on any further actions that could be taken to hold those responsible to account.

ACM Binskin will engage with Israel and the Israel Defense Forces on the response to the attack which killed Zomi and her colleagues. Australia has made clear to the Israeli government our expectation and trust that this engagement will be facilitated,” she said in a statement.

ALSO READ: Australia Accuses Israel of Violating Laws of War in Gaza

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Australia Accuses Israel of Violating Laws of War in Gaza


Husic, Australia’s Industry and Science Minister, a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, remarked that the loss of almost 200 humanitarian workers in Gaza signifies Israel’s failure to differentiate between combatants and civilians….reports Asian Lite News

Australian government minister Ed Husic on Sunday accused Israel of a systematic failure to adhere to the laws of war in Gaza.

Husic, the minister for industry and science and a member of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s cabinet, said the deaths of nearly 200 humanitarian workers in Gaza reflect a failure by Israel to distinguish between combatants and civilians, Xinhua news agency reported.

“I believe this reflects a systematic failure within the Israeli government to genuinely commit to the observance of international humanitarian law,” he told Sky News Australia.

“That’s why you’ve seen 33,000 Palestinians killed, 14,500 of which are children, and 77,000 injured – and then on top of that, 200 aid workers and 100 journalists.”

Australian citizen Lalzawmi ‘Zomi’ Frankcom was killed along with six colleagues from the World Central Kitchen (WCK), an aid organization, in Israeli airstrikes in central Gaza on Monday local time.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Friday published a summary of an initial investigation into the incident, concluding that the strike on WCK aid vehicles was a grave mistake stemming from a mistaken identification.

Richard Marles, Australia’s deputy prime minister and minister for defence, and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Friday announced Australia would appoint an independent special adviser to scrutinize the official investigation into the strikes.

Husic on Sunday said the decision to appoint the adviser was a big step that would ensure a thorough investigation.

Marles and Wong said on Friday that Israel’s response to the incident had not satisfied Australia’s expectations and asked that all evidence surrounding the strikes be preserved.

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Majority of Australians Favor Independence Over US Alliance

Twenty-five per cent said the nation should do its best not to engage in world affairs and 17 per cent were unsure….reports Asian Lite News

More Australians believe the nation should aim to become an independent middle power than primarily an ally of the US, a poll has found.

Published by the online Australian edition of British newspaper ‘The Guardian’ on Tuesday, the poll found that 38 per cent of Australians said the country’s role in global affairs should be as an independent middle power, Xinhua news agency reported.

Twenty-five per cent said the nation should do its best not to engage in world affairs and 17 per cent were unsure.

The poll found that 63 per cent of Australians described themselves as concerned about Israel’s military action in Gaza.

Thirty-seven per cent of Australians said Israel should withdraw permanently from military action in Gaza, twice as many than 18 per cent who supported it continuing.

Two thirds of participants in the poll said they believed the world is either very or somewhat divided and 10 per cent described it as united.

Sixty-eight per cent agreed that global instability makes trade more expensive and 57 per cent said it would undermine efforts to solve problems including climate change.

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Jaishankar Visits Sailani Avenu, Meets Indian Community in Australia

Sailani was one of 12 known Indian Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who served with the Australian Imperial Army during World War I…..reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Indian community leaders as he visited Sailani Avenue, a street in Australia’s Perth city named after Shimla-born soldier Nain Singh Sailani.

Sailani was one of 12 known Indian Anzacs (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) who served with the Australian Imperial Army during World War I.

Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in 1916, he was killed in Belgium while on active duty in June 1917.

“Visited Sailani Avenue in Perth. Named after Nain Singh Sailani, an Indian-origin soldier honored in Australia,” Jaishankar, who is on a two-day visit to Australia to attend the 7th Indian Ocean Conference, wrote on X.

“Glad to meet some of our veterans and Indian community leaders there.”

The minister earlier joined his counterpart Penny Wong to discuss India-Australia ties, Indian Ocean architecture, and the shared interests of both countries in the Indo-Pacific.

Sailani Avenue was earlier known as Nelson Avenue and was renamed in honour of the Sikh war hero in 2023, following a personal request from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Sailani Avenue will act as a tangible reminder of the role Anzacs from the Indian community played in shaping our state’s history and paving the way for future generations,” Basil Zempilas, Lord Mayor of Perth, had said.

Born in Shimla in 1873, Sailani migrated to Australia in 1895 as a 22-year-old and initially lived in the town of Geraldton, about 400 kilometres north of Perth, where he found work as a labourer.

He was 43 when he volunteered for the Australian Imperial Force in 1916 and was allotted to the 44th Battalion as the First World War broke out.

He served with his unit in France and was one of two Indian-Australian soldiers, the other being soldier Sarn Singh, killed in action on June 1, 1917.

Sailani was buried at the Strand Military Cemetery in Belgium alongside other Australian soldiers, and a plaque was put in Kings Park, Perth, in 2017 to honour his sacrifice.

He received the British War Medal, Victory Medal, and the 1914/15 Star in recognition of his service.

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Indian-origin Australian senator Breaks Tradition, Swears on Bhagavad Gita

Ghosh is the second Indian-origin Australian in the Senate after Dave Sharma who was sworn in as a senator for New South Wales (NSW) in December….reports Asian Lite News

 Indian-origin barrister Varun Ghosh has become the first-ever Australian Senator to take the oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

The 38-year-old took his position in the Australian Senate with the Labour Party officially confirming him as their pick to represent Western Australia (WA), replacing present senator Patrick Dodson.

Welcoming Ghosh in his new role, Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs and South Australia senator wrote on X: “Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian Senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita. I have often said, when you’re the first at something, you’ve got to make sure you’re not the last”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ghosh, a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, will be a “great voice” for WA.

“I was so pleased to support your candidacy and I say this as well, you’ve got big shoes to fill,” Albanese was quoted as saying in The Sydney Morning Herald.

The PM earlier wrote on X: “Welcome Varun Ghosh, our newest Senator from Western Australia. Fantastic to have you on the team”.

Ghosh is the second Indian-origin Australian in the Senate after Dave Sharma who was sworn in as a senator for New South Wales (NSW) in December.

Ghosh, who joined the Labor party in Perth at the age of 17 after his parents moved from India in the 1980s, said his preselection was an honour he won’t take for granted.

“I have had the privilege of a good education and believe strongly that high-quality education and training should be available to everyone,” he said in a statement issued earlier.

At the 2019 federal election, Ghosh was placed in fifth position on the Australian Labour Party’s Senate ticket in Western Australia but was not elected.

He received degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia and was a Commonwealth Scholar in Law at the University of Cambridge.

He previously worked as a finance attorney in New York and as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, DC.

Ghosh returned to Australia in 2015 as a senior associate with King & Wood Mallesons, representing banks, resource companies, and construction companies in dispute resolution.

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Australian Writer Gets Suspended Death Sentence in China

China flag.

The suspended death sentence can be converted to a life sentence after two years, pending good behaviour…reports Asian Lite News

Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong has said that Australian writer Yang Hengjun has been given a suspended death sentence by a Chinese court. Calling the Chinese court’s decision “harrowing” and “appalling,” Wong summoned China’s ambassador for an explanation earlier this afternoon, ABC News reported.

The suspended death sentence can be converted to a life sentence after two years, pending good behaviour, according to ABC News report. The Australian citizen, writer and democracy activist Yang Hengjun has been imprisoned in China since 2019 on charges of spying. Yang Hengjun has always denied the charges.

In a statement, Penny Wong stated, “The Australian Government is appalled that Australian citizen, Dr Yang Jun, has today received a suspended death sentence in Beijing. We understand this can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years if the individual does not commit any serious crimes in the two-year period. This is harrowing news for Dr Yang, his family and all who have supported him.”

Penny Wong stressed that Yang Hengjun had further appeal avenues available and the government would continue to advocate on his behalf. The Australian government has petitioned for the release of Australian writer.

As per the news report, Australian officials were unable to attend Yang Hengjun’s closed trial in 2021. Wong said, “We have consistently called for basic standards of justice, procedural fairness and humane treatment for Dr Yang, in accordance with international norms and China’s legal obligations.”

She said, “All Australians want to see Dr Yang reunited with his family. We will not relent in our advocacy.”

In a statement, a supporter of Yang said his family was “shocked and devastated by this news, which comes at the extreme end of worst expectations. They will take time to process.”

In 2023, Yang Hengjun’s family wrote to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, warning his health was rapidly declining and requesting Albanese to do “all in his power” to secure his release during his visit to China.

Yang Hengjun has been detained in China for almost five years. However, his family has fears that there is a narrowing window of opportunity to secure his release, ABC News reported.

There was optimism among some of Yang’s supporters after China’s decision to release former state TV anchor Cheng Lei h.

Yang’s family wrote, “We have been inspired by the wonderful news of Cheng Lei’s release and return to Melbourne.” The family mentioned, “We hope that you, Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Ambassador Graham Fletcher can achieve a second miracle by saving our father.”

One Australian government source called Yang’s case “very different” to that of Chang Lei, according to ABC News report. Although did not give any further detail.

Daniela Gavshon, the Australia director at Human Rights Watch, said diplomatic efforts had not been enough. Gavshon called Chinese court’s decision “outrageous outcome for Dr Yang and his supporters.”

Gavshon stated, “It follows years of arbitrary detention and a closed trial and it is not evidence of any wrongdoing but really of Beijing’s corrupt and opaque criminal justice system. That someone can be sentenced to death on such scant information is deeply worrying.”

Coalition Foreign Affairs spokesperson Simon Birmingham said he was “aghast” at the decision and called it “a terrible reminder of the stark differences between our systems of government and systems of justice [and] a reminder of the risks that apply in doing business and engaging with China,” ABC News reported.

Birmingham stressed that Yang’s case should be “the top priority” for the Australian government in its talks with China. However, he did not criticise the government or called for any specific measures. He said, “It is important we take these matters step by step in the best interests of Dr Yang.” (ANI)

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Indian-origin barrister appointed to Australian Senate

Varun Ghosh will take his position in the Australian Senate next week with the Labour Party

 Indian-origin barrister Varun Ghosh will take his position in the Australian Senate next week with the Labour Party officially confirming him as their pick to represent Western Australia (WA).

A joint sitting of WA Parliament on Thursday selected the 38-year-old Ghosh, a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers, to replace present senator Patrick Dodson.

“The Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council have chosen Senator Varun Ghosh to represent Western Australia in the Senate of the Federal Parliament,” the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia announced on X.

Ghosh joined the Labor party in Perth at the age of 17 after his parents moved from India in the 1980s and began working as neurologists, news website WAToday reported.

He said his preselection was an honour he won’t take for granted. “I have had the privilege of a good education and believe strongly that high-quality education and training should be available to everyone,” he said in a statement.

“Varun has spent the last few years working as a barrister with both WA business & on the international stage with the World Bank. I look forward to working with him as part of our

@walabor Senate team in CBR (Canberra),” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh, wrote on X platform.

At the 2019 federal election, Ghosh was placed in fifth position on the Australian Labour Party’s Senate ticket in Western Australia but was not elected.

He received degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Western Australia and was a Commonwealth Scholar in Law at the University of Cambridge.

He previously worked as a finance attorney in New York and as a consultant for the World Bank in Washington, DC.

Ghosh returned to Australia in 2015 as a senior associate with King & Wood Mallesons, representing banks, resource companies, and construction companies in dispute resolution.

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Australia sanctions 5 entities with links to Myanmar regime

Under the sanctions, two banks that enable the regime’s activities, Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank, will be subject to targeted financial sanctions….reports Asian Lite News

Australia on Thursday imposed additional targeted sanctions on five entities with direct links to the Myanmar military regime.

The sanctions are designed to limit the regime’s access to the funds and materials that enable it to continue to commit atrocities against its own people, as per a release issued by Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong.

Under the sanctions, two banks that enable the regime’s activities, Myanma Foreign Trade Bank and Myanma Investment and Commercial Bank, will be subject to targeted financial sanctions.

Three entities that supply jet fuel to the Myanmar military, Asia Sun Group, Asia Sun Trading Co Ltd, and Cargo Link Petroleum Logistics Co Ltd, will also be subject to targeted financial sanctions.

Wong said the sanctions are a response to the regime’s ongoing repression of the people of Myanmar, escalating violence, and the continuing deterioration of the political, humanitarian and security situation.

“They send a clear message of Australia’s deep concern for the regime’s ongoing actions, and its continued disregard for international efforts, particularly those of ASEAN, to seek a resolution to the crisis,” the Australian Foreign Minister said.

Australia said it will continue to closely monitor the regime’s actions and look for improvements on the ground. “We will continue to use every lever at our disposal to press the regime for the cessation of violence, the release of those unjustly detained, unimpeded humanitarian access, and a return to the path of democracy,” the Australian Foreign Minister said in the official release.

“In this context, we will continue to keep our targeted sanctions towards Myanmar under review.”

“We maintain our strong support for ASEAN’s efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar, including the constructive efforts of the ASEAN Chairs and Special Envoys. We call on the military regime to implement the Five-Point Consensus and engage meaningfully and positively with ASEAN representatives.”

Australia said it remains resolute in its support for the people of Myanmar. “They have demonstrated their courage and commitment to democracy, with determined resilience, in the face of unspeakable atrocities. We will continue to ensure our humanitarian and development assistance reaches the most vulnerable,” Wong said.

The US also imposed sanctions on Myanmar’s military regime on Wednesday, three years after the military coup.

The country has designated four individuals and two entities linked to Myanmar’s military regime.

“We are taking this action to target the regime’s sources of revenue which support military activities against civilians. The action also targets those who provide material and support for the production of arms in Burma (Myanmar),” said US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.

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