Swedish prosecutors have dropped a rape investigation against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, ending the near decade-long case that had sent the anti-secrecy campaigner into hiding in London's Ecuadorian embassy.

The Swedish Prosecution Authority said the corroborating evidence had weakened considerably "due to the long period of time that has elapsed since the events in question".

The Taliban has released Australian academic Timothy Weeks and American colleague Kevin King, who have been held captive for more than three years, as part of a hostage swap deal.

The two academics were abducted outside the American University in Kabul where they worked as teachers, in August 2016.

Australian National University has reported that widespread illegal logging near water catchment areas used for drinking and agriculture is putting Melbourne’s drinking water at risk.

ANU scientist Chris Taylor noticed that the increase in illegal logging in steep slope areas has been prompted by a shortage of wood in Victoria.

A 23-year old Indigenous man is in a serious condition after being hit by a police vehicle in Alice Springs last night.

Northern Territory Police said that police had collided with the man in the course of attempting to apprehend him, after receiving reports of an armed man at a business.

The man suffered head injuries in the collision, and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in South Australia, where he is in a serious but stable condition.

The State and Federal government have finally reached an agreement to spend $1.9 billion on supporting a raft of major infrastructure projects across Queensland.

The agreement not only allows projects including major road upgrades to go ahead, but it also includes an agreement on a proposed inland rail link between Melbourne and Brisbane.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next challenge for the government is to sustain jobs and underpin confidence in the economy.

Amidst the state’s ongoing bushfire crisis, the State Government has announced a financial support system to be made available for affected residents in the Scenic Rim.

Affected residents can apply for financial grants over the phone by ringing the Community Recovery Hotline, via the online Community Recovery Portal, and via the Self Recovery app.

A Community Recovery Hub will be open at the Boonah Cultural Centre from 9am-4pm today.

Twenty-eight people are in quarantine in China’s northern inner Mongolia region, after a hunter who caught and ate a rabbit in Huaded country was diagnosed with bubonic plague on Tuesday.

Bubonic plague is a common fatal disease and can be transmitted by infected fleas or by handing an infected animal’s tissue.

There is no evidence showing that the disease is spreading further in Beijing as this is the second time the disease has been detected in the region.

The last group of protestors in Hong Kong are still surrounded by police and trapped and in the Hong Kong Polytechnic University after more than two days of clashes in which have left more than 200 people injured

Hong Kong executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday only 100 people were trapped inside but one of the escaped protestors has said revealed there are actually 200 protestors still in the university.

While the protestors are running out of food and have no way to leave, some of their parents are sitting near the university to voice out for them.