CANBERRA, Australia, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to nearly a half-million people who grew up in government-run orphanages and foster homes for nearly 50 years.

TARIN KOWT, Afghanistan, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a surprise visit to Afghanistan just hours after a roadside bomb wounded an Australian soldier, officials say.

MELBOURNE, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- Australia's prime minister indicated he is in no rush to end the detention of Sri Lankan refugees aboard the ship Oceanic Viking despite Indonesia's impatience,

JAKARTA, Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A standoff persisted Thursday in Indonesia as 78 asylum-seekers from Sri Lanka refused to leave an Australian Customs ship.

JAKARTA, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was sworn in Tuesday for a second five-year term as president of Indonesia, officials said.

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Opposition political parties have again slammed the Australian government over asylum policies as coast guard ships race to the rescue of more crowded boats in distress.

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is working closely with Indonesia to stop people smuggling, the government says.

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- A Nielsen poll published Tuesday shows 49 percent of Australians support nuclear power, saying it should be considered as an alternative source of energy to help combat global warming, while 43 percent are completely opposed.

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- An Australian government official is advocating storing nuclear waste generated by the country's uranium exports.