Just Earth News | @indiablooms | 04 Jan 2021, 06:23 am Print

Image: Wallpaper Cave
London/Sputnik: UK district judge Vanessa Baraitser ruled on Monday against the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, where he could face up to 175 years in jail for the publication of classified information on the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as thousands of US diplomatic cables between 2010 and 2011.
"I rule it would be unjust to extradite Mr. Assange," the judge said, citing health reasons and the risk that the whistleblower could commit suicide.
Amnesty International tweeted: "We welcome the fact that Julian Assange will not be sent to the USA, but this does not absolve the UK from having engaged in this politically-motivated process at the behest of the USA and putting media freedom and freedom of expression on trial."
- Canada directs Chinese surveillance firm Hikvision to cease operations due to national security concerns
- Pakistan, China are planning to form a new bloc to replace SAARC, India's future in it remains uncertain
- Top cleric issues fatwa against Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu for threatening Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
- Taliban denies Pakistan's claim that India is using Afghanistan's soil to operate against it
- Islamabad finalised $3.7 billion loan deals with Beijing