2021-01-05: News Headlines

Online News Editor (2021-01-05). Pakistan's top court orders reconstruction of Hindu temple razed by Islamists. laprensalatina.com Islamabad, Jan 5 (efe-epa).- The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday ordered the reconstruction of a temple of the marginalized Hindu minority that had been destroyed by an Islamist mob last week, after which more than a hundred people have been arrested and 92 police officers suspended over the incident. "The Chief Justice (Gulzar Ahmed) …

Gloria La Riva (2021-01-05). Julian Assange wins victory as extradition denied. liberationnews.org The U.S. government has pursued Assange since at least 2012, for his work exposing hundreds of thousands of U.S. military and intelligence documents and video that show outright war crimes, included targeted murders of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Binoy Kampmark (2021-01-05). "It's not as bad as Iwo Jima, I suppose": The Julian Assange Extradition Verdict. dissidentvoice.org The barrister-brewed humour of Edward Fitzgerald QC, one of the solid and stout figures defending a certain Julian Assange of WikiLeaks at the Old Bailey in London, was understandable. Time had worn and wearied the parties, none more so than his client. Fitzgerald had asked for water, but then mused that its absence could hardly …

Dr. Binoy Kampmark (2021-01-05). The Julian Assange Extradition Verdict. globalresearch.ca The barrister-brewed

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-05). Julian Assange verdict: Good day for human rights, bad day for journalism. peoplesdispatch.org Renata Avila talks about the verdict in the Julian Assange extradition trial. She says that while it was historic in being the first positive verdict from UK courts in 10 years, the implications for journalism are dangerous due to the statements the judge made…

Marlee Kokotovic (2021-01-05). UK judge denies US request to extradite Assange. nationofchange.org "I find that the mental condition of Mr. Assange is such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America."

RT (2021-01-05). Journalists Angered by Assange Ruling. dissidentvoice.org A London court has ruled against those seeking Wikileaks founder Julian Assange's extradition to the US. Assange is charged with 17 counts of espionage as well as hacking.

Amy Goodman (2021-01-05). 'Victory for Julian": UK blocks WikiLeaks founder Assange extradition to US on espionage charges. nationofchange.org While the decision is a "very significant victory" for Assange, the judge has largely sided with the U.S. prosecution.

Charles Glass (2021-01-05). Ruling Assange Can't Be Extradited Is an Indictment of US Prisons. thenation.com Ruling Assange Can't Be Extradited Is an Indictment of US Prisons…

Pablo Navarrete (2021-01-05). #TheCanaryLive — Julian Assange extradition hearing decision: what next? thecanary.co On the day a UK court ruled that Julian Assange will

_____ (2021-01-05). Assange Wins. The Cost: Press Freedom Is Crushed. popularresistance.org The unexpected decision by Judge Vanessa Baraitser to deny a US demand to extradite Julian Assange, foiling efforts to send him to a US super-max jail for the rest of his life, is a welcome legal victory, but one swamped by larger lessons that should disturb us deeply. | Those who campaigned so vigorously to keep Assange's case in the spotlight, even as the US and UK corporate media worked so strenuously to keep it in darkness, are the heroes of the day. They made the price too steep for Baraitser or the British establishment to agree to lock Assange away indefinitely in the US for exposing its war crimes and its…

Manlio Dinucci (2021-01-05). Dietro il verdetto di Londra su Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca Da un processo ingiusto — quello di Londra a Julian Assange, fondatore di WikiLeaks — è scaturita una sentenza che a prima vista appare giusta: la non-estradizione del giornalista negli Stati uniti, dove lo attende una condanna a 175 anni …

Alan Macleod (2021-01-04). "No Victory for Press Freedom" — Assange Wins Case but Judge Sets Worrying Precedent. mintpressnews.com Julian Assange will not be extradited to the United States as many feared, but his fate still hangs in the balance as it was the integrity of his mental health, not the right to a free press, that saved him.

Staff (2021-01-04). Non-extradition ruling a win for Assange, not for press freedom. therealnews.com A U.K. judge's ruling has spared Julian Assange for now, but advocates warn the court's rejection of Assange's free speech defense could stifle investigative journalism.

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-04). Assange Wins. The Cost: The Crushing of Press Freedom. counterpunch.org The unexpected decision by Judge Vanessa Baraitser to deny a US demand to extradite Julian Assange, foiling efforts to send him to a US super-max jail for the rest of his life, is a welcome legal victory, but one swamped by larger lessons that should disturb us deeply.

Areeb Ullah (2021-01-04). Julian Assange should not be extradited to US, UK court rules. middleeasteye.net Julian Assange should not be extradited to US, UK court rules | Judge rules that Wikileaks founder was suicide risk if convicted in the US, where he faces up to 175 years in prison on espionage charges | Mon, 01/04/2021 – 08: 56 | Witnesses told the UK court that Assange could commit suicide if imprisoned in the United States (AFP) | A UK court has ruled that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should not b…

Staff (2021-01-04). "Victory for Julian": U.K. Blocks WikiLeaks Founder Assange Extradition to U.S. on Espionage Charges. democracynow.org In a stunning decision, a British judge has blocked the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, saying he would not be safe in a U.S. prison due to his deteriorated mental state. In 2019, Assange was indicted in the United States on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act related to the publication of classified documents exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The United States has already announced plans to appeal the ruling. Press freedom advocates have campaigned against Assange's prosecution for years, arguing it would set a dangerous precedent for prosecut…

RT (2021-01-04). 'We'll give him protection': Mexican president promises asylum for Julian Assange. rt.com Mexico's president has offered asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, hours after a British judge refused to extradite Assange to the US to face espionage charges. | "Assange is a journalist and deserves a chance, I am in favor of pardoning him," President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador told reporters on Monday, saying "we'll give him protection." | "Our tradition is protection," Obrador added. | Also on rt.com | | Earlier on Monday, Judge…

Andrea Germanos, staff writer (2021-01-04). Mexico's Lopez Obrador Wants to Give Asylum to Julian Assange. commondreams.org "Assange is a journalist and deserves a chance," the Mexican president said Monday. | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/headline/thumbs/mexico-asylym-assange.jpg

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Mexico: AMLO Offers Political Asylum to Julian Assange. telesurenglish.net Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) Monday offered political asylum to Australian journalist Julian Assange after Britain's Crime Court refused to extradite him to the U.S. | RELATED: | "Our Foreign Affairs Ministry will ask the U.K. government to release Assange so that Mexico can offer him political asylum," AMLO said. | "The court's verdict is a triumph of justice. Assange is a journalist who compli…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-04). A victory for Assange but long battle ahead. peoplesdispatch.org Hundreds of people, who had gathered outside the London Central Criminal Court, celebrated the denial of the US plea to extradite Julian Assange. The verdict was a relief to Assange's family and supporters . However, there were also voices of caution due to the judge accepting most of the prosecution's arguments.

Dr. Leon Tressell (2021-01-04). US Imperialism Defeated: UK Court Blocks Extradition of Julian Assange. globalresearch.ca Today at the Old Bailey in London

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-04). Judge turns down plea to extradite Julian Assange to US; bail hearing on Wednesday. peoplesdispatch.org Judge Vanessa Baraitser refused the plea to extradite WikiLeaks founder to the US on the grounds that there was a high chance of his committing suicide due to the brutal prison conditions there. She accepted most of the other contentions of the prosecution…

Staff (2021-01-04). Decision Is Good News for Assange But Sets Grave Precedent for Other Journalists. truthout.org In a stunning decision, a British judge has blocked the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, saying he would not be safe in a U.S. prison due to his deteriorated mental state. In 2019, Assange was indicted in the United States on 17 counts of violating the Espionage Act related to the publication of classified documents exposing U.S. war crimes in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. The United States has already announced plans to appeal the ruling. Press freedo…

Staff (2021-01-04). UK Judge Blocks Extradition of WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange. truthout.org A judge in the United Kingdom has blocked an extradition request from the U.S. to transport Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, to face espionage charges. | Judge Vanessa Baraitser of the Westminster Magistrates' Court U.S. authorities are seeking to charge Assange over his role i…

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-04). Assange wins. The cost: Press freedom is crushed, and dissent labelled mental illness. dissidentvoice.org The unexpected decision by Judge Vanessa Baraitser to deny a US demand to extradite Julian Assange, foiling efforts to send him to a US super-max jail for the rest of his life, is a welcome legal victory, but one swamped by larger lessons that should disturb us deeply. Those who campaigned so vigorously to keep …

Jonathan Cook (2021-01-04). Assange Wins. The Cost: The Crushing of Press Freedom, The Labelling of Dissent as Mental Illness. globalresearch.ca The unexpected decision by Judge Vanessa Baraitser to deny a US demand to extradite Julian Assange, foiling efforts to send him to a US super-max jail for the rest of his life, is a welcome legal victory, but one swamped …

commondreams (2021-01-04). CPJ Welcomes UK Decision Not to Extradite Julian Assange, Urges DOJ to Drop Charges. commondreams.org ______________________________…

Online News Editor (2021-01-04). UK judge blocks WikiLeaks founder Assange's extradition to US. laprensalatina.com London, Jan 4 (efe-epa).- A British court on Monday rejected a request by the United States to extradite the founder of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, on the grounds that it would be detrimental to his mental health and that he would be a suicide risk. Assange, an Australian citizen, is accused by the US …

_____ (2021-01-04). Protesters Gather In DC In Solidarity With Assange. popularresistance.org Press freedom activists and independent journalists endured the cold and rain outside the British Embassy in Washington D.C. on Sunday Jan. 3. With less than 24 hours until a potential blow to the future of press freedom, the crowd of free speech advocates was there to make as much noise as possible. | On Monday, Jan. 4, U.K. judge Vanessa Baraitser will announce if the U.K. government will extradite Australian journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States. Assange faces up to 175 years in prison for charges under the Espionage Act. Leading press freedom and human rights groups have acknowl…

_____ (2021-01-04). Assange: Judge Denies United States' Extradition Request. popularresistance.org Citing harsh federal prison conditions in the United States, a British district court judge rejected the United States government's extradition request against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. | Judge Vanessa Baraitser accepted that Assange was diagnosed with a "recurrent depressive disorder." Although he functions at a high level, she accepted he was diagnosed with autism as well. | She accepted that he would likely be imprisoned at a supermax prison in the U.S. under special administrative measures (SAMs) and would find a way to commit suicide. | "I am satisfied that, in these harsh conditions, Mr. Assange's m…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). UK Judge Rules Against Extradition of Assange To US. telesurenglish.net British Judge Vanessa Baraitser on Monday ruled that Julian Assange should not be extradited to the United States to face charges of espionage and hacking government computers, as reported by The Guardian. | RELATED: | In making her decision, the British judge argued that the U.S. prison system has terrible and repressive characteristics, which puts Assange at risk of suicide. | "The rejection by the U.K. court of the US Govt's request…

_____ (2021-01-04). Stella Moris: If British Court Sends Julian Assange To The United States. popularresistance.org London – A month ago, I would wake up in the middle of the night seized by a recurring nightmare: my little boys, Max, 22 months, and Gabriel, who is three, had been orphaned. I was still here but their father was not. | Their father is Julian Assange, the publisher of WikiLeaks. Today, that terrible nightmare is all too close to becoming a reality. | Julian has been on remand in Belmarsh prison in South-East London for almost two years. | He is fighting a political extradition to the United States, where he risks being buried in the deepest, darkest corner of the US prison system for the rest of his life. Julian…

_____ (2021-01-04). Father Takes Assange's Fight To New York. popularresistance.org The father of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has turned his focus from the UK to the US where he hopes a change of president could advantage his son. | Assange is being held at London's Belmarsh Prison, pending a court decision on a warrant for his extradition to the US to face charges. | A judgment is due to be handed down at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, but Assange's father John Shipton won't be there. | Mr Shipton says there's too much uncertainty about his ability to travel amid a series of border closures in the UK due to a mutant strand of coronavirus. | "It's all up in the air like it is for everybody…

teleSUR (2021-01-04). Worldwide Activists Back UK Verdict Against Assange's Extradition. telesurenglish.net Human rights defenders, social activists, and political figures worldwide Monday reacted with joy to the United Kingdom Criminal Court's refusal to extradite Australian journalist Julian Assange to the U.S. | RELATED: | Judge Vanessa Baraitser, who denied the extradition on health grounds and high risk of Assange committing suicide, "accepted all the U.S. persecution motives," Former Consul of Ecuador in the U.K. Fidel Narvaez condemne…

sputniknews (2021-01-04). UK Court Ruling Against Assange's Extradition Victory for All Journalists, Lawyer Says. sputniknews.com MONTEVIDEO (Sputnik) – The decision of a UK court to block WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's extradition to the United States is a victory for all journalists, the whistleblower's Ecuadorean lawyer, Carlos Poveda, told Sputnik on Monday.

Online News Editor (2021-01-04). Taliban trying to move leadership from Pakistan to Afghanistan, Kabul says. laprensalatina.com Kabul, Jan 4 (efe-epa).- The Taliban are looking to transfer its top leadership from Pakistan to Afghanistan, a strategy which has led to the insurgent group increasing its attacks in the country's south in order to increase the area under its control, Afghan intelligence claimed on Monday. Zia Sara, the director of the National Directorate …

teleSUR, CE (2021-01-03). Press Freedom On Trial With Assange, Ruling Expected. telesurenglish.net Journalism and press freedom will be tried along with Julian Assange as he prepares to receive the verdict on his extradition to the United States where he faces a 175 years sentence for his work exposing war crimes and human rights abuses. | RELATED: | Assange faces 17 charges for receiving, possessing and disclosing classified documents related to the national defence, and one charge for computer misuse under the Espionage Act and the Computer Fraud and Abu…

Peoples Dispatch (2021-01-03). Verdict in Julian Assange's extradition case to be delivered on Monday. peoplesdispatch.org On January 4, a UK court will decide whether or not Julian Assange will be extradited to the US, to face charges of espionage and cybercrimes. Here's a look at the history of his extradition case…

_____ (2021-01-03). Assange Extradition: Legal Teams Likely Informed Already Of Judge's Decision. popularresistance.org In accordance with a British magistrate court's usual procedure, Julian Assange's Judgment has almost certainly already been written and sent in draft form to the respective teams of lawyers, probably early on Friday evening. | The lawyers therefore already know what the decision is, as well as the British government and at least the Department of Justice in Washington. | Under established procedure, Assange's lawyers are not supposed to tell Assange himself what the decision is so he and his family are probably the only people who are directly involved in his case who don't yet know its outcome. | The purpose in…

_____ (2021-01-03). Upcoming Ruling In Assange Trial Threatens More Than Freedom Of The Press. popularresistance.org Although important legal principles are at stake in the extradition trial of Julian Assange, for which a ruling will be handed down on January 4, it should not be forgotten that there are important human issues at stake as well. | One such issue is Assange's health, which has progressively worsened under what seems to be cruel and even sadistic maltreatment by the British government, including the refusal of appropriate medical care and confining him in his cell for 23 hours a day, seven days a week. | The other is that, if the Judge's ruling is adverse, Julian's two children may never see their father again. | M…

_____ (2021-01-03). Assange's Extradition Case Is Our Struggle For Popular Power. popularresistance.org Monday, January 4, 2021, will be a seminal day for press freedom and our right to know what our governments and corporations are doing around the world. Judge Vanessa Baraitser will announce her decision on the United States' request to extradite Julian Assange to the US for trial on 18 charges for his work to publish leaked documents that expose US war crimes and other wrongdoing in Wikileaks. | If Assange is extradited, this will have a chilling effect on any journalist or publisher anywhere in the world who dares to expose the truth about what the United States and its transnational corporations are doing. Alr…

The Grayzone (2021-01-02). Top 12 The Grayzone stories of 2020: From Julian Assange persecution to Bolivia coup defeat, corporate war on free speech to OPCW cover-up. thegrayzone.com 2020 was a chaotic year for the planet. While the Covid-19 pandemic dominated global politics, The Grayzone continued shining a light on the machinations of empire, from the persecution of imprisoned journalist Julian Assange to the defeat of a US-backed coup regime in Bolivia, from the growing corporate war on free speech to the OPCW's scandalous Syria cover-up. Throughout the year, The Grayzone's website had more than 5.24 million views and 2.48 million unique visitors. Our small, independently funded team …

Editor (2021-01-02). Julian Assange's Imprisonment Exposes U.S. Myths About Freedom. scheerpost.com Assemblea Nacional Catalana / CC BY-NC 2.0] By Glenn Greenwald / SubStack Persecution is not typically doled out to those who recite mainstream pieties, or refrain from posing meaningful threats to those who wield institutional power, or obediently stay within the lines of permissible speech and activism imposed by the ruling class. Those who render themselves acquiescent and harmless that way… |

Nozomi Hayase (2021-01-02). Prosecution of Assange Is an Attack on Our Own Humanity. commondreams.org "The verdict will not only determine the life of Assange, but also the future of journalism." | www.commondreams.org/sites/default/files/styles/cd_special_coverage/public/views-article/thumbs/getty-assange_protestors_1.jpg

_____ (2021-01-02). The Julian Assange Pardon Drive. popularresistance.org The odds are stacked against Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks publisher who faces the grimmest of prospects come January 4. On that day, the unsympathetic judicial head of District Judge Vanessa Baraitser will reveal her decision on the Old Bailey proceedings that took place between September and October this year. Despite Assange's team being able to marshal an impressive, even astonishing array of sources and witnesses demolishing the prosecution's case for extradition to the United States, power can be blindly vengeful. | Such blindness is much in evidence in a co-authored contribution to The Daily Signal from th…

Eric van de Beek (2021-01-02). US govt-sponsored website Bellingcat disrupts MH17 trial in Netherlands. thegrayzone.com Bellingcat has attacked defense attorneys and smeared witnesses in the trial over the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17. Is it being used by Western intelligence services to steer the case in a particular direction? (This report was originally published at Eric van de Beek's personal website.) For six years the British website Bellingcat has promoted Ukraine's narrative that Russia shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). With the start of the MH17 trial in March 2020, the self-proclaimed "collective …

sputniknews (2021-01-02). Al-Qaeda Branch Claims Responsibility for Killing 3 French Troops in Mali – SITE Group. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), a branch of the al-Qaeda terror group* in Mali, has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on three French servicemen in the African country, according to the US-based jihadist-tracking SITE Intelligence Group.