Julian Assange closer to extradition from UK as US wins case

Assange is wanted over the publication of thousands of classified documents in 2010 and 2011

Julian Assange on Friday moved closer to being extradited from the UK to America after the US government won the latest stage in its extradition bid. In January, a UK court ruled that the Wikileaks co-founder could not be extradited due to concerns over his mental health and the risk of suicide in a US prison. Read the full decision here. Assange, 50, is wanted in the US over an alleged conspiracy to obtain and disclose national defence information following WikiLeak's publication in 2010 and 2011 of several hundred leaked documents relating to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The decision, by Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, sitting with Lord Justice Holroyde, deals a major blow to Assange's efforts to prevent his extradition on espionage charges, although options to appeal remain open to his legal team. US authorities had challenged the earlier decision by then-district judge Vanessa Barrister, who ruled that Assange should not be sent to the US, in which she cited a real and "oppressive" risk of suicide. Related links:

• Footage shows No.10 staff joking about Christmas party last year
• Met police to review leaked video of Downing Street aides joking about Christmas party
• Next pandemic could be more lethal than covid, warns doctor behind Oxford jab