WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could be put at risk of catching coronavirus if extradited to the US, a UK court heard.
Mr Assange is fighting extradition to the US on espionage charges at a four-week hearing at the Old Bailey in London.
On Tuesday, US lawyer Eric Lewis was asked about a report he has written claiming US federal prisons were failing to protect inmates from coronavirus.
Giving evidence by video link from the US, Mr Lewis told the court it was likely Mr Assange will be held in a top security prison in Colorado if deported.
When it was put to him that last week the facility registered zero coronavirus cases, he replied: "I do not dispute that. That is where we have said Mr Assange will be sent. That is the facility he is most likely to be sent to.
"Twenty-seven per cent of the prison population have Covid-19, and if he is sent somewhere else then it is relevant," Mr Lewis said.
His assertion that Mr Assange faced 175 years in prison was also challenged by prosecutors, who said he used a "soundbite".
"I think there is a reasonable likelihood [of him receiving 175 years], Mr Lewis said.
"The federal judge has discretion on the sentence."
He accepted that a previous article where he was quoted as saying Mr Assange faced 340 years in prison was an error.
It was put to him that out of every other espionage case the maximum sentence has been 63 months.
Mr Assange, 49, has been indicted in the US on 18 charges of espionage and computer misuse over the publication by his WikiLeaks organisation of secret US military documents a decade ago.
He is accused of conspiring with former US army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning to hack a Pentagon computer and release hundreds of thousands of secret diplomatic cables and military files on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Manning was sentenced to 35 years, a term that was reduced to seven.
Mr Assange is in London’s top-security Belmarsh Prison while fighting extradition.
He has spent a year in prison after skipping bail eight years ago to avoid being sent to Sweden in connection with a sexual assault case.
He sought sanctuary in Ecuador’s London embassy until he was removed by British police officers in April 2019 after his relationship with Ecuadorian authorities soured with a change of president.
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 | Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
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Price: From Dh650,000
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Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
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Generation Start-up: Awok company profile
Started: 2013
Founder: Ulugbek Yuldashev
Sector: e-commerce
Size: 600 plus
Stage: still in talks with VCs
Principal Investors: self-financed by founder
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4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
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7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
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8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Meydan race card
6.30pm: Baniyas (PA) Group 2 Dh125,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,200m
7.40pm: Maiden (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh170,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm: Rated Conditions (TB) Dh240,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh175,000 (D)1,200m
10pm: Handicap (TB) Dh165,000 (D) 1,400m
