WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been refused bail and will remain in a UK prison despite winning his battle to avoid extradition from Britain to the US.
The US authorities had applied to the court to keep Assange behind bars on the grounds he was a flight risk as they wait to appeal against the extradition verdict at London's High Court.
Earlier this week Mexico had made an offer of asylum to Assange.
Judge Vanessa Baraitser rejected the bail application for Assange at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The bail ruling followed her decision on Monday to refuse the US's extradition request on the grounds it would be detrimental to his mental health.
Despite finding Assange's conduct constituted a criminal act, she ruled he was at risk of committing suicide in the US and would use his "intellect" to circumvent anti-suicide prevention measures.
Assange, 49, faces 18 criminal charges of breaking espionage law and conspiring to hack government computers.
He has exploited quite ruthlessly those who put their trust in him
The charges relate to the release by WikiLeaks of hundreds of thousands of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables which US officials say put lives in danger.
Although Judge Baraitser accepted the US legal arguments in the case, she said Assange's mental health issues meant he would be at risk of suicide if he were extradited.
On Wednesday, the US argued that their attempts to appeal for the extradition would be “frustrated” if he was released as a result of other nations offering him sanctuary and said he was a "flight risk".
“This court should be under no illusion of the readiness of other states to offer him help,” prosecutor Clair Dobbin said.
“After this court handed down its judgement the President of Mexico offered him asylum.
“He has exploited quite ruthlessly those who put their trust in him. Mr Assange regards himself as above the law and no cost is too great to avoid him being sent to the US.
"Flight is a far greater impulse or likelihood given all his attempts to avoid extradition in the first place.”
An argument that he was at risk of catching Covid-19 because of a prison outbreak was rejected after the court heard only three prisoners presently have Covid-19 and are being kept in a separate area.
Assange's legal team said all the people in his neighbouring cells had Covid-19 and that top-security Belmarsh Prison in east London, where he is being held, had a "major outbreak".
His barrister Edward Fitzgerald QC had argued Assange's success in the extradition ruling had "massively reduced" the risk he would abscond.
"Mr Assange now has every reason to stay in this jurisdiction as he has the protection of the law," Mr Fitzgerald QC said.
"His family would anchor him to the community for the first time. He would be safer isolating with his family. The absconsion was eight years ago in totally different circumstances. Now everything has changed.
"The Mexican offer was quite clearly to come into effect after the legal proceedings are concluded, not that he would go to the [Mexican] embassy."
The US Department of Justice said it would continue to seek his extradition and an appeal has been officially lodged.
WikiLeaks published hundreds of thousands of secret US diplomatic cables that laid bare often critical US appraisals of world leaders.
Assange made international headlines in early 2010 when WikiLeaks published a classified US military video showing a 2007 attack by Apache helicopters that killed a dozen people in Baghdad.
In June 2012, Assange fled to London's Ecuadorean embassy after losing his bid to prevent his extradition to Sweden, where he was wanted for questioning over alleged sex crimes.
Assange met his partner and fathered two children while in the Ecuadorian embassy.
Mr Fitzgerald QC said Assange's experience in the Ecuadorian embassy was "unpleasant" and he would not "ever be likely" to repeat it by entering another nation's embassy on his release.
Assange had remained in the embassy, living in confined conditions, until being dragged out in April 2019.
Although the Swedish case against him had been dropped by then, he was jailed for breaching UK bail conditions and his supporters forfeited sureties of £93,500 ($127,076).
He has remained behind bars after completing his jail term pending the outcome of the extradition case, which would include any appeal by the US.
The judge had previously refused him bail, saying he remained a flight risk.
Assange's partner Stella Moris said after the US's extradition request was refused on Monday that they could not celebrate as long as he was still in prison.
"We will celebrate the day he comes home," she said.
Biog
Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara
He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada
Father of two sons, grandfather of six
Plays golf once a week
Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family
Walks for an hour every morning
Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India
2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
The Gentlemen
Director: Guy Ritchie
Stars: Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant
Three out of five stars
England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
CHELSEA SQUAD
Arrizabalaga, Bettinelli, Rudiger, Christensen, Silva, Chalobah, Sarr, Azpilicueta, James, Kenedy, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Kovacic, Saul, Barkley, Ziyech, Pulisic, Mount, Hudson-Odoi, Werner, Havertz, Lukaku.
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Jordan Spieth (USA) 65 69 65 69 - 12-under-par
2. Matt Kuchar (USA) 65 71 66 69 - 9-under
3. Li Haotong (CHN) 69 73 69 63 - 6-under
T4. Rory McIlroy (NIR) 71 68 69 67 - 5-under
T4. Rafael Cabrera-Bello (ESP) 67 73 67 68 - 5-under
T6. Marc Leishman (AUS) 69 76 66 65 - 4-under
T6. Matthew Southgate (ENG) 72 72 67 65 - 4-under
T6. Brooks Koepka (USA) 65 72 68 71 - 4-under
T6. Branden Grace (RSA) 70 74 62 70 - 4-under
T6. Alexander Noren (SWE) 68 72 69 67 - 4-under
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The biog
Favourite hobby: taking his rescue dog, Sally, for long walks.
Favourite book: anything by Stephen King, although he said the films rarely match the quality of the books
Favourite film: The Shawshank Redemption stands out as his favourite movie, a classic King novella
Favourite music: “I have a wide and varied music taste, so it would be unfair to pick a single song from blues to rock as a favourite"
THE SPECS
Engine: 3.6-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 285bhp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: TBA
On sale: Q2, 2020
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