UK government approves Julian Assange's extradition to the US

Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange's extradition to the US has been approved by UK home secretary Priti Patel, according to a UK government factsheet. "Under the Extradition Act 2003, the secretary of state must sign an extradition order if there are no grounds to prohibit the order being made," a Home Office spokesperson said in a statement. "In this case, the UK courts have not found that it would be oppressive, unjust or an abuse of process to extradite Mr. Assange."Nor have they found that extradition would be incompatible with his human rights, including his right to a fair trial and to freedom of expression, and that whilst in the US he will be treated appropriately, including in relation to his health.The announcement was expected after a UK court issued a formal order to extradite Assange in April, a necessary legal step required before the government can act. "Extradition requests are only sent to the home secretary once a judge decides it can proceed after considering various aspects of the case," the spokesperson stated.After the earlier trial, Assange's team would have had the opportunity to submit information to sway Patel, but that apparently failed to move her. The...
— (Engadget) (June 17)   (Pocket)

UK work visa for elite graduates is exclusive and based on flawed assumptions

The UK's high potential individual visa demonstrates short-sightedness about the experience, insights and skills that graduates from the global South could bring to the UK. ShutterstockThe UK government’s announcement of a new work visa option aimed at attracting top graduates has elicited some backlash because the list of eligible institutions features no universities from Africa, Latin America or South Asia. The Conversation Africa’s Nontobeko Mtshali asked Orla Quinlan, Director of Internationalisation at Rhodes University in South Africa, to share her thoughts on the implications such visa programmes have for international integration and intercultural efforts in higher education. What has the UK government announced? The UK government recently introduced a new “High Potential Individual” short-term work visa. Home Secretary Priti Patel said the intention was put “ability and talent first” – not where people come from. The conditions of the high potential individual visa allow a stay of two or three years in the UK for graduates holding a master’s degree or a PhD, respectively. This visa can’t be extended, but holders may apply for longer-term visas. Applicants need to have ...
— (The Conversation) (June 21)   (Pocket)

UK Home Office signs order to extradite Julian Assange to US

WikiLeaker-in-chief to appeal Priti Patel's decision UK Home Secretary Priti Patel today signed an order approving the extradition of Julian Assange to America, where he faces espionage charges for sharing secret government documents.…
— (The Register) (June 18)   (Pocket)

Julian Assange's Extradition To US Formally Approved By UK Government

Julian Assange's Extradition To US Formally Approved By UK Government Julian Assange's fate has been sealed as UK home Secretary Priti Patel has formally approved his extradition to the United States, following a years long legal saga in which the WikiLeaks founder's legal team has pursued every avenue of the courts and appeal to fight the US request. Held at London's Belmarsh prison since his being taken out of the Ecuadoran embassy in April 2019, the 50-year old Assange is now closest he's ever been to being handed over to American custody, where it's expected he would face US legal proceedings and a likely conviction on multiple spying-related charges, eventually being sent to a federal supermax facility, specificallythe ADX Florence Supermax. The Home Office has said in wake of Patel's ruling that Assange has 14 days to appeal the decision. Assange was holed up in the Ecuadoran Embassy in London for 7 years. It affirmed that the courts found that US extradition would not be "incompatible with his human rights" and crucially that in US custody "he will be treated appropriately" - this after the prior most successful legal challenge his defense mounted hinged on his facing cruel...
— (ZeroHedge Opinion) (June 17)   (Pocket)