WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange, who is fighting to avoid extradition to the United States from Britain, failed on Monday in a bid to further delay hearings that resumed after a pause of months caused by the coronavirus lockdown. The US authorities accuse Australian-born Assange, 49, of conspiring to hack government computers and of violating an espionage law in connection with the release of confidential cables by WikiLeaks in 2010-2011. Assange, clean-shaven and wearing a suit at Monday’s hearing, formally declined to be extradited. He has been presented with a new, wider superseding indictment issued by U.S. authorities in June, which contains 18 alleged offences of conspiring to hack government computers and espionage. The judge rejected his lawyers’ application for the case to be adjourned until January to allow them more time to consider new US accusations.

Japan ruling party launches

race for Abe’s successor

Japan’s ruling party yesterday kicked off the race to pick Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s successor, with his powerful right-hand man Yoshihide Suga commanding an all-but-insurmountable lead. Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, 71, has already secured the support of major factions in the Liberal Democratic Party ahead of its leadership vote on September 14. But he isn’t running unchallenged, with a popular former defence minister and the party’s policy chief standing against him. Thanks to the LDP’s solid legislative majority, the race’s winner is certain to win a parliamentary vote on September 16 and be named the country’s next prime minister. The LDP race began after Abe, Japan’s longest-serving premier, abruptly announced late August that he would resign for health reasons.

Australian journalists flee

China fearing arrest

Two Australian journalists yesterday fled China under diplomatic protection, fearing arrest as political pawns in the rapidly worsening relationship between Canberra and Beijing. Their dramatic overnight exit came following days of secret wrangling that had seen both men holed up in Australia’s diplomatic missions to escape the clutches of China’s feared security police. Bill Birtles and Michael Smith had to consent to questioning before they were allowed to leave China, shepherded out of the country on a late-night flight by Australian diplomats. Both men were quizzed about fellow Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who has been detained since last month. China confirmed the two men had been questioned, but insisted the move had been legitimate.

18 killed and more trapped

in Pakistan mine rockslide

At least 18 miners were killed and more than a dozen were still trapped yesterday after a rockslide at a marble mine in northwest Pakistan, officials said. Boulders of white marble came crashing down on workers on Monday evening in the mountainous Mohmand district in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, near the border with Afghanistan. Officials said around 20 more miners were still believed to be trapped under the rubble with a rescue mission under way.

EU warns Serbia over

Jerusalem embassy move

The EU voiced “serious concern and regret” on Monday over Belgrade’s commitment to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, casting a shadow over the resumption of Serbia-Kosovo talks. The EU is still committed to the “two state solution” -- under which Jerusalem would be the capital of both Israel and a future Palestinian state -- and its own diplomatic mission is in Tel Aviv. The bloc expects prospective members such as Serbia to align with its foreign policy positions. “In this context any diplomatic steps that could call into question the EU’s common position on Jerusalem are a matter of serious concern and regret,” EU foreign affairs spokesman Peter Stano told reporters in Brussels.

Source: AFP, Reuters