look. forwards. i mean. it's true. i'm a huge day for wiki leaks founder julian assange is a british court judge as well against extraditing him to the u.s. because of mental health concerns but the current editor in chief of wiki leaks points questions over press freedom. i deal with when the songs. we have he pushes it is not necessarily a win for journalists. but the u.s. has already announced it will appeal a court decision speaking for the stage of us all just supporters outside london

court. somehow be that he's. being destroyed and for whatever reason it's fantastic he's standing up for freedom of speech he's got nothing to tell the truth this is absolutely just this whole he's just because he's a terrific guy. been decision could potentially walk free not off her 9 years of near total isolation however the un's top expert on torture is saying is the verdict still sends a chilling message. and. exceed if you can intimidate in the world. what's going to happen to you if ever you have to show you power. and make you doubt known to the world.

just after 9 in the evening here in moscow this monday january. you know neal in your welcome to the program. we begin with breaking news a british court rejected a u.s. extradition request for julian assange jus to concerns about his mental health washington sees it will appeal the decision still wants to try him on charges of espionage that serves the president of mexico offered political asylum to the wiki leaks founder well we can take a look now at the reaction of the sun just supporters outside the courthouse when the verdict felt. i know. it's true i was there are you. there are you. the.

as long as julian has to endure suffering and isolation as an unconvicted prisoner in belmarsh prison and as long as our children continue to beat the wrath of their father's love and affection. we cannot celebrate. we will celebrate the day he comes home a glimpse of hope. the new year and hopefully a new era. it is a day. with when. we have. a window for journalists and privacy we have absolutely at that point was having read you in the sun does not fit in the story a moment outside the current was charge i was ready to actually date

you in a sense to the united states it has been a decision based on was meant to house friends indeed it was just 6 a few words of the exit i said to the united states it is a very unexpected result because much of until the last moment the judge had said that the case was not as politically motivated as he said she said that he would not he would face it in the united states under the u.s. constitution for that 11th hour the judge actually said no to do so and would not be actually i said to the united states that it really is incredible scenes. just heard from star morris the partner of judy in the sun she says actually right now we cannot fully celebrate we can only fully celebrate when judas sarge is port but this is the 1st step to justice we've also heard from the wiki leaks editor and chief christian who roughed her up to he said i can yet it's not when featured in

just yet nor when for journalism just yet but there should be more pressure applied on to the united states for the u.s. government to finally say enough is enough because of course judas soldier has been wanted by the united states for his alleged role in one of the largest compromises of classified information in the history of the united states and if he were to be found guilty he would have been sentenced up to 175 years behind prison that's under the u.s. is indictments of 18 counts under the espionage act for spying and publishing tons of fire documents all related to the war in iraq and afghanistan plus one of conspiracy to hack a government computer to publish these documents as well though according to today's sun just defense the united states was trying to prosecute yunus on the political grounds it was a politically motivated case it said of course if it is politically motivated that would therefore mean that judas saw and was exempt from actually dition under the u.k. you asked extradition treaty how as the prosecutor said the absolute opposite that

it was not politically motivated and in fact you're a songe endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of people for publishing these classified documents so although today is a victory in essence for june a surge as the judge did of course say that it was not politically motivated enough to serious concern for journalism going forward on the future of journalism as well you know i spoke to rebecca vincent from reporters without borders and she says that journalists need to be protected so we're relieved very much and share the court's assessment of his serious mental health arrests but we're concerned that the rest of the decision leaves the door open for possible other prosecutions on similar grounds because in. well that point until she came to that point of the decision it seemed very much that the case would have been in favor of the prosecution so without the mental health issues at play somebody else in that same situation could have indeed been extradited to the u.s. to face charges there so this pointed out broader systemic issues that need to be addressed the not the astronaut act must be reformed it locks the public interest

of fans if any publisher any journalist any source finds themselves subject to similar proceedings they cannot adequately defend themselves so the 3rd it hit today was one thing story medical grounds of course students soldiers defense team said that he was totally unfit to travel to the united states both in terms of his physical how auntie's mental how the post units are just being rolled up in london's ecuadorian embassy for a whopping 7 and a half is that he was put into vel marsh prison for almost 2 years so his mental and physical health has been seriously deteriorating but it wasn't just his mental and physical health here in the united kingdom but what could happen to him if he were to be sent to the united states he would have had to serve that sentence if found guilty and convicted in any text colorado jail that's one of america's most notorious jails in fact home to some of the world's worst criminal lost a large truck kills terrorists you name it there in that most notorious prison and that's exactly what you did a soldier was going to be had it so that huge sentence that prospect of the future

like that was something that really bent the judeans mental house was really at breaking point i his lawyer says that he was having suicidal tendencies and kills hundreds of times a day so that is pretty much the key reason why the judge today said that that is a future that's a fate that he was not going to be facing having said that as i do mention it's not in terms of journalistic freedoms we're still out a point where the buck is not over just yet we understand that a decision on whether or not you're in a search will be granted bail or not will come on wednesday and of course the united states is appealing this verdict today. they still are on the hunt for a tutor sergeant as they still want to see if you don't start acting like the united states to go back to the really isn't a big yet but in terms of supporters campaign is that outside the criminal court here today it wasn't just your innocence that was in the dock but actually the

fundamental tenets and principles of the rights and freedoms of expression of the press but also for the public to access information as well so it is a big day for 2 years but there's still a long way to go when it comes to journalistic freedom. let's stay in london and go live now on the program to writer and freelance journalist to record good to see you this legal human it's been both 1000 and it's been going on for almost a decade what's your overriding feeling today after the court announcement. you know. show the messages of people that sort of welcome to sit in of course but it's sort of crucial of course what you mention as dirt so very long ordeal last you know almost 10 years and you know economies with 18 months and bomb washington was still not clear on the outcome of the sitcoms so are you absolutely welcome what's

happened to those i think a lot of people various priors but i definitely you know good news through this leaks and julian assange to his family yet another big day on wednesday of course with the bail announcement to be made for julian assange and the decision to read what was made solely in court based on a son just poor mental health that's what the judge said the judge. rejecting his defense that he was protected under freedom of speech in terms of investigative journalism press freedom something that you're so heavily involved with what does that say to you and others like you who depend on it. you know they're going to do that so low is it you know we hope that this this case will kind of whole show you know and something more huge cases like this might look like and mother fortunately it was finally good news it did leave go wide open for huge prosecutions on the on the same the same charges and it's you know it's not guaranteed that they're all

kind of being the same same conditions with regards to mental how. so you know this is it is warring and you know. it's and so they're at home messaging sounds of. things like the espionage act needs to be looked at again something the. u.s. congressman congressman murtha was looking at him and others and this certainly here in the u.k. in europe. you know to make sure these protections are not not kind of to mildly. the judge essentially making a distinction between professional journalists who are for whatever they are and you're bloggers and people who are involved in whistle blowing at a different level that this think it's very important is it because if they don't have that protection they're in a court the same way that other journalist would do. you know there's a lot of questions raised there isn't. yeah i don't think. district driven as

bracers one of specifically. in terms of point of law or earth segregated though separated from other other journalists i think in terms of law and especially us small it doesn't make any money for distinction and the point was or was made throughout so you know one of the kind of ongoing themes that we have as a senator is that. much of much of these kind of debates about whether. you know julius answer journalist or other whether he behaved responsibly as a journalist in terms of you know the legal basis it's kind of it shouldn't have much much impact on the u.s. has already said track it plans to appeal the decision how concerned are you that it that there might be some success there. you know obviously but that's been mentioned previously everything in the u.s.

prosecution legal cases almost been accepted times it was almost you know seen surface to julian that. the judge was almost silencing the prosecution work for word and i was really stunned to get worried but it's you know we only have kind of this one point of law which is i mean you know regarding section 91 of the extradition act which is kind of kind of holding up this issue so it's you know it doesn't take very much to kind of be able to. you know put up one you know a lot of people against us so i'm sure you 12 days time the people who are once the appeal of occasions been made that you have them. the magistrate or the judge who is reviewing the application kind of you know 65 your original decision. no it was 6 looking model of procedure just to get your thought another aspect are put in the 2 sides here a trick the chances of double trump perhaps pardoning julian assange before trump

leaves the white house he's done some in the past number of weeks and also joe biden the incoming president your thoughts on whether this will be in his in-tray he did in 2010 call a surge a high tech terrorist i'm not sure he's mellowed or whether his new position will will make him do so just your thoughts on that both those aspects. now in terms of the new blood and limbs tradition. you know we can tell from a couple of members that that it's kind of very hawkish some of them were very involved in some of the few disclosures that. was involved so a lot of you know a lot of them about aleutians relation to the iraq war for example. and you know many of those cabinet members have made sort of comments to the or kind of relate that sentiment that sound to someone that's not

a journalist someone that's the kind of combatant that you are sort of these are and many of the not so it's not you know it's not who fought for us. you know i think many people myself included have been hopeful that i don't trouble me about sedition and move out of. the house you know kind of instructed our justice to drop the charges but i don't i think kind of what happens is that it was it was the 1st who snorer now it's the. kind of hands of politicians one who really use you know you know it is a political case not should have been one of the reasons to not extradite but. it would have been much happier in the future but you know it's good that. the judge always great to have you on the program thanks so much for sharing your views with us writer freelance journalist to record. earlier we discussed the implications of the announcement with

a number of the sun just prominent supporters. i wasn't sure what to expect but i'm so happy that it's. been discharged for whatever reason it's fantastic i mean there's so many people who've been campaigning for a loaf a long time against this injustice when he's gone through 1011 years of hell 1st under house arrest then in belmarsh prison for the simple crime of journalism which isn't a crime he's standing up for freedom of speech he's done nothing but tell the truth he's been treated as a political prisoner object or the east mental health has suffered an unknown people opposed to him has said that that is the case this this is not just about him personally it's about journalism it's about freedom it's about freedom of speech it's about freedom of the press and all those things are being undermined both in this country by the actions of the people in the united states they're trying to get him to be extradited to the pushing this action here was a real absolutely remarkable decision 95 percent of the judges remarks were in

favor for us i mean favor of extradition she threw my political the penalty through our public interest depends only in the last moment from a decision that she cited the american prison system so brutal so pressing it to you would be at risk of suicide if i sent him to be america or america sought help going to get there this is the end of the story we will go to a higher court so this is just because it is a terrific day what she said about iraqis much more worrying because she said there's no public interest there's no we there's no defense for journalists. like proper journalists or you to actually do what most journalists do because the reason there's no public interest but these are these were very very bad remarks and this is a victory and the chains you need to celebrate the potency nice to find out a song julian warm be extradited according to the decision of the judge i don't

know is very who are saying that the only reason there. the reason why this. has been stopped is his fragile health condition and the high risk of suicidal journalists around the world should be very very worried about today's outcome is very very worrying dot's jaja basically creamy now lies journalistic at the t.v. these a political case. and. it's not over it's not over yet. laura t.-z. question off has been looking at the events that led up to a soldier's long fight for freedom. jr and his son has come a long way from an obscure activist to freedom fighter or traitor depending on who you ask reilley one thing you can deny him though is that he led the charge that we kill leaks to dig up the secrets that america's intelligence colossus spent

billions of dollars burying and he succeeded. the. field reports from iraq military logs from afghanistan sensitive documents from

guantanamo bay none of which made the u.s. look particularly good i would argue that it's closer to being the high tech terrorist it isn't it i mean international community and not for the death penalty so if i'm not for the death i don't want to do it illegally shoot the son of a. great discredit to this nation should be assassinated he should be treated as an enemy combatant it didn't take long for his sons to experience firsthand what it means to be uncle sam's public enemy the us went after the whistleblower launching a probe into his actions at the same time a seemingly unrelated sexual assault investigation was opened. in sweden a son himself though claimed it was all part of americas to extradite him by all means possible the pressure mounted so when 2012 a son requested asylum from ecuador and holed up in the country's embassy in london

this kicked off what would become a long 7 years of confinement with even the u.n. calling for an end to this suffering various forms of deprivation of liberty to which julian assad has been subjected constitute a form of arbitrary detention the working group maintains that the arbitrary detention of mr assigned should be brought to an end instead the old things short from bad to even worse for a son ecuador's new president who was looking for warmer relations with the u.s. seemed to take personal offense when we can leaks wrote about corruption allegations against him sanj was shown the door artie's video agency ruptly turned out to be the only outlet to catch the moment a son was literally carried out of the building some 7 years after he stepped in it . was.

once u.k. law enforcement got their hands on a son they threw him in prison a proper one but the u.s. government is looking to try him under american law where the whistleblower faces more than a 100 years behind bars now every cording that emerged in line has sparked another wave of calls to pardon the whistleblower in the tape ironically julian a son she was trying to help u.s. authorities minimize the fallout of the 2011 leaks. which will have an. hour here is that it's more or. but we have been calling. me. every day trying to explain. the holdback don't trump since your given pardons to people please consider putting those who at great

personal sacrifice expose the deception and criminality of those in the deep state mr president if you grant only one act of clemency jury your time in office please free julian a'sssos you alone can save his life on hoping that he will pardon julian assange it's the right thing to do so far trump has remained deaf to the pleas the julian assange just saga has been going for so long it feels like it could be over any minute but flashing back to how it's been going so far it seems like we've just turned the page on another chapter dude and i found it for what i have known of him is a very resilient person but he has been brought to the breaking point to 10 years of persecution. joint persecution for political reasons by 3 didn't by the united kingdom by the u.s. by ecuador and none of this is being addressed not being compensated and not receiving justice for the ill treatment here suffered he should not have been

brought to a point where you suicidal he have been prosecuted to a point where you have been broken and now they basically the system is getting him out and you know obviously that is a legal obligation but in offense the system has succeeded in intimidating the world and passing the message that this is what's going to happen to you if ever you have the idea of publishing our dirty. secrets and making that known to the world. to more world news in the us they corona virus vaccine rollout isn't quite going to plan the country has missed its target of an ocular having 20000000 people by the end of 2020 only managing to give the job to fewer than 3000000 saskia taylor picks up the story. it might be a new year but it's cool to buy the same old problems on the fust day of 2021 the

us hit $20000000.00 kovac 19 cases but just out was before as the clock struck midnight thousands flooded the streets hoping that the next $365.00 days would just be that little bit that. scared i don't know what will happen 1st rule for 2021 don't talk about 2020 and i believe this is there we go she started here we did. that everything is going to get better actually working at the c.b.s. and his own crazy with the covert vaccine and everything right now we really hope that everything goes back to normal this christmas i new year many wished for a return to our old normal lives something top medical advisors have been promising

was just around the corner by the time we get into all of 2021 we could be approaching some level of normality tuns out though the very thing they said would quite literally set us free the fact scene is cool top in its own trauma president health experts in operation warp speed hope to have 20000000 americans vaccinated by now but things are going slower than 1st thought there is now growing frustration building over the slow roll out of the corona virus vaccines across the u.s. there's only a small percentage of the vaccine that's been distributed by the federal government that has actually been administered the massive vaccination campaign against the coronavirus in the u.s. has gotten off to a slower start. very slower start there's no way we can speed this up in the near term 14000000 doses of the fine and madonna fight scenes have been distributed across america but fewer than 3000000 have been administered it why well donald

trump says he's done his job but states aren't doing that. the federal government has distributed the vaccines to the states now it is up to the states to administer get moving a blame game that didn't go down well with those who say it's a lack of direction from the top that's left people out in the cold. that comprehensive vaccination plans have not been developed at the federal level and sent to the states as models is as and comprehensible as it is inexcusable it was unrealistic to assume that the health care workers already overburdened with covert care could take on a massive vaccination program many of those over bugs and health care while because on now protesting they say they were promised a vaccine and instead face and miscues and crashing apps if lucky that's despite being in contact with infected people all hours of the day for 10 months straight the promise to vaccinate them as

a priority fell apart as quickly as the promise to inoculate 20000000 by the end of 2020 so if they're not going to the risk groups where all they going while nowhere apparently there are delays at every corner of the number is lower than the us we hope for we know that it should be better and working hard to make the best tons out the holiday period and snow storms on what a smooth rollout means but even once the holidays end in the snow melts if nothing changes unless say it would take almost 10 years to vaccinate enough americans to control the virus gives a whole new meaning to a peroration warp speed and the mess continues on a local level 2. is

it just normal teaching problems of one of the most ambitious vaccination campaigns in u.s. history or is it just incompetence at every level. either way it looks like the cure all meant to bring is now only adding to the chaos. of the picture in indian are where medical experts have raised concerns over what they see as the country's rushed decision to approve 2 coronavirus vaccines on sunday india greenlit. a drug based on the astra zeneca vaccine kovacs in a drug created by india's bharat biotech company a senior health official said that both jobs are 110 percent say they wouldn't have been approved if there were any safety concerns but not everyone so confident.

based on the full goes regimen for both shots that got approved astra zeneca had a chance 62 percent efficacy this is much lower than any other vaccine that has been approved in many countries the all india drug action network is shocked to learn of a c.c.s. recommendation to grants approval of bharat's biotechs kovacs in its appears that no efficacy data for the vaccine candidate was submitted from the phase 3 trials that are ongoing and completely confused parent has some data in preparation but as far as i'm aware there is absolutely no efficacy data that has been presented published earlier we spoke to public health experts among good to who believes the indian government may have bucked the wrong party. in the in the fields of science and public health quite astonished to see. if you just look from the the data which is available to us as an eco vaccine we're looking.