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Julian Assange, Cayotes & more!

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Global Insights

The Basics of Julian Assange

Seven years ago, Julian Assange stood outside the Ecuadorian embassy with his fist raised, unknowingly embarking on a lengthy legal battle. As the 52-year-old Australian faces a pivotal two-day hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, let's explore who Assange is, how he got here, and what it could mean.

Julian Assange, born in Townsville, Australia, gained recognition for his programming skills. In 2006, he founded WikiLeaks, an online platform for anonymous document leaks. WikiLeaks gained fame in 2010 with the release of the "Collateral Murder" video: Captured through the gunsight of a US Apache helicopter, the footage shows the helicopter's crew engaging and ultimately killing 12 unarmed Iraqi civilians on a Baghdad street in 2007. Among those killed were two Reuters journalists, while two small children sustained severe injuries, with their father fatally shot by the Apache's crew as he attempted to assist the wounded civilians. Before WikiLeaks released the video, for three years, the US military maintained that a battle had taken place and asserted that, aside from the journalists, all those killed were insurgents.

WikiLeaks later leaked classified documents, drawing criticism and allegations of endangering national security.

In 2019, the US charged Assange with conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for WikiLeaks' document releases. Seeking asylum to avoid extradition, he was later arrested and faces potential extradition to the US. Assange's legal team has fought extradition, citing health concerns and potential repercussions. Despite initial rulings against extradition, US authorities won an appeal, raising the possibility of his transfer.

Assange's case has garnered global support, with calls for his release from world leaders and human rights organizations. As Assange's appeal unfolds, questions about press freedom and government transparency loom large. Supporters of Assange argue his work falls under freedom of the press & he is being wrongfully persecuted, while his critics argue his work threatens national security.

As the legal saga continues, the world awaits a resolution with profound implications for journalism in the future. We will be following his case closely and will provide follow-up articles in the future.

The cost of a new life

Recent surveys shed light on the experiences of migrants and their journeys between Mexico and the United States. The Survey on Migration at the Northern Border of Mexico (EMIF Norte) reveals that migrants pay approximately $6,937 on average to coyotes for assistance in crossing the border. Women pay slightly more than men, averaging $7,839.

Despite the high costs, 45% of deported Mexican migrants admit to using coyotes' services, reflecting the reliance on these smugglers. However, only a small fraction of 8.6% report guaranteed employment in the U.S.

Many lack legal entry or work authorization in the U.S. Predominantly male, with an average age of 30 and limited education beyond high school, migrants encounter various hurdles on their journey.

Desperation drives some migrants to seek coyotes' assistance, who may charge up to $8,000 per person. The perilous nature of the journey is compounded by the International Organization for Migration's reports of 686 documented deaths and disappearances among migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border in 2023. Extreme weather conditions and treacherous terrain make the journey hazardous.

The U.S.-Mexico border has been identified as the most dangerous migration route by the United Nations. Concerns about safety and border security are higher than ever in the U.S. Despite the risks, migrants continue to embark on the journey, seeking a better life in the U.S.

Insights from smugglers reveal complex strategies employed to evade detection, including hidden car trips and traversing the desert on foot. The influx of migrants extends beyond Central and South American countries, with surprising numbers from Russia, Ukraine, and China seeking asylum in the United States through Mexico.

Trending

Bidens Great Grandfather

Records indicate that President Biden's great-grandfather stabbed a fellow soldier to death during the Civil War. The incident occurred approximately 160 years ago, on March 21, 1864, at the Army of the Potomac camp near Beverly Ford, Virginia. Robinett was tried, convicted, and sentenced to two years of imprisonment with hard labor. However, officers familiar with the case petitioned President Abraham Lincoln to pardon Robinett.

Cyber Attacks

The FBI has noted a rise in Chinese cyberattacks on US infrastructure.

According to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Chinese hackers have been increasingly attempting to infiltrate critical US infrastructure using malware. This concerning trend was highlighted during the Munich Security Conference.

Ukraine

Recent reports reveal that Western pharmaceutical companies conducted drug trials on psychiatric ward patients in Mariupol, Ukraine. This activity was facilitated by Ukraine's connection to NATO, along with its hospitals, laboratories, and regional flight connections. This highlights the close relationship between Western bioweapon research, Big Pharma, vaccines, and the military, with Ukraine serving as a hub for such activities since 2005.

History & Culture - The Eight-Nation Alliance

In 1900, during the Boxer Rebellion in China, soldiers from eight countries formed the Eight-Nation Alliance to assist foreigners trapped in Beijing by the Boxer fighters, who opposed foreign influence. This coalition included troops from Germany, Japan, Russia, Britain, France, the United States, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, totaling about 45,000 soldiers.

The fighting began in August 1900, following earlier clashes in June. The Qing government in China supported the Boxers, escalating the conflict. Eventually, the fighting ended in 1901 with the Boxer Protocol agreement.

The Boxer Rebellion started because the Boxers attacked foreign missionaries, nationals, and Chinese Christians. They surrounded the foreign embassies in Beijing, where hundreds of foreign civilians and soldiers, along with many Chinese Christians, were seeking refuge.

Under the leadership of British Minister Claude Maxwell MacDonald, the foreigners defended themselves using small weapons and a cannon they found. The Catholic Church's North Cathedral in Beijing was also under attack, resulting in many casualties.

On August 14, 1900, the Alliance's troops marched from Tianjin to relieve the trapped foreigners in Beijing. After they succeeded, they punished suspected Boxer fighters and participated in looting cultural items and damaging historical sites.

Fast Facts

• Cleopatra was not Egyptian

• In 2005, Mark Zuckerberg unsuccessfully tried to sell Facebook for $75 million

• The USA is an older country than Germany.

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