Julian Assange: Saint or sinner?

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is due to appear in court in London in the latest stage of his legal battle against extradition to the US, where he faces 18 charges and a prison sentence of up to 175 years. Critics say he should be prosecuted, while activists say he should be celebrated for exposing abuses of power by the US government. In this edition of Perspective we speak to Antoine Vey, a member of Assange's European defence team.

Julian Assange faces up to 175 years in prison if extradited. Supporters of the WikiLeaks founder claim he was targeted for "publishing and providing journalists with information that served the public interest."

Dozens of followers of Santa Muerte, a Mexican folk saint who personifies death, gather in the outskirts of Mexico City to worship a massive statue of the idol as they take refuge in faith amid pandemic fears.

Street artist Alfredo Segatori paints a huge mural of Diego Maradona in La Boca neighbourhood in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires, home to the imposing Bombonera stadium where Maradona once played for domestic giants Boca Juniors. "He is , he's the patron saint of artists, of the dispossessed, and of athletes too," says Segatori, who started painting the mural immediately after the football legend's death.

There were no spectators, no influencers, no fashionistas, at Saint Laurent's presentation of its 2021 Women's Summer collection, only drone footage of models walking on the crest of a tall sand dune in the middle of a honey-coloured desert. Every year, France's top fashion houses compete to find the most spectacular locations in Paris to host their women's wear shows, but with catwalks closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, brands now try do outdo each other with spectacular locations for their online-only shows.

The court of public opinion remains undecided on Julian Assange. But the fate of the WikiLeaks founder is currently in the hands of a London judge who will decide whether to extradite him to the US.

Mauricio Pochettino has been officially named the new coach of French champions Paris Saint-Germain following the sacking of Thomas Tuchel.

A London court today will announce its verdict on whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be extradited to the United States. The proceedings have been described by critics as unfair.

The legal controversies surrounding the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange are now in their second decade and the divisions between his supporters and critics remain as intractable as ever. For some, the Australian national, now 49, is a fearless campaigner for press freedom. For others, he was reckless with classified information, possibly endangering sources. Here is a look back at his long-running battle to avoid trial in the US.

Residents of Diriamba, 50km south of the Nicaraguan capital Managua, wear colourful costumes and dance in celebration of the town's patron saint San Sebastian. The festival takes place with fewer numbers than usual amid Covid-19, with most people wearing masks and some social distancing rules.

Devotees lined up to receive blessings from the 'world's smallest saint,' at the Kumbh Mela religious festival in Haridwar on Sunday. The 55-year-old Narayan Nand Giri Maharaj is 45.7 centimetres tall (18 inches) and weighs 18 kg (40 lbs). Worshippers came one by one in front of a temple to seek his blessings. He's unable to speak but keeps chanting Lord Siva's mantra to devotees.

The WikiLeaks founder, who faces charges in the US over a massive leak of classified data, has been engaged to his partner since 2016. The couple hopes to marry in a London prison ahead of his 50th birthday on July 3.