Everything you need to know about Julian Assange
Who is Julian Assange?
Assange is a 47-year-old Australian who founded WikiLeaks, a non-profit organisation that publishes leaked materials from a wide range of sources.
Assange rose to prominence in 2010 when WikiLeaks published a series of leaks by Chelsea Manning, a former US Army soldier.
In November that year, WikiLeaks released what would come to be known as Cablegate, a dump of more than 250, 000 US diplomatic cables.
Dated between December 1966 and February 2010, the cables contain diplomatic analysis from world leaders, and the diplomats’ assessment of host countries and their officials.
Why was Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy?
An arrest warrant for Assange was issued in August 2010 for two separate sexual assault allegations in Sweden.
Police questioned him in Stockholm, where he denied the allegations.
After returning to the UK, he feared that if he were extradited to Sweden he might be extradited on to the US, where he believed he could face charges over WikiLeaks’ publication of the secret US government files.
In December 2010 he appeared at an extradition hearing in the UK, where he was granted bail.
Following a legal battle, the courts ruled Assange should be extradited to Sweden. The WikiLeaks founder entered the Ecuadorian embassy in August 2012.
He was granted political asylum and remained there until his arrest.
Why do the Americans want him?
Upon his departure from the Ecuadorian embassy, Scotland Yard confirmed that Assange had been arrested on behalf of the US after receiving a request for his extradition as well as for the bail offence.
Later, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) published details of the charge faced by Assange over the Manning episode—namely conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, for which, if convicted, he would face a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
WikiLeaks ：维基解密
a non-profit organisation：一个非盈利性的组织
publish leaked materials：发布泄密的材料
from a wide range of sources：来自广泛的来源
Prominence /ˈprɑːmɪnəns/，n. 显著，有名
英文释义：the state of being easily seen or well known
搭配短语：come to/rise to/gain prominence （成名）
例句：Kit Harington came to (or gained) prominence as an actor in "Game of Thrones".
作为权力的游戏的演员而成名
release a series of leaks：发布一系列的泄密文件
Cablegate：电报门
cable /ˈkeɪbl/，n.（传输电、电话信号等的）电缆，电报
搭配短语：cable car（缆车）；overhead power cables（高架电缆）
diplomatic cables：外交电报
Dump /dʌmp/，n. 垃圾场；专用仓库；存档
词性拓展：dump（v. 倾倒）
a dump of …: …的倾倒
assessment /əˈsesmənt/，n. 评估，评价
搭配短语：an assessment of the situation形势评估; teachers' assessment 教师评价
diplomat：外交官
diplomats’ assessment：外交家的评估
diplomatic：外交的
diplomatic analysis：外交分析
host country：所驻扎的国家
warrant /ˈwɔːrənt/，n. 逮捕令，令状
搭配短语：a search warrant（搜查令）；an arrest warrant（逮捕令）
搭配短语：issue an arrest warrant 发布一则逮捕令
issue /ˈɪʃuː/，v. 发出，签署
搭配短语：issue a statement（发出声明）, issue permits（颁发许可证）
sexual assault allegation: 性侵指控
assault：侵犯
allegation /charge ，/ˌæləˈɡeɪʃn/，n.（未经证实的）指控
英文释义：a statement, made without giving proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal （未经确认的）指控= charge
例句：Are you able to verify your allegation? 你能证实自己吗？
搭配短语：make allegations of sth.（指控某事）, make allegations against sb.（指控某人）
deny the allegation: 否认指控
例句：Many patients have made allegations of professional misconduct against the doctor. 许多病人指控医生失职。
Stockholm：斯德哥尔摩
Extradite /ˈekstrədaɪt/，v. 引渡
extradition: (n)引渡
文化补充：“引渡”是指一个司法管辖区，应外地请求，将正处在自己领土之内而受到该外地通缉或判刑的人，移交给该外地审判或处罚。通常两司法辖区之间要签有引渡条约或协议方可引渡。
be extradited to Sweden:被引渡到瑞典
be extradited on to the US：被进一步引渡到美国(on: 继续，有further的意思)
Charge /tʃɑːrdʒ/，n. 指控，控告
搭配短语：drop charges against（撤销指控）
face charges over sth: 面临关于…的指控
例句：The police had to drop charges against her because they couldn't find any evidence.
an extradition hearing：引渡听证会
Hearing /ˈhɪrɪŋ/，n. 听证会
bail /beɪl/，n. 保释；保释金 bail（v. 保释）
搭配短语：bail sb out（把某人保释出来）；（通常指从经济上帮助某人脱离困境）
例句：He keeps running up huge debts and asking friends to bail him out. 他不停地欠下巨额的债务并请求朋友帮助他度过困境。
a legal battle ：法律较量
rule：(v)裁决；判决
be granted sth: 被给予/授予某事
Asylum /əˈsaɪləm/，n.（尤指政治）避难，庇护
搭配短语：to seek/apply for political asylum 寻求政治庇护
on behalf of 代表…，作为…的代表
例句：On behalf of the entire company, I would like to thank you for all your work.
a request for：对…的要求
the bail offence：违反保释令
the US Department of Justice (DoJ)：美国司法部
namely：也就是说、即
conspiracy：(n)谋划、密谋
He has been charged for conspiracy for murder.
他被指控密谋参与谋杀
commit：犯下…罪commit crime: 犯罪
Intrusion /ɪnˈtruːʒn/，n. 闯入，侵扰
computer intrusion：电脑入侵
相关词汇：intrude（v. 闯入，侵扰）
例句：I hate to intrude, but… 我不想打断你，但是…
相关词汇：intrusive（adj. 打搅的；侵扰的）
搭配短语：intrusive questioning 唐突的盘问
convict：承认convict a crime: 认罪
penalty, /ˈpenəlti/, n. 刑罚；罚金
搭配短语：pay a penalty交罚金
face a maximum penalty of five years：面临最高五年的刑罚
