Clair Dobbin is the barrister appearing for the USA. She begins her arguments to the court that it must take into account history. To give him bail now, would "frustrate" the planned appeal - therefore he must be kept in custody.

Clair Dobbin: Mr Assange has "resources, abilities and the sheer wherewithal" to secretly arrange a flight to another country. She notes that Mexico's president has offered Mr Assange asylum.

Ms Dobbin refers to his attempts to evade extradition - "his willingness" to spend seven years living in privation in a small embassy. The court should proceed on the basis that "he will take his chances."

(for clarity - that means Mr Assange is not likely to take his chances on seeing off the USA's appeal)

Clair Dobbin: Mr Assange did not leave Ecuador's embassy by his own volition. He has shown his disdain for the law of this country. His residency in the embassy, evading the Swedish extradition attempt, cost the UK £16m.

Prosecutor: "[Mr Assange] considers himself above the law ...and no cost is too great" - including the fact that nine people who stood surety for his bail in the Swedish extradition battle all lost substantial substantial sums of money when he fled to the Ecuadorian embassy.

If Mr Assange is prepared to take his life if extradited (as set out in the medical evidence) then flight from justice would be a greater impulse, says Ms Dobbin

Ms Dobbin says the USA's appeal will focus on whether the district judge, who blocked Mr Assange's extradition, correctly applied the legal test to the facts about the risk of suicide and how it could be mitigated in a US prison.

This will be argument for the appeal when it comes - not a matter that the court needs to consider at the moment. District Judge Vanessa Baraitser's job is to decide whether Mr Assange should be bailed ahead of the US appeal.

Clair Dobbin for the USA concludes: "There are insurmountable obstacles to Mr Assange being granted bail."

Right - now on to Ed Fitzgerald QC, for Julian Assange. He opens by saying that his client has a clear legal right to now be free because of the district judge's ruling on Monday blocking extradition.

The judge ordered that Mr Assange should be discharged, says Mr Fitzgerald. "The natural and logical consequence of that ruling is that he regains his liberty. Once there is a ruling that someone is entitled to discharge, the grounds for extradition have gone."

(Ed Fitzgerald says it's not even clear whether the incoming Biden administration wants to continue with this extradition request.)

Ed Fitzgerald: Mr Assange has every interest to stay in this jurisdiction (lawyer speak for "not do a runner") because he now has the protection of the rule of law.

Mr Assange has not seen his family in prison since the Covid crisis began. Bail would allow them to be reunited and would "anchor" him to the community in the UK, says his counsel.