The tiny US Pacific territory is not used to the spotlight – but all that changed with the WikiLeaks founder’s arrival

Julian Assange’s court hearing in Saipan was the most high-profile event on the US Pacific island territory since the Japanese emperor visited in 2005 – not that many of the local people seemed to notice.

Even the airport police officers who were tasked with escorting the WikiLeaks founder were in the dark about his identity. “Honestly, I don’t even know the guy,” said one. “We didn’t even know he was coming until this morning.”