分类： politics

Hong Kong’s High Court has delivered a landmark verdict in the national security case against Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper. The court found Lai guilty on all charges, including collusion with foreign forces, which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The ruling concluded that Lai harbored “a rabid hatred” of the Chinese Communist Party and pursued an “obsession to change the Party’s values to those of the Western world.” The court determined that Lai had actively worked to oust the Party or remove its leader Xi Jinping from power through his media operations and political activities.

Lai’s journey from a Chinese refugee to a Hong Kong business magnate forms the backdrop to this case. Arriving in Hong Kong in 1959 at age 12, Lai built a commercial empire that included the Giordano clothing chain before venturing into media with the establishment of Apple Daily in 1995. The newspaper revolutionized Hong Kong’s media landscape with its innovative layout and controversial content mix that ranged from investigative journalism to adult entertainment guides.

The prosecution built its case around Lai’s use of Apple Daily as a platform for anti-government sentiment during the 2019 protests. Evidence presented during the 156-day trial included testimony from former associates indicating Lai instructed editorial staff to “urge people to take to the streets.” The court particularly noted Lai’s meetings with U.S. officials, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, and his campaign urging readers to write to President Donald Trump to “save Hong Kong” as evidence of colluding with foreign forces.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee welcomed the verdict, stating that Lai had used his newspaper to “wantonly create social conflicts” and “glorify violence.” Lee emphasized that the national security law does not permit anyone to harm the country “under the guise of human rights, democracy and freedom.”

The case has drawn international attention as a bellwether for Hong Kong’s legal environment under the national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. Supporters of Lai, including family members and former colleagues, maintain that he was merely advocating for Hong Kong’s traditional values of rule of law and freedom of expression.

Lai’s defense argued throughout the trial that his actions constituted legitimate political expression rather than criminal activity. The media tycoon testified that he had only advocated for what he believed were Hong Kong’s core values: “rule of law, freedom, pursuit of democracy, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly.”

The verdict comes amid broader changes in Hong Kong’s political landscape, with authorities stating the city has moved from “chaos to governance” while critics point to an exodus of residents and diminished freedoms. The case represents one of the highest-profile applications of the national security law that Beijing says was necessary to restore stability after prolonged protests.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office has issued a firm rebuttal against Taiwan’s maritime jurisdiction claims while warning against continued aggression toward mainland fishermen. Spokesperson Chen Binhua stated unequivocally that no “prohibited or restricted waters” exist in the sea area between Xiamen and Jinmen, emphasizing that these traditional fishing grounds have long been shared by fishermen from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

During a Saturday briefing, Chen reinforced China’s territorial sovereignty, asserting that Taiwan along with its surrounding islands of Penghu, Jinmen, and Matsu are inseparable parts of Chinese territory. The spokesperson highlighted the historical context of these waters serving as common fishing grounds for decades, facilitating the livelihoods of fishing communities across the strait.

Chen defended the Chinese coast guard’s routine patrols as essential measures for maintaining maritime order and ensuring the safety of all fishermen operating in the area. The spokesperson called on Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party authorities to respect the established historical and factual realities of these shared fishing zones.

The warning came with a serious diplomatic message: Taiwan’s DPP administration must immediately cease what Beijing characterizes as unjustified detentions and aggressive actions against mainland fishermen. Chen concluded with a stern admonition that the DPP authorities would bear full responsibility for any consequences resulting from continued provocative measures in the contested waters.

Bangladesh has intensified security measures across the capital Dhaka following the assassination of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death has triggered widespread violence and targeted attacks on media institutions. The interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus declared Saturday a day of state mourning while appealing for public resistance against “mob violence by fringe elements.

Hadi, a central figure in the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was fatally shot by masked assailants during his campaign launch last week. The 32-year-old activist succumbed to his injuries Thursday night in Singapore after six days on life support, sparking coordinated attacks on major newspapers and cultural organizations.

The ongoing turmoil presents significant challenges to Bangladesh’s fragile democratic transition ahead of February 12 parliamentary elections. The violence has exposed governance limitations within Yunus’s interim administration and threatens to undermine the nation’s recovery from nearly two years of political instability.

International human rights organizations have condemned both the assassination and subsequent attacks on press freedom. Human Rights Watch described Hadi’s killing as a “terrible act” and called for urgent government action to curb the violence that has persisted since Hasina’s ouster in August 2024. Amnesty International has demanded independent investigations into both the assassination and the systematic targeting of media institutions.

The unrest has extended beyond Dhaka, with protesters attacking the Indian Assistant High Commission in Chittagong—reflecting growing anti-India sentiments since Hasina sought refuge in New Delhi. The banned Awami League party has threatened further unrest, raising concerns about potential election disruption in the world’s second-largest apparel manufacturing nation.

In a significant judicial development, a Pakistani court has imposed 17-year prison sentences on former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi in the high-profile Toshakhana corruption case. The verdict, delivered on December 20, 2025, centers on allegations that the couple illicitly acquired and sold luxury state gifts during Khan’s premiership from 2018 to 2022.

The prosecution successfully argued that Khan and his wife obtained valuable assets from the state treasury, including diamond jewelry and a collection of premium watches—six Rolexes among them—with the most expensive timepiece valued at approximately $305,000. The total value of the allegedly misappropriated gifts exceeded 140 million Pakistani rupees ($501,000).

This ruling represents the third conviction for the former cricket-star-turned-politician, who previously received a 14-year sentence and a separate 3-year jail term in related cases concerning state gifts. Notably, both prior sentences had been suspended by higher courts pending appeal proceedings.

Legal experts highlight the complex judicial landscape surrounding Khan’s cases. Despite being incarcerated since August 2023 and facing four convictions ahead of the February 2024 national elections, all previous sentences have been either overturned or suspended through appellate processes. The former leader and his wife maintain their innocence regarding all corruption allegations.

The Toshakhana case has emerged as a focal point in Pakistan’s ongoing political turbulence, reflecting deeper tensions between the military establishment and Khan’s populist movement. This latest development occurs amidst continuing political instability in the nuclear-armed nation, raising questions about judicial independence and the future of political reconciliation.

SYDNEY — In response to the recent mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach that claimed 15 lives, the Australian state of New South Wales is advancing stringent legislative measures to prohibit public displays of extremist symbolism. The proposed laws specifically target Islamic State group flags and related paraphernalia, with violations carrying penalties of up to two years imprisonment and substantial fines.

State Premier Chris Minns announced the comprehensive security reforms, which additionally ban the chant “globalize the intifada” and empower law enforcement to demand the removal of facial coverings during public demonstrations. “Hate speech or incitement of hatred has no place in our society,” Minns declared, emphasizing that recent events demonstrate how such rhetoric promotes community violence.

The legislative action follows police confirmation that Sunday’s attack targeting a Hanukkah celebration constituted “a terrorist attack inspired by the Islamic State.” Authorities discovered two homemade IS flags in the perpetrators’ vehicle, directly linking the violence to extremist ideology.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese concurrently announced federal initiatives to combat radicalization, including expanded definitions of hate speech offenses for religious leaders promoting violence, enhanced penalties for such crimes, and judicial consideration of hate as an aggravating factor in online threat cases. The government will also designate specific organizations as hate groups and reinforce Australia’s already rigorous firearm regulations.

Addressing the nation’s Jewish community at Sydney’s Great Synagogue, Albanese affirmed that “the spirit of our Jewish Australian community is completely unbreakable” and vowed that Australia would not allow “these evil antisemitic terrorists to divide us.”

The government will observe a National Day of Reflection on Sunday, coinciding with Hanukkah’s conclusion, with flags at half-mast nationwide and a moment of silence at 6:47 p.m.—the exact time police first received reports of gunfire. One suspect, Sajid Akram, was killed during the incident, while his son Naveed Akram faces 59 charges including murder and committing a terrorist act.

These developments occur amid a documented threefold surge in antisemitic incidents across Australia following the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict, raising critical questions about protection for the nation’s 117,000 Jewish citizens.

DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh witnessed massive funeral processions on Saturday for prominent political activist Sharif Osman Hadi, whose death has intensified the nation’s political instability ahead of crucial February elections. Hundreds of thousands of mourners gathered in Dhaka under tight security measures as the country observed a national day of mourning.

Hadi, a key figure in the 2024 political uprising that ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, succumbed to gunshot wounds on Thursday in a Singapore hospital. The initial attack occurred on December 12 in Dhaka, with police indicating the primary suspect has likely fled to India—a development that has sparked diplomatic tensions between the neighboring nations.

The funeral proceedings took place outside Bangladesh’s Parliament complex, where mourners carried national flags and chanted slogans vowing to continue Hadi’s political legacy. As spokesperson for the Inqilab Moncho cultural organization, Hadi will be laid to rest at Dhaka University campus beside national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.

The activist’s death has triggered violent responses, with protesters attacking and setting fire to offices of two major national newspapers. Interim leader and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has appealed for calm amid the escalating tensions.

Hadi, known for his criticism of both India and the exiled former leader Hasina, had planned to run as an independent candidate in Dhaka during the upcoming elections. Bangladesh currently navigates a delicate political transition under Yunus’s interim government, with the absence of Hasina’s Awami League party creating a complex power dynamic.

The political landscape now features Hasina’s rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, alongside the Jamaat-e-Islami party—the country’s largest Islamist organization—which seeks expanded political influence following Hasina’s departure. India has remained unresponsive to Bangladesh’s requests for extraditing Hasina, who faces death sentencing for crimes against humanity.