Jimmy Lai Sentenced to 20 Years in Hong Kong Security Case

Hong Kong judges sentenced 78-year-old media mogul Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison after convicting him of conspiring with foreign forces and publishing seditious articles. The ruling against the Apple Daily founder drew immediate international condemnation from Donald Trump and Keir Starmer while his family warned the punishment is life-threatening. In separate developments, lawmakers demanded the resignation of Howard Lutnick over links to Jeffrey Epstein as police investigate Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for similar associations.The court identified Jimmy Lai as the mastermind behind activities intended to provoke foreign sanctions and overthrow the government, also sentencing eight co-defendants to prison terms ranging from six to ten years. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper characterized the prosecution as politically motivated and pledged to engage with Beijing for the release of the tycoon who holds British citizenship. Meanwhile, Donald Trump highlighted strong USA economic growth while separately criticizing the Super Bowl halftime performance of the artist Bad Bunny.Reporters Without Borders reported that press freedom in the territory has plummeted to 140th place globally following the closure of independent outlets and the implementation of strict security laws. The United Nations and the EU have called for the immediate annulment of the conviction, citing significant violations of international human rights obligations. Amid these legal battles, the United Kingdom and China reached a trade agreement to halve import taxes on whisky as diplomatic tensions remain high over the treatment of democracy advocates.