Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the city's national security law, a decision that has drawn condemnation from international figures. The 78-year-old, a British citizen, was found guilty of colluding with foreign forces, marking the harshest punishment yet under the controversial law imposed by China after large-scale pro-democracy protests in 2019.
The sentence, handed down by a Beijing-backed court, has sparked outrage among human rights groups, with some calling it a "death sentence" due to concerns about Lai's health. According to BBC World, Hong Kong's leader expressed satisfaction with the verdict, defending the law as essential for the city's stability. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the sentence "unjust and tragic," stating that it demonstrates Beijing's willingness to silence those advocating for fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, as reported by Fox News.
The national security law, which has been used to arrest hundreds, was implemented following the 2019 protests demanding greater freedoms. The law has been criticized for its broad scope and its impact on civil liberties in the city.
In other news, Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted associate of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, refused to answer questions from the U.S. House Oversight Committee on Monday. Appearing virtually from a Texas prison where she is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, Maxwell invoked her Fifth Amendment right to remain silent, according to BBC World. Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer expressed disappointment, stating that the committee had many questions about the crimes she and Epstein committed.
Meanwhile, Israel's government has taken steps to increase its control over the occupied West Bank, challenging President Trump's opposition to Israeli annexation of the territory. The measures, which include making it easier for Jewish settlers to buy land, appear to violate agreements signed under the Oslo peace process, according to the NY Times. These actions, taken by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet, effectively advance the cause of annexation, according to the NY Times.
In other news, actress Rosie Perez stated that she predicted Kamala Harris would lose the 2024 election and that the campaign was not well-run, according to Fox News. Perez made the comments during a podcast episode, claiming that her warnings to the campaign went unheeded.
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