Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison for colluding with foreign forces under the city's national security law, while Ghislaine Maxwell refused to answer questions from the US House Oversight Committee about her association with Jeffrey Epstein. Meanwhile, reports emerged of college students across the United States claiming disabilities for special accommodations, and skier Lindsey Vonn provided an update after a crash at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Additionally, a federal raid in a small Idaho town has shaken the community.
Jimmy Lai, a prominent pro-democracy figure and British citizen, received the harshest punishment yet under the national security law, which China imposed after 2019 protests. According to BBC World, rights groups called the sentence a "death sentence" for the 78-year-old, whose family has expressed health concerns. Hong Kong's leader, however, described the outcome as "deeply gratifying."
Ghislaine Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, invoked her Fifth Amendment right and refused to answer questions during a closed-door deposition with the US House Oversight Committee. Republican House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer stated that this was "obviously very disappointing," as the committee had "many questions to ask about the crimes she and Epstein committed." (BBC World)
In the realm of education, reports indicate a rise in college students claiming disabilities to obtain special accommodations. Fox News reported that at schools like Brown and Harvard, over 20 percent of undergraduates are registered as disabled, with Amherst reaching 34 percent. Harvard professor criticized the situation, stating that diversity is prioritized over merit.
In other news, skier Lindsey Vonn provided an update after her crash during the alpine ski women's downhill at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics. Vonn, who was already skiing with a torn ACL, suffered a leg fracture and had to be airlifted off the mountain. She posted on Instagram, saying her "Olympic dream did not finish the way I dreamt it would." (Fox News)
Finally, the small town of Wilder, Idaho, experienced a disruption in its community after a federal raid in October. The town, known for its comity between its white farmers and growing Hispanic population, saw its sense of security undermined by the raid. (NY Times)
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