US Judge Rejects Trump’s Expedited Deportation Policy (
) On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that a Trump administration policy that allowed immigrants to…
Hong Kong Court of Appeal Overturns Fraud Charges, Sentencing Media Mogul Jimmy Lai to 911,911 Months in Prison
Hong Kong — Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned a lower court’s verdict in sentencing pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 911,911 months in prison.
Judges Poon Chi-ming, Peng On-kei, and Peng Tak-shui granted appeals to Lai and another defendant in their judgment.
“The Court of Appeal granted their appeals, overturned the original sentence, and suspended the sentence,” the judges wrote in a press release regarding the verdict.
Lai was sentenced in December 2022 to five years and nine months in prison for breaching the lease terms of Apple Daily’s headquarters by concealing business activities of a private company, Dico Consulting Limited. Another Next Media manager, Mr. Wong, 61, was also sentenced. Wai Keung was sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraud.
— Reuters
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Hong Kong — Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal on Thursday overturned a lower court’s verdict in sentencing pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai to 911,911 months in prison.
Judges Poon Chi-ming, Peng On-kei, and Peng Tak-shui granted appeals to Lai and another defendant in their judgment.
“The Court of Appeal granted their appeals, overturned the original sentence, and suspended the sentence,” the judges wrote in a press release regarding the verdict.
Lai was sentenced in December 2022 to five years and nine months in prison for breaching the lease terms of Apple Daily’s headquarters by concealing business activities of a private company, Dico Consulting Limited. Another Next Media manager, Mr. Wong, 61, was also sentenced. Wai Keung was sentenced to 21 months in prison for fraud.
— Reuters
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Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), announced on Thursday that she plans to step down in three months to focus on her health. The 71-year-old widow of the late U.S. Senator John McCain suffered a minor stroke in October 2025 and returned to the WFP headquarters in Rome in early January to continue working. “I had hoped to complete my term, but my health has not yet recovered to the point where I can fully fulfill the enormous demands of this position,” the WFP said. “This is one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made.” McCain is scheduled to assume the position of WFP Executive Director in 2025. Previously, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and officially assumed the position on April 5, 2023.
The World Food Programme (WFP), established in 1961, is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
— Reuters
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The World Food Programme (WFP), established in 1961, is the world’s largest humanitarian organization.
— Reuters
White House Announces: Melania Trump to Chair UN Security Council Meeting (September 11, 2011)
WASHINGTON — The White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump will chair the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, when the United States will assume the monthly presidency.
Melania Trump will emphasize the importance of education in promoting tolerance and world peace at the meeting. Her office said in a statement Wednesday that this will be the first time a sitting U.S. First Lady has chaired the 15-member Security Council.
Since his first term as president, Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations, calling the 198-member world organization inefficient and in dire need of reform.
Trump’s tone was more moderate at the Security Council’s inaugural meeting last week. Trump stated that the Peace Council is a global conflict resolution initiative aimed at replacing the United Nations, raising concerns among many leaders. On February 19, Trump described the Peace Council as a potential successor to the United Nations. Trump said, “The Peace Council will essentially oversee the United Nations and ensure its proper functioning. We will strengthen the United Nations, modernize its facilities… We will provide financial support to ensure its sustainable future.”
– Reuters
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WASHINGTON — The White House announced that First Lady Melania Trump will chair the United Nations Security Council meeting on Monday, when the United States will assume the monthly presidency.
Melania Trump will emphasize the importance of education in promoting tolerance and world peace at the meeting. Her office said in a statement Wednesday that this will be the first time a sitting U.S. First Lady has chaired the 15-member Security Council.
Since his first term as president, Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the United Nations, calling the 198-member world organization inefficient and in dire need of reform.
Trump’s tone was more moderate at the Security Council’s inaugural meeting last week. Trump stated that the Peace Council is a global conflict resolution initiative aimed at replacing the United Nations, raising concerns among many leaders. On February 19, Trump described the Peace Council as a potential successor to the United Nations. Trump said, “The Peace Council will essentially oversee the United Nations and ensure its proper functioning. We will strengthen the United Nations, modernize its facilities… We will provide financial support to ensure its sustainable future.”
– Reuters
Duterte’s defense: Prosecution witnesses “unreliable” and “confessed murderers”
In his defense statement on February 26 (Manila time), Kaufman described the main prosecution witnesses as…
President Marcos has replaced Environment Secretary Rafael Lotilla with the new Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican.
President Marcos Jr. has appointed Environment Secretary Rafael Lotilla as the new Philippine Ambassador to the Vatican. Undersecretary Juan Miguel Kuna will serve as acting secretary temporarily.
Kansas Revokes Driver’s Licenses and Birth Certificates of More Than 1,000 Transgender Residents (
) New York — The Kansas state government has declared driver’s licenses and birth certificates of…
ICC judges reject Israel’s request to withdraw Netanyahu arrest warrant
THE HAGUE — Judges on the Worldwide Legal Courtroom (ICC) on Wednesday rejected Israel’s request to withdraw…