January 22, 2026
World
World
TOKYO, Jan 22 — Japan has halted the restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant just hours after it began, though the reactor remains “stable,” the operator said.
HONG KONG, Dec 15 — Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong media tycoon and outspoken Beijing critic, was convicted Monday on two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count of sedition under China’s national security law, facing a possible life sentence.
The verdict marks a key moment for Lai, 78, who supported Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement and ran Apple Daily until its 2021 closure following police raids. Known for his bold criticism of Chinese leaders, Lai has spent over five years in custody, much of it in solitary confinement, taking a toll on his health.
Born in Guangzhou, Lai fled to Hong Kong in 1961, built the Giordano clothing chain, and later launched Apple Daily in 1995. His activism intensified after the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown and continued through the 2014 Umbrella Movement and 2019 protests.
During his trial, Lai called himself a “political prisoner,” drawing a rebuke from the judge. His family has supported him throughout, though his health has deteriorated. Daughter Claire said, “All they proved is that my father is a man who loves God, loves truth, loves freedom, and loves his family.” — Reuters
