By Jessie Yeung, Kristie Lu Stout, Karina Tsui, CNN

Hong Kong (CNN) — Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty on two national security charges and a lesser sedition charge, in a landmark two-year trial widely viewed as a measure of the city’s shrinking freedoms under Beijing’s rule.

Self-made billionaire Lai, 78, is one of the highest-profile critics of Beijing charged under a sweeping security law imposed on the semi-autonomous city in 2020 following months of huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests.

He founded Apple Daily, a fiercely pro-democracy tabloid newspaper known for its blistering broadsides against the Chinese Communist Party until its forced closure in 2021.

Lai had pleaded not guilty to all charges, and now faces possible life in prison. Monday’s verdict marks the end of a tumultuous legal saga that had drawn condemnation from supporters and foreign leaders around the world, including US President Donald Trump – who had once vowed to “get him out.”

The imposition of the national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of political opponents, forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband, and transforming the once-freewheeling city into one ruled by “patriots only.”

Hong Kong and China’s leaders say it has “restored stability” following the 2019 protests.

Lai is a British citizen, and the UK government has previously called for his release.

At a news conference in London on Monday, Lai’s son, Sebastian, said he was “heartbroken” about his father’s condition and called on the UK government to do more to secure his freedom.

“Now it’s time to put action behind words, and make my father’s release a precondition to closer relationships with China,” Lai said. “Because how can you expect a fruitful relationship if they can’t even put a 70-year-old man – who’s in such ill health – on a plane and send him back home here in the UK where he belongs?”

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday condemned Lai’s verdict as “politically motivated,” saying Beijing’s national security law had been imposed to silence China’s critics. She later told British lawmakers that the foreign office had summoned the Chinese ambassador to underline the UK’s position “in the strongest terms.”

‘Mastermind’ of conspiracies

In delivering their verdict, judges said there was “no doubt that (Lai) had harbored his resentment and hatred of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) for many of his adult years.”

They pointed to Lai’s lobbying of US politicians during Trump’s first term – much of it before the security law was enacted – as evidence of sedition and colluding with foreign forces, including his meetings with then-Vice President Mike Pence, then-State Secretary Mike Pompeo, and attempts to meet Trump himself.

They also pointed to his WhatsApp messages with other pro-democracy activists and Apple Daily leaders, and a New York Times opinion piece he had written in May 2020 – in which he suggested ways to punish China for its repression of Hong Kong, such as revoking student visas for the children of government officials.

CNN

By Jessie Yeung, Kristie Lu Stout, Karina Tsui, CNN

Hong Kong (CNN) — Former Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty on two national security charges and a lesser sedition charge, in a landmark two-year trial widely viewed as a measure of the city’s shrinking freedoms under Beijing’s rule.

Self-made billionaire Lai, 78, is one of the highest-profile critics of Beijing charged under a sweeping security law imposed on the semi-autonomous city in 2020 following months of huge and sometimes violent pro-democracy protests.

He founded Apple Daily, a fiercely pro-democracy tabloid newspaper known for its blistering broadsides against the Chinese Communist Party until its forced closure in 2021.

Lai had pleaded not guilty to all charges, and now faces possible life in prison. Monday’s verdict marks the end of a tumultuous legal saga that had drawn condemnation from supporters and foreign leaders around the world, including US President Donald Trump – who had once vowed to “get him out.”

The imposition of the national security law has transformed Hong Kong, with authorities jailing dozens of political opponents, forcing civil society groups and outspoken media outlets to disband, and transforming the once-freewheeling city into one ruled by “patriots only.”

Hong Kong and China’s leaders say it has “restored stability” following the 2019 protests.

Lai is a British citizen, and the UK government has previously called for his release.

At a news conference in London on Monday, Lai’s son, Sebastian, said he was “heartbroken” about his father’s condition and called on the UK government to do more to secure his freedom.

“Now it’s time to put action behind words, and make my father’s release a precondition to closer relationships with China,” Lai said. “Because how can you expect a fruitful relationship if they can’t even put a 70-year-old man – who’s in such ill health – on a plane and send him back home here in the UK where he belongs?”

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday condemned Lai’s verdict as “politically motivated,” saying Beijing’s national security law had been imposed to silence China’s critics. She later told British lawmakers that the foreign office had summoned the Chinese ambassador to underline the UK’s position “in the strongest terms.”

‘Mastermind’ of conspiracies

In delivering their verdict, judges said there was “no doubt that (Lai) had harbored his resentment and hatred of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) for many of his adult years.”

They pointed to Lai’s lobbying of US politicians during Trump’s first term – much of it before the security law was enacted – as evidence of sedition and colluding with foreign forces, including his meetings with then-Vice President Mike Pence, then-State Secretary Mike Pompeo, and attempts to meet Trump himself.

They also poi

The post WX TEASE 12-15-25 appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

By Victoria Butenko, Christian Edwards, CNN

(CNN) — Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU, said Monday that it struck a Russian submarine in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, causing critical damage to the vessel and effectively disabling it.

In a statement, the SBU said the operation, which used underwater “Sub Sea Baby” drones, was the first attack of its kind. Video shared by the SBU showed a large explosion at a port.

“As a result of the explosion, the submarine suffered critical damage and was effectively put out of action,” the SBU said. CNN could not independently verify the claim.

The Kilo-class submarine is used to launch Kalibr cruise missiles, firing up to four at a time, according to the SBU statement. Russia has used the missiles throughout the war to strike Ukraine.

The agency added that the submarine is known as a “Black Hole” because of the hull’s ability to absorb sound and remain undetectable by sonar. It said that class of submarine costs around $400 million. Due to international sanctions, which have hampered Russia’s access to technological components, building a similar submarine could now cost up to $500 million, the SBU said.

Russian officials did not immediately comment on the incident.

The SBU said the vessel had been forced to remain in the port of Novorossiysk due to past successes of Ukraine’s sea drone operations, which forced Moscow to move many of its ships and submarines from Sevastopol Bay in the occupied Crimean Peninsula.

The attack Monday came amid a sustained bout of diplomacy to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. It was announced soon after the conclusion of a second day of talks between US and Ukrainian delegates in Berlin.

At a news conference Monday in Berlin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kyiv must be “absolutely sure” about how its allies will guarantee its security before making any decisions about the front line in a potential peace settlement with Russia.

Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Zelensky said that any security guarantees should include monitoring the ceasefire.

“That is really the basis for security guarantees, because the question is: Who will carry out the monitoring? What sanctions will be applied if the monitoring missions are disrupted?” Zelensky said.

Although Zelensky said these questions have not yet been answered, Merz said the United States offered Ukraine “significant” guarantees in the talks in Berlin.

“What the US has offered here in terms of material and legal guarantees is really significant,” Merz said, without providing details.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post In a first, Ukraine says it struck Russian submarine in Black Sea port with underwater drones appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Athena Jreij

BRENTWOOD, Calif. (KESQ) – Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner, are dead after an apparent homicide in their Brentwood home Sunday.

Los Angeles Police Department officers responded to Reiner’s home Sunday after a family member discovered the couple dead with multiple stab wounds.

LAPD homicide detectives are now investigating the scene as an apparent homicide.

A spokesperson for the family said in a statement, “It is with profound sorrow that we announce the tragic passing of Michele and Rob Reiner. We are heartbroken by this sudden loss, and we ask for privacy during this unbelievably difficult time,” the spokesperson said in a statement.”

The news comes just days before Reiner was set to appear at the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre on Tuesday, December 16 to discuss his film career and book, “A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever: The Story of Spinal Tap.”

Reiner was 78-years-old and his wife, Michele, was 68.

Reiner’s work included “The Princess Bride” and “A Few Good Men.” His breakout role was as Archie Bunker’s son-in-law on TV’s “All in the Family.”

Stick with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage on this story.

Click here to follow the original article.

The post Director Rob Reiner and wife found dead in LA home days before Plaza Theatre appearance appeared first on News Channel 3-12.