Verdict on Jimmy Lai's case affirms Hong Kong's rule of law: official

Sentencing Jimmy Lai, an instigator of anti-China riots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to 20 years in prison by the High Court of the HKSAR on Monday demonstrated that "no one is above the law," said Gordon Lam, a Hong Kong SAR deputy to the 14th National People's Congress.

Lai was found guilty in December 2025 by the High Court of the HKSAR on two charges of conspiring to collude with external forces and a charge of conspiracy to publish seditious materials. Mitigation hearing for Lai's case began on Jan. 12 and concluded on Jan. 13.

The defendants in the national security case include Lai, Apple Daily Limited, Apple Daily Printing Limited, and Apple Daily Internet Limited, all facing charges of conspiracy to publish seditious materials and conspiracy to collude with external forces. Lai was also facing a separate charge of conspiring to collude with external forces.

"As someone who respects the rule of law in Hong Kong, I see this verdict as a clear affirmation that no one is above the law. The trial followed established legal procedures under the Hong Kong national security law and local statutes. The core issue was never about a person's profession or general opinions, but about assessing specific acts, such as conspiracy with external forces against clear legal standards designed to protect national security. Safeguarding national security is the fundamental cornerstone for Hong Kong's stability and continued prosperity," said Lam.

Verdict on Jimmy Lai's case affirms Hong Kong's rule of law: official

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO