International News
Corruption: Former Chinese Justice Minister Sentenced To Life Imprisonment
A Chinese court has sentenced a former Minister of Justice, Tang Yijun, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of massive corruption involving nearly $20 million in bribes.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by the Xiamen Intermediate People’s Court in eastern China, which found that Tang abused his public offices over a period spanning more than a decade.
Tang, 64, served as China’s justice minister between 2020 and 2023.
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During his political career, he also held several high-ranking positions, including Governor of Liaoning Province and Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Ningbo city.
According to the court, Tang used “the advantages associated with the positions he successively held” between 2006 and 2022 to illegally obtain benefits for individuals and corporate entities.
In return for bribes, he reportedly assisted companies and individuals in matters such as initial public offerings, securing bank loans, land acquisitions, and other preferential treatments.
Investigators found that Tang received a total of 137 million yuan, equivalent to about $19.7 million.
The court described the scale of the bribery as “particularly high,” noting that it caused “extremely serious damage to the interests of the state and the people.”
However, the court said it considered mitigating factors before handing down the sentence. These included Tang’s confession after his arrest, his expression of remorse, a guilty plea, and cooperation with investigators.
Tang’s conviction comes amid President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption campaign, launched after he assumed power in 2012.
While authorities describe the campaign as a drive to clean up governance, critics argue it has also been used to sideline political rivals.
In 2022, another former justice minister, Fu Zhenghua, was convicted on similar corruption charges and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, a punishment later commuted to life imprisonment.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities recently announced an anti-corruption investigation into Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s most powerful military officials, marking one of the highest-profile probes in recent decades.
International News
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
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The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
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According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





