Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
Maduro Confirms “Respectful” Call With Trump, Signals Openness to Diplomatic Dialogue 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
New Orleans Immigration Crackdown Sparks Fear as Federal Arrests Intensify 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
California Launches Portal for Reporting Alleged Misconduct by Federal Immigration Agents 
China Urged to Prioritize Economy Over Territorial Ambitions, Says Taiwan’s President Lai 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Pentagon Probe Finds Hegseth’s Use of Signal Risked Exposing Sensitive Yemen Strike Details 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
U.S. Expected to Expand Travel Ban to More Than 30 Countries 
Myanmar’s military junta has sought to press criminal charges on the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who remains detained. The junta court this week postponed its verdict on the Nobel laureate’s corruption trial.
A spokesperson for the junta, Zaw Min Tun, told AFP that the verdict on the trial for Aung San Suu Kyi which is expected to be announced this week would be postponed. The spokesperson did not disclose the reason for the postponement as well as when the verdict was now set to be announced.
Journalists were not allowed to attend the special hearings in the military-established capital Naypyidaw and the ousted leader’s lawyers were not allowed to speak to the media. The corruption trial centers on the accusation that Aung San Suu Kyi accepted bribes of $600,000 in cash and gold bars from the former chief minister of Yangon.
Aung San Suu Kyi and officials of Myanmar’s democratically elected government were ousted in February 2021 when the military generals seized power. The military also engaged in a brutal crackdown on the citizens who have opposed the coup, killing over 1,000 people and detaining thousands more among other actions.
Aung San Suu Kyi is facing 10 corruption charges, each charge would have a 15-year maximum prison sentence. The ousted leader is also accused of breaching the official secrets act alongside Australian economic policy adviser Sean Turnell, who is also detained by the junta.
Aung San Suu Kyi is already sentenced to six years in prison for incitement against the military and breaching COVID-19 protocols as well as violating a telecommunications law.
Early this month, the junta announced its granting of amnesty to hundreds of prisoners as the country marks its New Year tradition. However, no political prisoners were among those who were released to their loved ones despite the military junta’s pledge to restore peace this year.
The foreign prisoners that are granted amnesty would be deported from the country, according to Lieutenant General Aung Din Lwe, and a prisons official said that most of the prisoners who were released were drug offenders and those who committed petty crimes.
