HONG KONG (AP) — The sentencing on Monday of Hong Kong’s onetime media magnate Jimmy Lai raised concerns from international governments and rights groups. Chinese and Hong Kong authorities defended it, saying it reflected the spirit of the rule of law.

Lai, a 78-year-old prominent democracy advocate, was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring with others to publish seditious articles. His co-defendants, who entered guilty pleas to the collusion-related charge, received prison terms ranging between six years and three months, and 10 years.

Some foreign governments and rights groups condemned the sentencing and called for the release of Lai, a British citizen. But China’s Foreign Ministry maintained that Lai is a Chinese citizen, and urged other countries to respect its sovereignty and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Here’s what they said:

United Nations

The U.N. human rights chief, Volker Türk, deplored the sentence, saying Lai was punished for “exercising rights protected under international law” and that the sentence must be quashed. His office raised concerns that the broad scope of the charges risks criminalizing legitimate activities of civil society organizations and journalists.

“This outcome highlights how the vague and overly broad provisions of Hong Kong’s national security legislation can lead to being interpreted and enforced in violation of Hong Kong’s international human rights obligations,” Türk said. “This is part of a broader repressive trend in Hong Kong, where hundreds have been arrested and prosecuted under these laws.”

The European Union

The EU reiterated its call for the immediate and unconditional release of Lai, citing his advanced age and health condition.

“The politically motivated prosecution of Jimmy Lai and the former Apple Daily executives and journalists harms Hong Kong’s reputation,” it said in a statement. “The EU calls on the Hong Kong authorities to restore confidence in press freedom in Hong Kong, one of the pillars of its historic success as an international financial center, and to stop prosecuting journalists.”

Australia

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her country’s government is gravely concerned by the sentences handed down to Lai and his co-defendants, saying its thoughts are with their family members and supporters at this difficult time.

Wong said the prosecutions have had a chilling effect on free speech in Hong Kong. She called on China to stop suppression on freedom of expression, media and civil society, as well as repealing the security law, under which Lai was convicted.

Britain

U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Lai was sentenced for exercising his right to freedom of expression after a “politically motivated prosecution.” She was concerned for Lai’s health and called on the Hong Kong authorities to release him on humanitarian grounds so that he may be reunited with his family.

“For the 78-year-old, this is tantamount to a life sentence,” she said, adding that her government will “rapidly engage further” on the case.

The British government said Monday that it is expanding an immigration route to more residents of Hong Kong, a former British colony, “amid continuing deterioration of rights and freedoms in the territory.” It estimated that some 26,000 Hong Kongers could relocate to the U.K. in the next five years.

China

In Beijing, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian told reporters at a daily briefing that Lai is a Chinese citizen, calling him a major planner and participant in a series of anti-China destabilizing activities in Hong Kong.

Lin said the judicial cases are purely Hong Kong’s internal affairs, urging “relevant countries” to avoid interfering in Hong Kong’s judicial affairs or China’s internal affairs.

Beijing’s office in Hong Kong affairs said Lai’s sentence reflected Hong Kong’s determination in safeguarding national security and demonstrated the spirit of the rule of law.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong leader John Lee said Lai’s crimes are heinous and that he had used Apple Daily to “poison” residents and incite hatred. He said Lai deserved the sentence because he openly asked for foreign sanctions against China as well as Hong Kong and harmed their interests.

“His heavy sentence of 20 years in prison demonstrated the rule of law, upheld justice, and brought great satisfaction to the people,” he said in a statement.

Taiwan

Taiwan’s mainland affairs council condemned the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for suppressing human rights in the name of national security, urging for Lai’s release. It reminded Taiwanese people to take Hong Kong’s painful experience as a warning to safeguard its hard-won free way of life.

Rights groups

Amnesty International said the sentence marked “another grim milestone” for Hong Kong.

“Imprisoning a 78-year-old man for doing nothing more than exercising his rights shows a complete disregard for human dignity,” Sarah Brooks, Amnesty’s deputy regional director, said.

Reporters Without Borders’ Director General Thibaut Bruttin said the court decision underscores the complete collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong and the authorities’ contempt for independent journalism.

“We have already witnessed press freedom defender Liu Xiaobo die in prison due to insufficient international pressure. We cannot allow Jimmy Lai to suffer a similar fate,” he said.

As Wetherspoons opens a new branch in Spain, many people will be wondering just how much it costs for a pint and pub grub

Punters visiting Wetherspoons’ new pub in Spain face paying more than they would at home.

While many of the dishes and drinks are still decent value, they are typically above what they are in the chain’s high street branches.

The reason, say bosses, is that it costs more to operate pubs in airports. They point out that its prices at the new Spanish pub are comparable to its existing sites airports and railway stations in the UK.

A large breakfast is 10.25 euros (£8.84) in Spain but just £5.09 on average in the UK.

To see how they stack up, the Mirror compared other prices at the Alicante pub with those at Wetherspoons’ Solihull pub in the West Midlands, and at Gatwick Airport.

To complicate matters, some of the products are not exactly the same in terms of size and ingredients.

Here are some examples

FOOD

Margherita pizza

• Spain (11 inch) – 11.95 euros (£10.42)
• High street ( 8 inch) – £6.21
• Airport (11 inch) – £13.85

All day brunch

• Spain (without drink) – 12.95 euros (£11.30)
• High street – (with soft drink) – £10.02
• Airport (without drink) £14.40

Classic burger

• Spain (without drink) 12.95 euros (£11.30)
• High street (with soft drink) – £8.29
• Airport – £14.42

Chicken, eggs and beans

• Spain (without drink) 11.95 euros (£10.42)
• High street – (with soft drink) £8.03
• Airport (not available but ham, egg and chips – £14.05

DRINKS

Pint of Stella Artois

• Spain – 5.95 euros (£5.19)
• High street – £3.99
• Airport – £6.90

Asahi beer

• Spain (330ml) – 3.50 euros (£3.05)
• High street (660ml) – £4.63
• Airport – N/A

Pint of Greene King Abbot Ale

• Spain (550ml can) – 5.95 euros (£5.19)
• High street – £3.20
• Airport – £5.15

Guinness 0.0

• Spain (440ml can) – 4.95 euros (£4.32)
• High street (538ml) – £2.73
• Airport (538ml) – £4.50

Coca Cola/Pepsi (398ml)

• Spain – 2.95 euros (£2.57)
• High street – £1.89
• Airport – £3.10

Police have reportedly used pepper spray and tear gas as thousands of people held protests in Australia over the visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog.

Mr Herzog is in the country this week after an invitation from Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese in the aftermath of the shooting at a Hanukkah event at Sydney’s Bondi Beach in December that killed at least 15 people.

But some people have criticised the trip, accusing Mr Herzog of being “complicit” in the large number of civilian deaths in Gaza and angry at how Israel has waged the war against the militant group Hamas.

In Sydney, ‍thousands gathered in a square, listening to speeches and shouting pro-Palestine slogans.

Police used pepper spray and tear gas to push back groups of people who ​were trying to breach the line and several arrests were made, Reuters news agency reported.

Protests were also held in Melbourne, where Mr Herzog is due to visit later this week.

Jackson ‌Elliott, a 30-year-old protester from Sydney, told Reuters: “The Bondi massacre was terrible but from our Australian leadership there’s been no acknowledgment of the Palestinian people and the Gazans.

“Herzog has dodged all the questions about the occupation and says this visit is about Australia and Israeli relations but he is ‌complicit.”

The Palestine Action Group, which organised the Sydney protest, had unsuccessfully mounted a legal challenge in a court on Monday over restrictions placed on the demonstration.

Authorities in Sydney had been authorised to use rarely invoked powers during the visit, including the ability to ‍separate and move crowds and restrict their entry to certain areas.

The Jewish Council of Australia, a vocal critic of the Israeli government, released an open letter on Monday signed by over 1,000 Jewish Australian academics and community leaders, urging Mr Albanese to rescind ‍Mr Herzog’s invitation.

Other Jewish groups have welcomed the visit of Mr Herzog, saying it will “lift the spirits of a pained community”.

At the beginning of his visit, Mr Herzog met the families of victims and survivors of the attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on 14 December.

At the site, he said: “This was also an attack on all Australians.

“They attacked the values that our democracies treasure, the sanctity of human life, the freedom of religion, tolerance, dignity and respect.”

He also laid a wreath and two stones he had brought from Jerusalem.

Along with his visits to Sydney and Melbourne, Mr Herzog is also due to arrive in the capital Canberra before he returns to Israel on Thursday.

North Yorkshire Police said it was called to Khyber Pass, Whitby, just after 6pm yesterday evening (February 8) after reports that a man was in the water.

Officers attended alongside North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, HM Coastguard, the RNLI, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

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The man was pulled from the water by members of the public, however, despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Whilst formal identification has yet to take place, the family of a 75-year‑old man from Middlesborough have been informed.

A spokesperson for the force said: “There are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding the man’s death, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

“We would like to thank everyone involved, especially the members of the public who risked their own safety in an effort to save him. Our thoughts are with them [the man’s family] at this extremely difficult time.”

The retailer revealed plans for new large and Express stores across the UK

Major supermarket Tesco has announced plans to open 11 new store across the UK this year. The new openings will include a number of Express and large stores.

The move comes after Tesco opened 60 new Express stores last year, with the supermarket saying it is on track to deliver a further 70 Express stores before March next year.

Over the next year, Tesco plans to open a number of Express stores across the UK, including in Bickington, in Devon; Pontrhydyrun, in Torfaen; Strabane, in County Tyrone and Wallyford, in East Lothian. The retailer has also outlined plans to open two large sites across Scotland this year, in Pitlochry and Heartlands.

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As part of its plans, Tesco will also look to reopen five former Amazon Fresh stores in London, which it previously acquired. These sites will reopen as Express stores in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East and Wembley before the summer.

Nick Johnson, Tesco Group Property Director, said: “As one of the UK’s leading retailers, we support jobs and local economies up and down the UK, and as we grow our store network we’re delighted to have the opportunity to serve even more people, in even more communities.

“We are hugely excited about the year ahead and looking forward to meeting our customers where they are with great quality, exceptional value and brilliant customer service.”

The announcement also comes after Tesco was named as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for a big shop as part of Which?’s monthly price comparison. This was the first time in over a year that the supermarket had taken the title in Which?’s comparison, and saw Tesco overtaking rival supermarket Asda.

Confirmed locations of new Tesco stores

New Tesco Express store locations

• Kensington High Street, London
• Hounslow, London
• Moorgate, London
• Aldgate East, London
• Wembley, London
• Bickington, Devon
• Pontrhydyrun, Torfaen
• Strabane, County Tyrone
• Wallyford, East Lothian

New Tesco large store locations

What people didn’t realise until afterwards, though, is that there was more to this set design than met the eye.

After Bad Bunny’s performance was over, people at the Levi’s Stadium in California began sharing their own behind-the-scenes footage, which revealed that many of the trees used in the routine weren’t actually props or set dressing, but full-scale costumes being worn by real people, to make it easier to assemble and dismantle without disrupting the central football game.

Kim Kardashian was channelling the Baywatch icon as she stepped out for her first public appearance with the F1 star at the Super Bowl

Kim Kardashian stepped out with her new man, FI star Lewis Hamilton, on Sunday night rocking a distinctly 90s vibe.

The reality star channelled 90s-era Pamela Anderson during the pair’s first public date at the Super Bowl, after dating secretly for a few weeks, with a fake, clip-in fringe and an oversized choker.

The 45-year-old mum-of-four’s new look, which she has previously tried out for size to the CFDA in 2023, was inspired by the Baywatch icon, according to her hairdresser at the time.

And new man Lewis, 41, must have been delighted as he is thought to love all things 90s, as he rocked up for their big debut himself in double denim.

His love for the decade even spans into iconic 90s cars – in particular, Ayrton Senna’s 1990 McLaren and donning nostalgic 90s national team tracksuits. Lewis also has a penchant for 90s cinema – his favourite film thought to be 1993 classic Cool Runnings.

And his famous lady’s long-term hairstylist Chris Appleton posted a picture of Kim’s new look on socials and wrote: ‘Super Bowl bangs’ and previously discussed the secret behind her clip-in fringe.

He told Vogue: “The look was inspired by ’90s Pammy. It was a much more undone look than we’ve done previously and adding piecey bangs really gave it a lived-in finish.

“I followed her cheekbones for placement. Kim and I worked visually, just grabbing hair and pinning it into place. From there, the key element was getting the separation in the bangs.”

Before Sunday night’s cute debut in front of thousands of sporting fans also enjoying the game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, the power couple had been spotted checking into exclusive hotel Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds.

They enjoyed an intimate dinner and a couple’s massage as part of their romantic weekend getaway to the A-lister favourite, followed by a trip to Paris, where Kim was promoting her Nike SKIMS line.

Kim and Lewis have enjoyed a friendship for years, before it turned into something deeper. And now a lip reader has claimed that a conversation between the two at the Super Bowl suggests Lewis promised his new girlfriend she would meet his mum in a now viral clip.

‘No I don’t take just any girl to my mom, I mean you’re gonna meet someday, she is very excited to see you,’ he reportedly said to Kim, according to expert Nicola Hickling, the founder of LipReader.

Hickling told the Daily Mail that Kim appeared to ‘shuffle uncomfortably in her seat’ and covered her face ‘before replying with a simple okay’.

Meanwhile body language expert Judi James revealed to the Daily Mail how Kim used a ‘hot and cool’ flirting technique that left Lewis ‘purring’.

‘Firstly, there is the pose that registers undivided attention between them, which is a form of non-verbal stroke when you’re on a date,’ James said, dissecting their interaction.

‘Kim actually leans back to take in Lewis visually as he speaks and this flattering “stroke” produces a “purr” response from him which is visible in the way his facial features soften and he talks through a smile of pleasure.’

James noted that, ‘Kim adds to the flirting when the tip of her tongue appears at the side of her mouth. This is usually seen as a gesture of playful desire or interest.’

‘But then she seems to switch to a very smart technique of intense interest followed by distraction, suddenly looking away after bathing Lewis in her interested gaze.’

‘She even brings one hand up to touch her hair and hide her face from him. This hot/cool body language technique is used to capture someone’s attention and to get them to coax the signals of interest back again,’ James observed.

‘Kim’s hand to hair gesture looks like a preen here, suggesting she sees Lewis as a very suitable “catch” to show off with pride at this public event.’

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Belonging Is A Fragile Thing

‘I Am Tired Of Translating Myself’

Emma Herring, from Chester-le-Street, was diagnosed with the worst stage of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in her chest and neck, at the end of November last year after raising concerns with herself months before.

From April 2025, Emma continued to go to her GP with concerns of increased heartrate, out of breathiness, and chest pain.

Emma has struggled looking at herself whilst she was bald as she said she was ‘never fully prepared to lose her hair’ (Image: EMMA HERRING)

However, because of her age, and previous diagnosis of anxiety when she was younger the doctors initially put it down to this.

She was prescribed Propranolol but because her symptoms remained she eventually went to A&E.

From there she had an ECG appointment and left it at that. Emma returned to work as an Optical Assistant for Specsavers until the next day when she was asked to immediately go in to the hospital.

The cancer found on Emma’s chest and neck including a seven and a four inch tumour (Image: EMMA HERRING)

Emma said: “I am not usually one to call in sick or anything, so I didn’t want to leave work early when the hospital told me to come straight in. I was just going to go after my shift finished, but the hospital put my manager on the phone and said I had to go straight away.

“We then rushed there – and that is when we were told it was stage 4 cancer, the most advanced stage you can get, and I didn’t believe it.

“I was told that I had a seven-inch tumour in my chest and four-inch tumour in my neck. It was and still is the scariest thing I have ever gone through in my life.”

Emma struggled losing her hair that she said ‘was part of her identity’ (Image: EMMA HERRING)

Now, Emma is urging others, especially young people, who like her think ‘they will never get cancer at this age’ to go get themselves checked if anything at all doesn’t feel right.

Emma said: “I ask myself the questions everyday that if I was just properly listened to and sent for earlier tests if my cancer would not have got to this stage.

“If one person learns from my story and persists in getting checked if they feel something is wrong then I will be so pleased as it has gone too far for me now.

“The whole process is so frustrating as I knew something was wrong and that is why I kept going back.

“You think they know best but honestly people need to trust themselves when something doesn’t feel right as I knew. However, I would have never imagined that it would be stage four cancer.

“It got to the point, because the cancer was eating away at my bone that I couldn’t properly change gear in my car because of pain and if something would have been done when I first went in April I believe that the cancer wouldn’t have spread that much.

“This will have a lifelong impact on me now as I wait to see whether I am infertile or what my options are, it is always going to be in the back of my mind as I can only wonder what would have happened.

“It is really scary to think what could have happened if it was left any longer as it had already spread to my bone. It could have killed me.

“Every day is so different and I am just trying to take each day as it comes. I have realised worrying or being scared or sad will not change anything and I’m just being positive.”

The lump that eventually developed on Emma’s neck that turned out to be a four inch tumour (Image: EMMA HERRING)

Although recovery from Hodgkin’s lymphoma has a high success rate, Emma said the experience has been anything but easy.

Emma said: “It has all just been really rubbish, my hair was my identity. Everyone said I would lose my hair and I knew that I just didn’t expect it to be that quick – I think I wasn’t fully ready.”

She is mid-way through an aggressive chemotherapy round that in total will last around six months.

Emma will then have to wait six weeks to have tests to see if the cancer has cleared- if it hasn’t she will then potentially have to undergo further radiotherapy and take it from there.

Emma Herring, 22, from Chester-le-Street (Image: EMMA HERRING)

She said the physical toll of treatment has left her needing help with everyday tasks, adding: “It has really affected me mentally but also physically as well. I have to sometimes get my mum to help me out of the shower and I am 22.

“I just never ever expected to get cancer, especially not at this age. I was finally getting to a happy place in my life, got my own flat and now it has all gone away from me.

“The latest scans are looking positive with a lot of the cancer going, but only time can tell with these things as we need to make sure the cancer has stopped regenerating.”

Emma had naturally long, thick and ginger hair (Image: EMMA HERRING)

Unable to work during treatment, she is also facing mounting financial pressures while waiting to find out whether she qualifies for additional support.

At the suggestion of friends and family, she set up a GoFundMe appeal to help cover essential costs, including travel to hospital.

It has already raised more than £1,600. You can support her fundraiser here.

Emma added: “Bills are also adding up as they don’t stop when you get cancer which is hard.

“I am on the sick, but because my chemo is intense but short, I don’t know whether I will qualify for additional help. I have applied, but it is a lengthy process, and in the meantime it is all so hard.

“Even the cost of the Tyne Tunnel to go to hospital for treatment and petrol is costing hundreds a month and with everything else and not being able to work, it is really adding up.”