Jimmy Lai, the former Hong Kong media tycoon and fierce critic of Beijing, is set to be sentenced Monday in one of the most prominent cases brought under a China-imposed national security law that has virtually silenced the city’s dissent.

Three government-vetted judges in December convicted Lai, 78, of conspiring with others to collude with foreign forces to endanger national security and conspiracy to publish seditious articles. Lai, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under Hong Kong’s security law that Beijing deemed necessary for the stability of the Chinese special administrative region.

The democracy advocate’s arrest and trial have raised concerns about the decline of press freedom in what was once an Asian bastion of media independence. The government insists the case has nothing to do with a free press, saying the defendants used news reporting as a pretext for years to commit acts that harmed China and Hong Kong.

Lai’s sentencing could heighten Beijing’s diplomatic tensions with foreign governments. His conviction has drawn criticism from the U.S. and the U.K.

U.S. President Donald Trump said he felt “so badly” after the verdict and noted he spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping about Lai and “asked to consider his release.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government also has called for the release of Lai, who is a British citizen.

Lai’s daughter, Claire, told The Associated Press that she hopes authorities see the wisdom in releasing her father, a Roman Catholic. She said their faith rests in God. “We will never stop fighting until he is free,” she said.

Judges ruled Lai was the mastermind

Lai founded Apple Daily, a now-defunct newspaper known for its critical reports against the governments in Hong Kong and Beijing. He was arrested in August 2020 under the security law that was used in a yearslong crackdown on many of Hong Kong’s leading activists.

During his 156-day trial, prosecutors accused him of conspiring with six former Apple Daily staffers, two activists and others to request foreign forces to impose sanctions or blockades or engage in other hostile activities against Hong Kong or China. Lai testified for 52 days in his own defense, arguing he had not called for foreign sanctions after the law’s introduction.

In December, the judges ruled Lai was the mastermind of the conspiracies and never wavered in his intention to destabilize the ruling Chinese Communist Party. They took issue with what they called his “constant invitation” to the United States to bring down the Chinese government with the excuse of helping Hong Kongers.

Urania Chiu, lecturer in law at Oxford Brookes University, said the case is significant for its broad construction of seditious intent and application of the term “collusion with foreign forces” to certain activities by the media. The implication is particularly alarming for journalists and those working in academia, she said.

“Offering and publishing legitimate critiques of the state, which often involves engagement with international platforms and audiences, may now easily be construed as ‘collusion,’” Chiu said.

Lai is serving a nearly six-year prison term over fraud allegations in a separate case and has been in custody for more than five years. In January, lawyer Robert Pang said Lai suffered health issues including heart palpitations, high blood pressure and diabetes. Although Lai’s condition was not life-threatening, Pang argued his client’s health, age and solitary confinement, which the prosecution said Lai requested, would make his sentence “more burdensome.”

The prosecution said a medical report noted Lai’s general health condition remained stable.

Co-defendants may get reduced sentences

The former Apple Dailly staffers and activists involved in Lai’s case entered guilty pleas, which could help reduce their sentences to be handed down Monday. Under the security law, reporting on offenses committed by others may result in reduced penalties and some of the staff members served as prosecution witnesses.

The convicted journalists are publisher Cheung Kim-hung, associate publisher Chan Pui-man, editor-in-chief Ryan Law, executive editor-in-chief Lam Man-chung, executive editor-in-chief responsible for English news Fung Wai-kong and editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee.

The two activists convicted in the case, Andy Li and Chan Tsz-wah, also testified for the prosecution.

Before sunrise, dozens of people were in line outside the court building to secure a seat in the courtroom.

Former Apple Daily employee Tammy Cheung said she could only support them spiritually by seeing them. Cheung hopes the defendants will be released from prison soon, saying it would be great if they could reunite with their families before the Lunar New Year next week.

“Whatever happens, it’s an end — at least we’ll know the outcome,” she said.

Case considered a blow to Hong Kong media

Lai founded Apple Daily in 1995, two years before Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule after 156 years as a British colony. The publication drew a strong following with reports that were occasionally sensational, investigative scoops and short, animated video reports. Articles supporting the city’s democracy movement, including anti-government protests that rocked the city in 2019, attracted many pro-democracy readers.

Lai was one of the first prominent figures to be arrested under the security law in 2020. Within a year, some of Apple Daily’s senior journalists also were arrested. Police raids, prosecutions and a freeze of its assets forced the newspaper’s closure in June 2021. The final edition sold a million copies.

In 2022, Hong Kong plunged 68 places to 148th out of 180 territories in the press-freedom index compiled by media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders. The city’s latest ranking was 140th, far from 18th place in 2002.

The festival will also mark the UK’s National Year of Reading by joining forces with the Go All In campaign, a free children’s programme that aims to encourage children and young people to reconnect with reading, with a dedicated Children’s Zone full of storytelling and crafting activities held throughout the weekend.

Successive governments have refused to name their agent citing the long-standing policy of neither confirm nor deny

A Westminster committee has urged the Government to formally name the former agent known as Stakeknife.

The Army’s former spy within the IRA during the Troubles was widely believed to be west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was 77 when he died in 2023.

Operation Kenova, a probe which examined the activities of Stakeknife, who has been linked to at least 14 murders and 15 abductions, concluded that more lives were probably lost than saved through the operation of the agent.

However it was unable to confirm Stakeknife’s identity in its final report in December after the Government refused its authorisation to do so.

Successive governments have refused to do so, citing the long-standing policy of neither confirm nor deny (NCND).

Then, Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn said the Government was considering its position on naming Stakeknife following a Supreme Court judgment related to the disclosure of intelligence information in the case of the murder of Paul Thompson.

Kenova chief Sir Iain Livingstone, and PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, who previously led the investigation, have urged the Government to name Stakeknife.

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee joined that call in a report published on Monday.

The MPs from across a number of parties concluded that revealing the identity of Stakeknife would be “strongly in the public interest”.

They also contend it would “help build trust and confidence in the agencies of the state among all communities”.

It comes after the committee held an evidence session on Operation Kenova last month, during which it heard from Sir Iain and Mr Boutcher.

The report said the committee has been reassured that formal identification would not put any active agents at risk, discourage existing agents from continuing their work, or deter the recruitment of new agents.

It also contends that naming Stakeknife would also indicate to agents guilty of conduct beyond acceptable limits that they will not be protected or shielded from the consequences of their actions.

Committee chairwoman Tonia Antoniazzi said refusing to name Stakeknife is having an impact on their victims.

“As Operation Kenova’s final report makes clear, the ongoing refusal to confirm or deny Stakeknife’s identity is having a profound and lasting effect on victims and their families who have already been through so much,” she said.

“Given the reassurances we’ve heard that active agents won’t be put in harm’s way and future recruitment won’t be compromised, formal identification in this specific instance is appropriate, proportionate and in the public interest.

“By naming Stakeknife, the Government can send a strong signal that agents who cross a line will not receive the protection of anonymity and help to build trust and confidence across all communities in Northern Ireland.”

The committee has recommended that the Government should review, in consultation with MI5 and the PSNI, the application of NCND in all legacy-related cases, considering specifically the principles outlined in this report.

It also indicated that it plans to monitor Government progress on the implementation of Operation Kenova’s other conclusions and recommendations.

Mr Boutcher welcomed the committee’s report and reiterated his call for the Government to identify Stakeknife, saying this would “bring much-needed closure to many victims and families”.

“The committee recommendation supports the findings of the Operation Kenova report, which included that Stakeknife should be named with a specific recommendation for a review of the UK Government policy on its neither confirm nor deny (NCND) policy as it is applied to cases that occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland,” Mr Boutcher said.

“The application of NCND must not be allowed to cover up acts of wrongdoing by the state. I am grateful for the committee taking such care in examining this matter.”

A UK Government spokesperson said: “The behaviour described in Operation Kenova’s final report is deeply disturbing.

“It should not have happened, and in recent decades, there have been significant reforms to agent handling practice, including through legislation.

“The use of agents is nowadays subject to strict regulation, overseen by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal.

“The Government is not yet in a position to formally respond to the request by Operation Kenova to name Stakeknife as there remains ongoing litigation, and consideration of the recent judgment in the Thompson Supreme Court case.

“The Secretary of State has committed to updating Parliament on the matter as soon as he is able to.”

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FORMER EastEnders star Cheryl Fergison used food banks to get by after her accountant ripped her off during her time on the soap.

Cheryl, 60, who played Heather Trott from 2007 to 2012, said she needed the help after she was hit by a £500,000 tax bill.

The mum — on a six-figure wage on ’Enders — said she turned to food banks two years ago and once more this year.

She told The Sunday Times: “I tell people to use services when you need them.

“I’ve claimed benefits when I’m not working because you’ve got to live.

“It’s very difficult in our acting situation because things come in spits and spurts.”

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Cheryl said she hit hard times because her accountant did not file or pay her taxes.

She said: “I found out that I had been defrauded by an accountant who hadn’t filed or paid my taxes.

“They showed me false proof that they had sent everything to HMRC, but in reality they had taken the money.

“HMRC said it was still my responsibility to pay it and I lost between £400,000 and £500,000.

“I had this massive pay cheque and I put it in the bank, but I had to take it out to pay the taxman. I’m still chasing my tail from it.”

Yes, this 2019 Performance model will still do 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds and out-accelerate most things on the road. But the longer I live with it, the more it’s the small, thoughtful touches – the things you only discover in real life, with real people, on real trips – that make the biggest impression.

And few places test a car’s everyday usability like Buxton, Derbyshire, in the depths of winter.

Buxton FC’s stadium is the highest in England and, on the day we visited, felt colder than most domestic freezers. After the match, we trudged back through the icy streets, cheeks stinging and morale sinking. Every few minutes came the same plea from the kids: “Can you put the heating on yet?”

Normally, the answer would be no. But this is a Tesla.

The clean lines of the 2019 Model 3 Performance are clear to see from this angle

Five minutes before we reached the car, I opened the Tesla app, tapped Climate, and watched the temperature inside begin to climb from sub‑zero to toasty. By the time we arrived, the cabin felt like stepping indoors.

And that’s the thing: while Teslas are often discussed in terms of range, Autopilot or acceleration, it’s moments like this where the tech really earns its keep.

Cold-weather heroics aside, this long‑term test has highlighted just how well this seven-year-old car’s cabin design has aged.

Against Tesla’s newer designs, this 2019 Model 3 has gained a surprising charm. The big 15‑inch touchscreen still dominates, and while newer models are sleeker, the original’s simplicity – the clean dashboard, the absence of physical buttons – now feels almost classic Tesla.

The full-length tinted glass roof is one of the car’s best features. Even on grey winter days, it brightens the cabin and stops the whole place feeling claustrophobic.

The Model 3’s 425 litres of storage has already proved itself. The front boot swallowed muddy walking boots with ease, leaving the main boot free for everything else a family day out requires.

In terms of performance, it’s the nature of the delivery that impresses most. The instant torque can deliver gut-punching acceleration that leaves occupants breathless, but the car is equally capable of being completely silent and relaxing in slower traffic.

The sleek 2019 Model 3 Performance has a hint of retro charm

This dual personality – ferocious performance paired with refinement –represents the Model 3 Performance’s most compelling attribute.

On slippery roads over the moors towards Buxton, the traction control system proved remarkably sophisticated. With a potential 490hp deployed through all four wheels, wheelspin remained virtually absent, with the car feeling very sure-footed.

As the name hints, the 2019 Model 3 Performance prioritises handling precision over comfort, a trade-off amplified by performance-oriented suspension tuning. It’s a firm ride, particularly on broken road surfaces, but that makes for a more engaging drive.

The minimalist interior of the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Performance

In terms of steering, Tesla calibrates the system with artificially heavy weighting. Whilst this creates an initial impression of precision and directness, the absence of tactile feedback can prove frustrating.

Despite this, body control felt exceptional on our outing to the Peak District, partly thanks to the supercar-low centre of gravity courtesy of the floor-mounted battery pack.

It’s so far, so good for my long-term test of this used Tesla.

THE LOWDOWN: Tesla Model 3 Performance

YEAR BUILT: 2019

MILEAGE: 44,294

ACCELERATION: 0-62mph in 3.7 seconds

TOP SPEED: 155mph

RANGE: Potential 329 miles (WLTP) when new

PRICE: Estimated £22k to £25k in today’s market

Brookes was too young to compete at the last Winter Olympics, four years ago, but she has hit her sport’s greatest heights since.

In 2023, aged just 16, she became snowboarding’s youngest world champion with her slopestyle gold in Georgia, a victory sealed by landing the first Cab 1440 double grab in a women’s event.

Last month she won her second title at the X Games, the invitation-only holy grail of action sports.

“They see her as a legit one of the best to ever do it,” said BBC Sport commentator Tim Warwood before the Games. “She’s a purist’s dream.

“When she’s strapped into a snowboard, you can tell that’s what she was put on this planet to do.”

Brookes’ team-mate Maisie Hill, also making her Olympic debut, placed 29th to miss out on the final.

But while Hill’s big air campaign may be over, she and Brookes will return for the slopestyle from 16 February.

Just becoming an Olympian marks an incredible achievement for 24-year-old Hill, after she nearly died in a training crash three years ago.

She broke multiple bones, including her spine and pelvis, and suffered a grade three laceration in her liver that caused heavy blood loss after the crash into a wall of ice during a training session in Switzerland in January 2023.

“I was leaving hospital three years ago today. I’m pretty proud of myself,” Hill told BBC Sport.

Assessing her runs, she added: “I’m pretty upset, it was going so well all of practice.

“I’m so happy to be here. It’s been so fun. I’ve enjoyed it so much. I feel so blessed.

“I’m better at slopestyle anyway.”

Wayne Rooney insists Manchester City’s comeback win over Liverpool was ‘huge’ for Pep Guardiola’s side and ‘deflating’ for Premier League title rivals Arsenal.

Man City looked to be slipping nine points adrift of leaders Arsenal as they trailed Liverpool at Anfield following Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick.

Arsenal continued their title charge on Saturday, beating Sunderland 3-0, and were ten minutes away from boasting a huge lead in the title race.

But Man City scored two late goals, Bernardo Silva with the equaliser and Erling Haaland with an injury-time winner, to produce an incredible comeback and keep Arsenal’s lead to a still healthy but not insurmountable six points.

Rooney has urged the Arsenal players to ‘focus on themselves’ after a ‘deflating’ Manchester City win at Anfield as they bid to secure the club’s first Premier League title since 2004.

‘It’s an important one for Manchester City today,’ Rooney said on BBC’s Match of the Day. ‘It’s a tough place to go Anfield.

‘I thought Liverpool were really good second half, City were really good first half – then City have gone a goal down and dug in to get the three points.

‘If they slipped nine points adrift of Arsenal it would have been very difficult for them to win the league. But the confidence and belief that will give them is huge.

‘Arsenal can only focus on themselves. I’m sure they will have had an eye on the game, because if City lose, it does become difficult for them. But Arsenal just need to focus on doing their own job.

‘Having been there it is very difficult to do that because the Arsenal players would have been watching that game at home and thinking Man City are slipping up here.

‘It would have been deflating and you can waste a lot of energy hoping your rival are going to slip up.’

Rooney, who won five Premier Leagues at Manchester United, also believes Haaland’s return to form will be a ‘scary’ prospect for Arsenal.

Haaland scored a staggering 38 goals during the first-half of the season but had not netted in the Premier League in a month before his winner against Liverpool.

‘I thought it was a bit of a strange performance from Erling Haaland, a performance I’ve never really seen from him,’ Rooney added.

‘Normally it’s about his power and pace and being ruthless in front of goal, but he was a bit deeper today and was trying to create chances for Man City rather than score them.

‘Then he creates the equaliser and scores the really high-pressure penalty which keeps them in the title race really.

‘It’s his first goal at Anfield for Man City and you could see the relief in his face. The confidence that will give him now will be scary for Arsenal in the next few weeks.

‘I think it’s been a confidence issue with Haaland because no matter what level you’re playing at if you’re not scoring week in week out it does get to you.

‘Maybe it was getting to him a bit but that goal will raise his confidence levels again.’

Manchester City can cut Arsenal’s gap at the top of the Premier League to just three points when they face Fulham on Wednesday night.

League leaders and title favourites Arsenal return to action the following evening against London rivals Brentford.

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FRENCH police are struggling to identify which identical twin is responsible for a horrific double murder.

DNA found on the murder weapon has baffled cops as to which brother pulled the trigger because they share identical genetic material.

The 33-year-old twins, identified only as Samuel and Jérémy Y, are among five defendants on trial accused of the execution of two young men on September 14, 2020, Le Parisien reported.

The victims – Tidiane, 17, and Sofiane, 25 – were killed by multiple gunshots in a cellar in the Soubise housing project in Saint-Ouen.

The twins have also been accused of several attempted murders on October 3 of the same year, committed by an organized gang.

Both Samuel and Jérémy are suspected of conspiring to plot the double murder, but DNA found on an assault rifle can only be from one of the twins, the BBC reported.

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Currently on trial at the Bobigny Assize Court outside of Paris, investigators claim the brothers “exploited” their twinship to get away with the crime.

The chief commander of the criminal brigade Commander Dumas told Le Parisien: “They exchange clothes as well as telephone lines and identity documents.

“For a very long time, they have exploited this twinship in their criminal careers.

“Only their mother could tell them apart.”

Genetic experts say the brothers are monozygotic twins – meaning they originate from a single fertilised egg before it divides into two identical embryos – sharing identical DNA.

Investigators instead must rely on phone records, surveillance footage and wiretaps to determine which twin fired the murder weapon.

The brothers reportedly share identical pointed goatees and a leg ailment.

On Tuesday they were expelled from the court room for refusing to stand up.

The trial is due to end in late February.

It’s not the first time a murder trial has been muddled by twin DNA.

In 2024, the identical Nightingale brothers were arrested for the murder of Yorkshire man Shane Boxall.

And in 2010, Jasmiyah and Tasmiyah Whitehead chillingly murdered their mom, Nikki.

A student has been found dead in suspicious circumstances in herUniversity of Lancashire accommodation.

Carla Georgescu, 19, was found dead at her accommodation in Victoria Street, Preston, on Thursday afternoon.

Officers attended the address after reports of a ‘sudden death’, which is being treated as suspicious.

Ms Georgescu was in her second year at the university studying clinical psychology.

A 34-year-old man, who was known to Ms Georgescu, has been arrested and remains in custody.

The force said they are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson said: ‘We know that news of this young woman’s death and the police activity will be concerning to many, but we want to tell you that we have a team of detectives and uniformed officers working hard to try and establish the circumstances.’

A University of Lancashire spokesperson said staff and students were ‘deeply saddened by the tragic loss’.

Their statement read: ‘The wellbeing and safety of our students and staff is our priority. Support is being offered to anyone within our university community who is affected by this devastating incident, and our thoughts are very much with loved ones, friends and all those who knew our student at this incredibly distressing time.’

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Boasting 280 horsepower, eye-catching design and an as-tested price of £48,605, this compact crossover aims to marry the Italian brand’s sporty pedigree with zero-emission motoring.

The Junior Veloce is undeniably a head-turner. Measuring 4,173mm in length, it remains compact yet projects genuine visual impact.

Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280

The Arese Grey finish paired with a contrasting black roof (a £700 optional extra) proves an attractive combination, while the diamond-cut 20-inch Venti alloys also catch the eye. Nostalgic touches like the rear light bar echoing the classic Alfasud, plus the Progresso grille featuring the marque’s emblem etched into its surface, give the Junior real personality. Finishing the Veloce trim are red brake callipers, privacy glass and an aggressive body kit.

​Power is provided by a 207kW (280hp) electric motor exclusive to Alfa Romeo, pushing 345Nm of torque through the front axle. The 0-62mph dash is dispatched in exactly six seconds, with a top speed of 124mph. Beyond the stats, Alfa’s engineers have invested considerable effort in chassis development, fitting a lowered suspension, widened track, reinforced anti-roll bars, upgraded braking hardware, a quicker steering ratio and a mechanical Torsen limited-slip diff.

A front view of the Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280

​On a winding country lane, the car genuinely entertains the keen driver. It changes direction with enthusiasm, the steering relays useful information about grip levels, and the nose tucks into corners with precision.

Despite the considerable output, power is deployed progressively rather than aggressively, preventing the traction struggles that might otherwise hinder such a powerful front-wheel-driver. The battery pack mounted beneath the floor keeps the centre of gravity low, giving stability in corners.

​What sets the Veloce apart from its front-wheel-drive rivals is the behaviour of the rear axle. Ease off the accelerator as you approach a bend and the tail subtly rotates, helping to point the nose towards the apex, delivering genuine lift-off oversteer that feels deliberate rather than wayward.

Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280

The Torsen differential further enhances this playfulness on corner exit. Apply power as you unwind the steering and the car noticeably tightens its line, the diff working to pull the Junior through the bend rather than pushing wide into understeer.

The compromise appears in comfort. The suspension tuning that permits such dynamic ability means rough surfaces transmit noticeably into the cabin.

The cabin presents a mixed picture. The front sports seats deserve particular praise, delivering excellent lateral support. A 10.25-inch touchscreen manages entertainment functions, matched by an equally sized digital instrument display, while wireless smartphone connectivity offsets the absence of factory-fitted satnav.

​Plastics dominate, especially across the door trims and fascia, and the buttons and stalks will be recognisable to anyone familiar with recent Peugeots or Vauxhalls. Space for rear passengers is restricted, particularly for those with longer legs, reflecting the car’s B-segment foundations.

Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280

​Range proves the Junior Veloce’s weakness against rivals. The 51kWh battery pack provides an official WLTP range of 200.1 miles, though everyday driving, especially involving faster roads, will diminish that considerably. Realistically, anticipate somewhere between 150 and 160 miles during typical mixed use.

​Rapid charging reaches a maximum of 100kW, allowing a 20-80% charge in about half an hour. Using an 11kW domestic wallbox, a complete charge requires just shy of six hours.

The Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce stands out as a genuinely rewarding electric car that earns its badge. The dynamic abilities, visual appeal and driver involvement surpass what one might expect from a compact crossover. Nevertheless, the restricted real-world range, cramped second row and patchy cabin quality warrant careful thought given the nearly £50,000 price tag.

The Lowdown: Alfa Romeo Junior Veloce 280

POWERTRAIN: Single electric motor,

POWER: 280hp (207kW)

TORQUE: 345Nm

BATTERY CAPACITY: 51kWh

TRANSMISSION: Single-speed auto, front wheel drive

0-62MPH: 6.0 seconds

WLTP combined range: 200.1 miles

PRICE: £48,605 as tested