Jimmy Lai, the 78-year-old Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy advocate, has been sentenced to twenty years in prison by a Hong Kong court after being convicted under China’s national security law.

The sentence was handed down on February 9, 2026, concluding a legal saga that has drawn intense international attention and highlighted deep-seated tensions over civil liberties in the semi-autonomous city.

Lai, a British citizen and founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted in December 2025 on multiple counts, including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials.

The convictions stemmed from activities related to his media operations and alleged communications with foreign entities, charges that Lai and his supporters have vehemently denied.

Prosecutors argued that Lai’s actions breached provisions of the national security legislation introduced in 2020 to tighten control over political expression in Hong Kong.

The 20-year sentence is among the most severe ever imposed under the national security law and reflects the court’s finding that the offences were of a “grave nature.” Lai’s legal team had sought leniency on grounds of his age and deteriorating health, but the court indicated it would not grant significant concessions.

Supporters and civil liberties observers have described the penalty as effectively a life term given Lai’s advanced age.

International reactions were swift.

The United States Department of State described the sentencing as “unjust and tragic,” urging authorities to consider humanitarian parole given Lai’s age and prolonged detention.

Governments including the United Kingdom, where Lai holds citizenship, also criticised the ruling, with London officials characterising the term as tantamount to a life sentence and urging further diplomatic engagement on his behalf.

Human rights organisations have condemned the case as a significant blow to press freedom in Hong Kong.

Human Rights Watch called the sentence a “devastating blow” to independent journalism, urging global partners to press for consequences for officials responsible for Lai’s imprisonment.

The Committee to Protect Journalists similarly warned that the sentencing underscored broader erosions of media freedom in the city.

Lai’s family has expressed profound sorrow over the sentence, with his son describing it as “heartbreaking” and raising concerns over his father’s health in custody.

Lai has remained incarcerated since his arrest in 2020, with supporters saying his continued detention exemplifies the shrinking space for dissenting voices in Hong Kong’s public life.

The case has become emblematic of wider shifts in Hong Kong’s legal and political environment since the imposition of the national security law, which has been used to silence critics and dismantle the city’s once-vibrant pro-democracy movement.

Observers note that the sentencing may have implications beyond Hong Kong’s borders, influencing how other jurisdictions view China’s approach to civil liberties and foreign relations.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested on February nineteen, two thousand twenty-six, on suspicion of misconduct in public office, Thames Valley Police confirmed early on Thursday.

Officers detained the sixty-six-year-old at his residence on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where unmarked police vehicles and plainclothes officers were seen arriving just after eight o’clock in the morning as part of a broader investigation.

The force said it was also conducting searches at addresses in both Berkshire and Norfolk as the inquiry progresses.

Thames Valley Police, in a statement, said they had arrested “a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office” and that he remained in custody as the investigation continued.

The force emphasised that it was important to protect the integrity and objectivity of the inquiry and that further updates would be provided at the appropriate time.

The arrest follows an assessment phase in which police and prosecutors reviewed allegations linked to the so-called Epstein files – a tranche of documents published by the United States Department of Justice that has prompted renewed scrutiny of Mountbatten-Windsor’s past conduct.

Among the material under review are claims that, while serving as the United Kingdom’s trade envoy, he shared confidential government travel reports and documents with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles III, Andrew’s elder brother, issued a statement expressing his deepest concern over the arrest, underlining that the rule of law must take its course.

Buckingham Palace said the royal family would fully support the authorities as appropriate.

Mountbatten-Windsor has previously denied any wrongdoing.

In recent years he was stripped of his royal titles and patronages amid reputational concerns tied to his association with Epstein.

The former duke’s legal status and the ongoing investigation have drawn intense public interest, with authorities underscoring the need for due process in a case of significant public prominence.

Large crowds have gathered in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district as residents and visitors took part in the longstanding Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree tradition to mark the Lunar New Year, casting written wishes for prosperity, health and success in the Year of the Horse.

From early morning, families, tourists and worshippers queued along the Lam Tsuen Wishing Square, where replicas of the historic banyan trees stand beside the Tin Hau Temple.

Participants wrote their hopes on bright red and gold joss paper, attaching them to oranges before tossing them toward the wooden wishing structures in a symbolic gesture believed to bring blessings if the fruit remains hanging.

The custom, which dates back centuries, has evolved into one of Hong Kong’s most recognisable Lunar New Year attractions.

For safety and conservation reasons, the original banyan trees are no longer used for throwing offerings.

Instead, reinforced wooden frames now serve as the focal point, allowing the ritual to continue while protecting the heritage site.

Local officials and district representatives attended the opening day ceremony, offering traditional prayers and extending festive greetings to the public.

Cultural performances, lion dances and festive stalls added to the celebratory atmosphere, drawing steady foot traffic throughout the day.

Many attendees said they were praying for improved health, family harmony and economic stability in the year ahead.

Business owners operating nearby reported brisk trade as seasonal markets and food vendors catered to the influx of visitors.

The Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree event runs for several weeks during the Lunar New Year period, forming part of a broader calendar of celebrations across Hong Kong that includes fireworks displays, temple fairs and community festivities.

The enduring popularity of the ritual underscores the city’s continued embrace of traditional customs even as it remains one of Asia’s most modern urban centres.

Hong Kong experienced a robust influx of visitors on the opening day of China’s nine-day Spring Festival holiday, with more than 377,000 people entering the city by 9 p.m. on Sunday, official figures showed.

The surge, led by travellers from mainland China, filled the city’s shopping districts, cultural sites and tourist attractions, setting a lively tone for the Golden Week period.

Retailers reported strong demand for festive goods, jewellery and luxury items, particularly traditional pure gold accessories and ornaments featuring horse motifs in celebration of the Year of the Horse.

Malls and sightseeing locations across the territory saw heavy footfall throughout the day, with visitors adding vibrancy to key commercial hubs.

Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary, Paul Chan, noted on social media that arrivals from the mainland could reach an estimated 1.43 million over the course of the holiday, representing a year-on-year increase in average daily visitor numbers.

A packed calendar of Lunar New Year events — including parade floats, fireworks, horse racing and football matches — is expected to draw additional global visitors and further support the city’s economic rebound.

Government data released ahead of the holiday showed that overall visitor numbers from January 1 to February 13 had already risen by nearly ten percent compared with the same period last year.

Arrivals from overseas markets climbed even more sharply, signaling renewed international interest in Hong Kong as a premier travel destination.

The strong turnout underscores Hong Kong’s central role as a vibrant tourism and retail hub in the region, particularly during major holiday seasons when travel demand traditionally peaks.

Industry observers say the influx is poised to benefit local businesses and hospitality sectors throughout the Golden Week holiday.

A British tourist was arrested at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday morning after going on a destructive rampage that saw him knock over and smash numerous self-service check-in kiosks, prompting a swift police response and an ongoing investigation.

The incident unfolded at around 6 a.m. local time in Terminal 1, where the 35-year-old man was filmed toppling roughly ten check-in machines and then repeatedly striking one of them with a metal pole as bystanders looked on.

Reports indicate he also damaged railings, counters and other equipment in the departure hall as airport staff and security personnel moved quickly to warn him to stop.

Airport security and Hong Kong police intervened, restraining and arresting the man on suspicion of criminal damage.

During the arrest, officers found four pills of Viagra in his backpack, a drug that is illegal to possess in Hong Kong without a prescription, adding a potential additional offence to the case.

The man, who entered Hong Kong in November on a six-month visa, has not been publicly named and his motive for the outburst remains unclear as authorities continue their inquiries.

Airport operations were not significantly disrupted, with alternative check-in services available and staff deployed to assist passengers.

Local authorities are examining the circumstances of the incident, including any underlying causes of the behaviour, while reaffirming the importance of maintaining safety and security in one of Asia’s busiest transport hubs.

Hong Kong’s judiciary on February 9 imposed a 20-year prison sentence on Jimmy Lai Chee-ying, the 78-year-old founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, marking the harshest punishment yet handed down under the national security law imposed by Beijing.

The sentence follows Lai’s December conviction on multiple charges, including conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiracy to publish seditious materials, concluding a legal saga that has spanned more than five years since his arrest in 2020. Lai’s conviction and punishment have become emblematic of the dramatic shift in Hong Kong’s political and legal landscape, with many observers viewing his fate as a stark indicator of how far freedoms once guaranteed under the city’s semi-autonomous status have receded.

Lai’s case has drawn widespread international attention and criticism, with foreign governments and rights organisations urging his release and condemning the sentence as disproportionate and punitive.

Critics contend that the application of national security legislation to his journalism and advocacy activities reflects a broader strategy to stifle dissent and consolidate control over Hong Kong’s civic space.

Supporters of Lai note that the severity of his sentence — the most severe in the history of cases brought under the security law — means he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Family members and advocates have expressed deep concern for his health and well-being behind bars, framing the sentence as a personal tragedy and a symbolic inflection point in Hong Kong’s struggle for democratic expression.

Chinese and Hong Kong authorities have defended the conviction and sentence as lawful and necessary to safeguard national security, asserting that Lai’s activities threatened the territory’s stability and legal order.

Officials have characterised his actions, including meetings with overseas figures and calls for international sanctions, as collusion with foreign forces aimed at undermining national interests.

They maintain that the ruling demonstrates the firm application of legal norms to conduct that violates the national security framework enacted in 2020.

The broader implications of Lai’s sentencing extend beyond one individual, feeding into a narrative about the erosion of civil liberties, press freedom and judicial independence in Hong Kong.

Once hailed as an open Asian financial hub with a vibrant press, the city has seen a sharp contraction in civic space since the introduction of the national security law.

Lai’s fate is widely interpreted as a sign of how legal mechanisms are now central to reshaping the political order, and many analysts view the case as a symbolic end to the era of robust, independent media advocacy in the territory.

Advocacy groups and some foreign governments have reiterated calls for respect for fundamental freedoms, even as Chinese and Hong Kong authorities insist the measures taken are essential to maintaining stability and national unity under the current constitutional arrangement.