Sentence for Hong Kong's ex-publisher Jimmy Lai raises concerns as China defends it

HONG KONG (AP) — The sentencing of Hong Kong's onetime media magnateJimmy Laion Monday raised concerns from foreign governments and rights groups, but Chinese and Hong Kong authorities defended it, saying it reflected the spirit of the rule of law.

Hong Kong Jimmy Lai

Lai, a 78-year-old prominent democracy advocate, wassentencedto 20 years in prison after beingfound guiltyin 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 called for the release of the British citizen. But China's Foreign Ministry said 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:

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.

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.

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.

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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 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'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.

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February 09, 2026

Sentence for Hong Kong's ex-publisher Jimmy Lai raises concerns as China defends it

HONG KONG (AP) — The sentencing of Hong Kong's onetime media magnateJimmy Laion Monday raised concerns from foreign ...

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34-Year-Old Dad of 2 Found Dead Inside Trash Compactor at CVS After His Wife Tracked His Cell Phone to the Store

A 34-year-old man was found dead inside a trash compactor at the CVS store where he had been working

NEED TO KNOW

• Cleveland 19 News identified the man as Andrew Strand, and per a GoFundMe set up to help with funeral costs, he was a father of two and worked as a mechanic

• His wife calledthe police after he didn't return home on the evening of Feb. 4, and she tracked his phone to the CVS on Chagrin Boulevard in Brunswick, Ohio

A man has been found dead inside a trash compactor at the facility where he worked in Ohio, according to reports.

Andrew Strand, 34, went missing from his home in Brunswick on the evening of Feb. 4. At around 10 p.m. local time, Strand's wife called the police, sharing her concerns after not hearing from him, and a search was conducted,Cleveland 19 Newsreported.

Shaker Heights Police Commander John Cole told the outlet that Strand's wife told police she had tracked his phone to the CVS on Chagrin Boulevard, where he had been doing contract work, and that police then searched the facility.

Strand's body was found by police inside a trash compactor at the property, Cole confirmed to Cleveland 19 News.

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"We extend our condolences to the family and friends of the deceased during this difficult time," said Cole.

The incident is being investigated and the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner is determining the cause and manner of death, added Cole.

Strand was a father of two young children and worked as a mechanic in his own company, according to aGoFundMe.

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"He was recently starting his own company, which he was absolutely loving," the page read. "...He was a loving, involved father, coaching his son's hockey and baseball teams. He loved supporting his daughter in dance as well as gymnastics. His wife and children were the center of his life…"

"Andy's passing was sudden and unexpected, leaving his family in disarray," the page continued. "We are looking to raise funds to support his wife and children in this trying time, as well as raising funds for Andy's funeral service."

The GoFundMe so far has raised nearly $15,000 with a goal of $20,000 to help cover funeral costs.

CVS said in a statement to Cleveland 19 News, "We're cooperating with police as they investigate the death of a contractor outside our Chagrin Blvd store."

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Shaker Heights Police and CVS for comment bub did not immediately receive replies.

Read the original article onPeople

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February 09, 2026

34-Year-Old Dad of 2 Found Dead Inside Trash Compactor at CVS After His Wife Tracked His Cell Phone to the Store

A 34-year-old man was found dead inside a trash compactor at the CVS store where he had been working NEED TO ...

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Venezuelan opposition figure Guanipa detained by heavily armed men hours after being freed from prison

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Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily armed men on Sunday night, his supporters said, just hours after he had been released from a jail where he was held as a political prisoner.

Guanipa's family and political allies said he had been "kidnapped" by a group of men and accused the Caracas regime of being responsible.

The country's public prosecutor's office later confirmed it had requested Guanipa be placed under house arrest, claiming a breach of his release conditions.

Leader of the conservative Primero Justicia party, Guanipa was among several high-profile political prisoners freed on Sunday, in the latest effort from Caracas to satisfyUS demandsfollowing Washington's ouster of strongman leader Nicolás Maduro.

But Guanipa, 61, was later snatched by a group of men in the Los Chorros neighborhood of Caracas, said Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Laureate María Corina Machado, who is not in the country.

"Heavily armed men dressed in civilian clothes arrived in four vehicles and took him away by force," she saidon X.

Guanipa's son Ramón said in a video that his father was "ambushed" at a late night event "by approximately 10 agents who had no identification whatsoever."

"They pointed their guns at them, they were heavily armed, and they took my father," he said, before demanding to see proof his father was still alive.

Guanipa's Primero Justicia party also accused the Caracas regime of being behind the kidnapping. "We hold (interim President) Delcy Rodríguez, (National Assembly President) Jorge Rodríguez, and (Interior Minister) Diosdado Cabello responsible for any harm against the life of Juan Pablo," it said in a statement on X.

After Maduro was captured by US special forces last month, his former deputy Rodríguez took over as leader with the blessing of the Trump administration, on the proviso Caracas complied with a raft of US demands – from access to oil to the release of political prisoners.

Guanipa was freed earlier Sunday night after more than eight months in prison.

Shortly after walking out of a detention center in Caracas, Guanipa had uploaded a video on social media, declaring, "Today we are being released. Much to discuss about the present and future of Venezuela, always with the truth at the forefront."

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Guanipa was arrested inMay 2025, following claims by Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, made without evidence, that he was involved in an alleged "terror" plot against regional and legislative elections. Guanipa has repeatedly denied the accusation.

Machado had celebrated the news of his release earlier Sunday. "My dear Juan Pablo, counting down the minutes until I can hug you! You are a hero and history will always recognize it," she wrote on social media.

Another of Machado's allies, lawyer Perkins Rocha, was also released on Sunday, but under strict restrictions, according to his wife María Constanza.

Human rights group Foro Penal said it had confirmed that at least 30 political prisoners were released on Sunday, according to the group's director, Alfredo Romero.

Others who were freed include Luis Somaza, a member of the Popular Will party, and Jesús Armas, an activist and former opposition councilman.

Venezuela's opposition and human rights groups have long accused the country's authoritarian regime of using arbitrary arrests to suppress dissent. Foro Penal estimates that hundreds of additional political prisoners still remain behind bars.

The government has denied that it holds people for political reasons, arguing that those in prison have committed crimes.

Sunday's releases come days after Venezuela's National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez promised relatives of political prisoners that "all detainees" would be freed. Rodríguez, the brother of acting president Delcy Rodríguez, said the process would be completed "no later than" Friday, February 13.

His announcement comes as the acting socialist government moves forward with anamnesty billthat could lead to the mass release of prisoners – some of whom have been held since 1999, when strongman leader Hugo Chávez came to power – as a first step toward what officials describe as national reconciliation.

Although the government announced the release of "a significant number of people" days after the US captured Maduro, rights groups and family members believe that the pace of releases has been slow.

So far, more than 380 people have been freed from prison, according to Foro Penal, while the government claims to have released more than 800.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN's Michael Rios, contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

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February 09, 2026

Venezuelan opposition figure Guanipa detained by heavily armed men hours after being freed from prison

Lee este artículo en español Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily arm...

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Hawaii Shuts Down Schools, Public Offices As Thousands Lose Power In Heavy Rain, Punishing Winds

Hawaii is essentially shut down today as heavy rain and brutal winds hit the islands, causing thousands to lose power and raising concerns about dangerous flash flooding.

Gov. Josh Green announced on Sunday that all public schools, state offices, courthouses and the state legislature would be closed Monday. All University of Hawaii campuses are also closed.

Weather.commeteorologistJennifer Graysays Hawaii is getting hit with a little bit of everything right now.

She explains that the combination of a stalled front and an area of low pressure west of the island chain is providing the fuel for these conditions.

"Winds could gust as high as 60-70 mph through Monday, and we could see flooding as well. Snowfall is also expected across the higher elevations on the Big Island where 10-16 inches of snow is possible." Gray said.

In a news conference, the governor said one of his main concerns is the danger of high winds on roads, adding that landslides are a major worry.

(MORE:Warmer Temps For Millions This Week)

"We had one of our staff see a tree fall right on a power line right in front of her this morning, we just want to make sure everybody is very safe," Green said Sunday.

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Early Monday, more than 4,000 customers were without electricity, according toPowerOutage.us.

A social media post from Hawaiian Electric showed crews working to repair downed power poles on Sunday.

Residents are being urged to stay off the roads today. Parks and camping areas have also been closed.

Flash flooding was already reported on Sunday.

"We're looking at very intense rainfall rates, it's not so much the amount of rain that comes down but how quickly it comes down as well," said John Bravender with the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

(MORE:Police Save Three From Icy Waters)

The governor also issued anemergency proclamationthat mobilizes state resources for response efforts, including Hawaii's National Guard. That proclamation is in effect at least through Wednesday.

Gray said conditions should begin to improve on Tuesday, however unsettled weather should last through mid week.

byAdministrator

in

February 09, 2026

Hawaii Shuts Down Schools, Public Offices As Thousands Lose Power In Heavy Rain, Punishing Winds

Hawaii is essentially shut down today as heavy rain and brutal winds hit the islands, causing thousands to lose power an...

Read More