Hong Kong pro-democracy tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison under the city's national security law, while Dutch speedskater Jutta Leerdam's fiancée, Jake Paul, broke down in tears as she shattered an Olympic record. Meanwhile, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein are calling for the full release of files related to the late sex offender, and New York City is grappling with the aftermath of extreme cold weather that claimed 18 lives. A landmark trial also began in California, accusing Instagram and YouTube of creating "addiction machines."
Jimmy Lai, a 78-year-old British citizen and Hong Kong media tycoon, received the harshest punishment yet under the controversial national security law, according to BBC World. The law, imposed by China after 2019 protests, is defended as essential for the city's stability. Rights groups have called the sentence a "death sentence," raising concerns about Lai's health.
In the world of sports, Jake Paul was overcome with emotion as his fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, won gold and broke the 1,000-meter speed skating record at the 2026 Milan Cortina games with a time of 1:12.31, as reported by Fox News. Paul was seen crying in the stands as Leerdam exceeded expectations.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have called for the full release of files related to him, as revealed in an advert by the World Without Exploitation group, according to BBC World. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) was required to make all files public in December last year, but only some have been released, many with redactions. The survivors, who appeared in the advert with black redaction marks over their mouths, stated, "we all deserve the truth."
New York City has been dealing with the impact of extreme cold weather, with 18 deaths reported, according to BBC World. The city endured a cold snap since late January, including 13 days of temperatures at or below 0C (32F), one of the longest stretches in six decades. Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated that "each life lost is a tragedy."
In California, a trial has begun examining the mental health effects of Instagram and YouTube, with the world's largest social media companies accused of creating "addiction machines," according to BBC Business. Mark Lanier, representing the plaintiff "K.G.M.," argued that his client suffered from mental health issues due to social media addiction. Lanier stated, "These companies built machines designed to addict the brains of children, and they did it on purpose."
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