Hong Kong's leader celebrated the sentencing of British pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison, while elsewhere, an Irish comedian spoke about his advocacy for Palestine and several other international stories unfolded. The sentencing of Lai, a media tycoon, was met with defiance by Hong Kong leader John Lee, who stated Lai had "poisoned" the city, according to Sky News. The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, February 9, 2026.
In other news, Irish comedian Tadhg Hickey discussed his advocacy for Palestine with Al Jazeera, sharing his experience aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israel in June 2025. Hickey's comedy often draws parallels between the Irish experience and the current conditions faced by Palestinians.
Meanwhile, Prince William was asked to raise the case of a Manchester man detained in Saudi Arabia during his upcoming official visit to the country, according to a letter exclusively shared with Sky News. Amnesty International wrote to Prince William, sharing the plight of Ahmed al-Doush, a father of four and senior banking analyst.
Another Irish citizen, Seamus Culleton, has been detained by ICE for five months and described the facilities as "like a modern-day concentration camp," according to Sky News. Culleton, who has lived in the US for nearly 20 years and is married to a US citizen, expressed his desire for Irish premier Micheal Martin to raise his case with US President Donald Trump during their meeting at the White House in March. Culleton stated, "I don't know how much more I can take," calling the situation "torture."
In Beirut, Lebanon, the American University of Beirut campus is home to a population of cats, offering a sense of peace. The university's code of conduct stipulates that students are not allowed to mistreat the animals, according to NPR.
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